Tell me about Lyme

No, I didn't misspell the title. I'm not talking about this: 

I'm talking about this:

Yesterday, I found out that my 7 year old daughter has Lyme. I only know a little bit about it but the past 24 hours have been very educational. So, I'm going to share what I have learned so far in hope that it will help someone else out.

One of the most important lessons I've learned is that there are doctors who, believe it or not, say they don't believe that chronic Lyme disease exists and that it's all in the patient's head. From my understanding, this is starting to change. But, there are Lyme doctors that are being ostracized across the nation by their medical peers for their belief in Lyme as a real disease!

One of my good friend posted some myths about Lyme on her Facebook page and, for now, I'm going to share these with you.

Myth: You cannot die from Lyme Disease

Truth: yes, you can. People die from Lyme-related illnesses every year.

Myth: Local Lyme tests are accurate.

Truth: No. This is maybe one of the biggest myths. Not only do doctors NOT test for co-infections, they do not look at the details of the Western Blot or other Lyme tests being used. Always ask for a detailed copy of your blood work. 

Myth: Lyme symptoms are exclusive to Lyme

Truth: Misdiagnosis is huge with Lyme and tick-born diseases. Common misdiagnosis are: ADHD, Fibromyalgia, MS, Lupus, Growing pains, depression, behavior issues, etc.

Myth: If you don't have a bulls eye appear, you are Lyme free.

Truth: Less than 50% (possibly even as low as 30%) of Lyme patients develop a bulls eye. 

Myth: Everyone has the same symptoms; therefore; the same treatment

Truth: Almost every single patient is treated differently. Common symptoms include fatigue, aches and pains, heel pain (especially in children), headaches, floaters (vision spots), forgetfulness, and moodiness.

Myth: Only deer ticks carry Lyme disease and co-infections

Truth: Lyme has been detected in dog ticks, mosquitoes, and horse flies. 

Myth: The tick must be attached for more than 24 hours to infect you.

Truth: If it is attached at all or leaves even a tiny mark, it is enough.

I'll be posting more as I learn more. Please feel free to share your experiences.

What's a name for your cup?

Starbucks Employee: May I help you
Me: I'll take a tall Americano with room
Starbucks Employee: What's a name for your cup?
Me: Tracy

Later I was kicking myself. Why would I name my cup "Tracy?" I mean, there are so many more unique names than Tracy...for MY CUP! "Cuppie," "Sippie," "Roberta," "Henrietta!" Why did I lack such creativity in my response?

Sometimes I'm just not as creative when I need to be IN THE MOMENT! Are you ever like that? Share with me a time when you wish you would have been WAY MORE CREATIVE in your response to someone.

Speaking of creativity...when I was in Israel a few years ago, someone had a VERY creative idea...Stars & BUCKS! They aren't kidding!!!! Somehow I think this might be illegal, though...

Lacking motivation

It was a cold and rainy day....

It was a wet and freezing day...

It was a yucky day...

My life today feels just like the weather.  Have you ever had one of those days? One of those weeks? One of those months? Maybe even one of those years?

I'm going to be honest...going to be raw...I've gotta get this off my chest...

There are days like today when I just don't even want to leave the house. I want to just sit and watch the rain fall from the comfort of my easy chair! I don't want to work. I don't want to workout. I don't want to talk to friends. I have no desire to do anything productive. It takes all I can muster to sit here and write this blog. Because, like I said, I want to just sit and watch the rain fall.

What can a person do that has no motivation? What do you do? What tricks do you play with your mind? Or am I the only crazy one out there?