I got Lyme at the age of 14, from a tick bite. At the time, I was visiting my grandparents in Arkansas where there was a “tick alert” out, because cattle and horses were mysteriously falling over dead from tick bites. The reports suggested wearing long sleeves and tucking your pants into your socks, which I did. However, I went outside to watch my brother fish in a pond, while sitting in the tall grass for hours.
After returning from the trip, I had two bouts of hives from head to toe. Many people report getting a “bulls-eye” shaped rash, but not everyone does and I don’t remember such a thing. Yet, I immediately started having chronic headaches and infections. Then, at 19, I started having balance issues and paralysis. By 27, I was paralyzed from the ribs down and so sick I could hardly move.
I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and given large doses of steroids. This shut down my immune system and caused the Lyme to totally take over. With lots of therapy, I regained the use of my legs, but it is very hard for me to stand or walk.
Since then, I have been literally fighting for my life, extremely ill and in horrific pain 24×7. I lost my career, horse, house, hobbies and most of my friends.
Lyme Disease moves into stages. The sooner you catch it the better your chances that the treatment will help. It is crucial to get treated within a few weeks and no longer than a few months or a year at the most. Anything after one year makes it extremely difficult to treat or untreatable at all. I did not get treatment for 15 years and I have had it since 1977.
The Lyme spirochetes can mutate, hide and reproduce, leaving the host less and less able to battle it as it progresses. Lyme’s only goal is to kill and destroy as to drills through every cell, tissue and organ with it’s corkscrew shaped body.
I am in the late stage of Lyme in which the spirochetes reproduce at a higher rate than they can be killed. The spirochetes adapt, quickly becoming resistant or immune to any medication or treatment. They change their form, mutate, hide and build cell walls around themselves as protection from any threat. The Lyme continues to do severe damage to my immune and nervous systems, cells, organs, brain and spinal cord.
I have tried countless treatments, medications, supplements, IV’s, injections, diets, procedures, therapies, surgeries and more. I have 7 doctors (MD’s and Naturopaths) and 2 compounding pharmacists working on my case.
I will continue to research and try new things, because I cannot fathom living one more day like this! I will also continue to pray for healing! I know that one day I will be healed. I hope it is today! Until then, I strive to trust and rely on God for strength to endure.
I have been in the fatal stage of Lyme since 1991, but I am not going down without a fight!
INTERVIEW WITH HUFFPOST LIVE BY THE HUFFINGTON POST:
ADDITIONAL VIDEOS FROM SHERRI:
AMAZING LYME DISEASE PSA, from Lyme is Hell:
LYME DISEASE MOVIE TRAILER, Under Our Skin:
