Niki's interview
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How did all start?
First bit in 1996 Lyme only. Didn’t feel sick, but ended up with lesions down my spine and on my brain diagnosed with MS. Got bit again in 2014. I saw 13 more doctors all said I was positive for MS. I also was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and 2 doctors said ALS. I finally was diagnosed with Lyme, Bartonella, Babesia, Mycoplasma Pneumonia, and Qfever. It took one year for someone to even take me seriously with a bullseye rash plain as day. I went in remission April/2016 only to be reinfected by a mosquito. This one I was cdc+, but being it was a mosquito I didn’t fit the criteria. Total BS
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
Yes and considering both bites it took 19 years total.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
Treated for Lyme, Bartonella, Babesia, Mycoplasma Pneumonia, Qfever, HHV-6, herpes simplex 2, Cytomegalovirus, EBV & EBV nuclear, shingles, ascariasis, giardiasis, toxoplasmosis, salmonella, nematodes, pin worms, round worms, liver flukes, and a 5 ft tape worm. Also, Hashimotos, nerve damage, neuropathy, neck and back completely degenerating with pinched nerves and bone pain. I am extremely knowledgeable in Lyme disease and co-infections, natural protocols, and related illnesses
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
IV antibiotics, infrared sauna, apple cider vinegar, cannabis, Alka Seltzer Gold, Benedryl, Epsom salt and baking soda baths, bio freeze gel for pain, heating pads
What have been your biggest difficulties?
Getting use to a less active life, letting go of the person I loved and trying to accept the person I am now. I am in remission, but the damage it left behind will forever change my life. This disease badly needs research and we all know the CDC has their heads in the sand praying they aren’t investigated while I pray they are taken down
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
Family has been 100% behind me. I lost most of my so called friends. No biggie when you lose something you now know you never had from the beginning
What things have you stopped doing?
Working out, always doing something. I lived doing something athletic and now I live laying down due to neck and back constant pain
What do you think about the future?
I pray I can go back to college in the fall. I have one semester to finish in Kinesiology. Then I want my masters in Physician Assistant to help Lyme patients since obviously our government isn’t doing a darn thing to help us financially or otherwise
So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?
My best years would be college in my young adulthood and having my boys.
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
Get back to working out every day and start working towards being a physician assistant
If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?
Overwhelming
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Hold on! It’s a rough ride, but you are worth it. Hold on to hope and fight your butt off. You are going to be sick. I mean crazy sick, but I’d rather 2 or 3 years of that than the rest of my life.
