I noticed a 5cm red ring on my back about a week after returning from a survival camp in Nth Queensland with multiple tick bites when I was 16yo. I was thought to have glandular fever at the time, but never associated my sore shoulder, knee, dark urine, mood swings, fever/flu symptoms, fatigue, numbness or the bullseye rash that developed to be about 25cm diameter over about a month.

By 19 I was very ill and hospitalised and thought to have rheumatic fever at the time because of my heart involvement and arthritis, but also had low B12 and Iron and blood work showing infectious causes. I also had multiple red lesions on my torso, and difficulty getting enough oxygen when breathing. I felt like fainting when I stood up and my heart rate was 160 if I walked down a flight of stairs or 120 at rest. I lost a lot of weight because of this. I had rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and one knee stopped me from squatting anymore. One of the best Infectious Disease units in Australia never diagnosed or tested for Lyme as I had told them I have never been outside of Australia.

By my 21st birthday I officially disabled, diagnosed and treated as autoimmune with 'Mixed Connective Tissue Disease' as every major joint had become involved although it also migrated from one joint to another the selling dislocating small joints for a week large ones for a month at a time, and my connective tissues were also affected.

A decade later I saw a picture of the rash I had at 16, and read about Lyme Disease. My medical history had followed the same disease progression, and I found a doctor to diagnose me with Lyme and Co-infections and willing to make a concurrent combination antibiotic treatment plan with oral Antibiotics and make a treatment plan.

Six months into treatment I got my brain back and could squat again and now after a year I am waking after 7-8hrs sleep (instead of 10-14hr). My vision has improved; I have minimal joint pain right now and am enjoying being able to start gentle running and aerobics to rebuild my muscle strength. I am taking my life back!

www.lymegreenaustralia.blogspot.com