Christina, the Owner of the Blog "Lady of Lyme", Discusses Her Own Battle with Chronic Lyme and Selfless Inspiration to Help Others Afflicted with the Condition.

12/11/2011

Chris:  Christina, I'm really glad you considered to do this interview with me!

Christina:  I appreciate you having me Chris! 

Chris:  Ok, let's get started.  You recently hosted the event "Donate 4 Lyme" on December 3, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky.  What did this event entail?

Christina:  Donate 4 Lyme was all about two things. The first was to bring awareness to people about Lyme's disease. It really amazing me how many people here in Kentucky had absolutely no clue about the disease, even though its a state well known for deer hunting. I wanted people to get educated and learn a bit about what this disease does. The second purpose was to help raise money for Lyme research and also for those who can not afford treatment. Lyme's disease is something that quickly takes over your body so putting off treatment because people can't afford it can lead to irreversable damage & potentially even death. Since most insurance does not cover these costs, its up to us as a community to help each other out and give somebody their well being back.

Chris:  It obvious you're a very compassionate, benevolent and selfless person but what sparked the idea to launch such an event? 

Christina:  Thank you Chris, that is so kind to say, but really I got this idea when I realized that even though I am faced with the adversity of Lyme's disease I am truly a blessed individual. I have the option to take this lying down, or I can put my efforts into creating awareness for others so that they can save themselves the heartache of going through years of suffering. The more people that are educated about Lyme's disease, the more lives that will be saved. I had no idea what Lyme's was until I myself got the diagnosis. When I heard about this holiday festival happening in my city in Louisville, KY I thought it was the perfect opportunity for me to get out there and spread the word.

Chris:  In a sad but truthful occurrence, you met 2 people who had lost loved ones to Lyme Disease.  Would you care to explain their stories and how it affected you?

Christina:  The hardest part of the night for me was speaking with those two individuals who lost loved ones to Lyme's disease. One man got emotional telling me his good friend battled the disease for so long, and even begged his doctor to treat him for Lyme and he refused to help him. He was not able to find a compassionate doctor that would give him the treatment he needed and ultimately the disease took his life. It puts a lot into perspective being a chronic Lyme fighter to hear a story like that. We are SO lucky we have a diagnosis and treating doctors to give us a fighting chance for life again. It was these stories that made me even more passionate about continuing to raise money, and continuing to find events to spread the word. Speaking about disease can be a taboo subject for so many people, but when it isn't talked about I saw what it can truly lead to.

Chris:  You had a lot of support throughout the event from friends and family but one of the surprises of the night was your dad driving 3 hours to support you and the event.  How did this make you feel?

Christina:  I was absolutely overwhelmed when I saw my dad show up! With my parents living 3 hours away I never expected to see them there. They are truly two of the most amazing & supportive parents I could ask for. He drove 3 hours each way just to spend about an hour or so with me at the booth helping to hand out fliers. His support and love just surpassed my expectations. It's definitely true what they say that being surrounded by genuine support from people who love you is what keeps you going. I can 100% say it's my parents who keep me going and fighting every single day and I am very very blessed!

Chris:  Kentucky, where you held the event, is a very outdoor oriented state. What were people's reactions to Lyme existing in Kentucky?  

Christina:  A ton of people I spoke to had no idea that Lyme was possible to catch here in Kentucky. This myth that you can only get it if you live in Connecticut or Maryland is something stuck in peoples minds. Kentucky is huge on deer hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities, and I made sure to stress it to everyone that Lyme IS in every state. You can never be too sure. If you are bit by a tick go get checked immediately, and if you have symptoms of Lyme then be persistant until you get an answer. Find an LLMD and be proactive as an individual.

Chris:  Is it true the day following the event you pretty much spent the whole day in bed?
     
Christina:  Oh yes, I was out of commision on Sunday! Having chronic Lyme and spending 4 hours standing out in the cold exerting yourself speaking to people, etc, takes A LOT out of a person. I slept a solid 11 hours the night of the event and then took multiple naps on Sunday. When you push your body to its limits or past its limits you learn you pay a price. I however know it was 100% worth it, because what I got from this event was more then I could have possible asked for.

Chris:  Christina, there is no doubt that your launching of this event is highly commendable in my mind and others.  Do you plan on launching anything similar in the near future?
    
Christina:  Thank you! And yes, I have plans on doing other events. This was my first go at something like this, and it was a great learning experience. The need for education and fund raising for Lyme is something that is never ending, and I plan to be an advocate for life. I would like to partner up with some local restaurants for some events where proceeds go to Lyme research etc. As Lyme sufferers know, you have your good days and bad days. While I still have that extra bit of energy in me to hold any kind of events I want to absolutely do so!

Chris:  You yourself are struggling with Lyme Disease.  Tell me a little bit about what symptoms you're experiencing and when they started.
  
Christina:  Gosh, my symptoms were all over the place. I first began my battle with feeling off about 5 years ago. It started out with fatigue and migraines which led my doctors to believe I simply had a B12 deficiency. Then I began to have issues with heart palpitations, orthostatic hypotension, and very low blood pressure. I had issues with balance, dizziness, motion sensitivity. My gallbladder was removed because it stopped functioning and I had a lot of gastrointestinal problems. Finally it got to where it spread into my nervous system leaving me with signs of brain damage, memory loss, coordination issues, joint pains, and even more extreme fatigue.

Chris:  When did you finally get a diagnosis for your symptoms and how are you responding to treatment?

Christina:  It took a solid 5 years for me to get this diagnosis. I was at my wits end getting sicker with each passing month. My symptoms became more severe, I required more rest, and I was able to handle less activities. I got very lucky because I saw a doctor who sat me down for a solid 2 hours to get a full health history of all my symptoms, and he put the pieces of the puzzle together. He is also an LLMD, which at the time I had no idea was the saving grace. He found the Lyme's disease in me, as well as my co-infection of Protomyxzoa. We are taking treatment slowly right now, he is a very homeopathic doctor and believes in treating the body at a pace it can handle. I have had some days when I Herx pretty badly, I feel awful and stay in bed all day. Other days I can push through okay. It's something I can't ever predict but I am doing my best to stay positive and remind myself for every bad day there will be a good day.

Chris:  If there is one thing you could say to those struggling with Lyme who could use a little consolation, what would it be?

Christina:  For me, I am very close with God. So I believe that he will never bring you to a battle you can not fight, or give you more then you can handle. If you are struggling with Lyme I would say yes it's a fight, but you are incredibly blessed that you got diagnosed because with each passing day you are getting closer to having your life back. Remember all the things that gave you joy before you got sick and look forward to enjoying them again. It can ONLY go uphill from here!

Chris:  Christina, thank you so much for talking with me.  Stay strong and keep doing the incredible feats that are affecting so many in such a good way.

Christina:  Thank you so much Chris for taking the time to interview me! I look forward to keeping you and everyone else posted on the future of other events!