Lyme Diseases Awareness Month

That’s right! May is (among other things) Lyme Diseases Awareness Month and people are encouraged to take the lime challenge – you just bite a lime.

Maybe chase it with a margarita?

As someone who has been devastated by Lyme and also was fortunate enough to come out of it pretty damn ok, it’s sort of an odd feeling when I think. . .people are doing this for me? Not just ME but. . .people like me.

Most of my illness was shrouded in hushes as I pursued non-government approved treatments and I couldn't talk to it to anyone because my brain was gone and because. . .well. . .Lyme is often treated as some type of joke. Let’s not even talk about other tick-borne illnesses which are still a deadly mystery to the medical community.

The idea that these people who are Taking a Bite out of Lyme are showing not only their support and raising awareness but that somehow my struggle is being recognized.

So, here’s my bite out of lime! I would also note my lover and I donated directly to the American Lyme Diseases Foundation.

1: Here is my face!

[Image coming soon, sorry - we made a lot of drinks recently. Point two is MORE important]

2: Here are the facts!

• Children are at the highest risk of contracting Lyme Disease and are more vulnerable to central nervous system infections.
• Transmission of Lyme Disease and other infections can take place in a matter of minutes, particularly if the tick is not removed properly.
• Lyme Disease has been called “The Great Imitator” and can be mistaken for ALS, MS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism, and other illnesses.
• Research suggests that Lyme Disease and other infections can be spread from mother to baby during pregnancy.
• Studies show that standard laboratory tests recommended by the CDC to diagnose Lyme Disease miss approximately half of actual cases, leading to misdiagnosis and an infection that is more difficult to treat.
• Over 63% of patients treated for Lyme Disease continue to suffer symptoms that can be debilitating.
• The CDC estimates that there are 300,000 new cases of Lyme Disease each year in the United States. Some experts believe the actual number of new cases could be as high as 1-2 million new cases per year in the US alone.
• Lyme Disease has been reported in every state except Hawaii and has been found on every continent except Antarctica.
• Lyme Disease has 6 times more new cases each year than HIV/AIDS, yet it receives less than 1% of the funding.
• Fewer than 50% of patients with Lyme Disease recall a tick bite or any rash.
• There are no tests available to prove that the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease has been eradicated or that the patient is cured after treatment.
• Ticks can carry many different types of bacterial, viral and parasitic infections – some life-threatening – which can further complicate tick-borne disease diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

3: Challenge people -
What up, community? You taking a bite out of Lyme?