LymeDisease Chat
LymeDisease Chat
Lyme Disease: Mimic of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia Spurs Woman to Educate Othershttp://www.lymediseasechat.com08-18-2004 - BY RYAN RAICHE, PETOSKEY NEWS-REVIEW STAFF WRITER Tina Jolly is well above the norm. See, the average Lyme disease case takes approximately 22 months, and seven doctors. Her case: 10 years, 24 doctors. And $300,000 dollars later, this above average woman is still putting up a fight. It all started back on a hot day back in 1998, when Jolly, 45, felt a numbness in her arms and legs. Figuring it was just the heat and humidity, she didn't think much of it, that is, until it wouldn't go away. Eventually a prickly sensation invaded her feet and exhaustion swept through her body, so she decided it was now time to seek help. Doctor number one. After a referral to a neurologist and a test for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease that effects the central nervous system, Jolly was receiving some unclear answers. The results came back negative; however, doctors were convinced that MS was infecting her, so that's what she was treated for. Jolly, of Alanson, would later find out that this would be the beginning of a very long and tiresome journey. Little did she know she would end up traveling throughout the country trying to find someone that could tell her what was wrong with her - with little luck. "I actually had one doctor say to me once, 'I know you're really sick, but I'm sorry I'm not smart enough to figure out what it is,'" said Jolly with a grin on her face, though admitting she wasn't all smiles at the time. Jolly dealt with her condition as best she could for more than five years. Throughout this time she was treated for MS, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and intestinal cystitis - all the while having a bigger and more intimidating illness in control of them all. "We've been through an emotional loss, physical loss, despair, and hardship, which is common with any sickness," she said. "But you don't know how to deal with the unknown." It wouldn't be unknown for much longer. On March 8, 2004 she caught a break. Doctor number 24. Finally, Jolly found an unusual doctor in Nashville that uses traditional and alternative methods of practice. By the end of a two-hour appointment with Jolly and her husband, David, the doctor stared her in the eyes and said, "I see hundreds and hundreds of this exact case - you've got Lyme disease." Finally, some action Tina Jolly was sent to a Lyme clinic in Charlotte, N.C., where a series of tests were done to see for sure if this was it. Because of the complexity of the disease, inaccuracies are often synonymous with Lyme testing, and many Lyme patients are left misdiagnosed. Her results, though, arrived with very little surprise - it was indeed Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can infect both humans and animals through the bite of an infected tick. According to the Michigan Lyme Association there are 100 strains of the disease in the U.S. and 300 throughout the rest of the world. "They said I contracted the disease when I lived in Northern Michigan," Jolly said. "I lived in a house very close to the woods, and we spent a lot of time in the woods picking mushrooms and walking with the kids, and somehow I was bitten during this time, but just never developed the rash." "The rash," as she refers to it, is the classic bullseye-looking rash that develops on the surface where the infected tick bites into the skin. According to the Michigan Lyme Association, only 52 percent of people that contract Lyme disease develop the bullseye rash, the other 48 percent - including Tina - see nothing. It was later determined that Lyme disease was lurking inside her body for more than 10 years - dormant for four years. Jolly contracted the disease in 1994, started feeling ill in 1998, and was finally diagnosed correctly with Lyme in 2004. The clinic in Charlotte also determined that the reason the disease became active was because of the stress involved when her husband, David, fell victim to a fire. In 1998, David suffered mercury poisoning, which later turned out to be toxic smoke inhalation from a fire. David was bed ridden for more than six months, and when he was finally ready to head back into work, Tina was headed into bed. "If it wasn't for my family, friends, and church, we probably wouldn't be here right now," said Tina. "It was unbelievable, it was like a domino effect." August 2004 Lyme disease has quite a following. Out of the 70 symptoms that go along with the disease, Jolly currently has 43 of them. "You learn to live with the symptoms," she said. "I've been medicated for my symptoms, but no one was going out to kill the mother virus, and that was the problem." The mother virus had stumped more than two dozen doctors, which is perhaps why it was coined the name, "The Great Impostor." "The doctor in Nashville described to me that this disease mimics several common diseases," said Tina. In her case, Lyme was being disguised as MS, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and intestinal cystitis. According to the Center for Disease Control, there is no cure for Lyme disease; however, with enough treatment one can live with virtually no symptoms. Currently Jolly is in the process of having a pick line inserted in the vein of her arm, so she can receive mass amounts of antibiotics through an IV. Doctors have told her she will probably be on the pick line for up to six months. Jolly is in the process of forming a local Lyme disease support group. There is currently no support group in Emmet County, but several people are interested. According to her doctor, early detection of Lyme disease significantly improves the chance of a full recovery. "If the awareness level for Lyme can be raised, it may save people a lot of pain and time," said Tina. For more information on the status of the local support group, contact the Michigan Lyme Association at (888) 784-5963. "We've lost several battles, but not the war," she said. "People need to be aware of this disease." Prevention steps - If you find a deer tick, call the Michigan Lyme Association for proper removal at (888) 784-5963. - If you live near a wooded area, consider laying gravel down, or a mulch barrier between the lawn and the woods. - Wear deet insect propellant. - While in the woods, walk in the center of a trail. - Wear long pants, and/or long-sleeve shirt. Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Article source: Petoskey News [Michigan newspaper] (www.petoskeynews.com)
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