Fiona’s Story
My name is Fiona I am from Melbourne, Australia.
I have been suffering from an illness for 3 years. Within the three years, I suffered severe symptoms and seen many specialist and doctors , but all failed to diagnose my condition. Finally after seeing a doctor here in Melbourne, I received a formal diagnosis two months ago to explain my symptoms. He told me I have Chronic Lyme Disease. I would like to share my story of my fight with Lyme Disease to improve the general public’s awareness of the disease.
In sharing my story, I hope you can find it in your heart to help me fundraise for the cost of my treatment.
I guess most of you are thinking ‘What is Lyme Disease?’ and like you, right now, I had no idea it existed and what it was, and sadly the reason is Lyme Disease is not well known here in Australia.For that reason, many suffers do not receive treatment, are misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all. I can’t express enough how terrifying, horrible and debilitating this disease is and how it ruins lives.
For me it has been and still is an intense physical and emotional battle.
Lyme’s disease is a bacteria which is introduced to the body by a tick bite. Initially a person my present with flu like symptoms, muscle aches and fatigue. If left untreated the disease can continue to affect the: digestive, neurological , musculoskeletal , respiratory and circulatory systems as well as vision, hearing, psychological wellbeing and mental capability. Unfortunately each person with Lyme’s disease will present with a different array of symptoms.
Three years ago, I was a happy, outgoing, active person living a healthy lifestyle.
I worked as a relief teacher and supplemented my income by working in retail on the weekends. I was a mad salsa dancer and would dance 3 times per week and socialise whenever possible.
I don’t remember the specific tick bite. Suddenly my health just slowly started to decline. My energy levels gradually dropped and going to work became an exhausting task. I found myself going home sick a lot or turning down work, at this time I was feeling confused and frustrated as I had the motivation to work but physically it wasn’t possible. I was feeling overwhelmed, guilty and would cry every day, hoping and praying for an answer.
The fatigue continued to worsen and within a few months I got to the point where I would need to rest after walking 100m down the street .
I found myself having severe body aches and pain all over. Despite how tired I was, I found myself not able to sleep too. Then out of the blue, my whole body started to vibrate. It felt as if I was a mobile phone on the vibration setting, the intensity of this would vary day to day and at times I couldn’t bare it. These vibration have continued nonstop , till this day. I have forgotten what it feels like to feel normal in my body. I developed a strange sensitivity to sound. Every now and then a typical sound would become unbearably loud. My gut developed problems, however I will spare you the details. With time the severity of my aches, pains, insomnia and fatigue worsened. I initially quit my retail job, and reduced my teaching hours. It wasn’t long before I couldn’t make it through the day at work and eventually had to quit my teaching job too. It became impossible to dance through a song at Salsa, and eventually I stopped leaving the house to see friends as I needed to sleep. Even something simple like doing the dishes can destroy me. I had no choice but to go on unemployment benefits. Not being able to support myself has definitely been one of the hardest aspects of the illness.
Today my symptoms are severe and debilitating.
I find myself getting worse each day and this scares me. I now experiences numbness down the left side of my face. In the last two months I have been experiencing what I call “episodes” where I get a jolt and pressure inside my head, my whole body freezes up and I can’t move or speak until it’s over. It normally last 10 seconds or more. My memory fails me and I have difficulty processing my thoughts. I also, have involuntary moments and find myself repeating words and at times I find it hard to put a sentence together.
I thought that the physical pain was severe and unbearable but nothing compares to the mental symptoms that I have been experiencing. As I write this now my mind is in a grounded place, but out of the blue I can feel suicidal. One many occasions I have driven myself down to the local hospital so I do not harm myself.
Below is a list of some of my symptoms I experience:
- Constant Inner vibrations
- Major pain and body aches
- Severe Chronic fatigue
- Insomnia
- Fevers
- Memory Loss and difficulty concentrating
- Burning feet
- Nausea
- Tinnitus
- Auditory Sensory Overload
- Restlessness
- Stomach Pain
- Digestive Problems
- Loss of appetite
- Inflammation
- Wake up with face and eye swelling
- Paranoia
- OCD behaviour
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Anger outburst
- Crying everyday over insignificant things
- Problems finding words
- Chemical Sensitivity, I can’t be around people with after shave, cleaning products
I have spent thousands dollars and my savings on doctors, specialist, testing and health practitioners (both medical and alternative) for answers and relief of my symptoms. Honestly started to think that I was going mad and it was all in my head. I have to say a big part of me was relieved to finally receive the Lyme Disease diagnosis. Obviously a disease no one wants to get, however I was so grateful for an answer.
There is now hope that I will improve once I start the correct treatment.
After completing extensive research and speaking for former Lyme disease suffers I have been strongly recommended to complete treatment at St. Georg Hospital in Germany. This treatment is not available Australia, they only offer a range of antibiotic treatments for the disease, which can consist of taking antibiotics up to two years and even then it may not be successful.
In Germany, they treat Lyme like cancer. They bring a person’s body temperature up to 107 degrees for 6 hours. This high temperature kills cancer cells and infections including Lyme disease. I know, it sounds scary, but it is my best option. The results other countries are getting with this treatment is staggering. I have talked to several people that have had great success . Here is the website to the clinic: http://www.cancerclinicstgeorg.com/en/lyme-disease-treatment-center/st-georg-treatment-protocol
I have so many hopes and dreams I want to achieve, including starting a family. To reach this goal I need your help.
The total cost for the treatment is $25000. As you can imagine, this is very difficult to save for considering I am unable to work. I know it’s a lot to ask of others and I never imagined I’ll be in this position but unfortunately this is my situation. My life has already been put on hold for three years, I can’t bear the thought of waiting any longer now I know there is treatment available. I am hoping to fundraise some of the cost and what is remaining I will be getting a loan and selling my car.
Once I have completed the treatment I would like to pay it forward and help others in need.
My main goal is to heal myself and do what I love and that is to help others.
I hope to start fundraising for others with Lyme Disease or Chronic fatigue and offer my help with the simple things like cleaning or taking suffers shopping.
To help me reach my goal please help spread the word by sharing this on Facebook or twitter.
Your help is greatly appreciated.
All my love
Fi xx