*Originally published 3/2/15*
On January 14th, I got a picc line. Picc lines are used for IV antibiotics, which I am now taking. Before the picc, Pete, as I call it, I was doing awful. I was extremely fatigued, missing 29 days of school, not able to get out of bed or shower or anything, just like at the beginning of my Lyme journey. We talked things over with my doctor, and we decided that IV antibiotics were the only choice left.
I have been doing the IV medicine for a month now, and I've noticed a lot of improvement. The only symptoms I really have are fatigue and pain. When I last went to my doctor, my symptom check list was down to a 23 as opposed to the 43 I was at before the picc (the lower the number, the better). Getting used to my picc had been a little hard, but now I hardly notice it. My family has been really great with helping me with my picc. My mom always helps me with not getting it wet, and Daquan loves hooking me up to the medicines. I wouldn’t be able to do it without them!
I am still missing some school, but I got rid of my 3rd period class, so now I don't go in until 10:00 each day. With the snow this week however, I was able to make it to school everyday!
The fatigue is still the worst thing for me, but I'm trying to get through it. Along with Pete, comes my new diet. I am now gluten, sugar and dairy free and basically try to eat only organic foods. Needless to say, finding food is very difficult. I have expanded my taste buds a little bit, but I am going to a nutritionist soon to help us come up with more meal ideas.
I am now in my final semester of high school! I have about 3.5 months until my graduation day. I am officially going to Salisbury University next year and I think I have even found my roommate!
I tentatively have Pete in for 8 weeks, and then we re-evaluate and see if I need more medicine. I'm just hoping I won't have to have my picc in college, because that would be very stressful to do in a dorm.
Recently, a Lyme friend and I started a twitter page for “spoonies” (another name for “lymies”). On our page we post inspirational quotes and funny pictures to keep chronic illness fighters fighting, and to help make their days a little bit better. We've gotten a lot of positive feedback which is really great and makes me feel like I'm actually helping people. My Lyme chickens and I are planning our trip for this summer and hopefully we will be going to New England this year to stay with Kerry, who is actually in remission now!
Lately, I've been noticing more and more how Lyme has affected my outlook on life. Most girls my age are stressing out about their hair and nails, while I'm here hoping I can muster up the strength to shower tonight. A lot of girls are trying to find the perfect prom dress while I'm trying to get good picc covers for my IV. While the healthy me would love to spend lots of money on a beautiful prom dress, I'm thankful that my family is spending hundreds of dollars on medicines and foods to heal me. I realized that having a chronic illness makes you grow up quickly and makes you realize what's important and what's not. The other day I was watching TV, and this cancer survivor was saying how she missed out on most of her high school experience, She said she doesn't want that to continue in college and beyond, and I realized that I am in a similar situation.
I found out I had Lyme at the end of my freshmen year and I am still fighting it. I had to stop playing all of my sports, lost friends, shortened my school day and lost what really made me “me.” I don't want to miss out on college like I missed out on high school. If I can only eat birdseed for me to get better, I will do it. If I can only sit around for me to get better, I will do it. I've gone through so much pain and loss with this disease, but I know that I will come out alive and strong.
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