Final leg of curing Lyme Disease begins...

How I got here is a long story, though I will do my best to cut to the chase.

Illness became a part of me in 1988, with chronic Tonsillitis. I dealt with that throughout the years, then started having some back problems, though for a guy who's 6' 7" (201 cm) not a big surprise, really. In 1998, my back troubles graduated to me blowing my L4/5 lumbar disc and had a discectomy while on that business trip in Germany. I was on a roll, why not get my tonsils out while I'm there, they're just emitting toxins into my body as they're usually inflamed anyways. After 6 or 7 months in Germany recuperating I came back home to continue rehabilitating and getting on with life as usual, work work work. In March of 2000 I started suffering from vertigo, what a nightmare. Countless Doctors, tests, more doctors, checking for MS, you name it. Two years later the Vertigo more or less just went away.

In the years following, I still had the occasional bout of vertigo, though mostly I battled with stomach problems and subsequently pursued Naturopaths and Gastrologists. I followed much advice and often found myself on strict natural diets, yeast free and after food sensitivity tests even furthered the elimination of yummy sweets. This went on, I continued to work, strengthen my back and "usually" watched what I ate.

In 2006 I got really ill, couldn't work anymore. Either found myself in emergency at the hospital, a Doctors office, a CT scan, MRI, blood test and many months of staying with my parents while I suffered from cognitive function problems, continuous nausea, headaches, heart palpitations, vertigo, fainting spells, stumbling, the list goes on. After so many tests and specialists a Naturopath suspected I could possibly have Lyme Disease. This led me down the garden path of MD's, Neurologists and Internal Medicine specialists not willing to investigate or discuss the subject with me. I was so sick, terrified, frustrated and felt so abandoned and alone in my misery. I was referred by my Naturopath to a respected LLMD "Lyme Literate Medical Doctor" who while waiting for all other tests to be exhausted, had my blood drawn to be tested in Canada and the United States for evidence of Lyme Disease. I tested negative to current Canadian testing standards and positive for Lyme by the U.S. Lab. These test results, not absent of a clinical diagnosis for Lyme, took me to a crossroads of choosing between a road that led to no answers and continued misery or a plausible conclusion with a treatment plan leading me to potential wellness. I chose the latter.

Again, to make a long story short, I did 51 weeks of oral antibiotic treatment, which with its high points and low points, brought me back to being a functioning human being. I stopped taking those Antibiotics in November of 2007. I had already been doing a quite a bit of walking and exercising leading up to the end point of that treatment and was ready to start working again after another six weeks of rehab & rebuild. I had lost 35 lbs in 2006 and needed to get my strength back. Though, after a few months I was getting quite sick again: Nausea, vertigo and stumbling when I walk (and no I wasn't drunk, not then anyways).

I got back on the oral ABX (Antibiotics) and after a few weeks started getting better. But now what.... My LLMD had retired and I knew I was on the right track with treating this illness but do I need to change it up or kick it up a notch? Do I go to a clinic in Germany? Do I see a top Doc in the U.S.? Maybe the Infectious Disease department here could help me... NOT (That's a whole other merry-go-round of futility, politics and blatant ignorance... OK don't get me started (See http://ca.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=PvTnetTV)

I've met some great people along the way in this same boat that many of us find ourselves in. This brought me to this gift of life http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=lHsEMIdNZEk

The three of us saw, and are now in the care of, a great LLMD in California. I believe that he has the know-how to prescribe the treatment needed to get "My Health Back". Expensive... Yup... Gee thanks Canada (I will continue to fight for positive change in the guidelines of diagnosing and treating Lyme Disease in Canada) But, I need to get well to do that. Maybe pave the way, through my journey.

Marie is still in California on her uphill battle. I look forward to hearing more good things on her progress.

Shannon is back here in Canada with her Husband and kids and I... well I'm here, writing this post.

I'm jumping ahead here in the timeline, but for your sake and mine, I must. Shannon is back on IV Antibiotics for a couple months now and I just got my PICC line installed in my arm yesterday. This Picc line will allow me to run an IV daily which will deliver the antibiotics through my body more efficiently. Tomorrow I go to Shannon's for my first lesson in self administration IV Antibiotics. It's not like taking all these meds makes me feel great, it's tough on the body. I feel pretty awfull at times, though I must be strong and overcome what has been robbing me of my health. I'm a bit scared and freaked out about this whole IV process, it's the unknown for me. I am very lucky and so grateful that I am not alone and have the support these friends. I am glad we can help each other.