A walk in the woods is something I do regularly at weekends, rain or shine. I love being out in the countryside. Growing up in West Sussex, Sundays usually involved a walk around Arundel, Slindon, and Highdown Hill, to name a few. Of course as a teenager these walks were not appreciated, however twenty years later, being out in the countryside is one of my favourite things to do!
I first heard of Lyme disease when one of my favourite singers, Avril Lavigne, spoke out about it a few years ago. She took a break from music and came back with a song called ‘Head above Water.’ Listening to it now has a whole new meaning. I remember reading an article about her struggle with Lyme disease and being shocked by the effect it had had on her and the lack of support and information about it. It’s something you hear about and never in a million years do you think you’ll end up struggling with it. I feel there is a lot of uncertainty and not much understanding around the disease, which leaves you having to do a lot of research on it and basically figure the journey out on your own.
Like many other Friday afternoons, I had arranged to borrow my friend’s two Golden Retrievers and take them for a walk in the woods. It was a lovely day and so I was wearing shorts and trainers, like I have done a few times, and I thought nothing of it. I was out for about an hour and half having briefly stopped for lunch and a water break. It was the perfect head-space; just me and the dogs.
I had gone on to my sister’s house and I noticed I had been bitten just above my knee. I assumed it was just a harmless bug as I have been known to be munched in the past by bugs. Another bigger bite on the back of my calf appeared. It was a circular rash, but not itchy. I had taken an antihistamine and applied some bite cream but nothing quite took the edge off. I went out with the family a few days later. The bites were looking redder and bigger and they felt more sore. I was slightly starting to worry as no cream was helping at all. My partner had mentioned that potentially, a tick had bitten me. I didn’t think anything of it as I didn’t see or feel a tick biting me. I felt unusually tired by the evening and I was almost asleep on the sofa by 9pm. I was running a bit hot but as this was during summer, I felt most people were likely to be warmer than normal.
The bull’s eye rash started to come out Monday morning. I voice-noted my friend on the way to a physiotherapy appointment and sent her a photo of the bigger bite. I had promised I would pop to the pharmacy after my appointment.
A pharmacist told me to head straight to my GP surgery as it was a classic tick bite rash. Apprehensively, I walked the ten minutes to the surgery and panic had started to creep in. I’d been told about the seriousness of a tick bite by friends and family and now, I was living it.
Thankfully I didn’t have to wait too long in the Minor Injuries clinic. I was again told both bites were characteristic of a bull’s eye rash from a tick bite and this was the first time the words ‘Lyme disease’ cropped up. I felt like a rabbit in the headlights. I was told to draw a ring around the rash, and if it continued to get bigger, head to A&E. I was prescribed Doxycycline for 3 weeks and told the medication wouldn’t take any effect for 48 hours.
I walked home with a head full of Lyme and a bag full of antibiotics but with no real information of what it is, what can happen, what I should do after the antibiotics, what if the antibiotics don’t work…and nobody who really head any answers for me.
I was still feeling hot throughout Monday and occasionally shivery. The rash continued to grow. I really did not want a trip to A&E and so my partner phoned 111. Of course, we ended up in A&E anyway and again, I didn’t have to wait long. They drew a second circle around the bite rashes and said if they continued to grow, to come back and see a doctor.
I now have less than a week left of Doxycycline, and have felt completely alone with this the last couple of weeks. I have always been a very much ‘on the go’ person. If I’m not working, I am out with friends and family, or I am volunteering or dog walking. It’s rare I sit still for long. This has completely wiped me out and having no energy is probably been one of the hardest things about Lyme disease.
With there being so many unknowns about the disease, it has left me feeling deflated and like I am never going to get my energy levels back. Some days I feel more back to my normal self, others I’m exhausted and have to dig a bit deeper to find motivation.
Thankfully I came across Lyme Disease UK, reading through the information has given me a better understanding of the disease, the symptoms and how to live alongside it.