Fresh Fruit Fit: From Pills to Plants: How My Mom Found Hope For Lyme Disease

My mother is the most beautiful person I know both inside and out. But about 15 years ago something happened that drastically changed our lives forever. Her Lyme Disease flared up.

Not familiar with Lyme Disease? Check out the following infographic.

Source: Nursing School Hub

This disease is more common than you think and more devastating than people realize.

I don't know about you, but I personally know almost a dozen people with Lyme Disease.

While it seems that the most common symptom is pain, there are also many more. Here are some other symptoms:

Muscle twitch, muscle pain or cramps
Racing heart
Tingling or numb extremities
Headaches, sound sensitivity, light sensitivity, double or blurry vision
Bell’s Palsy (partial facial paralysis)
Chest pain or rib soreness
Persistent swollen glands
Joint pain, swelling or stiffness
Confusion, difficulty in thinking; using the wrong words
Forgetfulness, disorientation
Mood swings, irritability, depression, anxiety, panic attacks.
Gastrointestinal problems, including nausea, vomiting, IBS.
Possible connections to Fibromyalgia (FMS), ADHD, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder and more — because Lyme disease impacts the HPA (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis), and many of these illnesses are associated with HPA imbalance. [Source]

I remember when my mother's Lyme Disease flared up.

I was young and didn't understand what was going on... I don't know if anyone really did at the time. Since my mom is not a complainer, I only knew of the visible and interactive symptoms and not the ones she was feeling inside. Not only did her body swell (edema), but also her cognitive abilities started to wane. I remember having conversations with my mom and having to repeat myself multiple times because she forgot almost immediately what we were talking about or what was said.

Initially, doctors thought she was crazy.

They kept recommending her to see a psychiatrist. But we all knew she wasn't; we knew her pain was real. Eventually, she was diagnosed and put on heavy antibiotics and other strong medicines. This really affected my mom in a horrible way – digestion, weight, pain, cognition, and even her personality.