Watch Connie Strasheim, author of "The Lyme Disease Survival Guide," on her new video blog!
|
|
2773 Members
24 Forums
4636 Topics
6017 Posts
Max Online: 251 @ 12/25/10 12:01 AM
|
|
|
#6082 - 09/07/11 12:22 PM
KT Pierce - Member Profile
|
ktpie
New Researcher
Registered: 09/03/11
Posts: 7
|
Hi, guys! I figure I'll just follow the guidelines directly and answer all these questions:
1. Name? KT Pierce
2. Gender? Female
3. Where do you live? Asheville, NC
4. Picture
5. Do you currently live with anyone? Yes. My boyfriend, Rama. I'm going ask him to join this forum. He's better at research & asking questions than I am. He does not have Lyme.
6. Do you have family (related by blood or not -- siblings, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, etc.. or very good friends that you consider family)?
-If yes, are they aware of your illness and how supportive are they? What have you done to help your family understand TBIs?
Yes, immediate family. 2 sisters & parents still happily married. They are aware of my illness, but they don't know anything about it and are not into doing any research. My dad continuously asks me to eat a Snickers bar when I have stomach pain. He told my boyfriend once that he thinks I just need to get outside and do some hard work in the sun, and sweat a little bit, then I'll be all better. My oldest sister understands to some degree, and even if she doesn't completely, she is the most supportive of my family.
7. Is Lyme Borreliosis a diagnosis or diathesis (diathesis = suspician)? Diagnosis. Clinical + 3 blood tests.
8. Do you know if you have any co-infections? Yes. I don't know what, exactly, though.
9. What symptoms do you have? Candida overgrowth, Fibromyalgia, skin sensitivity, severe brain fog, whole body inflammation with trigger points & traveling pain, fluctuating vision with massive floaters, stomach pains (digestion), frequent urination, insomnia, depression, paranoia, chronic fatigue/weakness, triggered memories from trauma, and mood instability (irritability).
10. Do you want to be connected with a Lyme Literate Doctor (LLMD)? I just began seeing one in Asheville who also happens to have Lyme.
11. Was your TBI(s) a clinical diagnosis or serological?
-When? I'm not sure what TBI means.
12. Where (country/state/province/region) do you suspect the infection is from? Alexander City, Alabama or Timothy Lake, Oregon.
13. What were you doing when you suspect (or know) you were bit? No clue. I've never seen a tick on me. I have been hiking and camping my whole life, though. I'm definitely an outdoors person... or 'was'..
14. How long did it take to get a dignosis since you first starting feeling sick? Over 3 years of serious pain, prior to that, I'd say around 12 years.
15. Did you have any blood work or other testing done?
-If yes, can you remember which tests were performed, at what lab, and what were the results? IgeneX. I don't have the paperwork in front of me.
16. Are you undergoing any current treatment?
-If yes, please describe. I attempted antibiotics and had a severe reaction (not just herx) and they couldn't seem to find any that my body could handle. The antibiotics also created & left me with permanent symptoms involving hearing sensitivity, more digestion problems, and candida overgrowth. I am on a strict diet as outlined by the book Lyme Disease Solution and have been stuck on Phase 2 for months (it's only supposed to last 3 weeks, but my body rejects any new foods from Phase 3). I eat totally organic and our eggs come from our free range chickens here at home. I am trying various herbs for symptomatic relief and other supplements.
17. Have you tried but failed any courses of treatment?
-If yes, please describe. As stated above, antibiotics don't work.
18. What are your hobbies to keep you busy while going through down times? COMPUTER!! That's pretty much all I do. Edit photos (I am a photographer, and I spend about 1 day out of every 2 weeks photographing), hang out on Facebook, forums, etc.
19. Do you work?
-If so, where and and what is your job? What challenges do you face?
-If you don't work, what challenges do you face in your day to day lives of trying to keep your proverbial head above water?
I can't work. I want to work, but not until this is completely cured. Every job I've attempted to take on in the last 3 years has resulted in my employer regretfully having to let me go due to my condition. I just keep busy on the computer with art, research, and socializing.
20. Do you recommend any websites about TBIs above others? Again, I don't know what TBI stands for.
21. Do you have a Care-Giver (or more than one)?
-If so, who takes care of you when you are unable? How does a CG help you in your day to day life? My boyfriend is my caregiver. He cooks all my meals and does most/all of the Lyme research for me. He also puts up with my mood instability.
22. Do you belong to any other support groups or forums for Lyme and related diseases? Yes
23. Do you receive Federal or State aid? No. I wish.
Misc:
24. How long have you been online? Have a favourite (non-Lyme related) website? Since age 14 (so about 17 years).. I'm pretty addicted to Facebook & ModelMayhem (since I'm a photographer)
25. Read any good books lately? No. I wish. I'm a huge Stephen King fan.
26. What is your favourite memory? Summer of 2006 when I went out on the lake with friends and camped out on an island.. then floated on a boat in the middle of the night, staring at stars.
27. Are you normally a morning or a night person? NIGHT!
28. Do you have any pet peeves? People who don't know the difference between "loose" and "lose", "to" and "too", "your" and "you're", "then" and "than", and commonly misspelled things like this. I also can't handle pressure or sudden changes to plans.
29. Who is your hero/heroine? My oldest sister, April. Or Dr. Lisa Grasman (my former chiropractic healer in Seattle, WA)
30. What is your favourite TV Show? LOST. But as far as running shows: Fringe or So You Think You Can Dance
31. What is your favourite type of music? No particular genre. I DO NOT like indie music, country music, or gangster rap.
32. Who is your favourite band or musical artist? I love Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Mr. Bungle, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and several underground groups.
33. If you could learn a new trade or hobby of any kind, what would you choose? Cinematography or foreign language. I also wish I could sew.
34. How do you feel today? Tired/sleepy, mildly irritable, and cold/clammy.
---------------------------------------------------
That's me! 
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#6083 - 09/07/11 12:24 PM
Re: KT Pierce - Member Profile
[Re: ktpie]
|
ktpie
New Researcher
Registered: 09/03/11
Posts: 7
|
Part 2
I have a YouTube channel if you want to get to know me, too.
http://www.youtube.com/KTandRama
<3
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#6085 - 09/07/11 02:53 PM
Re: KT Pierce - Member Profile
[Re: ktpie]
|
BryanRosner
Forum Veteran
Registered: 11/08/06
Posts: 264
Loc: Mountains of Northern CA
|
Welcome to the forum! How is your treatment progressing?
_________________________
Bryan Rosner
DISCLAIMER: Bryan Rosner is a journalist, not a healthcare provider or doctor.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#6086 - 09/14/11 09:18 PM
Re: KT Pierce - Member Profile
[Re: BryanRosner]
|
ktpie
New Researcher
Registered: 09/03/11
Posts: 7
|
You look familiar. I feel like I've seen a video on YouTube somewhere with you in it...
My treatment isn't progressing. I'm on 30 different things and I've been doing this for about 6 months. I can't tell if I feel any better. I'm not doing antibiotics. I'm trying to go the natural route (herbs/supplements).. but I feel like I'm being pulled in a million directions with this.
I have no idea if you'll ever see this reply..
I think my biggest problem right now is trauma. Several of my best friends are dead and that's not really even the worst of it.
I don't know what to say. I'm not sleeping. I posted a link to my YouTube vlogs, so maybe you saw that, if you clicked on the link.
Last month, a tree fell through our house and now we're in a place that we can't afford which leaves little remainder for any kind of treatment.
I don't know what to do.
Sorry. I'm in a bad mood at the moment. I'm usually more cheerful. It's 5:17am and I've been anxiously trying to sleep for hours, so I decided to check my email, google informed me that this thread is now open to the public.. so I decided to read what I wrote and decide whether or not to delete it. Then, I saw your response (which I was not expecting).
The End.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: Willo
|
|
This doctor just released the first book about Lyme written by an M.D. Learn More.
|
|
0 registered
and 28 anonymous users online.
|
|
|
New
posts in this forum since you last visited
No
new posts