Fears for the Future

Last Updated on November 8, 2024 by Nell Marie

Sometimes, I’m afraid.

I’m approaching my 17th year with Lyme disease—a disease that has filled each day with constant inflammation, pain, fatigue, and a range of symptoms that never quite leave.

It’s been 17 years of this, and though I try to stay positive, I sometimes find myself wondering how long my body can keep up this fight.

I’m not one to dwell on fear or let it consume me, but the thoughts do come.

I wonder if my body will reach a breaking point and lose the battle to Lyme. There are some very real possibilities: Lyme-induced ALS or MS, or other conditions that Lyme can induce or mimic.

These fears may sound heavy, but if you don’t have chronic Lyme, or know much about it, it can be hard to understand how serious this disease truly is.

The CDC has historically downplayed Lyme, and many doctors still fail to recognize it as a complex, long-term illness.

This can leave people like me feeling isolated, as though the system itself doesn’t believe what we’re going through.

After all these years, I know that Lyme disease was likely the trigger for my other health challenges, like chronic pain, migraine headaches, and POTS.

It’s as if Lyme opened a doorway, allowing these other illnesses to emerge or intensify.

Living with Lyme can be like living with an unpredictable storm—some days are a little better, others are nearly impossible.

Lyme disease is serious. It has the potential to reshape lives, altering dreams and futures. But there is hope, too.

Many people can reach a sort of remission with proper treatment.

I’ve been in treatment for 14 years now, and I hold onto the hope that healing is possible.

Unfortunately, not everyone finds that pathway to healing.

Some people’s bodies simply don’t reach a place of recovery, and it’s not because they didn’t try hard enough or missed a step. It’s just how this disease is—sometimes random, sometimes cruel.

So, I keep going. I keep fighting, pushing, and praying. I stay grateful for each day I get to be here and hope for many more to come.

I fight for myself, for my family, and for the friends I’ve lost to this disease.

Lyme disease has taken too many people too soon, and I refuse to let it take me without a fight.

If you’ve been bitten by a tick, please, take it seriously. Get tested as soon as possible and seek treatment early.

Early intervention can make all the difference, potentially stopping Lyme from turning into a lifelong struggle.

I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone, and I hope for a future where more people understand the seriousness of Lyme disease and the toll it can take.

Lyme is real. And while I may be afraid at times, I’m also determined to keep going. I’m here for every day I have, and I’ll continue to fight—for myself, for others living with chronic Lyme, and for those who’ve lost their battle. (Including two of my children, who also have Lyme disease.)