Brenda N's Biography

A lot of Lymies that I have featured here, I haven't had the pleasure to meet in person. Brenda N. is an exception to that statement. I met Brenda in a small town of North Carolina. Her family had gone to the huge Lyme Walk in DC. When Brenda made the comment of how she wished we could have a walk in North Carolina, her sisters were determined to make it happen. They did just that. To read more about the Lyme Walk, see my personal blog Living the Lyme Life.

Back to Brenda:

Brenda is a 49 year old Lymie originally from Virginia, but she now lives in a small town in North Carolina. Prior to getting Lyme Disease, she had never been sick. If you roll up Brenda's Fibromyaglia, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure and neurological issues all into one nasty disease, you have Lyme Disease with coinfections.

Brenda is well on her way to remission and while it may sound like a lot the symptoms that remain are Neurological issues, spinal and knee pain, swelling of some joints, fatigue and sometimes feeling disoriented. This is miles from where Brenda used to be. In the late 70's, Brenda was treated for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. She was hospitalized for a full week on IV antibioitcs and made a full recovery. She went on to live a full and productive life for years.

Brenda got married and had a wonderful daughter (that I've also met!) who is now 30 years old. In 2008, she was bitten again by a tick and diagnosed in 2009 by her primary physician with Lyme. Three weeks into Doxycycline, her doctor sent her to an Infectious Disease Doctor. This is where it is unreal to those without Lyme, but those of with Lyme have heard this story a multitude of times. The Infectious Disease Doctor told Brenda that she did not have Lyme Disease and she needed to stop the Doxy right away. Another year passes and her health continues to decline faster and faster.

After this year, she finally sees a Rheumatologist and she requests that Brenda repeats the Lyme tests. Brenda says, "Well you guessed it, another positive." She couldn't believe it especially after the specialist said that she did not have it. She goes onto another round of Doxy and since so much time had passed since her initial bite, the infection had spread into her spinal cord and brain. Brenda has been in treatment since 2010 and believes her doctor has saved her life. She was having seizures. She was using a wheelchair and now she's walking on her own two feet. Brenda feels, "Mind you, it is not as great as others walk but it is wonderful to me :) "

Currently her treatment plan includes: Doxycycline, Mycobutin and Cefdinir. She's pulsing these at 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. Her other medications include: Gapapentin, Oxcarbasepine, L Methyfolate, Lamotrigine, Cymbalta, B12 shots and Hydroclorothiazide. Along with all of these Brenda takes Omega 3, Magnesium Malate, Vitamin D, Tocotrienols, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Probiotics and a multivitamin. She also does a lemon drink for liver cleanse, eats a lot of sunflower seeds (for MSM, which is good for inflammation), lots of Orange Juice and Detox Baths with Epsom salt and baking soda. Brenda has been in physical therapy for 13 weeks now. She uses Electro Stimulation and recently started Water Therapy.

Her cousin is currently being tested for Lyme Disease. Brenda needs prayers for her days that not as good. Brenda is such a special person that she wants to be there for anyone who is having a rough day. She believes that praying together or praying for one who is sick helps. She says, "Prayer does work, I truly believe that. Sharing prayers and faith together will surely get us through the difficult times of this disease." I couldn't have said it better myself.