It Took 19 Years To Learn I Have Lyme Disease 

doctors don't always understand that they don't know everything and that patient is a human with so much invested in a visit.

it took me 4 years but thats only because I wasn't diagnosed until I got a fever so high I almost overheated and died. didn't know I had Lyme until I was hospitalized and it took them a whole day to diagnose

I've had Lyme disease for 7 years now and I'm 17 years old. I'm trying to spread awareness of Lyme. I ask people to please be patient with anyone with Lyme because we can't help it

I've had Lyme for 13 out of the 15 years of my life. It's sucks. I just got diagnosed 8 months ago so the process is just beginning. Hopefully I can reach remission in the next 3 years. I just want to be a teenager for once and not be in pain or fatigued etc. Chronic Lyme sucks but I have hope that one day I will beat this awful disease.

I'm purposely not watching this video cause I am a hypochondriac, I will instantly think have Lyme's disease

I had Chronic Lyme for 7 years before getting a diagnosis. My boyfriend had it for about 2 years. They told him he had cancer and had 6 months to live, meanwhile, he had Lyme disease. We lived 4 hours apart but actually met at the same doctors office. We have been together for a year now and he's still fighting. I am in remission. IV antibiotics saved our lives. Never give up hope. :)

I would love to see a video on tourettes, Im 21 and Ive struggled with it most of my life and its only gotten worse as Ive gotten older. You dont see a lot of represention out there for it and its INCREDIBLY misunderstood or misrepresented.

When people tell you that you're making up the pain, it is the most depressing thing to hear. Because there isn't anything you can do to make them understand that it's real and that you can feel it.

I'm still undiagnosed, been sick for over 4 years now and I'm miserable and in horrible pain every day. But, stuff like this gives me hope. Maybe one day, they'll get it, and I can start healing.

Buzzfeed should make a video on what it's like to have an "Invisible illness". Lyme, crohn's, POTS, hypothyroidism, migraine, etc are very debilitating but hard to get people to understand. If anyone has one of these "invisible illnesses", just know I'm here if you need to talk and it will get better as science advances :)

I really hate when people say depression is "just making stuff up in your head." It's not. It's a real medical condition. It's generally a chemical imbalance. It can cause mental and physical symptoms. I know it's not what she had, but by her dismissing even the possibility as "being crazy" and "making things up" really is frustrating to someone who has struggled their whole life with it. EDIT: This is not to say you should not press your doctors and find your diagnosis be it mental or physical. I know very well that doctors will write you off, and you have to take your health in your own hands. I've had physical as well as mental health issues. And sometimes depression can result as a part of or a product of a physical illness, but I am simply saying that depression is REAL and can come with both physical and emotional symptoms. And should've be written off as "in your head" as if you can just fix it by thinking hard enough about it for a few minutes. I'm very glad she got her diagnosis, and if you are searching for yours, best of luck. Just be open to look at ALL the avenues and don't write anything off as "all in your head."

I am 15 and have had chronic Lyme disease for 3 years and I'm finally starting to get better with treatment, so I can step out of the house and go on short walks with my dog:) this illness has made me appreciate the small things in life! And I can't wait to get better so I can see my friends and stuff like that in the future ❤️

Why am I such a hypochondriac? Now every time I'll get a simple headache I'm gonna be all freaked out...

It took my mom 35 years to figure out she had Lyme disease. And it took her 5 years of going to doctors to get her diagnosed with it. All while being a single mother and not having a high paying job. She also had to go through a 5 year long divorce that made her loose a ton of money. So thank you mom for taking care of me even though you had to go through all that.

Who ever is reading this I just want to tell you to have a great day and life

Honestly the American Healthcare System is horrendous. I get upset just thinking about all the people out there being told they're ok, when they're really not. My mom almost died when she contracted an infection from a procedure she was told she needed, but in reality was completely unnnecessary. She is still dealing with the repercussions today. She hasn't been able to shake this infection, all because of an incompetent doctor. But hey, that crappy doctor inspired me to go into the medical field, and after all the years of seeing my mom suffer from other chronic illnesses, I will fight to the death to help my patients. For anyone going through a similar struggle, know this; you know your body best. If you think something is wrong, something is wrong and don't let any doctor tell you differently.

I’ve had this for 13 years, and was just diagnosed today. I lost all of my 20’s to this. I am now 33 and just starting my first round of antibiotics. I was always treated for depression and anxiety, but my blood tests always looked like I had an infection, which doctors ignored. I failed almost every treatment (over 40 different pills and expensive TMS) for depression and anxiety. One doctor finally started to look into why my white cells were always so high, and it still took 4 more years. I’ve been through countless psychiatrists, an oncologist, 3 general practitioners, an endocrinologist, and tons of nurse practitioners and no one checked for this. You have to be your own advocate and keep insisting when you know something is wrong. Doctors would find what looked like an answer, then give up, or pass me off to a different specialist. I have been told I was just lazy more times than I can count, even by my own family and friends. Of course, now I find treatment after diagnosis is a whole new battle.

I'm 15 and it only took me like 3 weeks to figure out. I felt terrible the weeks in advance, I failed all my tests and it kept getting worse. Then one night I was so sore and just aching so bad all over and I didn't know what to do with myself and it was like 3am and I couldn't fall asleep. I crawled to the bathroom and just laid on the ground not knowing what to do with myself. I had to miss like 3 months of school and the whole time I had to just lay down all day long. My doctor thought I was crazy too, they thought I was being dramatic over the flu and he didn't test my blood or anything. I can't imagine having it as long as you did. This was all over a year ago and i still feel so exhausted sometimes.

I was finally diagnosed with Lyme after I got Bell's Palsy and half my face was paralyzed. Had to get a PICC line when I was 12 because of how debilitating it was. My doctors are pretty sure my scleroderma morphea was caused by my Lyme too. And I was never anxious or depressed before I was diagnosed but after I got sick my mental health went down hill. Lyme is a lot more serious than people realize.

I've had Lymes and a few co infections for a few years now and it is so nice that Lymes is becoming more mainstream. I went to a big hospital with really 'high up' doctors and he basically told me I needed to see a psychiatrist. He told me that I wasn't able to to go school because I didn't want to (I actually really like going to class) and it was all in my head. A year later, I found an amazing doctor and am hopefully in the last stretch of my recovery

Most of Today’s doctors shouldn’t even be called doctors

I wasn't diagnosed for 15 years. But I thankfully got treatment and just finished a master's degree!

I’ve had Lyme for at least 20 years and just got diagnosed about a year ago. Having an invisible disease is so hard, but there are way more resources and answers now then there used to be. I’m a “full of life, get it done” type of person but I quickly found out that, with Lyme, the more I push the worse it gets. It makes me feel guilty when I’m going to bed when I get home instead of spending time with my family. Especially when I’m cranky and just want to be by myself. I hate being this way, but I can’t make it go away. Lyme is no joke! Hugs and prayers to all who are fighting this. We will beat this and come out the other side better for it!

Great that buzzfeed is raising awareness for Lyme. I contracted it at 14, had very quite mild symptoms for years (stiff neck, swollen knees, back pain, short term memory and concentration problems) it went crazy after a car crash at 28yrs and I developed severe symptoms, most visibly leg weakness, so I am in a wheelchair now. Other things are not great either: eye, face and body twitching, forgetting words, short term memory gone crazy. I have moments I get so tired I cannot move, cannot hold my head up, cannot talk. It is disgraceful how many doctors are trying to tell you it is psychological. But we just cannot let go, you have to keep going! Hi to all Lyme sufferers out there, keep up the great work!!!

Thank you for sharing this story. As someone who has gone through the EXACT same thing and who is still really struggling, it is comforting to know I'm not alone. The feeling like your crazy is the worst part. I hope you are doing well now :) Sending love and support

You should do something about POTS. It needs more awareness and sucks as it takes a while for the doctors to finally pin it down as the diagnosis.

it's one of the things why I hate doctor. i dont expect them to know everything but I know how I feel. I'm not going to you freely I'M PAYING you to help me. the least you can do is not be so condescending and arrogant to dismiss what I am telling you that i feel is wrong with my body. I feel like there need to be a course or some other means where you can demand a treatment you want, maybe go through some form or something but you can have that control to get what you want.

I have had Lyme disease for 2 years and it caused sinus issues and anxiety and other things but now I am starting to feel better

OMG I feel so bad for her,shocking how she didn't know

Btw. Avril Lavigne had Lyme disease. That's why she took a break. Or you can believe the conspiracy theories that actually kinda makes sense. Your choice.

This video is important

Both my mom and I were diagnosed this year with Lyme. Both of us struggled for years, everyone denying that we are sick, everyone claimed that we were just depressed and that the pain and struggle we feel is just in our heads. It's ridiculous that it always takes so long for people with lyme disease to get the diagnosis and get treated, it really breaks my heart.

Thank you for this wonderful, tragic, beautiful video. It's very real, and as someone who has experienced what it's like when doctors misdiagnose you, I also know it's very common and usually preventable.

A friend of mine is in the same situation. It is crazy, she wakes up in the middle of the night with so much pain in her back that she is throwing up all night. She went to the UK because our doktors say that it is between het ears. Now they found out she has post lime disease. I wish you the best!

this is too real. Lyme disease and coinfections are awful. for many chronic illnesses, this is the reality. and the worst part is, there is no cure and it takes many trial medicines to find something that helps you.

I was tested for Lymes disease and turned out I have Chrons disease, it feels very similar and the symptoms are almost exactly alike. My doctor did everything to help me figure out what was wrong she knew I was sick, and she did. I'm not healed but I am on medicine to help me, I always have pain and am tired. People tell me "not to get old" but I'm physically older than they are I'm not even 20 yet, and have had a lot of hardships but things will always get better.

Amazing! I love her insight and her decision to follow her inner voice. I recently discovered I had Lyme after I got Bell's Palsy , late stage Lyme and had to drop out of med school, Still recovering. It is the hardest and most misunderstood disease. Definitely requires more awareness.

I'm 19 and I have chronic fatigue syndrome and I kept getting told I was just seeking attention or just making it up, but when you finally get the diagnosis from the correct doctor it makes you feel as if you were right to believe that there is something wrong with your body and to listen to yourself. I kept getting tests done and being ignore and even being referred to a young people mental health centre, but I stood my ground and told the doctor it's my physical health that's not right, not my mental. Thankfully it only took me six months for a diagnosis but when you do get sick you just want the name, so you can justify when you're feeling sick.

let's hear it for us POTSies! I know exactly (with each own experiences) what you went through, I've had major health problems (not just POTS) and have been through 20 different doctors. I'm so sorry you've had to go through this too. This gave me some more hope for myself.

get a bigger tank for the fish in the opening

As someone with chronic lyme it means a lot that you guys made this video. Thank you for brining more awareness to this disease.

I have this too. I want to share this on my social media because it's a great advocacy and educational video. I'm sad because of the two swear words (and the F word is a big one) I won't be sharing this. Just my personal stance not to share things with curse words. So BuzzFeed, please know more people might share this valuable information were it clean language. It's a shame. I really wanted my family, kids, and friends to watch this. Chronic Lyme disease is the worst I have ever gone through. Katie, thank you for your courage and tenacity. Best wishes on your recovery.

Now I'm scared if I have a disease 🌚

Ugh breaks my heart... this is extremely relatable. I went undiagnosed for 16 years. ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Such an amazing video... I'm a vet tech at an animal hospital and not only have I seen this disease affect animals lives but I've heard some terrible stories involving humans as well. So glad that she was able to find such kind doctors after such a long time, almost every story I've heard about this disease at work has almost always ended in such a disgusting way. Hopefully this issue becomes much more serious within the next few years, as it's affected so many lives and like her doctor said, this is NOT an easy thing to go through.. xx

I have struggled with Lyme disease for about 6 years now. I have been to many doctors but they didnt know what was wrong. They just said that it will get better and told me to stay active and positive. We listened to them but working out was just making it way worse. After a couple of years and many doctors we now know that I have Lyme disease and will start my treatment in 2 weeks. I am very happy that we have found some cure and I hope it works. Lyme disease definitely needs more attention and awareness.

You guys should do something on Celiac Disease. It sucks.

It took me nine years. I'm 15 and i've missed 100 days of school just last year alone. I've had MRIs, CT Scans, blood tests, etc. and it wasn't even MY doctors (all 27 of them) who figured it out, it was my mothers doctor. See, my mom was extremely stressed out because of my situation, and she told her doctor how stressed she was, and her doctor said that I have Lyme Disease and she recommended a Lyme Disease Specialist. It was just earlier this year (March) that I was FINALLY diagnosed with something. I had so many different medications that all made me sick, and i've had to play around with different medications to see how different things reacted with me. On the blood test my Lyme specialist made me get, it says i'm positive for Lyme Disease, yet all of my doctors still say i don't have it. My pediatrician got so pissed off when i told him I was being treated for Lyme Disease that-in the middle of my physical-he yelled at my mother and I, and then slammed to door and stormed out of the room. I've had a headache every single day, 24/7 since August 2009 (I was 8 years old then, and my neurologist said "having a headache free day is just too much to ask for"), chronic pneumonia, anxiety, derealization, OCD, nausea, stomach pains, broken bones (Lyme Disease screws up your bone structure, so i've broken all 10 of my toes just by walking), sore throats, vision problems, and asthma.

I know it's ridiculous to be commenting something like this on a video like this, but this girl is so pretty. I don't want to make it about looks or anything because that doesn't matter and I don't want to make it seem like such a trivial thing is more important than her struggle. It's just something I noticed. Also, her long hair pics make me miss my long hair.

I started getting really sick in my teens. Fast forward to now & I'm 33. I've been housebound (& sonetimes bedridden) for 6 yrs. I was misdiagnosed all that time & my symptoms got worse & worse. Only recently did they find I had Lyme Disease, Babesia, & Bartonella. I'm a year into treatment & am starting to see improvements. I've been able to leave the house a bit here & there & it's the best feeling ever. My mom even took me to get my hair done. I previously was not able to sit up for that long. I'm so glad buzzfeed made a video on this. If your sick with Lyme, don't give up. I know how disabling & heart breaking it is. I can't wait until I'm able to truly live again & will fight for that every day.

Thank you so much for sharing this. I have had chronic Lyme Disease as well as other co infections for almost twenty years now. If you ever want to talk or need some support as all us Lymies do please feel free to contact me. Stay strong

I have had Lyme disease for 17 years, I'm 19. I live in Australia so it is even harder to get that diagnosis here. I have had so much pain my entire life, but was only diagnosed 2 years ago after probably around 30 different doctors.

You're a true inspiration

I was hospitalized with pneumonia when I was 11, and got a false negative on a Lyme disease test. Fast forward through a dozen doctors and three years of being bedridden and untreated, I finally found a doctor who was confident that I'd had Lyme that whole time. (And in the meantime, because of the damage to my immune system, I additionally developed multiple other co infections or chronic illnesses.) After over a year of taking up to 60 pills a day, I've finally tested (very) positive on a Lyme test. My POINT is that this video is not only extremely comforting to people with the same condition, but is also very important. Lyme/Chronic Lyme is a serious illness that is commonly misdiagnosed. All I ask is that those of you reading this NEVER make anyone experiencing health issues feel insignificant because of their limits or because they're having trouble being diagnosed. Also big thanks to buzzfeed for telling this woman's story and spreading the word!

Their also told its all in your head. Being undiagnosed for so long causes long term issues. The bacteria attacks cartilage. My mother had a partial knee replacement at the age of 40 before being diagnosed. The treatment is VERY expensive. It's so important that you find a doctor that will listen and will fight with you.

Is the service dog related to her having Lyme disease? I don't know much about the disease so idk

What kind of doctor doesnt take their patient seriously?. You wont find this kind of attitude in Asia.

I just didn't understand why she has a service dog, can anyone explain me?

I also have chronic Lyme disease and while I could never accept that it was only in my head, so I went from doctor to doctor, and researched the possible causes on my own, it still took 7 years and almost losing my ability to walk to get diagnosed. My story is really similar to hers, my problems also started at university, same with sleep, the pains, brainfog, yet there are still people who would say I was imagining things...

I'm so so excited to see this video, my dad has Lyme disease and has for 7 ish years. He hasn't been able to work for about 6 years. I've never seen anything in the media about Lyme disease, I'm so so glad that buzzfeed is bringing awareness to the disease!

Can you guys make a video like this for Multiple Sclerosis !!?

My tick bite was between 1982 and 1984. My Lyme disease diagnosis was 3 decades later in June 2013.

I contracted Lyme in France at age 15. Got told I was a hypochondriac + all the things you listed too until I got diagnosed in the US at nearly 40 years old. 18 months of hell with double doses of antibiotics etc later, I'm Lyme free - but with severe nerve damage due to Lyme - my body's immediate respond to stimuli as gentile as a caress are a feel of being burnt or scratched. Good luck to all of you Lymies out there. Have faith. Keep fighting! Xoxo.

You have her, and then you have those people that really are just freaking out over a cold or a sneeze or a headache. She was going through some serious stuff! Real stuff! But it annoys me to see people going to the doctor for something as small as hurting your wrist or having a cough.

I habe neurological symptoms, heart issues now, arthritis, and other things. I'm tired all the time. No one believes me. It is very hard. I have a 12 year old son. He's the best. He's the only reason why I'm still on earth!

my best friend has Lyme disease and usually I don't like buzzfeed but I'm glad they made this video. Lyme disease needs more awareness and has to be taken seriously. It has been so so so hard on her and it's just great to see that big corporations are talking about it. everyone please be aware of this disease and buy Lyme awareness bracelets to donate money to help research with Lyme disease.

Congratulations for getting better, but what she said is once again sad proof for the stigma against psychological disorders. It's not about "making symptoms up".

What the hell. Buzzfeed uploaded something actually interesting? Wow. hahah :D

This was such an inspiring video. I have had health problems my whole life, which have gotten severely worse after I had a major surgery a year ago. I developed severe migraines, I feel terrible almost 100% of the time and I miss tons of school. And my mom always tells me that it's my depression that is causing me to feel so bad. We still have no idea what is wrong with me, but I hope someday we'll find out and we'll be able to get better treatments. For now, it's really hard to stay motivated every day, but you just have to find a way.

I was diagnosed at 2 and I’m 17 rn I have to battle with this every single day stay strong ik it’s hard but if I can do it you all can too.💞😭

The health care system is appalling. What a bunch of quacks.

I got Lyme disease and it wasn't that serious at all. Like I got it felt awful for 3 weeks and it's never come back, am I thinking of something else's?

I thought if you have Lymes for that long it damages your brain and has more severe effects.

Thanks for this, and for being so open! I had a good friend and a niece get treatment for Lymes disease down in Arizona. sounds a lot like your treatment, where they felt a lot worse before they got better. Those in the medical field have got to stop relying on their own experiences, and really listen to their patients. I'm glad you're doing so much better now.

I left my freshman year of college less than a week after starting because of how sick I was - I'd been getting progressively worse over the summer leading up to school but wrote it off as having a stressful year and being overworked. A few months after coming home from college, I went to a functional doctor who was finally able to diagnose me after years of being told by doctor's that they didn't know what was wrong. I have a severe case of late-term Lyme disease, Babesia, Bartonella, POTs Syndrome, and tick-borne relapsing fever; based on my past medical history, it's likely that I've dealt with these invisible illnesses for over a decade, though getting COVID this past summer catalyzed them to an intensity I hadn't before experienced. I'm now on treatments and, as thankful as I am to have a diagnosis, feel hopeless most days. It's difficult to want a sense of normalcy and experience "regular" things like college - I'm nearly twenty and don't know when I can get back on campus because achieving remission will take one to two years (maybe even more). It's so hard having to try to explain to people why I can't visit with them, why I'm not in school, why I'm always home, etc...people don't take me seriously and assume I'm exaggerating when I have several debilitating illnesses that have plagued me for years and are now robbing me of a young adult life. Sorry for the rant, y'all! It just hurts to be mentally at war with yourself while undergoing treatments/physical ailments and receive scorn rather than empathy. Thank you Buzzfeed for raising awareness and I hope whoever is reading this is able to reach health, vitality, and LIFE!

I'm 15 years old i have have had Lyme disease since birth but we only found out 5 years ago, my father has Lyme, the doctors thought i was copping him, i has diagnosed with sever anxiety, chronic fatigue even arthritis, i was diagnosed with Lyme and i am so lucky that i found an amazing doctor who is putting me on to the road of recovery i am truly blessed for that, stay strong everyone out there who is suffering, it does get better xoxoxo

I'm suffering from many problems in my body for 6 years and still i don't know what's going on...this video gives me the hope that everything will be figured out no matther what it takes...😃

How the hell did they "test" her for chronic fatigue syndrome?

So happy they're talking about things like this. A lot of doctors don't even believe chronic Lyme disease is real. I have a different chronic illness and it took me 8 years to get a full diagnosis, and it's super common to have to take this long to get help.

My mom has Lyme disease and it took her around 35 years to find out she had it. She went to multiple doctors until one had the answer. She found out she had Lyme about 4 years ago. Before she was diagnosed, I was about 7 years old and it was terrible to watch a loved one lay in bed for days on end. She could barely walk around. Then she got a pickline and it helped her a lot. My summers were mostly spent either at home or always with my friends. I could go on, and on, and on about this, so let's get to the happy part! She finally started to get better! She also found out that since that her B-12 levels were low, she was having a lot of vertigo. That was most of the reason why she couldn't get out of bed. Then, about a week ago, she started to get B-12 shots, and she is SO MUCH BETTER!!! She goes out all the time and she is 99% closer to being her Lyme-free self!😊😊😊 Now don't get me wrong, there is no cure for late-stage Lyme disease, but hopefully, one day, there will be!!! Thank you for reading until the end of this, and please, please, PLEASE spread the word of Lyme.

this is giving me so much hope for myself. i've been experiencing disabling muscular fatigue for months now and i've been tested for many things of which no answer has shown up for. i already have had type 1 diabetes for 8 years so living with a disease is not new to me, but this is completely different and i'm also dealing with suicidal ideation. i have no clue what it could be but i'm going to figure it out and when i know how to treat it my life is going to change for the better. this video is making me cry happy tears.

It took 6 years to diagnose my lyme disease, and even then no western medical doctors believed I had it. I appreciate this video so much, I definitely don't ever hear any inspirational stories about those with lyme disease, it feels good to know I'm not alone. I did cure my lyme disease about a year ago, and it has still taken a toll on my immune system. Thank you for this video!

scary stuff

I was recently diagnosed with lyme disease and these comments are scaring me a little bit. I've started to feel some of the affects of it and have realized that some of my past health issues may be connected to it. it really sucks because people just think I'm being lazy or whatever but sometimes I physically just can't do anything; I'm too weak or my body aches like when you have the flu. sometimes it even hurts for me to breathe. I'm just glad that my doctor actually checked for it otherwise who knows what would have happened

Hope that everyone with any disease cure and be happy again. Reading comments in this video of ppl saying they have/ their family have Lyme makes me so sad that they are struggling, I hope you'll always be strong and happy ❤️

Who else saw this while watching jessii vee

This is need to publicized. I had it for 30 years, misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue, lifetime of depression, destroyed my career, ended up on disability. And it was always treatable!

I'm in tears right now. I am 19 years old and just 2.5 months ago I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). For years I've struggled with nausea, tremors, poor coordination, extreme exhaustion, dizziness, muscle spasms, numb limbs, trouble walking. The list goes on. It took several doctors until I was finally properly diagnosed. A part of me was scared of what's to come but the other part of me was relieved. It is hard at times, but I'm so thankful that I finally know what was causing everything. Today I feel better than ever and I am so thankful for every minute.

It took me 28 years to learn I have Lyme disease. Will be beginning treatment soon. Thanks for your video.

I am 15, a year ago I was diagnosed with Lyme disease. Turns out I've had it for four or five years. It became really bad for a while before we finally figured out what it was, I was suicidal, I'd have EXTREME mood swings, violent fits of rage, huge anxiety, chronic insomnia for over a year, sometimes I'd go 4-5 days without sleep(I'm now taking melatonin tablets for it, and they have changed my life), I couldn't think, or go to school, I had extreme back/neck/jaw pain(fibromyalgia), and various other symptoms eg. Urinary issues, headaches, light sensitivity. The list goes on. At the time people called my a hypochondriac when I complained, and I too, started to believe I was just over-sensitive and everyone experienced this. We started to think something was seriously wrong when the chronic insomnia started, eventually I had my blood sent to Armin labs, in Germany, it came back positive for Lymes, and a few other viruses. This disease is a lot more common than you'd think, the cases are growing rapidly each year, and if left undiagnosed it will destroy your life. I would strongly recommend getting tested if you are experiencing any of the symptoms a lot, and there are so many, some more inhibiting than others, you should look them up, because it can be very vague and hard to diagnose.

I'm glad that lyme disease is finally getting the attention it needs. My mother has suffered from chronic lyme disease for the majority of her life, and of the three kids (out of five) that were tested, all tested positive for lyme. I was one of the kids who tested positive. Many people believe that lyme can only be passed by ticks. That is very wrong, it can be passed through breast milk, sex, and blood. The symptoms of lyme are things that you wouldn't associate with being sick, exhaustion, ADD, dyslexia, and restless leg syndrome to name a few. The reason why it took so long for my mother to find out she had lyme was the way she was being tested. The common test for lyme disease cannot identify chronic lyme, it takes a through test which, unfortunately, is a lot more expensive. I hope this may have helped someone, I know my mom would have liked to of heard this information a long time ago.

Thank you for bringing awareness.....I have been fighting Chronic Lyme Disease for a few years now...

This is so amazing! I feel really glad that you guys mentioned POTS in this video as I struggle with that. I really love this!

I have chronic Lyme Diease and I love to see buzzfeed bring some awareness to Lyme It give me some hope buzzfeed plz do a vid on scoliosis plz plz plz

happy for you..hope you help others clearing their paths too

This makes me so sad. I've had chronic migraines for three years, side and rib pains for a few months. I'm tired all the time, I get morning sickness. I have panic attacks at night. Everyone tells me stress, even in summer when I'm never stressed. No one ever gave me medicine or help. "Just don't be stressed" is the only help I ever get from doctors, which is hard because it affects everything I do.

So awesome to watch! I'm 16 and was just told in the last 3 months I had Lyme disease for years. It was such a relief to know what was wrong. I'm still figuring out my treatment. but knowing is amazing. She is such an inspiration. not many people really understand lyme and it's cool to know someone else feels the same way

You are so inspiring! I've experienced the same attitude from doctors recently. I experienced a sudden illness last year with a lot of vertigo & nausea, & it's continued with a host of other issues since. My doctors can't figure it out, & since my last appointment, I haven't heard from them. It's been about 4 months. I'm very frustrated & sometimes do feel crazy. Thank u so much for posting this. ❤️

I was bedridden almost two months due to a kidney infection. I was given medications for symptoms I wasn't even having. I was having terrible side effects and allergic reactions which made me even more sick. All due to the fact that because I am a 20 year old woman, I was not taken seriously by doctors. This is an epidemic in this country and it needs to stop. It has been almost a year and I am still dealing with the after effects of being so sick. I have not worked. Every day is a battle.

this woman is incredible shes still a happy person after all shes been through amazing!!!!