My Lyme Disease Symptoms 

I just wanted to let you know this video may have saved my life. In April of this year, I was so scared and felt lost and defeated because doctor after doctor since January couldn't tell me what was wrong with me. I kept testing negative for Lyme through quest. Doctors wanted to blame me and anxiety for my symptoms. When I stumbled across this video (why RU-vid recommended it to me, I have no idea but I am forever grateful for it), I felt as if I was looking into a mirror watching you speak. You prompted me to see another infectious disease doctor and to send blood out to Igenix. Today, I write this with 17 IV doses of Rocephin in me. I'm just one life of many you've helped by sharing your story and if I could, I would give you the biggest hug of my life. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I hope you're staying well❤️

Appreciate this video, bro. I was diagnosed in December after feeling like I was losing my mind for years. The biggest comfort in all of this has been hearing other’s experiences that match my own. The night sweats (totally thought I was in menopause at the age of 35), memory loss & brain fog, difficulty finding words that seemed to be right there in the forefront of my brain but being totally incapable of retrieving and communicating them, loss of creativity and the self doubt that comes with that as an artist. I could go on and on. I just wanted to thank you for putting this video out because I really needed it today. ❤️

Nick this is a very moving video. Thank you! I also have a persistent , chronic, Lyme disease, having a relapse after many healthy years. I hope you are now feeling well and doing well with your creative work. I am very hopeful to regain my health as I have a wonderful doctor. It’s helpful to acknowledge all the symptoms and that as Lyme patients we all need patience and good knowledgeable doctors. I am sending you well wishes and I hope you are healthy now.

I was diagnosed yesterday on my honeymoon. I've had symptoms for two years. I watched this video all along cause it made me feel like someone understood what I was going through.

Dude I am in the middle of listening to you and unbelievable how close are symptoms are!!!! Thanks for posting this. The tv screen looking at the sky! the floaters! The people talking to you and you cant understand them or talk back so you end up standing there super awkward in conversation! Panic everyday like in torment. Yea bro plus the sudden onset all of a sudden in came on you and you got dizzy same exact thing happened to me. Ive gotten so much worse over the years bro. Im not in good shape now this happened in 2008 to me. getting lost in normal places not recognizing people or things. cant get off the couch...insomnia cant sleep but so tired. unreal man. air hunger! shortness of breath. all of this is what I deal with daily. except now i feeel like i have the FLU 24/7 so i feel like im sick all the time now too. on top of all of this. its overwhelming. i was diagnosed with CFS treated for that and just so many other things. But unlike you i was never tested positive fully. Only indicative with two bands. so im not sure if I have lyme. Im actually quite confused after two technical lyme neg tests. but anyway thanks for sharing!

Wow, Nick, your symptoms sound like a twin of mine! I have been crying silent tears watching your video. Though not quite sure why, except that a lot of these symptoms have been,getting worse for me and I have been afraid that I was going to have to fight it again. After listening to you I believe I do need to get back on oral antibiotics again. I can't afford a naturopath anymore, though, so I have to find an md who will prescribe them for me this time around. Keep on Fighting!! I didn't have much support as family was not interested in my issues, and my husband was overseas at the time for a year right when my diagnosis came. And I will be going it alone again. Herx is no fun but at least when you are alone you don't have to take care of anyone else. Good luck and blessings to you on your journey! Xoxo

WOW! Great video. My brother went through much of the experiences you did. He ended up doing his own research and finding a Doc who diagnosed him correctly and he will be on antibiotics for a long, long time. He was quite debilitated. But what I wanted to say is that he is 56 and now runs the Boston and New York Marathons. Hang in there.

I have recently been diagnosed with Lyme after struggling with symptoms for the past 8 years. I hope you are much better now.

I just want to say THANK YOU. Hearing this confirms my suspicions of Lyme Disease by 100%. I've had ongoing symptoms for a couple of years now, but just recently since August my symptoms have greatly increased and become neuroglical. Pretty much every symptom you've mentioned other than the double vision. It's insane to go through this waiting period with no answers, so thank you so much for sharing your story. I've been suspicious about lyme for a long time now and I'm about to request the test with my doctor next week. You mentioned there were a few steps to getting the correct test because i've heard it's hard to diagnose, if you could share any tips you have on getting a proper diagnosis I would so appreciate that. Again, thank you for sharing. Hope you begin to feel more and more improvement!

I had the disease back in last July. It was horrible. Started out as the bulls eye rash around my neck, then started to increase into headache, fatique, dizziness, and so forth. The pain was unbearable. A constant, splitting migraine headache 24/7, couldn't move or get out of bed for nearly three weeks. Hot and cold at the same time, sweating, chills. At one point I could've not even cared if I lived or died it was so unrelenting. This searing pain just wouldn't go away for what seemed lifetimes, then gradually started to get better. I didn't lose hope, and it's an experience that I will never forget. Best of luck to you. Hang in there. It will be over before you know it. Stay strong. Hope you get to feeling better.

I'm really so sorry you had to experience this but god had a plan for everyone. Thank you for sharing your story and I'll deff keep you in my prayers

This is the first video I seen about Lyme Disease. I never told my doctors everything I was experincing out of fear that they would think I was crazy or a drug seeker with all the symptoms I have. Watching this video helped me realize why I was so sick and to tell them all my symptoms. My ND thinks I have Lyme Disease and I am working on getting a diagnosis. I am 32 and I live in British Columbia Canada and I have struggled with terrible symptoms for 10 years. Thank you for helping me and pointing me in the right direction.

man. I swear every single symptom I can relate with you right now. thanks for posting this! I've been to so many doctors and specialist they ask think I'm crazy

Hi, Nick! Can we get an update on how you are doing now? Your video was a great inspiration and I know I have been eagerly waiting to hear how your treatment is going as I have every single one of your symptoms. Thanks!

Hi Nick I am sooooo sorry you're going through that. My experience of discovery was very much like yours. Probably the worst time of life and compeletly miserable. I had to quit everything and put my life on hold for an indefinite amount of time, it's a stab at my spirit. The TMJ and horribly painful neck is what put me out of work, apart from the fatigue. THanks for sharing my friend

You did a good job with this video Nick. I was never diagnosed with Lyme, cuz it was when doctors were calling it arthritis. First I had flu like symptoms, cold, clammy skin and a couple days later the bullseye rash showed up near my ankle. Joint pain, neck pain, I could hardly turn my head. I had an herb for a midday meal and I started feeling better, and I ate more of it and drank the juice and I kept getting better. The herb was high in sulfur, a natural antiBiotic. A couple years later, in the newspaper, I read an article about Lyme disease and it showed a picture of a bullseye rash and Doctors fought it with antiBiotics. And then my situation all came together. I'm 82 years old. I did have some bad floaters. And a strange thing with my eyes when I got into a pool and was waste deep in cool water, I started getting like a lace curtain over my eye. Nick, you had antiBiotics. I did not. So that's my story.

Keep that positive attitude. It will work wonders with your treatment. How generous of you to tell your story, I look forward to hearing about your full recovery. Take the best of care.

I have been suffering from pure exhaustion, I have been sent to therapists and been given medicine for anxiety and depression, nothing helped, I felt like my head was going to explode so much I was given a brain tumor physical exam, for this exhaustion I have got almost every blood test in the book yet I'm fine. My doctors say all my rib pain and joint pain and exhaustion is caused from " stress and anxiety " I can't even walk through the store any more without feeling the need to sit down and take an hour nap to recover from 30 minutes in a store. It is so sad that I can't even handle going out anymore. My life is becoming school and bed, I need help and I'm going to get my doctor to look Into Lyme disease, every single symptom, including halos, hearing, difficulty sucking up any bit of information during class, thank you so much for this video I think it may change my life, I can finally be on my road to recovery from this feeling.

I have suffered with CNS Lyme for 32 years. I have been hospitalized with Lyme encephalitis and years later was paralyzed from L5 down. Nick, sorry that you are going through this. Your video is excellent ! I can relate to everything you are describing. Your account is exactly what I go through everyday. Love to you

Your video really goes to show that there needs to be more awareness made for Lyme Disease. Also that doctors need to be better educated to think about it being a factor of symptoms when diagnosing a patients, even if they are just a normal family doctor and not a Lyme doctor. Your story is inspirational and is a really good example of why we need more information to get out there. I hope it has gotten easier to live with now that you know what your condition is!

Nick, thank you for this video, it helped me immensely in my early stages in what turned out to be a 100% positive test for Lyme disease.

I need to show this to my daughter. She was a college athlete who had to quit college for a year to take I've antibiotics. She is back at school and a little better now. God bless you...

Soooo sorry you went through all that. I'm suffering with Lyme too and it's terrible. My symptoms aren't as bad as yours but I can relate to so much of your story. I was bedridden for two months and saw over ten doctors. I tested positive for Elisa and negative for western blot so family doctors refused to treat me. I saw a Lyme specialist in SF and he finally started antibiotic treatment. It's been by far the hardest time in my life and the fact that family and friends don't understand what you're going through and don't even believe you're that sick makes the suffering even worse. Good luck on your treatment and recovery, your positive attitude gives me hope

Hi Nick, I,too, had Lyme disease with symptoms almost identical to yours. An infectious disease doctor finally put me on the right treatment; the IV antibiotics. I still was not feeling well after the treatment ended, but the doctor explained that I would probably have symptoms for up to a year because nerves take such a long time to heal. Well, it's 9 months post-treatment and I feel GREAT! I'm confident that you are on the road to recovery. Hang in there...people do recover and live happily ever after.

After reading all the comments, I think we should THANK Nick. We all have the same symptoms with different degrees, my life has change and I want to thank my sister for noticing the symptoms

thank you so much. i am a musician/athlete/mom, and have had this sickness for 5 years now, for sure. and it has been the craziest pain ever. i am praying for my healing and doing everything i can to get better. thank you. its nice to know i am not alone.

I have had a similar experience. Doctor after doctor has told me that my problem was anxiety and depression. They prescribed antidepressants. I had one test from igenex that was positive and a test from quest lab that was negative. I didn't believe that I had Lyme disease even after the igenex test, because of the controversy with the mainstream medical community. My health was dwindling and I decided to start treatment for Lyme even though I didn't think I had it. I have been getting intramuscular bicillin shots twice a week, along with vitamin injections and glutathione injections. I also take oral antibiotics and supplements. I've also had to change my diet. I see so much improvement after three weeks, I can't believe how much pain I had to endure before I found a doctor who believed that my symptoms weren't psychiatric issues. I never had a rash, so I also thought I was going crazy. Thank you for sharing your story. It is so hard to feel sick all the time and have so many doctors be unable to help. Something needs to change.

Please keep making videos. Gloria, my daughter with Lymes, is 21 and feels so alone. She was so strong like you and has learned to adjust to so Uche. Thank you...I I'll share this with her tomorrow!

Me too, just diagnosed about a month and a half ago, no rash either. But I have been dealing with feeling sick fatigued and dizzy, sensitive to light. A d regular doctor dismissed it and told me I was depressed 😔, now finally have answers. Best wishes to you all with your healing🙏🙏🙏

Hang in there! ✨🙏🏽✨ Hope you find a breakthrough. I’ve been fighting Chronic Lyme for 28+ years, 😢 but everyone’s struggle is different and I know folks who have recovered nearly completely. Things are looking bleak for me right now, but I’m never giving up! ✨

Will you do an update on your experience so far?

You should make that second video!! I've had Lyme for four years and the thing I find most helpful is my diet. I've (for the most part) cut out meat, dairy, soda, and processed foods. For a while my doctor wanted me to get rid of sugars and gluten too but that was too hard. I'm starting college now, and I've found it's a challenge to take care of myself on my own. I'm really interested in how you're doing/how you got there and I hope you're feeling well

I have had the exact same symptoms, only I think I got infected 9 years ago. Been diagnosed with bipolar, eczema, aural migraine and stuff and my test grades flopped. I got the classic ring/target rash even, but no doctor could point out lyme disease. I even got the hot flushes and panic attacks and they would reinforce each other making a vicious cycle. Last spring my knee was MRI scanned and they found cysts all over. Even this is a sign of the Lyme disease. Now I'm going to test it. I just thought my cognitive and all over health was going downhill and the worst, accepted it. The eczema was the worst for me and still is. Itching as hell and hard to control the scratching response especially when asleep. Thanks for the video!

I was diagnosed with Lymes Disease back in 2000, they didn't even know much about it. I had the target looking rash but they first said it was a spider bite. I dealt with it for another 2 months and finally when the rash had gotten huge, they finally took the test and I had it...but all these years later I feel completely ill. I keep getting pneumonia and even when it clears up, I just feel awful. I'm not sure if I still have the bacteria or not because they only gave me one medication and didn't know much about it. I'm glad you have an answer to your health issues and I hope you continue to get better.

you are spot on, i have not been diagnosed yet ive been suffering with these and many other sympotoms for a few years now and im at the end of my rope, it makes u feel like your going crazy n you think noone takes you seriously. ive bevome a shut in and watching your video as well as many others in kuding yolandas story have truly helped me realize im not crazy and my health is diminishing and i wanted you to know i appreciated it very much. :)

This information has helped a lot. I have so many of these symptoms and will speak with my doctor. I hope all is well with you!

Your video describes exactly what I am going through. I have had all the same symptoms as you for two and a half years going undiagnosed. I am still undiagnosed to this day. Have been to over 15 doctors that chalk it up to anexity or depression. I feel like my life is lost at this point.

You are SO describing what I am going through....I never remember being bitten by a tick, but sometimes you never know when your bitten. We camped a lot as a kid and I was raised in the Northeast, so I think I am going to see who in my area can help me figure this out. Thank you!!!

Thanks for sharing Nick! I'm sad you are so young with this. I am not sure if I have it, but I highly suspect I do. I've only done natural approaches and extreme lifestyle changes thus far and have managed come a long long way in 2.5 years. One thing I can say is that I have been so grateful my family (my young 3 boys) have remained healthy. I feel so bad for you that you have to endure this at such a young age when you should be living life to the fullest and living out all your dreams. Hang in there....never ever give up. So many have come beaten this and you will to!

Thank you for sharing this video! I have every symptom to a tee and just got diagnosed a few days ago. Have had it for at least 5 years, so I feel your pain! Yay for you being awesome and strong.

What a beaufitul man/soul you are. You realize you make the decision to have this disease before you were born to help the world wake up partially.

I hope you are much better and have recovered. I was disappointed not to see anything more from you. Lyme is really hard. Hope you've gotten your life and good health back.

Thank you so much for making this video. After I watched it I felt so relieved that I was not the only person who has gone through such a tough transition in my life. It is so frustrating when your sick and you don't know whats wrong with you and no one else does either. It really takes it's toll on you physically and psychologically. I am currently trying to find out what is wrong with me and I have some of the same symptoms you have.Hopefully this will lead me in the right direction. Once again thank you.

I live in the UK, where Lyme is not very common at all, my doctor looked so concerned when I explained my symptoms to him, I was rushed to a&e where they took blood and checked me over, I’m currently waiting for the results but I feel that I’ve got Lyme disease. I’m almost certain. 3 months ago I was bitten and I am experiencing pretty much all the symptoms you explained and as I have seen everywhere with Lyme. I’m scared but seeing other people going through the same thing is helping. Good luck on your journey. I hope I’m diagnosed soon so I can try and get some help!

I'm 25 and I've been dealing with Lyme disease since I was 13. Our symptoms are so similar Nick. U seem to be doin well and I'm happy about that bcuz Lyme disease is no joke. I was hospitalized and was in a wheelchair for 2yrs when I was a teenager. But thankfully I've gotten better. I still experience ALOT of pain.....but at least I can walk and manage my pain now. Good job Nick!!

I was diagnosed last semester, right before finals. I've had lyme disease for probably about 8 years, but we never could figure out what was wrong with me. I'm so glad to finally know what is wrong with me, but I'm really having a hard time getting the oral antibiotics down. and I'm losing my appetite from them too. man, lyme sucks! I hope you're doing better now! you should do another video, just explaining how far you've come and your treatment and diet and everything. :)

I almost cried when I saw this video. I felt so bad for you, realizing how alone you've been feeling, lost, and anxious. I want to thank you for posting this. It has truly given me some hope. Yes, I, too, have Lyme disease, which at first I thought was a brain tumor. I rushed out to get CT scans and MRI's, all of which came back negative. I have a tube in my right ear now and the all day long headaches and stiff neck. Pain in the knees. Thank you, and good luck!

I have so many of the same symptoms, most of mine cognitive and neurological as well. Thanks for sharing, makes me feel a little less crazy, severe heart palpitations, the cognitive, Neuro, and word block, brain fog, anxiety, mood swings and fatigue issues are so hard for people to understand because they cannot see you as physically sick even Dr's do not fully understand and end up just brushing things off and considering you as a hypochondriac. Very frustrating but good to know there are other people who have experienced it as well. Stay positive, peace ✌

I have been diagnosed with m.s. Recently I've been considering Lyme disease. I have lesions in the white matter of my brain. I know for a fact I was bit by a tick I took it off of me. I looked for the rash n never had one. I have a hard time stay focused memory n motor skills fatigue and pain non stop.. Thank you for telling your story. I have a hard time accepting that this was possibly done by the government.. I wish you the best and thank you for telling your story.

Hi Nick, thanks so much for this video, i just want to give you a big hug, hearing you talk brings tears to my eyes as i know just what you going through, i don't have lyme's disease but i do have Rickettsia which is on of the awful parasites that fall under the lyme's disease umbrella. i am a year down the line with my treatment and am doing so much better. i had many of the same symptoms that you have. i was sick for years and no-one could tell me what was wrong. I live in South Africa and no dr's in the area i live belief anything about lyme's or rickettsia, which makes it so hard, also the test cost an absolute fortune. i got diagnosed by a natural treatment called Quantum physics, they use a scio machine, last year Dec 2012, jan and feb 2013 where the worst 3 months of my life as after treatment my body herxed big time, they whole of last year was extremely challenging, i couldn't work or do anything and only wanted to be on the couch, i have two toddlers and no help besides my husband who works full time. very very challenging. i hope that you continue to improve and thanks again for this video. it definitely helps to know that you are not alone on this journey

hey Nick. hope you are feeling better. keep us updated on you and your health. i was just diagnosed this past summer. what sucks is the infectious disease doctor said "sorry there's really nothing much we can do". ..I am taking care of myself. eating healthy and working out. I guess i kinda of helps out. Thanks for sharing

I am being tested for Lyme, MS and ALS right now. I have appointments lined up for the next few weeks. This has been so scary!! Thank you for the video. I look forward to seeing the video you will be doing on treatment and supplements. I am trying to learn all I can. P.S. I tested positive on the IgM test. Which apparently shows new infection. My symptoms however has been going on for several years. I hope we find answers soon and I can get going on the correct treatment and be aggressive. I also hope it is not ALS!!! 😢 I started oral antibiotics a few days ago. I just don’t think two weeks of these anitibiotics is going to be enough. I am going to ask for my lab results and see if I tested positive on other tests they ran. All I know is they called and said I tested positive for Lyme and then I heard something about IgM. I was trying to take notes of what they were saying and I couldn’t keep up. ( fog brain ) Best to you!!!

It's nice to know I'm not alone in having Chronic Lyme Disease. I have never talked to anyone else with it. I was diagnosed in July 2012. They first diagnosed me with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome then I lost complete use of my legs and then thats when they did more tests and found out I have chronic lyme disease. At one point and they thought I'd never use them again until one day i started regaining feeling slowly. I use a cane now on good days and on bad stays I still use my wheelchair. My memory is absolutely terrible. Every day is a battle.

Thank you so much for sharing your story. It really makes me feel better knowing that there are people out there that understands what I'm going through. I'm 14, and I found out I have Lyme about a month and a half ago among a few other things. I've been out of school for months and my symptoms are relentless. It really sucks!

🌙❤️. Nick I watched/listened to this video a few times. Every word. U said basically brought me to tears. I'm 25 from NY been suffering since July of 2014. Finally had 2 drs unofficially dx me with lyme. Did have my blood also sent up to Ignex so I actually have an appt tomorrow with the results from my lyme dr finally so I'm Terrified in a sense im sure u understand. Ur face/ energy and spirt literally got me thru today. I hope this comment finds U. And thank u so much for just brave facing this whole thing.

Hi Nick, I too have lyme disease and have shared many/ almost all of your symptoms and would like to thank you for sharing your story. hopefully with more awareness this will be recognised in Australia and with that a local treatment. thank you and i wish you all the best and great health. take care

Thank you so much for sharing your story, incredibly affirming as I literally have the exact same path of symptoms. So encouraged to hear you're getting some relief and are in good hands. I understand the bumpy road nevertheless. Excited for your fully recovered days ahead. Much love and support from afar!

Thank you so much for this. I have hade all of these symptoms and more over the past two years. It's good to know I'm not the only one experiencing these things. When I tell people I'm sick they don't believe me because I look fine. Now I don't feel so crazy.

Nick, a friend shared your video playing the piano which was awesome. So, here I am learning about Lyme disease. Hope you beat this dragon. Wishing you the best life imaginable.

The cognitive issues you described happened to me exactly for 2-3 years, and I'm just coming out of it. Makes you feel like you've lost yourself. Prayer has really helped me; God is bringing me back to myself. I'll pray for you.

Bless you. I hate that you have had such a bad time of it. Glad you finally got a diagnosis and it gives others hope that we can find out if we have it. I have so many many symptoms. Need to get tested. Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.

I hope your doing better Nick. You helped me understand Lyme much better, maybe this can do the same for someone else: BORRELIA BURGDORFERI - LYME DISEASE Members of the genus Borrelia are relatively large spirochetes which, like Treponema, have endoflagella that make them highly motile (see Figure 15.12). Borrelia species are unusual among bacteria in that they have linear rather than circular plasmid and chromosomal DNA. Like T. pallidum, Borrelia do not produce endotoxin or exotoxins. Pathogenesis Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete B. burgdorferi, which is transmitted by the bite of a small tick of the genus Ixodes (Figure 15.8). [Note: The tick must be attached for at least 24 hours before there is transmission of bacteria. This blood meal results in a heavily engorged tick.] Mice and other small rodents serve as primary reservoirs for the spirochete, but deer and other mammals serve as hosts for the ticks. Lyme disease is currently the most common arthropodtransmitted disease in the United States, averaging at least 20,000 cases per year. Lyme disease in Europe and Asia can be caused by other Borrelia species, including Borrelia garinii and Borrelia afzelii, which are associated with different late-stage symptoms. Clinical significance The first stage of Lyme disease begins 3 to 32 days after a tick bite, when a characteristic red, circular lesion with a clear center (erythema migrans) appears at the site of the bite (Figure 15.9). Flulike symptoms often accompany the erythema. The organism spreads via the lymph or blood to musculoskeletal sites, skin, CNS, heart, and other tissues and organs. Weeks to months after the onset, the second stage of the disease begins, with symptoms such as arthritis, arthralgia, cardiac complications, and neurologic complications such as meningitis. Months to years later, the third stage begins with the appearance of chronic arthritis, progressive CNS disease, chronic skin manifestations, and cardiac dysfunction. Lyme disease is rarely fatal but can result in a poor quality of life if untreated. Although caused by different spirochetes, the general similarities in the progression of Lyme disease and syphilis are striking. Laboratory identification Unlike T. pallidum, B. burgdorferi can be cultured, but the procedure is difficult and takes 6 to 8 weeks. Serologic tests have been used to diagnose Lyme disease, but the number of false positives can outnumber the true positives. Such tests should be used only as confirmation of a strong clinical suspicion. A two-stage testing process that involves an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (or, ELISA) followed by Western blot is recommended for the most definitive confirmatory serologic diagnosis. Treatment and prevention Doxycycline is the most recommended treatment for the early stages of the disease (see Figure 15.12). If arthritic symptoms have already appeared, longer courses of antibiotics (ceftriaxone) are used. Prevention of infection also includes use of insect repellents and wearing clothing that sufficiently protects the body from tick bites.

oh my god !! my tears just flooding out cause every word you just said in this video is the exact story I'm going true the last 2 years , and I mean exact every word . almost scary, no it's really scary. shit just want to write so much here and now. but I know its not the forum . I'm gonna take this video and play it to my doctor though I can't get the words out. thank you!! hope you the best!

I've been struggling with every word you said. I've searched for what in the world is happening. Thank you so much for sharing.

Hey Nick, i just wanted to say I'm also struggling from Lyme disease. Ive caught it a little later. Close to 5 months of endless fatigue,aches, anxiety, vision loss, heart palpitations, and loss of weight finally i decide it was time to go to the doctors and get some blood work done. I was Positive for the 2nd time with Lyme. When i was 10 i contracted this crazy disease. It has taken its toll on my body. Even though i have been given proper antibiotics i still suffer from aches deep in my bones and extreme anxiety along with shortness of breath and vertigo. i worry everyday i caught it to late. Im scared ill never be able to get back to myself. I used to run a 5K everyday with a smile on my face. Running has always been my escape but now the pain in my joints is so unbearable its caused me to spend more days in bed than outside on the streets. I have been told countless times that it was all in my head and to stop complaining. Its very upsetting that this is what many of us have to deal with. Anyway i just wanted to let you know your not alone and i hope in some way you find healing.

thank you so much for this. I was just diagnosed yesterday and I just started my freshman year of high school and I'm already having all of the same symptoms as you. And I'm really scared so thank you for this it really calmed my nerves knowing some one else knows what I'm feeling and they were able to power through it.

Very informative. I've been dealing with all this worse and worse for about a year and a half now and it's so scary it always scares me plus the usual anxiety attacks. My mom is the one who researched and strongly believes this is what is wrong with me and now that I been researching I strongly agree. I hope you're doing much much better! It's deffinetly life changing. And I'm not happy with it lol.

Hey Nick -hope your IV antibiotic therapy helped you. I am starting mine on the 19th of this month. I did antibiotic pills for a year with no recovery but hoping that the IV will work. Best of luck to you and thanks for a great video. If people want to know what my symptoms are I will just point them to your video - because essentially it is the same thing. I have the neuro lyme as well. Thanks.

Thanks Nick, that was a good vid. And I agree with you about those of us with Lyme needing to know that we are not alone in this fight. I think the common denominator for all of us is fear, to varying degrees, and vids like this help us all feel a little less fearful. I have had this disease for over 7 years now, and I have to say that our symptoms are very similar. I have never had a definitive blood test like you have, all the ones I've had wound up negative (false negative of course). I live in Lyme Central (Northeast), and even though it is rampant here, there is still so much denial within the medical community about it's very existence (Chronic Lyme). For me the foggy, surreal brain is by far the worst of the symptoms, and it has been with me 24/7/365 for the duration. I have all of the other symptoms that you have and then some. I am also much older than you and that means it will be more difficult for my body to recover, if it ever does. I've tried antibiotics from A to Z, and just about every alternative remedy you could think of, I'm still very sick. But everybody's Lyme is individual. What works for one might not work for another. I have resigned myself to this fact and now it's just a matter of trial and error until I find the answer. I could go on forever but I won't. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to make this vid. I know all about the effort and energy involved in doing ANYTHING while having this disease, so your efforts are appreciated. One of these days I'll scrounge up enough $$$ to send my blood to IGENIX so I can find out the entire story. I'm pretty certain that Bartonella is one of my co-infections so I am trying to work on that right now with this stuff called A-Bart, from the Byron White Formulas. I just received it today so it's too early to comment on it, I'll report back at a later date. In the meantime keep focused on getting well because by now I hope you realize that it has become a full time job. Take care and please keep the vids coming if you are up to it.

I can really relate to this more than any other account I've encountered. Especially the bit about just trying to ignore it for as long as possible. Also, Lyme disease sufferers can so often appear fine to others, making it so hard to convey what you are experiencing..

oh my NICK NICK... I just found out today i have lymes disease. What is so crazy is the static vision.. I thought i was losing it. Was like looking at a tv screen to long. WOW i am overwhelmed.. I'm so happy you did this video. I have experienced symptoms for well if u include joint pain almost a year. Finally today found out. Thank you so much for sharing ur story and i will def stay positive... I just really want to be able to dance again... :)))

Thank you for sharing. I'm so sorry you've had to deal with this... I have been experiencing the exact same for almost six years. Hope you're doing better nowadays

I had a burried tick under my skin. Took it out and forgot. Two years later I saw your video and told my Dr. to check for Lyme. Came back positive. Thank you so much. I'm in the hell of the disease. Going through so much. Sometimes wishing I was dead. I'm waiting for an appointment to see a specialist. So many questions and don't know if I'll ever be well again. Hard to get out of bed or think. I have all same symptoms and more. I hope you're well now. Please give an update now 2017. So I can have some hope. God bless you.

I was bitten in May of 2012, so we were infected pretty close to each other. And one of my first symptoms was blurry vision too. I kept complaining to two of my friends about my blurry vision. And then headaches, night sweats, weird heart stuff, tingling feet, and on and on. I knew I'd been bitten by a tick and I'd sought out immediate medical attention. They told me I didn't have Lyme and ignore all my ensuing symptoms for 11 months. I finally wound up bedridden and then spent many more months before someone figure out that, yes, it IS Lyme disease!

I have been struggling since 2005 and have almost all symptoms you are mentioning! I was tested for Lyme’s disease in 2011 and it came back negative. They thought it was MS back in 2005 but with all the testing I have never showed the legions and then in 2011 they found I had a broken neck from a car accident. It was treated back then but my main symptoms have NEVER WENT AWAY!!! I struggle to function each day! I am 47 years old and feel like I am just existing trying to get up and go to work. The only symptom I do not have that you mention is pain on my right side - my pain and main numbness is on my left side. I have the brain fog - confusion - headaches - vision issues - extreme fatigue - heart palpitations - difficulty getting in a good breath - depth perception issues - being confused as to where I am at...ECT ...ECT...ECT ... Just by chance - last night in passing I talked to a nutritionist and told her how sick I was and that EVERYTHING I tried didn't work. She has worked with some people with Lyme’s disease and said she thought I had it. I told her I had been tested - and she said what you did and that it's not that simple. She did some muscle testing on me - and my body responded that yes I do have Lyme disease. I went to the doctor and am being seen by 2 neurologists but they have sent me to another neurologist but that appointment is 4 months away. I am trying to find out are there specialists I need to ask for or special testing I need to ask for? This Nutritionist is going to ask her patients who diagnosed them... but they are not all from where I live. She thinks I should start now with her nutritional program before I get tested and assume I have it. I am desperate to figure this out. ANY ADVICE WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!!

I'm so sorry you're going through this too... It's so difficult to relate with other people that haven't experienced it for themselves. Can't tell you how great it is to hear my story gave you hope. Just remember you're not alone! You'll get through this and be stronger than ever. Sounds like you're taking the right steps in the right direction for getting tested. And I know exactly how you feel about getting a lyme diagnosis haha so funny. All my thoughts and best wishes to you

I really hope you are doing better, God that sounds so terrible. It's ridiculous that it took that long to get answers...You can get through, stay strong!

Wishing you the best and healing thoughts! I am 33, and live on the east coast, and I have had many symptoms that you have had including heart palpitations, panic attacks, heart arrhythmia, brain fog, dizziness and vertigo, co-infection with Bartonella, etc. Its been about six months for me and I am hoping for an improvement soon. So I must say to you stay strong and remember how life is so beautiful, and how it will be filled with love after the healing is complete. That keeps me going on....I will get my life back and hope you do as well. Take care---Erik.

Thanks for sharing your experience, Nick. Hope to hear you do a video on your treatment and progress. God Bless my friend.

Thank you for sharing your story. This was really helpful. I have so many of the same symptoms that you’ve had.

Oh my god legit all of this - have ALL of this. It sucks so much. This was made a while ago but I hope you're feeling better now. I used to be super active and super able to do things etc and overnight bam all gone. It's so wank and I hope you're feeling better. Feeling so bad right now and I hope it has gotten better for you and gets better for me too! Xx

Nick, thanks for sharing. I just got a positive Igenex test result for both chronic and acute lyme 3 days ago after having similar symptoms to you for 17 years since I got a tick bite back when I was 6 years old!! I can't believe how frustrating it is that it takes so long to diagnose when really doctors should look out for these things!! Would love to talk with you - also, I'm a musician and would love to talk about how you cope with symptoms while continuing with music.

I was so moved by your story. My niece is 17 years old and has this disease. Symptoms began 10 months ago. Her debilitation is so bad now, her bed is in the living room. They live in Flirida and have experienced all the comments from the doctors saying that lymes disease doesn't exist. This is hearbreaking. My niece was also an artist and had a promising future.

Hi, Nick, My name is Aviva, and I'm twenty years old and have Lyme. I'm from Seattle. Really uplifting to find someone who is going through the same thing who is close to my age. It's really hard to find younger people with Lyme online/in Seattle. Hope you make another video soon. Definitely relate to the pain around your friends graduating. My friends are now juniors in college, and I'm just starting freshman year. Really surreal. Hope to hear from you!

Thanks for sharing your story, you're really brave. My Test Kit from Igenex arrived yesterday & I don't know what Lab or Doctor to go to so I can get the Blood drawn properly & sent back to Palo Alto so I can get my results. My Family tells me I don't have it & that it's a waste of money - but - I Have 99% of ALL of the symptoms you had/have. #grateful for you, #thankyou !!!

Hey, thanks for sharing your story. I was diagnosed almost 6 years ago and have experienced almost all the same symptoms. It's always nice (although sad) to find someone going through the same. God bless.

Thank you so much for making this video! I have been dealing with lyme for 4 years now and felt alone. Thank you for sharing your story I can relate so much. Hope you are doing okay!

Wow I'm so sorry you've been battling this for so long. I've really been slacking but I've been wanting to make some more videos going into more detail about my herxing, my treatment, diet and exercise. Promise it will be soon. -Nick

Hi Nick, I have almost every single symptom that you have and I've been dealing with this for over a year. I'm getting tested for lymes disease very soon and was wondering what test it was that you had done? I heard you say the first one they tested you with came back negative. If you could get back to me about this I would appreciate it SO much. Thank you for posting this, you have no idea how much hope you have given me just by hearing your story.

Thank you for stating the symptoms so well. I am a teacher and was the President of a Union when I was first infected. I had to step down as President, and had to modify my teaching load to get through the hardest part. My heart was effected as well. I'm still dealing with it... but I have worked out how to work with it... Hang in there..... and thanks again!

Hey there. My name's Brendan. I'm 24 years old and I'm a soloist with the National Ballet of Canada. Just as my career was taking major strides and everything was going so well a bizarre set of symptoms came on very suddenly a year and a half ago, many of which you mentioned. It's been a year full of doctors and specialists with little to no answers. I literally just took the blood work for Igenex and it's being sent out today. I haven't danced in a year now on account of my symptoms (primarily neurological) I was wondering how your treatment has come along and if you've improved. I really appreciate this video and your story dude. Nice to know there is someone going through the same thing. B

Thank you soo much for this video. I hope my doctor will lisen to me tomorow so i can get the test, because i have similar symptoms that you have. I wish you all the best , and take care and stay strong, hope you get well soon. Big hug from Sweden.

Hey Eva! So sorry for the late reply. I would love to keep in contact! It's always great to be able to relate with someone, especially when they're your own age. And being international lyme buddies sounds so awesome haha we all have to send out love and support to our fellow lymies around the world! Best of luck with your next step in your journey! -Nick

Hi Nick, I found out I had Lyme disease 2 weeks ago from a Practitioner In Minong WI.I too have suffered like you with this nasty Disease for many years but did not know it.I have big time memory loss, joint and muscle pain.Everyone thinks I'm ok but they can't see my mental impairment.Thanks for your video Nick and God Bless you.

I had exactly the same symptoms as you! Hope you are feeling better by now.

My first symptoms were awful and sudden sternum and rib pain in 2001, then severe fatigue, pain and god awful spasms in hips. A year later, after seeing six doctors, I was told I had psoriatic arthritis. I don't remember being bitten back then and I was never tested for Lyme. I was put on a weekly very expensive biologic med and a chemo drug. I struggled the next thirteen years to keep teaching. My problems were mostly physical at that point. It hadn't hit my brain yet.I didn't think I could hurt anymore than I did- I was wrong. The best was yet to come. I was re-bitten in Arkansas in June 2014 and by December I was so sick I had to stop working as a high school teacher. My long term rheumy doctor told me I was "having a spell" and basically made me feel like a nut job. . I quickly found another doctor because, what she told me wasn't sounding right or logical (I have NEVER had any joint involvement with my so called arthritis) . The next doctor tested me for lyme (I had no idea what he was testing me for). I popped positive, but he didn't feel comfortable treating me. I went to an infectious disease doctor and she confirmed the diagnosis but insurance wouldn't approve the IV antibiotics she recommended so she told me there was nothing else she could do for me. I am now seeing another doctor three hours away who is treating m, I take oral antibiotics that are tearing my stomach to pieces. My health insurance is not paying for much towards my treatment and 90% of it is coming our of my pocket. Did I mention I can't work anymore? My memory is now my worse symptom and it is so bad that I forget what I am saying when I'm talking, Teaching has become impossible because I can be teaching and then everything is suddenly wiped out of my brain. I teach stories I have taught dozens of time before and now I can't even remember the plots or the authors" names. I am a writer and now I find it very difficult to type (I love spell check now) and I can't write stories with any plot because I can't keep my brain organized long enough to do it. I only write very very short pieces now. I have awful anxiety and mood swings, heart palpitations, needles and pins feelings in my arms and legs, sudden periods of all over body weakness that hit me out of the blue, my teeth hurt, I get unexplained infectious, and can't drive anymore. The list goes on and on and every day it seems something else pops up. I am angry at all the doctors who wouldn't help me and the doctors that to this day refuse to admit I have chronic Lyme. I'm not making this shit up, docs. The CDC better start recognizing this, doctors better start testing and treating for it (even if the tests they have are only 30% to 40% reliable) or they are going to have a major health crisis on their hands. Thank you so much for posting this video. Every symptom you described are ones I have either had or am having. You did a very good job of explaining what it's like to have chronic Lyme.

I was recently diagnosed with chronic Lyme. I started my treatment 3 weeks ago. I don't even remember ever getting bitten by a tick that's why I thought I could never get it and I never had the rash. 3 years ago my mom was diagnosed with chronic Lyme and I watched her go through the painful process. June of 2013 I started getting severe knee pain, but I thought it was just sore because I am a dancer. I ignored it until January 2014 when it got significantly worse. I've had bad anxiety for as long as I could remember but it got worse. I got short term memory loss and splitting headaches every day. All of my joints began to hurt and the pain so very unbearable. After trying to get my diagnosed for 6 months I finally did last month and started treatment. I remember getting flu like symptoms when I was 7, and now I'm 14. I know there's really no way of telling when I got it but I guess that's around the time I did. Thank you for telling your story it is really helpful to know that you're not alone and I've been watching videos and it's amazing how strong the people who've gone through this are :)

Thank you for sharing this. Definitely needed on a day like today, where my symptoms are too debilitating. I can relate to the athlete part, I played water polo division 1 :). Hope your treatment is going well and you are improving every day!

Thank you for sharing your story with us! You desribed it all very well :) I wish you the best and I hope that you've already made some progress

thanks for this. And thank you for the wording!!! That is the hardest part for me, is describing my symptoms!!!! We are on our way to Mayo Clinic in a week, but, LYMES has been and will be always on my list!!!!!! I won't give up on it. Getting my first DNA Lyme's test today... an experience my Neurologist wanted to try. Being sick and not knowing for sure what is wrong, is the worst thing in the world. You are NOT alone