July 5th I started taking doxycycline and probiotics twice a day. Doxycycline made me really sensitive to the sun. We went to the beach, and I would get really hot and burnt (even with 50-100 sunblock). My cousins would stay out and play in the waves, but I would have to go in. I felt really alone! We went to a different beach after that with our neighbors. One of my neighbors had dealt with Lyme the summer before. When she had it, she had to take doxycycline too, so she could empathize with me. That made me feel a little bit better. When we returned from the beach, my thumbnails started to turn white! Sometimes puss would come out. My sister Asha Googled "white fingernails with puss", and yeast infections popped up. We went to the doctor, and he confirmed that it was a yeast infection caused by to many antibiotics that tear down the immune system. I had been on doxycycline for five weeks. I guess the probiotics weren't strong enough. That doctor was not my normal doctor, because my normal one was on vacation. He suggested that I should get off the antibiotics since I was feeling so well, and get on an anti-fungal. That medication didn't work. By then my other fingernails had started to develop the yeast infection. My normal doctor came back from vacation, and put me on a anti-yeast medicine. Luckily, when I started on the new medicine my fingernails stopped turning white. I had to wait for new, clean fingernails to grow out. While my fingernails were still growing I started having some anxiety, and my parents noticed that I was acting kind of grumpy and tired. At first the anxiety wasn't so bad, just little things like: "Oh No, if I put this special thing here in my room, Luna (my dog) might break it". I would try to reason with myself like: "Luna doesn't even go up to my room much, and anyway, why would she have any reason to sniff on that shelf". Even though I had very good reasons, I still couldn't convince myself that it would be okay. So I would have to move it somewhere else. The anxiety kept getting worse and worse, especially at bedtime! I started sleeping beside my parents bed, so that helped a little. My sister Asha started having symptoms while all of that was going on, but that's a whole other story! I will tell a little about her story in my next blog, because she's pretty important in my story!
Thank you for telling your story. I am 57 and am dealing with anxiety for the first time ever. And you are so right; you tell yourself, this doesn't make sense. But it doesn't change anything. How long were you on doxy? You are a very brave young lady.
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Hannah
1/11/2013 11:45:57 pm
Thanks Linda, I was on doxy every day for five weeks in July and August. I got back on doxy and a couple other antibiotics 3 days a week in September, October, and November.
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Mom
1/16/2013 09:24:52 am
Han, you write so well! I love reading your perspective about Lyme Disease. I remember kayaking and biking with you at the beach this summer and you felt so miserable. You were so tough and patient for the first week, but that day you were so hot, so burnt, so tired. We finally had fun in an airconditioned coffee shop and on the ferry. You have been amazing through this. Love you!
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Sandy Wenger
1/16/2013 09:50:29 am
Hannah,
You write so well. You certainly have a story to tell, and will help SO many by making yourself vulnerable and telling it. Thank you for doing that. You are a beautiful & brave young woman. I am very proud of you and honored to know you.
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Hannah
1/16/2013 10:00:45 am
Thanks Sandy! Your family has been so supportive and helpful in my journey!
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Ali Metzler
1/16/2013 12:39:22 pm
Hannah- it is so amazing how you, your sis and Mom are educating us all on this debilitating disease. I am so sorry that you have to go through this, but so thankful that you have amazing support while you go through it. You are in our thoughts and we hope to see you on your California trip this spring, and definitely this summer at the reunion. Hugs to you!
Hannah, I too know how scary anxiety can be. Not fun! Please keep writing about your journey, you have SO much to share...and we have so much to learn.
P.S. Did you know that I pray for you and Asha? I do, often. :-)
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Grandpa
1/22/2013 09:41:49 am
Hannah,
Another fine piece of writing. I like the way others showed up in your story...my neighbor empathized..., Asha googled..., my normal doctor prescribed anti-yeast..., my parents let me sleep beside their bed. And Luna didn't knock things off with her tail...oh, wait, you didn't write that:-). It's amazing how many people care in so many little ways.