Lyme illness- the survival and the invisible fight

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Hi everyone.

This is my story and how I became a lyme worrior. 

After living many years in the capital of Norway, Oslo, my wife and I decieded to move to the lovely coast in Sandefjord, Vestfold.

After a couple of years I got a rash on the back of my right legg. I did as many others and went to the doctor and got a 14 days antibiotic treatment. After the rash and itch disappered I hoped all was well. Only a year after and just before our wedding I got another bite and rach. This time it was on my back _(right scapula)_ and a large red ring appered. Stretching from the right shoulder, down to the stomach and back to the right scapula. From here, the symptomps came slowly and things turns from bad to worse.

At the same time I got a new exiting and demanding career with working shifts, an then I hit rock bottom! The body crashes and symptoms such as fattigue, severe ticks in the muscles through the intire body, brainfog and pain/ache in muscles and joints. At this state I was feeling like a zoombie, always tired and feeling only a physical presence to my suroundings. I also put on alot of weight, over 20 kg. It was time to take a stand! Should I "fight or flight"?

The Lyme disese or the fight towards borreliosis is not only the fight within the body, but also a fight for and in the mind. A lot of us struggle alone and/or also towards people who do not understand this illness. This is most likely because it is a invisible and prolonged disease. I feel also as a person who cant provide for the familys income and the uncertanty that I could be healthy enough to work again, is for me the ultimate mind fight. Here the daily fight for positive thinking has been key for my survival.

By my closest friends, I am described as a strong minded, a survior and a fighter. This for better and worse,  I belive. Maybe this is due to my previous exerience as athleete and holder of a black belt in Tae Kwon Doo. These sports tend to fokus on the mind and body, how to defeat your enemys and master you fears and weakneses. I like to think this is where a part of my _"recipe" _for fighting this illness lies.  The other part is of course threatment with healthy food and use of medicine, vitamins and antibiotics.

I`ve startet to exercise again and by God that is a good feeling. The couple of first months I started VERY gentle, with only 10 to 15 minutes of walking. Then I organized it first to one day of exercing in red cords and physical terapy. Then gradually increase it to two days in one week. Now I`ve reached a level where I can exercise a little bit every day. I also found that the exercise is a must to hold of the bad days and keep the illness away.

With great help and support from my devoting family and close friends, an amazing physical therapist by the name Lin Skagen and a couple of doctors (that truly belived and wanted to help), I`m today a whole alot better.Many of the symptombs now also gone. I still have some "bad days", but nothing like before. I have learned to accepts the bad days, because I now know that the good ones comes right after. 

I also learned that with this illness I cope worse with stress, so I have chosen another path when it comes to making a living and making a difference. I now choose my better days to be filled with activity and fun with my family and kids. I also started on a career towards becomming a muscle therapist and personal trainer. I want to fokus on patients who suffers from the same or similar illnesses since I experienced how important massage and exercise is.

Mind over body, the fight continues...