The month of June was as wet, rainy and dreary as ever we’ve had here in the Northeast and I for one (really, I think I was the only one!) was deeply grateful.  It was one of those times in my life where I was ok with being a bit selfish – while I did feel badly for all the brides who had the unfortunate timing of having their wedding day during this time I couldn’t help but smile a little when my eyes opened each morning to dull, shadowless days.

Let it Rain, Let it Rain, Let it Rain

I have been away from you, our fabulous Wedding Aces Brides, for the months of May and June and for that I do apologize.  Like I am sure you did, this spring I decided to work on getting into better shape (you for your gown, and me for, well, me) and that involved spending time out of doors walking, hiking, and gardening.  I began this change in lifestyle slowly back in March.  It was at the end of March when I found a tick on my head just along the hairline.  For about a week I did daily checks at the bite site for any sign of a bulls-eye but I wasn’t too concerned since it was a wood tick, not the dreaded deer tick, that I had removed.  After a week nothing showed so I soon forgot all about it.

I know now that what happened next was all related but at the time I had an excuse for each “episode”.  Two weeks post bite I came down with a horrible “spring cold” and as I was recovering from that I was hit with “the Flu“…”the flu” turned into a horrific “migraine” that lasted a whole week (a long, painful week…).    When the “migraine” finally broke I was left with a “residual headache” that went on for two weeks. I finally went to the doctors and he gave me a shot to help with the headache but thought I was in fine health otherwise.

Then I really started down hill.  For the next two weeks I could barley keep my eyes open, I was napping two and three times a day and sleeping a full 10-12 hours each night.  Sometime during all of this my lower back began to hurt and kept me from being able to bend over, tie my shoes, sit comfortably and I honestly didn’t care about it, I simply wanted to sleep.  I was forgetful, apathetic, and depressed.  I was so out of it that it didn’t register that I was really sick.  I don’t remember when the fevers began but I was taking so much Advil for my back and head that I am sure the fevers were hidden for quite a while.   Somewhere in the seven week mark I began to notice red blotches showing up on my legs while I soaked in the bath – I chalked it up to the beginning stage of my nemesis “psoriasis“.   The “migraine” was back and worse that ever.

One day I was too sick to remember to take Advil and while I was soaking in the bath (trying to ease the back and head pain) I noticed the big red blotches were flesh colored in the center.  This made me think of a bulls-eye…then I remembered the tick bite…Did I have Lymes Disease??

Thanks to Google and my iPhone I had my answer in less than a minute – I did indeed have Lymes. There are three stages of Lyme disease: early localized, early disseminated, and late persistent.  My symptoms put me in the early disseminated phase:

Cold and Flu like symptoms
Headache
Extreme Fatigue
Loss of Appetite/Taste
Eye Pain
Memory loss
Depression
Inability to Concentrate
Fever
Lower Back Pain

The treatment was clear, 4 weeks of an antibiotic called doxycycline.  With the very first dose of IV doxycycline in the Emergency Room (I hightailed it there as soon as I dried off from the bath!!) the back pain disappeared.  By the next day I was feeling better with less head pain.  Unfortunately I was still too ill on day 3 to work with a bride I had scheduled for her wedding day beauty services (something I still feel terribly about) but none the less I was quickly recovering.   (Side note: That bride was very well taken care of by a member of the Wedding Tresses MA Team, Ann Walsh, in my absence – contingency plans are part of the core of our structure because you never know what will happen in life.  This was the first wedding in 16 years I was unable to be present at.)  By day 4 I was back to work.

Now I won’t say June was been an easy month – but it was better than the month of May!  There were good days and bad days.  I had to stay indoors for the whole month due to the medication I was on.  Thankfully Mother Nature made that much easier for me to do by letting it rain for weeks on end.  Each morning I awoke to grey days I was happy both because I felt better and better with each passing day, and because I didn’t have to fight the cravings to go out and be one with the sun. (it IS summer after all!)

I share this story with you for two reasons.  First to make you aware that this little tiny animal is a large and lethal threat to you.  Wood ticks do carry the Lymes in their stomach just as deer ticks do.  You have to protect yourself when working, playing, and exercising outside and check yourself over for ticks after each outdoor excursion.  Your pets bring ticks into your home on their fur (which is how I believe I was bitten).

If you get bitten watch the spot for a full month (not just a week like I did); if a bulls eye appears go to your doctor immediately.  Early localized (1-4 weeks) is the best stage to catch.  If you don’t notice a bite but develop a cold/flu followed by any other symptoms go to your doctor and ask for the blood test.  You could be in the Early Disseminated Stage (1-4 months).

The second reason I share my journey of the last few months with you is to let you know that I hadn’t forgotten you – that it took something really big (or in this case really small) to keep me away.

Stay healthy as the days count down to your Wedding Day!  If you or someone you know has experienced Lymes, leave a comment.  Each person’s story has the potential to help someone else…  Until next time (and I promise it wont’ be too long ….  Jacki Norrie