PSA: Lyme's Disease

For the past two weeks my entire family has been on an exciting adventure. My parents, Justin and I were on an adventure that include Greek and Croatian islands, Greek and Croatian food, and lots of Greek and Croatian beverages.


My brother, Edward, has been on a different kind of adventure. He's been on an adventure that includes unexplained fainting, stitches resulting from said fainting, more fainting, a visit to the emergency room, and a diagnosis of Lyme's disease. I think I know which adventure I'd rather take part in.

Edward has been enjoying regular games of disc golf for the past few months. Disc golf takes place in wooded areas that deers (and the ticks that suck their blood) live. A little over a month ago, Edward developed reaction to something he encountered while playing disc-golf. The reaction was a big area of red swelling on his leg.

Soon after the swelling appeared, Edward started feeling sick. He had flu-like syptoms and unexplained muscle fatigue. His arms would get so tired he couldn't wash his hair without taking a break. Edward, and the rest of us, thought this was just a slow moving cold excerbated by stress.

But then, the fun began.

Edward first fainted late on Friday night. He fell on his balcony and woke up with a cut chin and bruised cheek. After a few stitches in the ER, Edward went home to (he thinks) faint again. After another few days of malaise, Edward fainted twice at his desk and decided it was time to go to the ER again.

Once at the ER, it was determined that Edward's fainting was caused by a neural block that was causing his heart to stop beating, which in turn stopped the blood flow to his brain, and caused him to faint. Fortunately, he had a wonderful team of doctors looking after him, and they quickly realized that this, combined with his other symptoms, were probably caused by Lyme's disease.

They gave him a temporary pacemaker, a Lyme's disease test, a steady stream of antibiotics, and a room in the cardiac ICU. A few days later, Edward's Lyme's disease test came back positive. This was a huge relief!

After a few days of antibiotics, his cardiac issues were resolved and the pacemaker was removed. He was able to leave the hospital, and return home. He is still on antibiotics, but he is doing well and will return to work on Monday. Until then, he's busy relaxing.

Thankfully, though my parents and I were were on the other side of the pond, Edward had the support of friends, wonderful doctors, and Jen. My parents are now back in the States and I am sure they will do their best to make up for their absence

Morals of the story: Protect yourself from ticks.

Report symptoms of Lyme's disease (or really any disease) to a doctor immediately.

Let those close to you let them know you love them as often as you can.