Sherri's Story
My story begins in about, June 1990. From June of 1990 until November 1990, I was going to doctors and complaining of severe pain in the sternum and other joints of the left side. I was told over and over again in that period of time, I was suffering from, what is called Pleurisy, which is an inflamation of the outer lining of the lungs.
Finally in November a doctor told me that people cannot have Plurisey, that often in that span of time. He ran some other tests along with a Lyme titer. It was discovered on a day in November(a day that changed my entire life), that I did have Lyme Disease. I started from then on going to different kinds of doctors for evaluations, including
those at the following places: Jefferson Hospital,The University of Pennsylvania(in Philadelphia), The Lyme Clinic at Yale, StonyBrook, and Lyme Specialists in my hometown.
I've seen all kinds of doctors all over the East coast, including those specializing in: Rheumatology, Infectious Disease, Pain Management, Neurologists and the ones who are suppose to be Lyme disease specialists, here. Also many others, since this all began from other complications that started because of the Lyme. Nowadays I have no immune system, and I run a temperature every day, and have severe pain every day,{Enough pain every day, to keep me bed ridden most days}. I've lost most of the use of my left side including, my leg & hip, arm & shoulder, wrist & hand and I also have severe headaches mostly on the left side too.
And also, because of an infection in my heart & lungs, I now have an enlarged heart & a lung disease, which both cause congestive heart failure. My kidneys & liver are also very weak. I also almost lost my left leg to amputation, last year due to an infection.
I've been treatmented and diagnosed, beyond any rational thought of reality. Again, including, oral & I.V. anti-biotics, which by the way I'm either allergic to or can't take because they shut down internal organ functions; or arthritis med's, because I'm allergic to all anti-inflammatories.
I've tried T.E.N.S. machine, hypnosis, bio-feedback, straight steroid injections, steroid epidurals, accu-puncture, nerve blocks and various vitamins and holistic therapys. It seems like everything!!!!! This disease has also destroyed my 10 year marriage. I also suffer with bouts of depression, but the doctors say I wouldn't be normal if I didn't. Well I say, it's not normal to be "Depressed or Sick!" As anyone can see, I have had tremendous experience {10 Yrs. of it} because of "Lyme Disease" -- experience I wish I didn't have, or that anyone else should for that matter. This disease has totally detroyed my life.
I am very outspoken when it comes to telling people about this disease and for getting checked for it. I would hate to see anyone end up with a case as advanced as mine; although my circumstances are not the common outcome -- some people can be cured very easily. Others still, suffer along with a chronic disease, because it can be a debilitating and devastating disease. But nowadays, they even have a vaccine for it, even though it's a little too late for this to work for some of the Lymies out there, and is impossible for me.
I am classified nowadays, for all intent and purposes, as "Incurable" so they say. But then again, who knows, someday maybe there will be help for me also. In closing, I hope maybe this letter will help some people understand what a gift good health is and maybe others still, what we Lymies have to deal with. I hope everyday that maybe there will be something out there for me and the other sufferers of this disease. Thanks for letting me tell my story and for the people who take the time to read it. I hope it helps people to understand.
Sherri Monroe, Lymie since 1990.
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