Allison's Battle With Lyme Disease
Donation protected
My biggest health challenges began two years ago while teaching abroad in Ayutthaya, Thailand. After being violently ill for 6 consecutive hours, I was admitted to a hospital in Thailand and administered IV fluids and medication immediately. After being on watch for several hours I luckily regained function, but there was a point where I questioned if I was going to make it. The physicians at this Thailand hospital were mystified by my case and symptoms that led up to bringing me to the hospital: vomiting, intense body aches, sporadic rashes, hair falling out, and intense reactions to foods. Feeling confused and still progressively getting sicker I ultimately decided to leave my dream job, teaching English in Thailand, and return home to focus on my health.
Once I arrived home in April of 2019 I began a steady stream of doctor appointments, lab work, and imaging to find a concrete diagnosis and medical cure for my persistent symptoms. Due to the progressive decline of my health, I was re-admitted to the hospital 3 more times that year, and each time the doctors could not determine the ultimate cause of my chronic illness. I was tested for parasites, cancer, malaria… you name it, I was tested for it. I grew increasingly frustrated and hopeless as the countless tests came back negative. As I sat there in the doctors office with tears in my eyes I remember looking up at the doctor and saying "I know something is wrong, please don't give up on me." I continued to fight for my health and life with severe weight loss, symptoms of dizziness, chronic fatigue, body aches, nausea, brain fog and more. After a year of testing I finally found the answer I had never stopped searching for.
In March of 2020, I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. Once this diagnosis was determined, it became evident that this has been something I have been battling since childhood; I remember battling with severe symptoms even as I played college soccer and no one was able to determine what was wrong with me. Now as more time has passed I have lost my ability and stamina to be an athlete. Without early intervention Lyme disease has now spread to my heart, liver, brain, joints and spine. I am still uncertain as to how I may have contracted this tick-borne disease. Chronic Lyme Disease requires life long management to address the multitude of growing symptoms and co-infections that accompany and complicate treatment for this disease.
Although I had my diagnosis, my biggest challenges laid ahead: managing my Lyme disease and resulting symptoms. Despite Lyme disease spreading in epidemic proportions, Western medicine continues to demonstrates inadequate research secondary to insufficient funding, medical education, and global recognition. This made finding appropriate treatment and support after my diagnosis very challenging. Insurance coverage was my next obstacle, as I was unable to find coverage for specialists and naturopaths who could help me get my health back, this required me to pay for expensive doctor visits out-of-pocket.
Then the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down, just as I was learning more about my disease. Suddenly I was teaching my 2nd grade classroom via Zoom, doing virtual doctor appointments, and becoming more and more dependent on the 20+ pills prescribed to me to keep me out of the hospital and keep my symptoms under control. The medications had helped keep my system stabilized, but many of my symptoms were still flaring up with environmental and dietary changes. My body could only sustain these medications and antibiotics for so long. I eventually began seeing my medications as a band-aide to the problem, the pills would only be effective for a short time and doctors didn’t know how my body would respond without them. I was having adverse reactions to several medications and I was running out of treatment options, my fear began to grow as to what would happen when I would have to go off of the medications all together.
After countless hours of independent research, zoom sessions with other Lyme patients, and trying never to lose an ounce of hope, I decided to seek the most effective treatment available. This treatment is only available in two countries in the world for Lyme, Mexico and Germany. Without any available cure for Lyme in the U.S., the limited options have led me to consider treatments abroad to alleviate my all-consuming disease. I have made the life-altering decision to travel to Sanoviv Functional Medical Treatment Center in Rosarito, Mexico in the hopes of gaining my life back. I will be embarking on this journey June 26th, 2021.
While there, I will be assigned a team of doctors who will study my case, work with me for over 2-weeks, and then assist me in Hyperthermic Treatment. During this treatment I will endure induced fevers at a temperature of 107 degrees, while under anesthesia for 4 hours. I will have to do this in 2 separate rounds and spend 14 days at this hospital. This procedure eradicates Lyme bacteria and helps to rid the body of the toxins involved. The program also includes a myriad of holistic functional medicine remedies that support my whole body health. The research shows that this has been the most successful treatment for eradicating this haunting disease. This treatment is currently under the trial phase in the United States for cancer patients only and is not currently offered to patients with Lyme disease. Unfortunately, my intense hope and willpower cannot alone grant me access to this limited treatment, it comes with a significant price tag of $25,000. After years of fighting this disease without insurance assistance, I am unable to cover the expenses required to undertake this lifesaving treatment.
My dream is to one day travel the world again, to help kids in multiple countries and learn about education across cultural lines. I want to someday have a healthy pregnancy without the fear of passing on this disease to my future children. I want to stop living in fear and feeling confined by dietary restrictions and medications just to keep my body going each day. At 27 years old, I feel like my life is slowly coming to a halt. I am doing everything in my power to not lose hope and keep fighting. I pray that this treatment will set a foundation for living a healthier and happier life devoid of medications and doctor appointments. A life in which I can also help others fight this debilitating disease. To my family and friends, I am now asking for your support in helping me fight through what has been the toughest turning point of my life. Your generous donation will fund the expenses of this treatment so that I can gain my life back. As hard as it is to ask for help, I cannot take this journey alone. Any donation would mean the world to me and my family.
Through my journey I have learned that education and knowledge are power. If you are interested in learning more about this crippling disease please visit the ILADS website, it is dedicated to the diagnosis and proper treatment of Lyme Disease. You can also watch the video “Under Our Skin” on Youtube for an eye-opening documentary about Lyme. Education is the first step in fighting this disease. Awareness and understanding can help to support those who are suffering from Lyme. I am grateful for your time, there is strength in numbers.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Allison
Once I arrived home in April of 2019 I began a steady stream of doctor appointments, lab work, and imaging to find a concrete diagnosis and medical cure for my persistent symptoms. Due to the progressive decline of my health, I was re-admitted to the hospital 3 more times that year, and each time the doctors could not determine the ultimate cause of my chronic illness. I was tested for parasites, cancer, malaria… you name it, I was tested for it. I grew increasingly frustrated and hopeless as the countless tests came back negative. As I sat there in the doctors office with tears in my eyes I remember looking up at the doctor and saying "I know something is wrong, please don't give up on me." I continued to fight for my health and life with severe weight loss, symptoms of dizziness, chronic fatigue, body aches, nausea, brain fog and more. After a year of testing I finally found the answer I had never stopped searching for.
In March of 2020, I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. Once this diagnosis was determined, it became evident that this has been something I have been battling since childhood; I remember battling with severe symptoms even as I played college soccer and no one was able to determine what was wrong with me. Now as more time has passed I have lost my ability and stamina to be an athlete. Without early intervention Lyme disease has now spread to my heart, liver, brain, joints and spine. I am still uncertain as to how I may have contracted this tick-borne disease. Chronic Lyme Disease requires life long management to address the multitude of growing symptoms and co-infections that accompany and complicate treatment for this disease.
Although I had my diagnosis, my biggest challenges laid ahead: managing my Lyme disease and resulting symptoms. Despite Lyme disease spreading in epidemic proportions, Western medicine continues to demonstrates inadequate research secondary to insufficient funding, medical education, and global recognition. This made finding appropriate treatment and support after my diagnosis very challenging. Insurance coverage was my next obstacle, as I was unable to find coverage for specialists and naturopaths who could help me get my health back, this required me to pay for expensive doctor visits out-of-pocket.
Then the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down, just as I was learning more about my disease. Suddenly I was teaching my 2nd grade classroom via Zoom, doing virtual doctor appointments, and becoming more and more dependent on the 20+ pills prescribed to me to keep me out of the hospital and keep my symptoms under control. The medications had helped keep my system stabilized, but many of my symptoms were still flaring up with environmental and dietary changes. My body could only sustain these medications and antibiotics for so long. I eventually began seeing my medications as a band-aide to the problem, the pills would only be effective for a short time and doctors didn’t know how my body would respond without them. I was having adverse reactions to several medications and I was running out of treatment options, my fear began to grow as to what would happen when I would have to go off of the medications all together.
After countless hours of independent research, zoom sessions with other Lyme patients, and trying never to lose an ounce of hope, I decided to seek the most effective treatment available. This treatment is only available in two countries in the world for Lyme, Mexico and Germany. Without any available cure for Lyme in the U.S., the limited options have led me to consider treatments abroad to alleviate my all-consuming disease. I have made the life-altering decision to travel to Sanoviv Functional Medical Treatment Center in Rosarito, Mexico in the hopes of gaining my life back. I will be embarking on this journey June 26th, 2021.
While there, I will be assigned a team of doctors who will study my case, work with me for over 2-weeks, and then assist me in Hyperthermic Treatment. During this treatment I will endure induced fevers at a temperature of 107 degrees, while under anesthesia for 4 hours. I will have to do this in 2 separate rounds and spend 14 days at this hospital. This procedure eradicates Lyme bacteria and helps to rid the body of the toxins involved. The program also includes a myriad of holistic functional medicine remedies that support my whole body health. The research shows that this has been the most successful treatment for eradicating this haunting disease. This treatment is currently under the trial phase in the United States for cancer patients only and is not currently offered to patients with Lyme disease. Unfortunately, my intense hope and willpower cannot alone grant me access to this limited treatment, it comes with a significant price tag of $25,000. After years of fighting this disease without insurance assistance, I am unable to cover the expenses required to undertake this lifesaving treatment.
My dream is to one day travel the world again, to help kids in multiple countries and learn about education across cultural lines. I want to someday have a healthy pregnancy without the fear of passing on this disease to my future children. I want to stop living in fear and feeling confined by dietary restrictions and medications just to keep my body going each day. At 27 years old, I feel like my life is slowly coming to a halt. I am doing everything in my power to not lose hope and keep fighting. I pray that this treatment will set a foundation for living a healthier and happier life devoid of medications and doctor appointments. A life in which I can also help others fight this debilitating disease. To my family and friends, I am now asking for your support in helping me fight through what has been the toughest turning point of my life. Your generous donation will fund the expenses of this treatment so that I can gain my life back. As hard as it is to ask for help, I cannot take this journey alone. Any donation would mean the world to me and my family.
Through my journey I have learned that education and knowledge are power. If you are interested in learning more about this crippling disease please visit the ILADS website, it is dedicated to the diagnosis and proper treatment of Lyme Disease. You can also watch the video “Under Our Skin” on Youtube for an eye-opening documentary about Lyme. Education is the first step in fighting this disease. Awareness and understanding can help to support those who are suffering from Lyme. I am grateful for your time, there is strength in numbers.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Allison
Organizer
Allison Frost
Organizer
Eugene, OR