Mel's Chronic Lyme Disease Treatment

Hi, my name is Melanie.

I'm raising money for Chronic Lyme Disease medical treatment. I live in Canada, but unfortunately, I need to travel to the United States for specialized treatments that are not offered here. (The few treatments available in Canada are not working). The expense to receive this medical care is much more than I'll ever be able to afford on my own.

I've suffered with debilitating symptoms for nearly a decade. Eight of those years were spent seeing doctor after doctor in the Toronto area, all who couldn't tell me what was wrong with me. I was finally diagnosed with chronic (late stage) Lyme Disease in 2021. I was also diagnosed with co-infections, Babesia (a Malaria-like virus) and Bartonella (bacteria) which were transmitted from a tick bite along with the Lyme bacteria. (Ticks carry many viruses, bacteria, and parasites, in addition to Lyme). These have infected my red blood cells and are causing body-wide problems.

A snapshot of some of my infected blood. (From an actual microscope looking at my blood sample).

Lyme affects absolutely every organ and system in the body. It's a progressive disease, which gets worse the longer it's in your body. It's been in mine for about 10 years and has been getting worse over time.

The symptoms I experience negatively affect every aspect of my life. I've spent a lot of time in bed over the years, with a few extended periods of time when I couldn't work. I desperately need treatment to stop this disease from worsening even further.

My symptoms:

• Full-body sharp, stabbing, electric nerve pain, including in very sensitive areas like the groin. I'm on medication for this that only helps about 75% of the time. I still get jolts of pain deep in my abdomen, in the tips of my toes and in my ankles, in my groin and around the anus, shooting pain down my legs, and sometimes in my eyes, nose, and lips. Sometimes it's so bad, I have to bend over and hold onto something.

• Full-body muscle pain: It feels like someone punched me all over. Sometimes the softest touch can feel like I was beaten up, especially in my arms.

• Joint pain: My SI joints cause dull and sharp pain, as well as intense stiffness. I also experience neck and low back pain, toe pain, finger pain, and wrist pain. When I'm working, I use a standing desk to reduce these symptoms wherever possible because sitting for extended periods of time is very painful and increases stiffness. But I experience foot pain as well, so it's a juggle between sitting, leaning, and standing all day long.

• I often experience nerve pain, muscle pain, and joint pain simultaneously.

• Chronic exhaustion: Sometimes it's so bad that my entire body feels weak and heavy, like I'm made of wet sandbags. I can barely lift an arm, let alone get out of bed. Other times I am able to push through it and go to work or do other things but I feel unwell all day and come home and fall asleep around supper time. I often need to have naps in my car on my lunch break to get through the day.

• Digestive issues: Wheat/gluten sensitivity, dairy sensitivity, acidic food sensitivity. I need to avoid all of these and also maintain a low sugar diet because sugars feed the bacteria in my body. There's not much I can eat these days. Most of what I eat comes up into my esophagus and I get a disgusting foul taste in my mouth after eating anything. Sometimes my body will reject my food and I throw it up. I also have re-occuring bouts of gastritis, which is an inflamed stomach lining. It sometimes feels like it's on fire and I get dull and sharp stomach pains.

To top that off, I was recently diagnosed with slowed stomach emptying. Basically meaning my food takes a lot longer to go from my stomach, through the rest of my digestive system.

• Bouts of dizziness with headaches and disorientation, as well as migraines with aura.

• Cognitive issues like memory problems, issues with word recall when I'm speaking, trouble focussing, and often feeling confused over simple things.

• Muscle weakness: On and off I experience weakness in my hands and can't lift or open certain things. Even holding a fork can be hard.

• Muscle Spasms

• Ringing, sharp pain, and pressure in my ears with no observable cause. I've seen an ear, nose, and throat specialist and even had a hearing test done.

• Issues with temperature regulation

• Extreme sensitivity to light and sound

• Night sweats and insomnia

• Low iron and thyroid problems

• Mental health issues

 • Weight gain

And many more symptoms... Unfortunately.

Lyme Disease in its chronic stage is very complicated and difficult to treat. The medical system in Canada isn't equipped to deal with it.

After much research, I've chosen to receive treatment at the Biologix Center for Optimal Health in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. They are the top Lyme clinic in the country.

The most promising treatment they can offer me is Induced Native Phage Therapy to break through the protective biofilms that the Lyme Bacteria and co-infections hide in, effectively killing them.

“Phages—or viruses that do not infect human cells—are well-known entities whose sole purpose is to swarm host microbes and replicate themselves in order to attack and kill them. Using Induced Native Phage Therapy, we at the Biologix Center have discovered a method to access the bacteriophages (phages that attack bacteria), mycophages (phages that attack mold and fungi), and virophages (phages that attack other viruses) that already reside inside your body and induce them to eliminate, in most cases, infectious microbes wreaking havoc." (This is a patent-pending therapy with a high success rate).

This treatment, combined with several others, will be an intense two to three-week commitment, five days per week, four to six hours per day. I will need to bring someone with me to take care of me. (We won't know if I need to stay for the third week until I'm going through treatment).

Cost Breakdown:

(Exchange rate as of Feb 9, 2023. Prices of all below may change based on usual fluctuations).

• Treatment

• Lab fees: $1,025 USD ($1,375.92 CAD)

• Roundtrip flight for two with baggage and seat fees: Air Canada Flex tier:

• Airbnb for two OR hotel with Biologix Center's discounted rate:

• Mid-size car rental with insurance

• Gas

• Food for two, including Lyme-friendly specialized foods, which can get expensive. (Groceries are cheaper than eating out):

• Post-treatment supplements: $1,500 to $2,000 USD ($2,044.50 to $2,725.96 CAD)

• Medical and travel insurance (for Mel):

• Post-treatment follow-up a year after initial treatment: $220 USD ($300.49 CAD)

• Post-treatment supplements/home care: TBD

• Post-treatment travel costs, lodging etc. for follow-up: TBD

I know the cost of living is high these days and money is tight for a lot of people, but if you are able to help even a little bit, know that I appreciate it with all my heart and will be forever grateful.

You have nothing if you don't have your health. All I want is to feel better, to stop this disease from progressing any further, and to get my life back.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Take care,

Melanie

If you'd like to learn more about the complexities of Chronic Lyme Disease and its common co-infections, please visit the following sites:

https://www.globallymealliance.org/

https://www.ilads.org/

https://www.lymedisease.org/

Watch award-winning Lyme documentaries:

https://www.thequietepidemic.com/

https://www.lymedisease.org/under-our-skin-lyme-amazon-prime/

Excellent books written by Lyme Literate Medical Doctors:

How Can I Get Better?: An Action Plan for Treating Resistant Lyme & Chronic Disease https://a.co/d/eIsmF14

Unlocking Lyme: Myths, Truths, and Practical Solutions for Chronic Lyme Disease https://a.co/d/cP0oL5a