What's up, I'm Dom. I've been battling chronic lyme disease for about 15 years. Now if you're wondering what chroniclyme disease is, I'm referring to my persistent symptoms that began when I was diagnosed with lyme in 2009. Despite the fact that I followed the rigorous antibiotic protocol for roughly a year, symptoms like extreme fatigue, aching joints, and brain fog persist to this day.
I want to share my story about why I'm running, but before doing so, let's get one thing straight—I'm not here to boast about triumphs like a superhero overcoming adversity. I'm on a mission to drum up $5,000 for men's health. Why? It's not just about showcasing my own journey, but to shine a light on why us guys need to tackle our health head-on so we can get back to conquering the seemingly impossible feats we were destined for.
Symptom showdown
After narrating my symptoms in the most vivid (one might argue dramatic) way, my doctor remained perplexed. To be fair, Lyme Disease has this talent for disguising as other illnesses, making a conclusive diagnosis without proper testing nearly impossible. He seemed convinced that my pain was likely tied to a sexually transmitted disease, despite the dead stare I threw him way each time he mentioned it.
But as I sat silent in the bright florescent room, sleeve rolled high as the nurse poked and prodded for a vein, I recalled something that took place roughly 6 months earlier.
The Villain
Picture this: I wake up with a pain in my side that feels like a spring in my old mattress had pierced through my sheet, my shirt, and into my skin. The pain, relentless, led me stumbling to the bathroom for a reality check. Half-asleep, squinting against the bright light, I lifted my shirt to witness a chaotic parade of what appeared to be dozen or so legs stammering in every direction.
Protruding from my stomach was an insect with it’s head partially buried in my abdomen and it’s back legs wiggling in every direction. At first, I thought it was a spider that had become tangled in the jungle of hair covering my skin. But, as my eyes adjusted, I realized it was a tick voraciously feeding on my blood, steadily growing in size.
Mind Blown
So what did I do? Well nothing for the first five or so minutes. It was too weird for instant freak-outs or sensible decision-making. I stood there, amazed, unafraid, and non-reactive. I mean how often do you wake up to find a bug protruding from your body?
Within a few minutes, the tick was in my hand head and all. Surprisingly, two months went by with no sign of the characteristic bullseye rash, fever, or aches. Three months passed, then four, and still, nothing unusual. However, around the fifth month, that’s when weird things started to happen. Cue the dark ominous music. Now if a radioactive spider had bitten me, granting me superhuman strength, I'd be down with that. But nobody aspires to be bitten by a fat, disease carrying tick.
Symptom surge
Coincidentally, this was around the same time we finalized the purchase of our first house so Initially, I attributed my rapid physical decline to constant renovations. However, that theory fell flat as my symptoms skyrocketed. My fatigue became so overwhelming that simply getting out of bed turned into a monumental task. Over time, I lost all sensation in my fingers, and even basic foods became impossible to digest, leading to dramatic weight loss. Frequent bouts of dizziness isolated me for extended periods, further deepening the mystery of my condition.
Fast forward several months, and my symptoms surged to alarming levels. My eyes constantly burned, particularly when exposed to bright light. Climbing even a short flight of stairs sent searing, shooting pains coursing through my limbs. I experienced a persistent tingling numbness throughout my entire body and dealt with recurring earaches, often paired with transient hearing loss. Swollen elbow joints and lymph nodes joined the mix. My heart palpitations seemed to compose a unique rhythm that, oddly, suited my condition. Dizziness became a constant companion. A good night's sleep was a rare achievement, and I often woke up feeling like I'd taken a midnight swim in my sweat-soaked sheets.
The next time you consider contributing to a meaningful cause that celebrates overcoming adversity, I invite you to join #TEAMGUNN on my journey to raise $5,000 and make a positive impact on men's health.
DOM
