Confirmation
She doesn’t know exactly how Angela got it. “I may have already contracted it during birth. My mother may have been a carrier without symptoms. The bacteria may have remained silent during my first 18 years because they only become active when the immune system is weakened. Or I may have picked it up from a tiger mosquito while on vacation.”
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Anyway, Angela has Lyme disease, according to the studies. “When I was diagnosed I was happy at first. I finally had confirmation that I wasn’t crazy. A weight was lifted from my shoulders. Soon that feeling turned to disappointment, because there is no treatment that works for everyone. So I had to figure out for myself again how my body works and what the right treatment would be. I didn’t realize at the time that it would be a years-long search.”
Sick bed
Despite all the health problems, Angela does get her diploma. But that doesn’t happen without a hitch either. “At the time of graduation I had no energy left. I slept about 16 to 20 hours a day, was in a wheelchair and it got worse and worse. During the hours that I was awake, I could eat or drink, go to the toilet and work on my studies. Only after I graduated did I notice how much I had asked of my body. I reached a low point and thought: what is life worth if all you do is lie in bed?”
She wants to get out at all costs and starts her search again. “Conventional medicine didn’t bring me much, so I had to look for alternative medicine and doctors specialized in Lyme (ILADS). I adjusted my diet and lifestyle accordingly. I also took all kinds of vitamin supplements to supplement my deficiencies, tried herbs, bioresonance and received immunotherapy.
People kept wanting to hear if it worked, but it didn’t quick fix. There is no treatment that works for everyone, it is a combination of many things. I also had to work on myself mentally. If you think you’re sick every day, that won’t help. I had to mine mind set adapt and, above all, tackle all of this holistically.”
Turning point
“A turning point was when my parents asked me on holiday. It was either on holiday or a nurse at home. Then I thought: what is my life worth? I felt depressed and wanted my life to continue. There was a risk that I would feel even sicker, but I thought I’d give it a try.”
The wheelchair comes with her, but after the first week she breaks the vicious circle of being ill. The warm climate makes her feel better. She is increasingly getting out of her wheelchair, walking short distances and thus building up her fitness. “My body had to get used to it, but I got more and more energy. A year after this holiday I never touched the wheelchair again.”
Healthy
Angela is now doing well and even dares to call herself healthy. “Everyone carries pathogens, but with a properly functioning immune system you can be or remain healthy. In my opinion, you can recover from Lyme disease if your immune system is functioning optimally. I know opinions differ on this and most people think it isn’t true. With my story I want to give people hope that it is possible, although the path to achieving it is different for everyone. That is also the reason why I am still involved with the Lyme Association. To spread this message.”
The disease has left its mark. Angela missed many years in her life, both socially and financially, and still lives with her parents. But she now commutes between Italy and the Netherlands with her Italian boyfriend and is saving for an independent life. She also sees a positive side: “Thanks to the disease, I have come closer to myself, something I might otherwise never have discovered.”
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2023-09-16 12:04:56
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