Athena Brownson

That tick was carrying Lyme disease along with two other co-infections that I am also fighting. And... Lyme is interesting as it lays dormant in your system until something weakens your immune system and it can come out and take over. For me, I ended up having neck surgery. I broke my neck skiing and my immune system took a hit from having neck surgery.

That tick was carrying Lyme disease along with two other co-infections that I am also fighting. And... Lyme is interesting as it lays dormant in your system until something weakens your immune system and it can come out and take over. For me, I ended up having neck surgery. I broke my neck skiing and my immune system took a hit from having neck surgery.

It was weekend, and that's when all of my symptoms started to act up with Lyme disease. And I was really fortunate that a doctor knew a lot about Lyme disease. It's something that is a little bit new in the medical field. There's not a ton of doctors that are very Lyme literate, I like to say. And I was very fortunate to be diagnosed immediately.

It was weekend, and that's when all of my symptoms started to act up with Lyme disease. And I was really fortunate that a doctor knew a lot about Lyme disease. It's something that is a little bit new in the medical field. There's not a ton of doctors that are very Lyme literate, I like to say. And I was very fortunate to be diagnosed immediately.

It's been seven and a half years, almost eight now of fighting Lyme disease.

It's been seven and a half years, almost eight now of fighting Lyme disease.

I would love nothing more. And I was in the same boat. I had no idea what Lyme disease was before I was diagnosed with it. In fact, when my doctor suggested that we do testing for it, I laughed because I was so unaware of Lyme disease. And I also was very naive to how significant it is. So Lyme disease is interesting because it affects everyone differently.

I would love nothing more. And I was in the same boat. I had no idea what Lyme disease was before I was diagnosed with it. In fact, when my doctor suggested that we do testing for it, I laughed because I was so unaware of Lyme disease. And I also was very naive to how significant it is. So Lyme disease is interesting because it affects everyone differently.

So depending on what you're genetically predisposed to, whatever your genetic weaknesses are, Lyme attacks that. So for some people that can be myalgia or rheumatoid arthritis, a multitude of autoimmune diseases like I have. I have an autoimmune disease where my body attacks my nerves. So that's why I'm in pain all the time because my own body is attacking my nerves.

So depending on what you're genetically predisposed to, whatever your genetic weaknesses are, Lyme attacks that. So for some people that can be myalgia or rheumatoid arthritis, a multitude of autoimmune diseases like I have. I have an autoimmune disease where my body attacks my nerves. So that's why I'm in pain all the time because my own body is attacking my nerves.

It can look like psychiatric issues for some people. It can range from such a variety of symptoms that that's what makes it difficult to diagnose. However, Lyme is the fastest growing epidemic in the United States right now. So the number of people that are contracting Lyme from a tick, like I said, You get it from being bit by a tick.

It can look like psychiatric issues for some people. It can range from such a variety of symptoms that that's what makes it difficult to diagnose. However, Lyme is the fastest growing epidemic in the United States right now. So the number of people that are contracting Lyme from a tick, like I said, You get it from being bit by a tick.

And if you are aware that you're bit by a tick immediately, you should go to the doctor. You'll usually see a red ring around the bite if it is carrying a disease. But I would say if you get bit by a tick, just go to the doctor because they can give you a short cycle of antibiotics and you'll never deal with it again.

And if you are aware that you're bit by a tick immediately, you should go to the doctor. You'll usually see a red ring around the bite if it is carrying a disease. But I would say if you get bit by a tick, just go to the doctor because they can give you a short cycle of antibiotics and you'll never deal with it again.

It's cases like mine where you don't know that you were bit, so it lays dormant in your system. And then when you least expect it, no one ever expects all of a sudden to start having the horrific symptoms. My life has made a complete 180 from being a professional athlete to trying to get myself through each day. It's a nightmare I wouldn't wish on anyone.

It's cases like mine where you don't know that you were bit, so it lays dormant in your system. And then when you least expect it, no one ever expects all of a sudden to start having the horrific symptoms. My life has made a complete 180 from being a professional athlete to trying to get myself through each day. It's a nightmare I wouldn't wish on anyone.

Now it's taught me more in life than I think anything ever could, but... People should be very aware that if you're in a heavily wooded area and there are ticks present, you should be aware of protecting yourself with long sleeves. They make tick repellent sprays.

Now it's taught me more in life than I think anything ever could, but... People should be very aware that if you're in a heavily wooded area and there are ticks present, you should be aware of protecting yourself with long sleeves. They make tick repellent sprays.

And if you do get bit, to go to the doctor because chronic Lyme disease, which is what stays for a long time, is a very difficult disease. disease to navigate. So if you know that you got bit and you can take a couple weeks of antibiotics, then you'll never deal with it again. But unfortunately, that's usually not the case.

And if you do get bit, to go to the doctor because chronic Lyme disease, which is what stays for a long time, is a very difficult disease. disease to navigate. So if you know that you got bit and you can take a couple weeks of antibiotics, then you'll never deal with it again. But unfortunately, that's usually not the case.