![biggrin](https://dz3ixmv6nok8z.cloudfront.net/static/img/emoticons/biggrin.b730b6165809.gif)
lyme disease is carried and transmitted by ticks and possibly fleas. chronic lyme disease, for me, means primarily large joint pain and increasingly limited mobility. i make a cane sexy
![wink](https://dz3ixmv6nok8z.cloudfront.net/static/img/emoticons/wink.6a5555b139e7.gif)
![](https://dz3ixmv6nok8z.cloudfront.net/static/img/ph-508.604ed20cffa9.gif)
it also means lots of medication for me in the past 9 months, including a 6 week course of IV antibiotics that required a port installed in my arm, with a tube that ends in the heart.
![](https://dz3ixmv6nok8z.cloudfront.net/static/img/ph-508.604ed20cffa9.gif)
spoilered for graphic content:
this meant every day, until my insurance ran out, and i needed to start injecting myself, i went to the infusion clinic to receive treatment.
after my insurance stopped covering this, i began to inject myself daily, and then twice daily, until my PICC rejected and needed to be removed. this was scary to me, because on my last day of treatment by trained medical professionals, i was treated for a blood clot in my superior vena cava. or, in layman's terms, my mutherfucking heart.
here's what my home IV meds looked like:
and then, after IV treatment, they look like this:
Evening dose.
these meds -or maybe even the lyme itself- make me sick. lots of sunny summer days spent like this:
and lots of braids, too, long hair takes more energy and effort than i have any more, so i'm big time obsessed with braiding to manage it. also, dry shampoo is a great time extended in between showers. but you always knew i was a dirty girl *insert comedy rimshot here*
spoilered due to lack of graphic content:
it's ok though, i have a really supportive network of amazing, caring, selfless and loving people who's idea of a good time is snuggling with me. and pets, lots and lots of pets, but that's a blog for another day. i've taken up enough of your time.
and even more good news for me, i'm on a 2 week detox, which means for 2 weeks, i don't need to take any antibiotics and i get a much needed break!
i just wanted to share with you what it's like to have a chronic illness. and i wanted to thank each and every one of you who bother to read my blog here or follow my instagram/facebook or drop me texts to check in. y'all are the best
Rick