I just assumed that everyone else always felt run down, borderline exhausted, and creaky, so there was no point fussing about it.

I've certainly done this with other things in my life. When you think about it, unless you had a reason to question your assumptions, why would you?

That is what is amazing about any world (or internal) view, once you get an appreciation of alternatives, it can blow your mind. You mean I don't HAVE to be tired/miserable/etc. all the time? Whoddathunkit!?

Have you read What Dreams May Come? One of the things that sticks with me most about Hell was the idea that all this stuff is awful or non-functional and the person whose Hell it is just accepts it as the way things are.

Jilli, I'm just going to put this out there and then step away from the conversation - I think you need a second opinion.

This NEJM article sums it up pretty well: [link]

I agree with Jessica. My cousin (slayer) and I knew someone who died from Lyme disease. We're pretty familiar with the disease and what you've described doesn't sound like what Vern went through with the disease (he was military reserves and caught it from a tick when he was in Colorado, iirc).

Thanks for the article, Jessica--I've read several things similar, but didn't have a great link.

I am always tired and creaky! But I think it has to do with not sleeping well. Though apparently my mom has fibromyalgia (in addition to both parents having sleep apnea), who knew? I should get them to write down a medical history...but it's already a pain to fill out at the doctor!

Awake. Itchy and having an anxiety attack, probably from the prednisone. Have taken 3 benedryl and OTC painkillers, have no anti-itch cream in the house. There are spots of poison ivy on my scalp. Frankie chewed open the sock of oatmeal I was using earlier and his farts are epic right now. Am massively cranky about the whole situation. Pronouns gone. Tempted to call in itchy to work. SMONSTER SMASH. Moving to couch in hopes change of sleep venue will help.

Do you have any tagament or pepcid in the house? when DH had reaction bed enough to go to the ER they threw those into the mix. they are histamine blockers, not the same as in allergy drugs, but they can help A LOT with itchy skin. Both what the doctor said and from my experience since then.

and switching sleeping venues helps me

Oh smonster, Honey. I am SO sorry you are going through this.

I can say, without reservation, predisone is likely to make you insane. When I took it in September, I did not sleep for a solid week, plus the fear and the hyperlocution and the whole shebang. Give yourself a total break around any thoughts and/or feelings you are having. Make no major decisions and REST.

I wish I had something calming and/or soothing to offer but will at least say a fervent prayer that you get relief soon.

Poor, smonster.

EM got poison ivy several times and her reaction got worse and worse so that even the slightest exposure caused her body to flip out.

I'm a little concerned that repeated exposure to poison ivy will have that effect on you.