Woman struggles with Lyme diagnosis

Friends plan fundraiser to help with expenses

Friday, Sept. 5, 2008

Find local information on Lyme Disease at the Calvert County Health Department Web site www.Calverthealth.org. Here you can also find links to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

By GRETCHEN PHILLIPS

Staff writer

A bite from an bug as small as a pin-point could have life altering effects if untreated.

For one Lusby resident, this is the harsh reality as a bite from a tick has left her with chronic Lyme disease, seemingly endless medical expenses and a humbling outreach by the Calvert community.

Cheryl Holliday, 28, of Lusby didn’t think much of ticks other than to watch out for them when in the woods.

After months of unexplained symptoms and doctors’ appointments, including two tests for Lyme that came up negative, Holliday was diagnosed with Lyme disease in October 2007. She said it is undetermined when exactly the tick bite took place, but, judging by the seriousness of her condition, it went undiagnosed for several years.

Looking back at all of the symptoms that eventually led to a Lyme diagnosis, Holliday said she could justify each one at the time she experienced them. She said when she had pain in her feet, she justified that it was from wearing high heels too long and when she experienced pain in her wrists and elbows, she chalked that up to other daily situations.

Holliday said in a press release she didn’t think much of the symptoms until they started to affect her job.

Being in her late 20s, ‘‘You don’t think something is seriously wrong,” she said in a later interview.

According to the release, the weakening effects of her symptoms caused Holliday to lose her job.

Her symptoms persisted and when the pain reached her back, Holliday said that is when she started going to doctors on a more regular basis looking for answers.

Holliday was tested for Lyme disease twice and both tests came back negative. Holliday said her symptoms had her in and out of 15 doctors’ offices, and led to several emergency room visits.

‘‘I felt as though the doctors would never figure out what was causing me to feel this way and after several months of misdiagnosis, I began to lose hope,” she said in a release.

She was tested again in Great Mills, this time with a more in-depth Lyme disease test and was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease.

Chronic Lyme disease, according to the Calvert County Health Department Web site, results from untreated Lyme disease.

This stage of the disease could lead to more serious conditions such as heart or joint conditions.

According to the Web site, symptoms of Lyme disease range from muscle aches, joint aches, fever and fatigue among a host of other symptoms. These symptoms, according to the Web site, are often mistaken for other illnesses.

Currently, Holliday is on monthly I.V. treatments. Holliday said her insurance company has assisted with several treatments but after a certain amount, Holliday has been paying out of pocket.

This is when Holliday noticed first from family and close friends and then from the local community the warmth and generosity of Calvert County.

Close friend Jayme Hall said it has been hard for Holliday’s family and close friends to see ‘‘someone so sweet and generous” struggle with this illness.

Holliday said she has always been an independent person and the donations and support from the community have been humbling.

‘‘I’ve never been in a situation like this. ... It’s really humbling to have so many people willing to help me,” she said.

On Saturday, Sept. 6, a benefit for Holliday will be held at the American Legion in Lusby. Tickets are $20 at the door.

Family and friends of Holliday are asking the community to come out to the event for food, games, door prizes, raffle prizes and a D.J.

Proceeds will go towards medical expenses for Holliday.

Along with supporting Holliday, family and friends are hoping to get the word out about Lyme disease awareness so that others could avoid the misfortune Holliday is enduring.

‘‘Check yourself [for ticks] anywhere and everywhere if you go outside,” Holliday said about staying aware.

Holliday said the more a person checks, the better off they are. And the more thorough the check, the better, as Holliday said a deer tick can be as small as the period at the end of this sentence.