When Tammy Farmer gave birth to her son, Logan, her life changed dramatically, but not in the usual way.
Without knowing it, Farmer was a carrier of Lyme disease, and it wasn’t until she went through the physical stress of childbirth that she began to experience symptoms like excruciating pain and cognitive impairment. Because the tick-borne bacterium that cause Lyme disease can pass through the placenta, Logan was infected before he was born.
As Farmer left the hospital with her newborn, she began the battle of her life, not only fighting for her and her son’s health, but also for other victims of Lyme disease by volunteering for Kansas Lyme Fighters Inc.
Lyme disease can cause a wide array of health challenges that range from gastrointestinal to neurological to musculoskeletal, making it easy to misdiagnose. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the 328,128 cases of Lyme disease that were confirmed between 1990 and 2008 represent only 10 percent of the actual cases of Lyme disease, according to the Lyme Disease Association. In fact, Farmer was misdiagnosed for seven years with baffled doctors telling her she had everything from multiple sclerosis to lupus.
At times, she was so devastated by the illness that she couldn’t function. “At my lowest moments, I was in bed, incapacitated, because it hurt so badly. It hurt just to have someone walking on the carpet outside my bedroom,” Farmer said.
Farmer and Logan were finally diagnosed three years ago and started aggressive antibiotic treatment. While she still has bad days, she’s beginning to recover. And she’s using her newfound health to help others who suffer from tick-borne illnesses through a nonprofit group she helped to found, Kansas Lyme Fighters. Her volunteer work has been so transformative in the lives of people who battle Lyme disease that the organization nominated Farmer for the United Way Roger Hill Volunteer Center’s 2010 Wallace Galluzzi Outstanding Volunteer award.
In addition to helping raise awareness of tick-borne illnesses, Farmer runs support groups and works as an advocate. But mostly, she comes alongside those who are sick and offers them support and encouragement.
“Tammy’s strength is building community,” said Peggy Blumhagen, president of Kansas Lyme Fighters. “She has opened her home to multiple people who were suffering and created an environment of acceptance, comfort and love. Tammy rarely shares how she feels except when it helps to encourage people who are about to give up on their life. When they realize how much she is suffering also, they gain courage and strength to keep trying to get well.”
Farmer shrugs off the praise. “After something so devastating has affected my family’s life, I couldn’t help but help others,” she says. “I was sick for years before it was figured out, and that’s not uncommon at all. It happens to people all the time, and their lives are as devastated as mine was. Or worse. I had family to support me, but I know a lot of people who don’t.
“When you go through something like this, you narrow down what is important in your life. People are important, and that’s what makes life go around. Making them feel better, even for just a moment.”
For information or to volunteer for Kansas Lyme Fighters, see kansaslymefighters.org.
Comments
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seggy (Sara Garlick) says…
I know too many ppl with Lyme. Also this disease can be spread to animals, so if you notice your pets acting weird call your vet.
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woodscolt (anonymous) replies…
Maybe some day you too will have lyme disease. Then you might realize how pathetic your disgusting comment is.
kansasfaithful (anonymous) says…
An uncle of mine was one of the first if not the first person diagnosed with Lyme Disease in Kansas. He was diagnosed late because nobody new what it was. He still suffers today after what must be 25 years or so. He has been on antibiotics off and on yearly for the entire time. He is much better. His specialist saw that he was way over weight so the uncle dropped nearly 100lbs and since then the recurrence has dropped to about every 18 months to 2 years for him. It seems the bacteria lives in fat cells and the antibiotics don't work as well due to a lack of blood supply to fat int he body. Pass the word to others please.
bullydad1 (anonymous) says…
I think chronic lyme disease is crap. A diagnosis of exclusion. I am from Connecticut, very close to Lyme, CT where the name Lyme disease comes from. I and many of my peers had it as kids, got treated, and have been fine ever since. Chronic fatigue, aches & pains years after exposure? BS. Welcome to life...
Pywacket (anonymous) replies…
You are cordially invited to return to the state of your origin if they will have you back. What a pleasant and open-minded person. Apparently, if you have not experienced {whatever it is} then you simply refuse to believe in its existence. I suppose you think childbirth pains are fake "crap," and that women should just suck it up and get tough.
As Bugs Bunny would say, "What a maroon."
kansaslymefighters (anonymous) replies…
I rejoice that you were treated early and have been fine! That is an advocate's dream come true. May you continue in good health. About 80% of the people who are treated early and long enough with antibiotics will recover within the first year. About 20% of the people must be treated for 3 to 5 years, and then there are those who much be treated for the rest of their lives in order to maintain function.
ckennedy (christy kennedy) replies…
Oh good lord. Not believing what others have experienced because you haven't experienced it personally only means you lack empathy and an open mind. People are different. People's immune systems are different. Congratulations on your treatment and recovery—you should wish such good fortune on others and have sympathy for those who continue to suffer. Your comment is pure ignorance and arrogance.
clovis_sangrail (anonymous) says…
I have had Lyme disease, and I can tell you it is nearly impossible to convince a doctor in Kansas you have it. I picked mine up in Rhode island, and I was lucky enough to be working with some people who recognized the symptoms and told me what I probably had. But I flew back home to see a doctor, and Lyme is not a common occurrence here.
The symptoms are not consistent, and not everyone gets all symptoms. Plus, it does not always show up on the blood tests. I did not have the rash and my blood test was negative, but my doctor ordered a round of doxycycline antibiotic anyway because I had a host of other symptoms -- most significantly fever and muscle pain worse than any flu I have ever had. The antibiotics knocked it right out, which would not have been the case had it been flu, and I have not had a recurrence in more than 10 years.
The moral -- Lyme can be beaten if caught early, and if you have been anywhere that you could have picked up a tick bite and have any of the symptoms, see a doctor and be pushy. Even without the antibiotics, your body can throw off the infection, but it will only be temporary. With early antibiotic treatment, you stand a good chance of getting rid of it and avoiding long-term problems.
woodscolt (anonymous) says…
"I have had Lyme disease, and I can tell you it is nearly impossible to convince a doctor in Kansas you have it."
Out fine government attacks and ruins and destroys the careers of doctors who try to treat people with lyme disease.
woodscolt (anonymous) says…
Under Our Skin-A look at Lyme Disease at pbs.org
http://science.kqed.org/quest/2009/09...
Sigmund (anonymous) says…
woodscolt (anonymous) says… "Under Our Skin-A look at Lyme Disease at pbs.org"
The showings of "Under Our Skin" on PBS are over, however it is available on NetFlix streaming.
http://www.underourskin.com/
I would watch the film with a healthy amount of skepticism ...
kansaslymefighters (anonymous) replies…
Hulu has the film for free.
kansaslymefighters (anonymous) replies…
When we show this movie in the community, lives have literally been saved. It helps people to take action and find help.
Over 1,600 pages of new scientific research was presented on June 30, 2009 IDSA hearings by medical doctors. Science, good sense, and 40 years of medical practice that has worked to save lives--is simply being ignored and rejected.
woodscolt (anonymous) replies…
The link didn't work but the show is still available on PBS.org. I would think an anti government guy like you would jump all over this . I think, siggy, that if you had lyme desease, you would look at the film with very little skepticism. But as long as its someone else, you can be a skeptic. Kinda the brownback way now that I think about it.
kansaslymefighters (anonymous) says…
We have been advocating for people with tick-borne diseases in Kansas, as Friends helping Friends, for that last several years. We have found that everywhere we go, people tell us they know someone with Lyme disease.
Currently, since the showing of the Award Winning Medical Documentary, "Under Our Skin," on over 100 PBS stations in May-June 2011, the Lyme Disease United Coalition is receiving over 200 calls per day from people who are sick. Many of those who are calling are from Kansas.
The Lyme Association of Greater Kansas City has been advocating for over 17 years. They have a long list of people who are both sick and who have died from tick-borne diseases.
It is easy to be skeptical. However, if you have walked with people, and whole families who are sick with up to 100 different bacteria, viruses, and parasites found in one tick that vomits it's guts into it's host's blood stream- you will find intense sadness, frustration, trauma, pain.
There is so much needless suffering. If only people could have been diagnosed and treated quickly, and treated long enough with antibiotics.
We find many, many families are all infected--in Kansas!
I think everyone would agree who suffers from tick-borne diseases, that the rejection, isolation, abandonment, disbelief, and the determination of mainstream medicine to deny individuals and families the Standard of Care (www.ilads.org)~ this is the most difficult part of this illness. They are sick with a horrible infection, and denied access to medical testing and treatment. We have witnessed many people give up, and accept disability and death rather than fight to get medicine.
Whether people obtain care or not, I have witnessed the greatest bravery and courage, determination and perseverence, in people who are sick with tick-borne diseases.
Sherrill2 (anonymous) says…
Other infections carried by ticks including Babesia (a malaria-like illness) and Bartonella complicate a quick recovery from Lyme Disease. These co-infections are also difficult to detect due to poor test quality. Both of these illnesses require a completely different treatment approach from garden variety Lyme complicating the so-called quick and easy 2-4 week recovery time. Also, Babesia, which can be deadly, is creeping into the nation's blood supply. There is not yet a test available that can screen the nation's blood supply, although the Red Cross is working on it.