Health

I have had it six times, the most recent a couple months ago. More on that later.

My sister and a good family friend got lyme before the medical community were aware of it locally. They did not get proper treatment for months, making it severe. My sister had to retire, as did our friend. Both live very limited lives these days.

Both of my sons have had it once. Both had Bell's palsy affect one side of their facial muscles, both for relatively long periods. My younger son was a crisis response social worker at an large area school, and I know he was self-conscious about it.

Since having it the first time, of course, I am no longer tested for it. It will show up, even when I have zero symptoms. But when bite by a tick, I call my doctor, and she usually calls in the Rx for me. This last time, however, the tick was deep, and it required her using a scalpal to cut it out of my arm.