Jason E. Andersen

So it turns out that I have Lyme Disease. Well, highly likley anyway. I didn’t get a test done to know 100%, but I had the hallmark bullseye rash on my foot. That combined with my frequent interactions with ticks, made it a no-brainer for my nurse practitioner.

For those of you that don’t know, Lyme Disease is an infectious bacterial disease caused by bacteria carried by some species of ticks. When the tick attaches and sucks your sweet blood juices, it transfers the bacteria to your person. Congratulations! You are now diseased! It’s really a wonder I didn’t get this sooner.

Bonus Fun Fact: Lyme Disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. That is to say, it’s a disease caused by a critter carrying a pathogen. Like malaria is caused by being bitten by an infected mosquito. Oddly enough, even though it is the most common disease of its type, it is still considered to be quite rare. Only about 20,000 cases of Lyme Disease are reported each year (which kind of seems like a lot, but apparently it’s not).

Bonus Bonus Fun Fact: Lyme Disease is named after the small town of Lyme, Connecticut, where the disease was first observed in 1975. I’ve heard lots of people say it as Lyme’s Disease, as if the disease belongs to a person. If you are one of those people, you now know that you’re doing it wrong.

Bonus Bonus Bonus Fun Fact: Lyme Disease is easily treatable if caught early. It can cause flu-like symptoms including headache, fever, and fatigue in the initial stages. If gone untreated, the infection can create chronic joint pain, arthritis, and eventually lead to heart and nervous system problems. Most cases of Lyme Disease can be treated with a regimen of antibiotics (which I am doing now).

Bonus Bonus Bonus Bonus Fun Fact: The preferred medication for treating Lyme Disease is Doxycyline, an oral antibiotic. Among other, more pedestrian side-effects, taking Doxycyline will make you more prone to sunburns.