When you fill out patient forms in doctor’s offices, especially when visiting a specialist, there is often a reoccurring question, “When did you last feel normal?” I’ve always struggled with this question and it wasn’t until I heard the words “Chronic Lyme” that I understood why. My Lyme disease story starts in 2000. I was only 5 years old and I can only remember bits and pieces of my initial contraction, the rest of the story is filled in by my parents. Everything went right for an early diagnosis; my mom saw the tick on my eyebrow, I developed the bull’s-eye rash, I went to the doctor immediately. But there was one big hurdle. It was allergy season and my primary physician at the time was convinced that it was just a case of allergies and I was given a dose of Benadryl. Still, my body was persistent in telling me that I had Lyme. A few weeks after my first visit to the doctor, I developed Bell’s palsy in my face and had severe vision and hearing issues. My mom, the advocate she ...