By ASHLEY MACKIN-SOLOMON JUNE 4, 2021 12:10 PM PT
Lyme Disease is “Sometimes referred to as ‘The Great Imitator’ because symptoms can vary and mimic other diseases… typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic bulls-eye-shaped skin rash that can last anywhere from weeks to years.
But some symptoms are all but typical, making it difficult to diagnose. La Jolla resident Sharon Wampler’s symptoms included bleeding gums, headaches, joint pain, and cognitive dissonance.”
“It was actually my dentist who recommended I see a doctor because I had bleeding gums,” she said. “They checked me for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus and everything looked good, so they let me go. I went back to a doctor several months later because I was still not feeling well, and no one could figure anything else.”
“I recalled being bitten by a tick. I didn’t get the rash, so I didn’t think about it. “I got tested, and it came back positive. If you are treated immediately, it’s a better outcome. The bacteria can burrow into the joints and into the nervous system, and it can be harder to treat if not treated right away. There can be long-term issues with the heart, lungs, or nervous system.”
Project Apollo Cohort Founder, Sharon Wampler