It was 1985, I had the rash, got the flu like symptoms 24 hours later.. I was visiting Vermont to scope out some land and a small cabin for myself, I had taken the train from Florida, where I had been living taking care of my father. On the train ride back I was sick with fever, I thought it was the flu. Nobody knew about Lyme at that point, I thought it was a spider bite I had gotten at the friends farm I was staying out when I went to Vt. Symptoms started bothering me bad as I approached menapause, I thought the arthritis was just misalignment from care giver lifting etc, was tested for it in 1998, came back negative My current doctor did some more sophisticated testing to search for the bacteria, and bingo, it was discovered. Psychologically it was a grieving practice to accept a chronic disease, I never got sick with other stuff, was not one to go to the doctor for common illnesses you catch from your kid when they bring home stuff, lived on Advil, hot baths, ice packs for years. I tried silver, fasting, raw diets, parasite cleanses that were harsh, and herbal, colonics, far infra red, reiki, church healings, the triad of black walnut, artemisia and oregano oil, eating every naturally fermented thing I could buy. I did not know about mast cells, and it is just being discovered as the result of long term illness, molds, chemical sensitivity, NSAIDS, alcoholism, and a possible genetic condition. Treating the MCAS has greatly improved my pain, my brain fog, inflammation, occasional GERD, chronic congestion of sinus, ears, etc. I feel better but I would love a frikkin hot dog with sauerkraut with a nice Belgian white beer, but, healing is one day at a time and I am so grateful for so much. I can be a crippled bitch some days, or feel like it, but I stay away from people then and smoke a joint very much doctor approved, and stream a series or watch youtube, study scripture, I am grateful. Avoid tick bites by all means. I was an avid nature walker and would wade through the most brush ridden wetlands, always in the brush or woods or by the shore, have been bitten many times, they get on your clothing and find a way to skin, if you go bushwacking, hunting, fishing, any outdoorsy thing, even gardening, you have to cover yourself, and check everything when you come in , they can be in your socks and you dont know it. And if you are blessed with some land, get chickens!!! Free range them. Mine are fenced in 3/4 an acre, but once we have a hard frost they have their way all in my gardens till snow, and then they are out till I start planting, of the flowers start coming in. I was raised to remember things could always be worse, and it's helped through life. Bio weapons are here, they will be used, God have Mercy.