The Co$t of Lyme and PANDA$

Once upon a time, when I was trying to find the "perfect man" (for me,) I went out on a blind date with some highly recommended guy to a nice, local restaurant. I think he was a chiropractor or a dentist...I don't recall which. I don't remember what he looked like. What I do remember is that he took out a small bag of 17 vitamins which he swallowed before eating dinner, telling me he took these supplements morning and night. Weirdo. I never saw him again.

And here I am, more than 17 years later, with my own bag of vitamins and supplements. Oh, life's ironies! Who is standing in judgment now?

 For a long time, my immune system was strong enough to keep the Lyme Disease in my body in check. But last spring, the stress of the last three years caught up to me, punched me in the gut. I finally got tested. Positive for Lyme. Daughter: positive for Lyme. Son: PANDAS and Lyme. 

So, between the three of us, we now have our own little packets of supplements and more. It's a royal pain in the neck to remind everyone daily, "Did you take your medicine?" It's a bigger pain in the wallet.

Wow! The NEW monthly fee for the three of us (and this doesn't include everything, or my husband, who will remain silently private):

Banderol and Samento for 2 people per month (they each take about 30 drops per day): $100
Prescription meds for son: $7.50 plus $60 plus $15.00 plus $7.50: $90/month
ViraStop about $12/month unless we double it b/c of infection: avg $15
Adrecor $40/month
Vitamin D for family $10/month 
Klaire Labs probiotics $25/month unless we double it because of infection
Klaire Labs sacc $20/month unless we double it because of infection
Probiotics for daughter and me: $25/month 
Vitamin C: buffered; $10/month
L-Theanine $10/month
Magnesium, etc. supplements $10/month
Leukovorin for 2 people $15 RX/month 
Enhansa about $20/month
Grapefruit Seed Extract about $11/month
Artichoke extract capsules $6.00
Plant Sterols about $10/month/month 
Byron White Formula $60/month 
NT-Factor Energy: $30/month 
Serrapeptase $30/month 
Burbur $10/month
Activated charcoal: $3.00/month 

*Prices may differ, depending upon retail outlet. I guesstimated some of these.  

So, if you like math, you can see that this adds up to more than $500. Per month!

Where have all our dollars gone? Long time passing. To medical care, every one.

These are out-of-pocket expenses. 

The downside? No trips to Disney. No Broadway shows or concerts. No splurge spending. No educational vacations in Europe. Fretting over mortgage payments. Empty bank accounts. Stress. Taking on more work.

The upside? These medicines and supplements are keeping my son in a great place, for today. After several years of holding him while he disintegrated, he is BACK! When he encounters germs, we double the Virastop, probiotics, add some other supplements (not counted in the above list,) and see recovery. Amazing. This is the best autumn we've had in four years.

The other upside? These medicines and supplements are helping my daughter and me to fight Lyme Disease. We will overcome this nasty spirochete.

Next stop: Homeopathy for my daughter. Not sure if that will save us any money, though.