Diarrhea: The Lyme Disease Symptom Nobody Wants to Talk About

It’s a biological necessity, and yet we whisper about it as though we should be ashamed. Sure, diarrhea is gross, it smells and it’s messy, but we have to talk about this symptom of late-stage Lyme disease and its co-infections. If I had been less embarrassed to discuss my bowel issues, I may have been diagnosed much sooner. Instead, I hid behind excuses for the better part of a decade. And so, with Lyme Disease Awareness Month in mind, I relate to you my struggles with diarrhea, the Lyme disease symptom nobody wants to talk about.

Diarrhea that makes you late to work

I was in my early thirties when I first recall having chronic diarrhea. For the next ten years it would be a constant concern that I fretted over but was too nervous, and poor, to have checked out. Instead, I made excuses in my mind for the possible cause of my extended stays on the porcelain throne. I ate something that didn’t agree with me, I have food poisoning, I’m dealing with so much anxiety, I’m so depressed, that must be causing it, or I had too many beers last night.

At some point though, my diarrhea began interfering with my work. I would have to call in late because I didn’t think to account for a forty-five minute sit-down in the bathroom. I remember crying because there was a fear bubbling up inside of me that something wasn’t right. Often, it was actually painful; stomach cramps, a burning sensation around the anus, a convulsing abdomen. Even though I wasn’t actually sick, as in flu-sick, it would affect my whole day. It was emotionally draining, fretting constantly about what may be causing this sickening start to my day.

The sudden, and urgent, need to go

Thankfully, I didn’t deal with this type of diarrhea very often but I remember one day in particular. Of course, it happened while I was in the car with a boy. It was an awkward and exceedingly uncomfortable moment.

We were driving to meet some friends for a canoe trip when all of a sudden I thought I’d explode. For about five minutes, I thought for sure I would have to ask him to pull over on the highway, than expose myself as I squatted on the side of the road in a world of hurt and embarrassment. Or worse, that I wouldn’t make it that far and poop right there in his car. The gods were with me, though, and I was able to hold it until we reached a bathroom. It was a tense few minutes, nonetheless. By this time, alarm bells should have been resounding in my head but I continued ignored this mounting problem.

The worst night of my Lyme disease treatment

I’ve saved the worst for last. This story didn’t even make into my book. At the time, I wasn’t prepared to share it yet. Just thinking about it now feels like forcing yourself to re-live a terrible nightmare. Hold onto your hats and we’ll dive into the deep end together.

My doctor had started my treatment with the antibiotic doxycycline and I was probably two weeks into my long battle. I awoke suddenly from a deep sleep feeling super nauseous. I rolled out of bed, with as much energy as I could muster in my weakened-by-doxycycline state, sensing the urgency of my situation. Upon standing I realized I wasn’t going to vomit, I was going to explode from the other end.

I sat down on the toilet and what came out of me sounded like I was peeing, not pooping. My whole body began to tremble and convulse while my heart raced. I immediately broke out in a clammy sweat. My body was so weak I couldn’t hold myself in a sitting position. I literally thought I would fall off the toilet while the stream continued. Had I not been so shocked and terrified I would have burst into tears. My husband was anxiously pacing outside the door and I moaned for him to come in.

That’s the night Will earned his gold medal in selflessness. He squatted there, in front of the toilet, holding my hand and propping up my body while I convulsed and my bowels radically expunged. I’ll never forget the look on his face. His concern mixed with adoration for me has never been on better display.

Once my body was finished expelling what I can only assume was a serious overload of toxins, I continued to tremble and spasm for about thirty minutes. My heart rate slowly evened out and the feeling that I was going to faint ebbed. It was a horrible night that I wish I could forget. I’m sure my husband feels the same way.

Don’t ignore diarrhea!

I know, diarrhea is the Lyme disease symptom nobody wants to talk about. But, my message to you is, please don’t ignore it, or any type of irregular bowel movements. It is likely a sign of dis-ease. It may not necessarily be Lyme disease. There are many culprits of irregular bowel movements, including irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and cancer. In point of fact, my diarrhea was likely due to Babesiosis or Bartonella, two common co-infections of Lyme disease which I was diagnosed with later in my treatment.

Don’t be ashamed and put off getting yourself checked out. It could make a huge difference in the course of your life. If you’re concerned about money, as I was, the alternative is waiting until what could have cost you a few hundred dollars ends up costing you tens of thousands of dollars, as my Lyme treatment cost me. So, tell your doctor about your diarrhea or irregular bowel movements. I can tell you it will be worth the momentary embarrassment. It is such a relief to finally have regular bowel movements!