Suffering from Lyme? Free conference Saturday

Photo: Picasa

Diane Farnum is seen here with the Traveling Lyme Awareness Flags from Wisconsin. The green flags represent people across the country suffering with Lyme Disease, and the flags with black ribbons at the top, honor those who have died from complications of the disease. Farnum is hosting an informational conference at Mountain Valley Middle School on Saturday. (Times photo by Cherri Crockett)

MEXICO- On Saturday there will be a free Lyme Disease awareness conference being held at Mountain Valley Middle School beginning at 8 a.m. and going throughout the day until 5 p.m. Several speakers are scheduled to present on a variety of issues in relation to Lyme Disease.

Co-coordinators of the event are Diane Farnum of Roxbury and Rhonda Buker of Bethel, both suffer with the disease.

Speakers on hand for the day include Dr. Bea Szantyr, Dr. Mark Weatherbee, representatives from Mainely Ticks, Maine Lyme and many more. Their discussions will range from an overview of the disease, what Lyme does to your eyesight, prevention and safety strategies, as well as who each group is and what they do to help educate Mainers.
In 2005, Farnum was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and they traced her symptoms back to 2000, she was getting progressively more sick. “I was horribly fatigued,” noted Farnum. “I would scream to pick up a notebook, I shook all the time. It took everything I had to get out of bed in the morning.”

At times she found herself wearing her husband's welding glasses, a ski helmet and ear plugs in order to keep the stimulation from light, sound and touch from causing her severe migraine headaches. She had no short term memory and even forgot who her own daughter was one day.

Farnum describes having to write notes and people's names and phone numbers to herself and put them in her car. “I was on my way to an appointment one day and all of a sudden I couldn't remember where I was going. I sat on the side of the road, called my husband and he had to come get me. It was so scary.”

After years of tests, and multiple assumptions as to what was the underlying cause of Farnum's symptoms, they finally diagnosed her with late-stage Lyme Disease.
“I want to help other people become more aware,” noted Farnum. “You don't get it, till you get it.”

There is so much controversy over Lyme Disease. Farnum stated, “If there's one person who hears something to help them. If I can help educate people enough so they don't get sick, I've reached my goal.”

For more information, please contact Diane at 357-1926 or email her at dianefarnum@yahoo.com.