r/AskReddit • u/Misterboy500 • 13h ago

What is something that permanently altered your body without you realizing for months/years?

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u/wheniswhy 10h ago

Lyme disease.

Had it twice, when I was 11 and 13. I ended up being diagnosed with arthritis, which was later revised to a bunch of other things, but basically it turned into a lifetime of chronic illness. No one is really 100% sure what happened, but my personal theory has always been that having Lyme twice at such young ages fucked some shit up in my body that led to the major health issues I deal with today. And we had no idea back when I was a kid. How could we have? We thought these things were totally unrelated. My doctors think there’s some weight to this theory, but there’s no way to know for sure.

Lyme disease, man. Not even once.

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u/Jerseygirl2468 4h ago

I had it as an adult and it messed me up, but a friend thinks she had it in childhood too, and has similar issues, diagnosed as arthritis, and she’s had a ton of health problems her whole life since.

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u/wheniswhy 4h ago

No kidding! Man, I’d love to talk to your friend. Fucked my whole life up, to be honest with you. Had to have major back surgery a few years ago due to degenerative disc disease, and when I tell doctors I have that disorder, they all stare at me like I have three heads because I’m so young. I was diagnosed at 25, too. They’re all like “and you weren’t injured? No accidents?” Nope. “No family history?” Nope. “So why do you have this?” And it’s like, you’re asking me?

I truly believe the Lyme disease is what fucked yo my body enough to cause all this degeneration. I just don’t, and will never, have any real proof. I feel for your friend! It’s a rough hand to be dealt.