In June 2008 I found a small bull's eye rash on my leg. Took a picture of it as I did with the bug bite reactions my kids have had from our own backyard in Canton, MI. I don't remember feeling like I had the flu but a short time later I started have bad pain in my left knee that spread to my right knee, my elbows, and shoulders that would move around and burned. Initially I was told I had a thyroid problem. So I went along with that until I over several months I went through these symptoms: heart palps, not being able to breathe at night and pacing the floor, my brain would scream to shut out the noise, jaw and ear pain, not being able to focus on what people were saying or being able to stay focused on reading, ulcerated uvula, tightening in throat, completely exhausted, twitching/spasms on left side of face, etc. So I began to do some research of my own online about my symptoms and thought maybe it might be lyme disease. That's when I remembered the picture I took of the rash. I remember feeling stupid thinking that it might be lyme disease because I didn't think it could happen in lower Michigan. I was afraid people would think I was a hypochondriac. In my online research I came across the Michigan Lyme Disease Association website where I found contact information. I emailed my digital photo I had of the rash and I think it was only a day or two before Connie Siese replied. I had asked her if she thought this might be from a tick bite and if I should bother getting tested. She was so kind and nonjudgemental in her response back to me and encouraged me to find a LLMD to get tested. Her encouragement helped me overcome my fear of being labeled a hypochondriac and I did get tested. I've been diagnosed and treated for Babesia. Thank you to the MLDA for their encouragement and support through the yahoo chat and facebook too!