FYI, I have always suspected that the "no-see-ums" (midges) that we have in the area carry an infectious agent similar to Lyme Disease. I was raised in the Theodore - Grand Bay area and left the area right after high school.
When I decided to retire (at age 50), I came back to the area, bought property cleared it and built a new house.
During the clearing of the property I was floored by something? I went from wanting to work from daylight to dark to barely being able to get out of bed...I was tired and slept all the time, I became mentally confused and began to have panic attacks...all out of the clear blue. Suprisingly, daily antibiotics helped the situation.
I went to many doctors and even had a spinal-tap looking for Lyme disease, which came back negative. The MD's eventually sent me to a shrink where I was diagnosed with major depression and ADHD at the age of 50. They put me on anti-depressants and Ritlin...which didn't do a damn thing and I quit taking them after about a year and one-half.
I have been retired in this area for ten years now and have gradually gotten better over this ten year period. I'm still convinced something happened to me when I spent the time here to build the house. I still do very little and tire out easily. I'm in excellent physical health otherwise. I don't eat (never-have) the seafood in the area.
You story of moving here and clearing your land are very similar to mine...curious to say the least. First thing we did after getting married was buy land 2 doors down from my MIL and start clearing it, the only parcel of land not previously a corn field so..lots of growth. I became pregnant almost immediately and then the stress of actually paying for the land and new baby set in! I've always associated my 'symptoms' to those and other life stresses.
The skeeters and 'no see em'... I've seen mention of Lyme Disease on various ALS forums and while they were trying to diagnose my MIL they ruled it out as well, but my MIL always felt like it somehow played into it all.
You mean you've never had a fried butterfly Gulf shrimp?! Heaven on earth man! lol
"I went to many doctors and even had a spinal-tap looking for Lyme disease, which came back negative. The MD's eventually sent me to a shrink where I was diagnosed with major depression and ADHD at the age of 50. They put me on anti-depressants and Ritlin...which didn't do a damn thing and I quit taking them after about a year and one-half."
I once tested positive for Lyme disease but it was a false positive. I was all wrapped up with weird symptoms and I attributed it to a mosquito bite. I even became convinced I had ALS after reading the various symptoms. (Reading medical journals will drive one crazy) I eventually concluded it was due to a fall I had at my house and also arthritis in the spine. I've just learned to live with it.