In June of 2011 I started to feel muscle pain, fever, nausea, weakness, fatigue. Over the course of six days the symptoms progressed to the point where I had severe night sweats and chills during the day, and was so fatigued and nauseated I didn't eat for days and could only lay on the couch or in bed. After six days I went to a doctor. He sent me to the emergency room for tests. My fever was 103, I'd lost seven pounds. I was anemic and my platelets, white blood cells were extremely low. My platelet count was 18,000. Tests for flu, Lyme (I live in New England) and blood disorders were negative. After some time and four days in the hospital with IV antibiotics and various other medications, there was a consensus among the doctors that I was suffering from one or more of several tick borne infections: erlichiosis, anaplasmosis or babesios. It took months to regain my strength. The pain in my joints, so severe it kept me awake at night, has subsided but I still have no sensation in my toes and fingers due to low B12. I'm also anemic. I take supplements for these conditions and will see a blood dr. again next month for a re-check.