Bite Me: How Lyme Disease Stole My Childhood, Made Me Crazy, and Almost Killed Me

by Ally Hilfiger, Ally Hilfiger

Ally was at a breaking point when she woke up in a psych ward at the age of eighteen. She couldn't put a sentence together, let alone take a shower, eat a meal, or pick up a phone. What had gone wrong? In recent years, she had produced a feature film, a popular reality show for a major network, and had acted in an off-Broadway play. But now, Ally was pushed to a psychotic break after struggling since she was seven years old with physical symptoms that no doctor could explain; everything from joint pain, to night sweats, memory loss, nausea, and brain fog. A doctor in the psych ward was finally able to give her the answers her and her family had desperately been searching for, and the diagnosis that all the previous doctors had missed. She learned that she had Lyme disease-and finally had a breakthrough.

What she didn't know was that this diagnosis would lead her down some of the most excruciating years of her life before beginning her journey to recovery from eleven years of misdiagnosis and physical pain. She would need to find her courage to heal physically, mentally, and emotionally, and become the survivor she is today.

Set against the backdrop of the fast-paced fashion and entertainment industries, Bite Me shares the heartbreaking and hilarious stories that moved Ally forward on her journey from sickness to health. Its themes will be familiar to more than 300,000 Americans diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, many of whom, like Ally, wondered for years what was wrong with them. Bite Me offers readers hope and ideas for how one can transition from victim to survivor, and shares the spiritual principles and actions that have contributed to her wholeness as a human, mother, and international spokesperson against Lyme disease.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Medical, Health, Autobiography, Biography, Biography Memoir

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 24, 2016

Reviews

[Krysta · Rating 1 out of 5]

You, too, can cure your chronic illness! Just follow the advice of twelve private practitioners, have your herbal remedies imported from India, and live on a secluded island in the Caribbean for months at a time! In this book about LYME DISEASE, the author name drops continuously, describes outfits worn by her father in 1985, talks about attending estate sales to purchase vintage handbags, and mentions her ability to channel psychic thoughts through a regular deck of playing cards. Burnt orange might be her favourite colour? Didn't learn that much about Lyme Disease. Learned more about an MTV show called "Rich Girls" that starred the author. One of the worst books I've read in recent history. If you want to learn about Lyme, you're better off reading a Wikipedia article.

[Deidre · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suppose I should clarify the 2 rating. I have a tremendous amount of respect for how Ally has handled her disease and definitely have lots of empathy; however, the organization of the book was just all over the place, and some parts were incredibly jarring to read. For instance, she often would relate some really interesting Lyme research or life event, but instead of expanding on those ideas she'd jump into a litany of clothing descriptions of family members, friends, doctors, etc. (Although maybe those kinds of details would hold more meaning if I grew up in the fashion world too . . . who knows?)

I was hoping she would take more time to discuss the details of her protocols and her Global Lyme Alliance advocacy. The book unfortunately really begins to get interesting as it is wrapping up. I would have loved to hear more about her successes rather than reality TV mishaps.

[Ashley {_xamountofbooks} · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Many Lyme patients just have to put up with symptoms their whole lives because there is no cure for feeling low grade shitty all the time."

While overall I don't care for this book, I would say this line accurately describes my post Lyme's life over the last seven years and the uphill battle since my diagnosis.

The writing in this was okay in parts.. other times it just felt like rambling and name dropping. I think this could have been done better, focusing more on Lyme's and less on clothing. However, I can appreciate her getting her story out there, especially given the platform she has.

[Lexie Boydman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was obsessed with this book! It was definitely informative about the disease and sure people are saying she didn't talk about the disease enough, but it isn't supposed to be a scientific book about Lyme Disease..it's about this one person's experience with the disease. I thought it was an incredible story and I was so compelled to keep reading. Yes she name drops celebrities and yes she talks about designers because that's who she is--a designer who was brought up in the fashion world with famous parents. I thought this just made the book more entertaining and interesting. The fact that she had every resource at her fingertips showed even more how tragic and consuming this disease can be. She had all the money in the world needed to get her the best treatments and yet it STILL took over 11 years to diagnose and another 11 years to treat her. It just goes to show that illness and tragedy do not discriminate. This book was funny, intriguing, and so interesting!

[Taylor S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes there is a lot of nonsense about fashion and yes she has way more resources at fighting this disease than most of us, but the way she bravely describes every detail of her struggle - and her spirituality throughout it are worth the read. She even gives guidelines on how to do these healing exercises at home.

A lot of people reviewed this book poorly because it didn't give enough information on Lyme disease. If I wanted a health book I would read Buhner or Horowitz's stuff. This was the perfect escape with a story that all chronic lyme sufferers can relate too - with quite a few "aha" moments too.

[David Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an emotional story about Ally Hilfiger's experience with decades of Lyme Disease. Ally is not the most focused auther and her writing shows this but her story makes up for it. She tells of battling unexplained symptoms for over eleven years before getting an accurate diagnosis. Then even with all the money in the world, she is not able to find effective treatment for many years. This is a must read for Lyme disease sufferers who are feeling frustrated with the terrible symptoms of Lyme disease which is compounded by the financial burden of treatment.

[Britta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good God, did anyone edit this book?

[Ray LaManna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great description of the toll which Lyme disease takes on people.

[Wolf Fortenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone dealing with chronic Lyme disease, this book has made me feel so incredibly validated. Knowing that I’m not alone, that I’m not crazy, that it’s okay to feel this way, and that this isn’t the end is absolutely life changing. Thank you, Ally, for sharing your story and your encouragement. I am looking forward to living my life with a new perspective and healing.
I’d imagine that most of the lower ratings on here are from readers who do not have Lyme or have not had close contact with someone who suffers with chronic Lyme. It impacts every aspect of your life. This book isn’t for everyone (what book is for everyone?), but it is a great encouragement and eye opener for those who have Lyme or know someone who does.

[Gwen Porter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok I Can read a book that's not well written and be ok with it. this however barely held my interest. I have late stage Lyme disease and like some other reviews said, she would bring up great facts about Lyme then never expand on it. .. isn't that what the book was mainly suppose to be about? not silly random stories with a random Lyme fact thrown in. I hated giving this book two stars. I was really hoping to have this be the book I give my Lyme friends to give them hope. not so much. off to the donation pile it goes....

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having chronic Lyme myself I found this book to be of great interest. Ally Hilfiger has accurately depicted the reality of coping with the frustrations and anguish of chronic Lyme disease. This disease is no joke and if you want to get a glimpse of the life of a chronic Lyme sufferer, this is the book for you. No embellishments about the experience and I can vouch for that first hand! I think it's a great read!

[Anna Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading memoirs. I appreciate Ally's story and battle with Lyme disease. I knew nothing about Lyme disease so in this book I learned a lot! I felt that at times the book became redundant but realized the reality that is what having an terrible disease can be like for many. My only complaint was that this book had tons of errors in it. It had a lot of words that were repeated or double typed.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having endured my own Lyme Disease experience, I skimmed a fair amount of the book, concentrating mostly on diagnosis and treatment. It's a sobering journey and really emphasizes the need for more research, better testing & diagnosis, improved treatment methods, and most importantly, educating the general medical community about Lyme so that they don't summarily dismiss your symptoms or recurring issues as untreatable or in your head. I sympathize deeply with Ms. Hilfiger.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

While this might not be the most well-written book out there, I did find it a compelling read. It was an accurate picture of what Lyme disease looks like and the daily struggle it presents, even after years of treatment.

[Liz marx · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much about Lyme disease. I think anyone that has Lyme disease or knows someone with Lyme disease should read this book. I naively thought that once you treated it with antibiotics you could be cured. This is something that must be managed your whole life.

[E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read if you have Lyme

[Jessica Van Tassell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this so much, and the start was super interesting, but the last 1/3 was a little too hokey for me.

[Brittany L]

Did not get very far into this, didn’t realize this was Tommy Hilfigers daughter, and it became clear very quickly that this was less medical and more a social story so….did not finish.

[David Leite · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. I didn't sigh at her extraordinary usage of language, marvel at her abilities of description and characterization. And, yes, I did scratched my head over some obvious spelling mistakes. (I'm not sure if it's because of "Lyme Brain," and Hilfiger's desire to allow the reader to see how chronic Lyme disease can affect cognitive function.) Setting all= that aside, I related to a lot of what she said, having chronic Lyme myself. I felt less alone reading the book, even though I don't have the lavish lifestyle, money, or status. We have visited some of the same doctors and have tried some of the same treatments.

If you can overlook the obvious privilege in the book, you will get a glimpse into the horror that is Lyme disease, and hopefully it will scare you shitless and prompt you to take care of yourself and loved ones. This is one infectious disease you do not want to get.

[Lisa]

DNF at 4%. I have been reading books by folks with Lyme Disease (because I have it). This one rubbed me the wrong way. At 4% in this privileged daughter of Tommy Hilfiger stated that she had become like a homeless person. Just no. NO. That was offensive and entitled.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

First heard of this book on the Him & Her podcast, where Ally was a guest. Was a little bit apprehensive to read this book; with all Hollywood stars coming out that they have Lime Disease I thought I was getting into a Hollywood cult book. Absolutely not! After reading this book I felt horrible for what Ally had endured most of her life and how many doctors she went through in order to get a diagnoses that was correct.

Ally talks about her days on MTV’s “Rich Girls” and how certain behaviors came about because they were side effects of Lime. I couldn’t believe that while battling this disease (while not knowing she had it) she had so much passion and drive to be creative (she pitched Rich Girls, produced a film, and started a clothing line). She then talks about what it was like to have her own father commit her to a mental hospital because he thought she was going to do harm to herself. While that wasn’t really the case, she wasn’t mental, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as Ally met a doctor who finally had her tested, correctly, for lime disease. From there, Ally talks about the 10+ doctors she went to over the years to find help for her symptoms so she could just live a normal life.

One thing that I thought about whiling reading this book, was the fact that she was able to go to all these doctors because of her last name and the amount of money that Tommy Hilfiger has. Ally makes mention to this at the end of the book and seems to be very grateful for the life her father provided her. I was shocked to learn that Ally sits on the board of the Global Lyme Alliance and is truly committed to helping find a cure for this disease.

[Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was disappointing. While it was informative and I did learn quite a bit about Lyme, it was Ally herself who made this a tough read.

For one, at times I really do feel she used her disease as an excuse for her bratty behavior. While she confesses to that (to a small degree) near the end of the book, it felt like too little, too late. There were also so many times during her treatments where it was easy for me to see why they weren't working: if a doctor says you have to stick to a strict regime of no sugar, relaxation, vitamins and antibiotics, you do not jump on a plane to Paris and stuff your face with desserts the moment you start feeling better. It's difficult to feel empathetic for someone who behaves like this. Don't blame the doctor when your health starts to fail. Take a good hard look at yourself and you'll see you're part of the problem.

For the average Lyme sufferer, I can't imagine how they may feel reading this... especially when she describes the lavish treatments she had access to due to her name/funding. I am not knocking her for that - if you have the access, I say try everything - but when you abuse those privileges - which Ally often did by not following through with doctor's/healer's orders - I have to think the average person suffering from this is going to be pretty ticked off.

[Tracey · Rating 2 out of 5]

nonfiction (struggling with Lyme disease; chronic autoimmune diseases). It's best not to get bitten by any ticks in the first place--even if you don't live in the deer tick "hotbed" of Connecticut/east coast woodland areas, you should still protect yourself whenever hiking through areas where there are deer (don't let me be the only weirdo person with their pants tucked into their socks).

This book could have used some better editing, but I will gladly cut the author some slack--she's been through enough (and will likely go through more). Anything that promotes awareness of weird, hard-to-diagnose autoimmune diseases is fine by me, though this had way less science/health info in it than I thought it would.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four stars is too high for this book compared to the literary quality I normally expect for that rating, but I'm awarding it anyway. Why? The book was well written, the author conveyed what it is like to have an undiagnosed chronic illness, and I learned a lot about Lyme disease.

My critique would be that the author's purpose felt divided: whether the book was a memoir about her life or a portrayal of chronic illness. As I was most interested in her experience with Lyme, I skimmed sections where the focused swayed from that topic.

[Denonboquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. She shares a very raw depiction of a celebrity's life with Lyme. By the end of her book I was bawling! She gives Lyme another voice and more importantly this voice offers HOPE. Not through some new bottle of herbs, or the latest prescription drug but through faith in spirit and the strength of our soul's desires to be well, to be free, to live fully.

She seems like such an honest, down to earth, awesome person. Strong, charismatic, and accepting of God's wisdom. I truly admire her courage and bravery to share her story.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of my favorite books I have read in a long time. As a fellow Lyme patient, I can relate to the situations, frustrations, pain, and emotions Ally had expressed. This is comforting to know that I am not along in this frustrating battle. Her brain fog through out the writing of the novel, shows that she is only human as well, we all struggle and make mistakes, she admits. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is suffering with Lyme Disease or knows of anyone who is, and wants to learn more.

[Bianca Gachot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, this is definetly not the best written book, but this is the first time that I red the book about Lyme disease, and second part of the book is way more informative and very interesting(first part of the book is more of autobiography ).
The ways she fight it, the doctors she visited for 11 years and the spiritual side that played big part of her recovery.
It is truly amazing what she went through for 11 years, until she finally got properly diagnosed.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reader could get caught up in Ally's privilege but the message of her memoir about bringing everything you have to fight a chronic disease is important. Her undiagnosed Lyme disease isolated her from living a full life and maintaining healthy relationships for many years. It's a credit to her willingness to search for a cure that today she is as well as she can be and works to help others with Lyme disease.

[Ellenh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent portrayal of the confusion, pain and anger one would go through when so sick and no one can help.

[Nieko · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a fairy-tale Lyme story. Not realistic to how many Lyme patients suffer and struggle to work through the sickness and pain to keep a job to pay for meds and insurance....