Ep: 35 Joe Mulleady

Welcome to Episode 35 of the Voices Of Boyle Podcast! 

Welcome back to another episode of the Voices of Boyle! This week I had the pleasure of chatting with Joe Mulleady.

Joe’s journey through cycling, sports, and his battle with Lyme disease are just some of the topics we’ll be delving into.

From his cycling passion and racing experiences to his undefeated spirit after being diagnosed with Lyme disease, Joe’s story is truly one of resilience and determination. So saddle up, and let’s dive into the episode by clicking the player button!

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In 2018, Joe wrote a facebook post detailing how he felt in relation to having lyme disease. The piece was picked up by local newspapers. 

This is what he wrote: 

“Is my best friend gone forever? (some may not read until the end, although I wouldn’t blame you!)

Lately, all that sticks in my mind, meeting people who know me, after the initial “hello’s” which come when you’ve not met in awhile, and then quickly the following sentence “are you still cycling away”. I have to take a second or two, swallow hard before I answer.

You see my best friend, my bicycle, whom Is the subject of the question above has left me!, he has been with me over the last 5 years and has given me so much, beyond what I could ever have imagined. He gave me purpose, strength, confidence and got my body into the shape which I always thought I should be! He knew I struggled with weight and body image, so gave me an understanding and educated me in nutrition and the way my body worked, responded to training and food, but more so gave me somewhere to switch of my mind. He was there first thing in the mornings, joined me in the wind, rain, sleet, snow & never grumbled, would go out as many or as few times as I wanted him to! I loved training with him! And I rewarded him by taking him on the Ras Tailteann, a tour around Ireland.

So why have we fallen out, why has he left me? Whilst I was on Cloud 9, fresh from the biggest race of my life and already considering another Ras before I hit the big 40. I had a passenger, a parasite no bigger than a poppy seed had his radar set on me! Unaware to me I had been bit by a Tick, little did I know how my life would be turned upside down by this little critter, and It has taken me 4 months to come to terms with it, I felt dirty when I’d say it, ashamed of how I could have let this invader penetrate my skin. It has taken me awhile to get my thoughts together, both out to others but also what to put on paper, hopefully to inform others of the risks of contracting Lyme Disease.

Fast forward to now, I figured it was the June Bank Holiday over 4 months ago now, I was bit and following over 2 months of antibiotics and blood tests I’m still here, putting up with this Disease. The antibiotics are to kill the bacteria that is ravaging inside my body, but it is smart, tough and hard to kill. I’m particular about my nutrition what goes in and definitely any chemicals I’d allow enter my body. The bacteria took just 2 weeks to take hold from memory, I knew there was something up, I should’ve been pushing on after the Ras, in fact finishing that Sunday in Skerries I felt stronger on the bike than I had ever before but I had a chink in my armour, I was relishing the remainder of the season and what my body could do, I had paid entries fees to 3 races in advance these I had to pull out of, one the Mullingar GP I lasted 13 mins and the Meath GP only one lap. I always remember turning off to get togged out, legs were sore to touch. It wasn’t until after the family holiday, pulling out of the National Champs in Sligo almost a month later, then the next day going to the doctor, to get the bloods tested, that I blurted out “Oh, and by the way I got bit by a Tick!” Until then I never joined the dots!!

So now I’m here, finally writing what’s in my head, at the moment, this week I’m having a bit of a downer! This full week has been a waste of time, I’m only here in person but I’m not much good for anything. The whole disease has a sort of hue, the perception or is it ignorance that it simply doesn’t exist, I read many documents on the internet and some authorities would lead you to believe that you’re somehow imagining it, that your mind has created this illness. This is why I think I’ve kept quiet, I bottled up so much I nearly didn’t tell myself how I felt up until now, though writing this makes it feel somehow real.
I don’t want to pretend that I’m the martyr for this Disease as there are many in a worse situation than I, some have totally different symptoms, mine seem to be based around my legs, hips, lungs, teeth funnily and headaches, with alot of mind fogginess. I can still move though but tire easily, where others are bed bound, it’s amazing how fatigued I get from feeling ok to totally crashing with a lack of energy within an hour, my legs have an ache and tiredness like I have done the Ras, everyday!, but yet I haven’t turned a pedal in almost 4 months, this is a short version of a list of ailments.

Which brings me back to the question, Is my best friend gone forever? I never thought I’d feel this way, I thought I’d be cycling until I was well into my 70’s, having numerous years of cycling holidays well into my silver years. I have no desire to go anywhere near my friend who gave me so much joy, he sits in the garage and hasn’t moved since, like he’s waiting for me to return, like a good friend I suppose. I find it hard to even look at a cyclist now. Where I used to give a quick glance, in that short time I would’ve analysed their bike, their style of cycling and whether their bike fit was good or bad.

What’s left I am but a shell of myself, me with a mask, I look the same from the outside, but within I’m shrivelling up inside, all that remains is a fog, a smoke which is hard to see through, to think through, my mind finds it hard to solve everyday problems, I sometimes catch myself muttering words in conversations, taking a breath and formulating what I want to say and trying again. It doesn’t feel natural anymore, my body doesn’t feel the same, It’s like I’m a shadow walking closely behind myself. Then there’s depression that I’m not doing anything, when I look back where I was finishing the Ras and where I am now, fit, strong and about a stone lighter, not knowing where I’m going, rudderless floating.

I’m left always paranoid now, if I feel something similar to a crawling on my skin, I’m brushing down my arms, legs and shaking out my T-shirt. I keep looking at the bushes next to the gateway of my house, to see If there is a little insect looking to catch the unsuspecting ride. I keep telling my daughter “keep checking yourself”, especially if your playing with the dog.

I’m deathly afraid that she’d catch something, that a little poppy seed critter will hitch a ride as she plays outside, being a kid doing what you’d expect kids to do. I can only make her aware, hope that she heeds what I’m saying. Everyone though needs to be aware, aware that Ticks are out there and particularly Ticks carrying Lyme Disease in Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo & Ireland. I’m unsure will I ever see my friend again at least they way we used to meet, things have changed between us, I do hope we get back together sometime as I miss him so much. I can only hope that he’ll still talk to me and forgives me for being so mean to him. But I don’t give up easily and have taken a couple of knocks in the past, I do know that If I go back to him, my friend will be there for me! Like all good friends would be..”