Bite Me

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

By: Ally Hilfiger, Tommy Hilfiger - foreword

Narrated by: Ally Hilfiger

Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Ally was at a breaking point when she woke up in a psych ward at the age of 18. 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 she 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 11 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 listeners 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, a mother, and an international spokesperson against Lyme disease.

©2016 Ally Hilfiger (P)2016 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

" Bite Me is captivating. Ally recounts her experience battling misdiagnosis and a debilitating tormentor with a humor and power that can inspire us all. She gives a voice to others who are struggling." (Georgia May Jagger)

" Bite Me is a must-read. It is riveting, personal, and well written. Its spiritual message is powerful and inspirational. With love all things are possible." (Russell Simmons)

"Reading Ally's struggle of dealing with the debilitating effects of Lyme disease is a total inspiration. Her cheerful strength of will and determination to rise above the exhausting days of not knowing the way out proves once again that the human spirit can prevail in the most strenuous of circumstances." (Bryan Adams)

It’s a hard pass for me.

I was actually really excited to get this autobiography and looked forward to hearing Ally’s battle with Lyme.

It was more about her name dropping and oh well I wore this on the day that I found out I had Lyme. I wore this dress when I realized the treatment wasn’t working. I went to this private island to completely rid myself of toxic energy and then my boyfriend and I lived on that island and we meditated and drank fabulous cups of tea and by golly if only every Lyme sufferer had millions of dollars to blow then we would all be okay!

Hard pass for me and I am ashamed that I spent a credit on this book.

I've heard worse

Any additional comments?

This book was so bad. For a memoir, it's horribly vague. The main character comes off as insipid and self absorbed. It's an interesting topic told in a horribly boring narrative. The writing is choppy and disjointed. Ally Hilfiger makes random statements, such as "I love the big shopping carts at target, they make me feel like a kid" without explaining them. Not often, but a few times, she mispronounces words. Although I have the utmost sympathy for anyone suffering from a disease, this woman blames absolutely every problem in her life on her Lyme disease, including personality flaws/defects. She definitely did suffer a lot, and it is absolutely true that money can't buy happiness (or health) but her storytelling lacked a level of clarity and detail that allowed me to truly empathize with her.

Inspirational

Well read by Ally.
Thought provoking.
Motivating.
Engaging.
I am a primary care physician and am glad to have heard this story.

misleading

Claims to be about her struggle with Lyme. all it really is, is stories about fancy people and being a rich kid.

I’m Sorry She Suffered but ...

Couldn’t stand her attempts at humility. Couldn’t relate to her life at all. Book should have left out the glamour. Distracted from the real story. Most self absorbed person ever.

excellent book, describes her symptoms well as to

excellent book, she describes her symptoms well in order to educate the public about lyme disease. I am battling lyme myself and could relate to almost everything she mentioned. Also, she did good research which helps substantiate her story with medical facts.

THANK YOU💚

Your courage is heartening. Just when I feel like giving up cannot wait to do the focus wheel. . You are a good Queen. Perhaps you could do a wellness workbook next with specifics about diet exercise spiritual practices. Love M.Galt

She deserves more

I am so thankful that Ally shared her experience. Chronic Lyme is no joke and I wish more doctors knew more about it.
She really gave me justice for my feelings. She was diagnosed at age 19 and wasn’t able to find peace for a long time. She didn’t leave anything out!
Thank you so much ally

A must read for people affected by Lyme!

I my self have been affected by Lyme for almost 10 pluse years! This book is full of so much useful information. It also is nice knowing that you are not alone in the fight!

Lyme sucks

Thank you Ally for telling your story, It makes us feel like we are not alone and that we are not crazy, we just got bit by a tick, or maybe two or three. . I appreciate the time you took to write the story and I hope more people read it because when you have this, if you don't fight it, you won't get out of it. You can't make your life depend on lyme, You have to understand Lyme is in you but it doesn't define you.