Lyme Disease Support Group
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. It is now one of the fastest growing infectious diseases in the U.S. Lyme disease is caused by infection with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, and is primarily transmitted to humans as well as dogs, horses and other domesticated animals by the bite of infected ticks.
Hi all. I am new. I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and living with pain for the last 10 years. I went to a myofascial specialist today who suggested that since I grew up in the Northeast that I seem to fit the profile for Lyme disease and to get it checked out. Now I am wondering, could it have been Lyme disease all along? Has anyone else had the diagnosis of FMS and discovered it was actually Lyme Disease? What symptoms overlapped? Did the treatments of antibiotics help or cure you?
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
I am sorry you have been sick for so long. Some people who have Lyme disease were first diagnosed with other diseases including CFS, Fibromyalgia, MS, and ALS.
Are upi cirremt;u beomg treated?
Below is a Lyme symptom list. You can have any combination of symptoms.
Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing
Unexplained weight change--loss or gain
Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina
Unexplained hair loss
Swollen glands
Sore throat
Testicular pain/pelvic pain
Unexplained menstrual irregularity
Unexplained milk production: breast pain
Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido
Upset stomach
Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea
Chest pain or rib soreness
Shortness of breath, cough
Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block
Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse?
Joint pain or swelling
Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back
Muscle pain or cramps
Twitching of the face or other muscles
Headache
Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain
Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity
Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity
lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Tremor
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration, reading
Forgetfulness, poor short term memory
Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places
Difficulty with speech or writing
Mood swings, irritability, depression
Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening
Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol
It is very important to see a kowledgeable doctor. Many doctors do not understand Lyme and treat with outdated protocols. No test is completely reliable, and results can vary by lab. It is my understanding that the ELISA or titer is the least reliable test and the one most doctors run first.
Besides Lyme, ticks can also transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, two types of Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. Many people who have Lyme are co-infected. It may affect treatment choice and progress. It is important to be tested for these by a Lyme reputable lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA.
If you need a doctor recommendation, let me know.
It is also important to learn as much as possible. I recommend reading Dr. Joseph Burrascano's 2005 Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines For Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses at http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_0905.html He is one of the top Lyme doctors in the country, and many Lyme doctors follow his protocols. I also recommend the book "Everything You Need To Know About Lyme Disease (2nd edition)" by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner.
It can take time, but with proper treatment you can get better.
My original complaints were exhaustion, no motivation, sleep all the time, achy. And I was diagnosed with depression. But never really got all that much better on meds. (Did counseling too and now I have great understanding of self but no change in fatigue) Then I started having more joint pain (had a back surgery and tendonitis maye gout bursitis etc... gut pain (took out appendix) chest pain - 2 days in hospital no diagnosis. but better after taking nitroglycerin.
My massage therapist thought I should explore fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue. But did not want to see yet another doctor.
We called it the "Julie factor" because I always had some health issue.
Decided to trust my daughters specialist(uncovered lead poisoning in her instead of assuming ADD) so I saw him to help me deal with "my depression" He was the first to ever mention the possability of Lyme disease and BINGO!
You may be surprised when you read the list of symptoms how many you have and you have dismissed them as age or life or stress or whatever...
I have been in treatment for 6 months and I am getting better.
Insist on an IGENEX test when you have it checked out.
You can go to their website to get info on testing and bring that info with you to doctor.
I'd also check into finding a Lyme Literate Doctor since diagnosis is so tricky and treatment is complex.
If you do have Lyme, the sooner you get treatment the better. It will not go away.
You deserve to feel better. Do not give up. The next move may be the right one.
Is you doctor going to do the bloodwork to do the western blott test to see if you have lyme? My regular MD sent in the test for me and it was confirmed I had lyme. Fortunate for me I was in the early stage and 3 weeks of Doxycyline 100MG twice a day cured me. Hang in there and have the test done to see if you have it. Since you may have had it for a long time it may take longer to cure but there is always hope. I will be praying for you to get a proper diagnosis as quickly as possible so you can determine your course of treatment. God Bless
It may not be easy going through treatment and it can take time to recover, but it is definitely worth it.
How long have you been sick?
Even if you were bitten in Germany, it is worth getting tested.
Below is a Lyme symptom list. You can have any combination of symptoms.
Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing
Unexplained weight change--loss or gain
Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina
Unexplained hair loss
Swollen glands
Sore throat
Testicular pain/pelvic pain
Unexplained menstrual irregularity
Unexplained milk production: breast pain
Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido
Upset stomach
Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea
Chest pain or rib soreness
Shortness of breath, cough
Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block
Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse?
Joint pain or swelling
Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back
Muscle pain or cramps
Twitching of the face or other muscles
Headache
Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain
Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity
Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity
lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Tremor
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration, reading
Forgetfulness, poor short term memory
Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places
Difficulty with speech or writing
Mood swings, irritability, depression
Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening
Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol
When Lyme disease is a possibility, it is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor. Many doctors do not understand Lyme and treat with outdated protocols. Lyme disease needs aggressive treatment. No test is completely reliable, and results can vary by lab.
Besides Lyme, ticks can also transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, two types of Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. Many people who have Lyme are co-infected. It may affect treatment choice and progress. It is important to be tested for these by a Lyme reputable lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA.
If you need a doctor recommendation, you can email me at ko_@bellsouth.net
It is also important to learn as much as possible. I recommend reading Dr. Joseph Burrascano's 2005 Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines For Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses at http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_0905.html He is one of the top Lyme doctors in the country, and many Lyme doctors follow his protocols. I also recommend the book "Everything You Need To Know About Lyme Disease (2nd edition)" by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner.
The antibiotics kill the bacteria when they are reproducing, which is estimated at four weeks. Six weeks of treatment will cover one growth cycle.
If symptoms are still present, further treatment is warranted. A longer infection needs longer treatment.
(No offense intended SmithNE)
Anything short of Lyme Literate Medical Doctor you are wasting your time. I went to over 30 docs before I realized that they don't know anything about Lyme nor do I think they want too.My LLMD is fantastic and though I have a lot of Lyme damage because of all the incompetence at least I can walk now without the use of a crutch and pain is much less now, but I still have a long way to go.
If I had it to do all over again I would of sold everything I had Possessions and spent the money for a LLMD. 8 years later I have to beg for ssi and disability from VA. I posted some useful info over here at my web site under medical conditions.
http://johnnylight.proboards47.com/index.cgi