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Topic: Lyme disease  (Read 2663 times)

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Lyme disease
« on: January 28, 2009, 09:52:33 PM »
Anyone have any experience with it? I've just received a positive blood test for it and am freaking because I have no idea when I may have actually been exposed.
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When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life. ~ John Lennon

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Re: Lyme disease
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2009, 10:04:18 PM »
Just wanted to say sorry to hear that.  :(

Can you recall a time where you had a infections style bite on your body or a odd boil ?  A work collegue of mine had it years ago and she believes the symtoms developed about three years after what she thought was a badly infected flea bite..obviously it was a tick bite.

They discovered it with her because she had some fainting episodes and the blood tests alerted as to what it was.  She mainly suffered with migraines and back aches but I belive that was pretty much corrected with some antibiotic meds.  She refers to it as feeling very fluish and unable to shake it off.

I wish I knew more for you.


« Last Edit: January 28, 2009, 10:06:33 PM by LuckyCuz »
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Re: Lyme disease
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2009, 10:15:42 PM »
I understand that there are starting to be more incidences of Lyme Disease in the UK, so, since you haven't been in the US that long - and are living, IIRC, in a wintry area, you most likely had a tick bite in the UK.

I know lots of people who have had it back in my rural Wisconsin neck of the woods, and I don't know of one of them who had TOO many problems with it with the aid of antibiotics.  Some of them actually had the 'bullseye' type of red marks at the site of the bit, some of them discovered they had Lyme Disease due to feeling ill...

You may never know when you were bitten, but no need to freak as long as you're being treated for it...
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Re: Lyme disease
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2009, 10:16:44 PM »
Ugh. I hiked a lot in the US and lived in dread of Lyme. Especially after I went to the University of Rhode Island's annual Tick Day. (Yeah. No kidding). It's the little teeny-tiny deer ticks that carry it -- not the big fat guys. And 80% of the people exposed don't get the rash.

False positives are extremely common; so much so that my doctor hated giving me the test and fought me every year. And I always tested a little positive. Also, doctors can't agree how positive is positive and should be treated, as there are nine (I think) markers. I usually tripped three.

Anyhow, take the antibiotics. If you knock it on the head early, it's not a problem. If you let it go...BIG problem.
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Re: Lyme disease
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2009, 10:20:24 PM »
I have read the indicidence of the disease is rising in the UK. I have had no indication of a bite that I can recall at all. It's possible I got it in the UK as we were in Cumbria (sheep country). If not, I've had it over 8 years! It's the possible late diagnosis that worries me.

Just saw your post, S. I'm to go back in tomorrow for another test to verify the first positive.
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When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life. ~ John Lennon

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Re: Lyme disease
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2009, 10:23:40 PM »
What alerted you to get checked?
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Re: Lyme disease
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2009, 10:25:52 PM »
Have you had any problems?  Even if you have had it for a number of years the symptoms are the problem as opposed to just having the markers.  So take the antibiotics in case it is recent, but most people have years of increasing symptoms.  Try not to worry.  (Easy to say, hard to do.  I know.)
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Re: Lyme disease
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2009, 10:30:05 PM »
There are a bunch of people at G's new place of employment who have it. It's the nature of the work, unfortunately. One of my interns got it while he was there, he had a huge bullseye on his back and didn't realize it because well, you hardly ever look at your back! I guess it's still a bit early to be roaming around there and asking people about their experiences with it, but it is quite common in Maryland and you're not alone!
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Re: Lyme disease
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2009, 11:52:05 PM »
The doc ran the test along with a batch of others due to joint pain.

Bmore, yeah, I knew it was an occupational hazzard for those guys - not me! :P
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When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life. ~ John Lennon

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Re: Lyme disease
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2009, 10:03:15 PM »
Quote from: balmerhon on January 28, 2009, 11:52:05 PM
The doc ran the test along with a batch of others due to joint pain.


As soon as I saw you post this, I went- the joint pain!

I'm really not trying to scare you, but my sister, the one with the severe RA, its all due to Lyme Disease.  She's been on antibiotics for months and months and months. She's seeing an infectious disease specialist now and its not gone away and she's still in horrible pain.  Her hubby ended up in the ER, semi- paralyzed (not permanently, thank god) and after a spinal tap and lots of other tests, it was the Lyme. He was on antibiotics for months as well.  This was about 4 years ago and we think my sister actually got it the same time and it was never caught and now its completely gone autoimmune into RA. My cousin just had Lyme last summer as well, when there was a huge tick problem in Massachusetts.

Antibiotics.  Hardcore ones. GOOD LUCK (((Hugs))) and here's to it all being negative
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Re: Lyme disease
« Reply #10 on: January 30, 2009, 02:22:47 AM »
Yeah, I'm afraid I'm hearing lots of horror stories. :( My aunt is a nurse and so far she's impressed that my doc has ordered this whole battery of tests from just one meeting. In addition to Lyme, she ran all the autoimmune tests and also found out my Vitamin D is VERY low.

The Vit D is likely a result of 2 pregnancies rather close together. But it won't be helping any of the bone/joint pain.

I'm worried about how serious this could be, but am somewhat relieved to know that there does seem to be a reason for my achiness and fatigue - not just the fact I'm out of shape, overweight, and chasing after 2 kids. :P
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When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life. ~ John Lennon

Re: Lyme disease
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2009, 03:13:56 AM »


Balmerhon, you mention a very low Vit D deficiency and joint pain. Just to let you know that my sister went to her doctor a few months ago about hip joint pain (she is 39) and when her blood tests came back her level was extremely low and she was freaking out! Her doctor put her on a big dose of Vitamin D and she has been taking it religiously and her joint pain has dissipated over the past few months. She goes back in a couple of months for another test and just hopes that her levels are in the normal range.

Also, remember what Stoatula stated about false positives. Try not to worry so much until you get your full results back. I now that is easier said than done.

Also remember you have recently made a big move with two young children and while you may think you are holding up well and wonder why you are feeling tired, you have had a lot on the past couple of months.

Anyway, I know its a worry but don't equate the horror stories to your situation until you get your final results.

Hugs!
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Re: Lyme disease
« Reply #12 on: January 30, 2009, 07:57:25 AM »
Quote from: Jules on January 30, 2009, 03:13:56 AM
Also remember you have recently made a big move with two young children and while you may think you are holding up well and wonder why you are feeling tired, you have had a lot on the past couple of months.

Anyway, I know its a worry but don't equate the horror stories to your situation until you get your final results.

Hugs!

Definitely!  You've definitely been through a ton with moving several times and not having hubby around and that's enough to make anyone worn out. 
Hang in there...

(Sorry for the horror stories)
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Re: Lyme disease
« Reply #13 on: January 31, 2009, 03:06:26 AM »
I'm sorry I can't offer more help other than to wait and see what the next test says & hopefully it'll turn out to be a false positive.

As regards to Vitamin D deficiency it doesn't help that its winter & you're all bundled up.  Don't you wish you could have a vacation from it all?   ;)

Hang in there. 
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Re: Lyme disease
« Reply #14 on: January 31, 2009, 10:06:50 AM »
Sorry to hear this! I hope its a false positive.  x
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