help needed :(

Hello I had been posting in the lyme forum because I was diagnosed with Lyme and bartonella (tested positive for both) a little over a year ago. I have been on antibiotics for a year trying different kinds to see what works best. Over the past few months I have developed stiffness and pain in my joints. My hands are stiff (esp when I wake up at night I can barely move them and if I do without really noticing it is very painful), as well as my fingers and wrists. When I get up after sitting down I tend to limp because my knees and ankles hurt and are in pain. I also have pain in both elbows constantly, the inner elbow. When I touch them its very painful and when I lift anything or use my muscles it radiates in each elbow. I cant even lift one of my 7 lb cats without pain.

I saw a rheumatologist who did bloodwork and did not test positive and they stated that they could not see any visible inflammation, told me it was fibro. Yeah because tha tmakes sense when I wake up at night barely able to move I am so stiff and my pain is literally symmetrical same on both sides always. They gave me some diclonofec sodium before I got the results and that helps a ton, but I was only given a few and they refused to refill it. I spent sunday cleaning all day and yesterday and today I am paying for it with such pain and stiffness, I broke down crying yesterday.

My lyme doctor said it could be the lyme or bartonella and had added Ceftin to my current antibiotics of Rifabutin and Biaxin but a month later nothing.

My aunt has RA and she said it sounds like it but if the rheumatologist says no and regular doctors will tell me to see a specialist what do I do.. I can barely work and all I do all day is type and write.. please help :'(

I just don't know what to do I am so frustrated I cannot go to another Rheumatologist 1) the money with insurance was crazy and 2) the wait at other Rheumatologiest in an hour radius from me is 6-8 months minimum. I broke down crying the other day because I feel helpless, I don't know where to turn, just finding a random PCP the likelihood that they will listen to me is slim to none. I have had the lyme for over a year as well as the bartonella and these symptoms just started a few months ago. I do not know if any of the antibiotics I am on (Rifabutin, Ceftin, and Biaxin) could cause this pain, though the Ceftin was added a month ago to see if this pain was the lyme and nothing is better.

When I go outside in the heat I feel better, now the pain does not completely go away but its better. I don't know what to do. :'( I just want to literally cry right now.

Alice,
I saw a rheumatologist at UVA, with my insurance I now owe them 500 dollars. They said it was fibromyalga, that I had no visible inflammation and that all the bloodwork came back normal. So basically I feel like I was blown off and don't know what to do. My lyme doctor hates Rheumatologists stating that they don't know what they are talking about. I am broke and can't keep searching for someone to help me....