Did any of you ever think you had Lyme instead of Fibro?

I was reading about Kathleen Hanna's (Bikini Kill singer and wife of the great MCA!) struggle with Lyme, and then want down the rabbit hole of online reading and once again found myself seriously considering Lyme. I'm not sure if it's late stage denial or if I really should have kept researching my symptoms but there are some parallels.

I'm not asking 'do you think I should get tested' I'm incredibly curious about your own personal experiences. They seem very alike.

They didn't have tests for Lyme when I came down with fibro but I wanted to be sure since Lyme can be treated. So they treated me with the medication they used at the time...tetracycline. I was allergic to it and it caused severe ulcers and bleeding in my colon and I ended up losing my colon in the process. ....I still have fibro....

Sherrine

Unfortunately, Lyme testing is expensive and not very accurate. There are marker tests used as well. But if someone positively responds on certain antibiotics, there on to something. I come over here from the lyme forum and ask pain questions for new ideas now and then, since thats my remaining worse lyme symptom. Its a common symptom on both forums and I dont stop for answers at only one place. Finding the reasons for pain can take a long time. Until then, I just somewhat treat it. Once upon a time a Dr thought I had fibro, but I knew there was more to it in my case. Part of my problem was the gold standard worthless Synthroid thyroid med, no DR told me about dessicated, I figured it out.

There are many other tick illnesses besides lyme too. Baronella is quite common world wide, (has been found in gulf war syndrome from sand fleas) spread by other small biting insects as well. Then there's mycoplasma. These as well as lyme usually have a nervous disorder symptom of some type too.

Knowing your gene mutations (we all have some) and what they cause also helps. I'm sure someone has mentioned the 23andMe test here? 23 chromosomes make up all our genes, and some are, unfortunantly messed up. This might be common knowledge some day.

There are lots of questionable diagnosis that , with great determination and time on your part, (not so much health professionals), its possible to find answers. Lots of info on the web, easy to get lost in it all, so I understand why its not for everyone.

There are lots of reasons that conventional Dr dont recognize, not part of their training. But if your dieing, they can keep you alive, so I'll give modern medicine credit for that.

Yes, I sometimes wonder about that as well. I've been tested twice - both times negative. Because I have health anxiety I have to try and let this rest or it will drive me crazy with fear. I'm really trying to accept my fibro diagnosis now. I figure if I suddenly get much worse then it's something I will bring back up with my Dr. She already knows my concerns with this. So does my neuro. I'm not much of an outdoor's person, never had a rash, never had any flu like symptoms, and I've been pretty much the same since this all started for me. If anything I've improved because I'm learning how to manage my symptoms. So, I have wondered but I try not to worry about it. I've been tested (in my doctors office) and that's about all I can do. (I don't trust Igenex so I won't get tested thru them)

The 2 summers before I was diagnosed with Fibro I had a positive test for Lyme each summer. I was treated w doxycycline. Two rounds of it each time...I never had a rash or saw a tick.
I have been tested since then a few times and it has been negative. Unfortunately, the test are not that reliable. My symptoms were flu like, lots of aches and exhaustion. Very similar to Fibro. Difference now is that I have lots of flares and other Fibro symptoms.
If you have any doubt I would always get tested there are different types of Lyme tests and different labs.
Good luck!

That's the first year they did on me.... Negative