help!!

Hi Kalagib,
Welcome to the board! I'm really sorry you have been feeling so poorly, but since you had questions about Lyme - this is the place to be!

I'm sure you will find everyone here helpful, kind & understanding of what you are going through! Pretty much all of us here have had to live through the same things.

I copied & pasted this from the "Newbie" thread at the top of the forum page(it would help you a lot to look through that thread). ~

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Below is a Lyme symptom list. You can have any combination of symptoms. (courtesy of ticker)

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 Many doctors do not understand Lyme and treat with outdated protocols. No test is completely reliable, and results can vary by lab.

Welcome! I am sorry you are going through this. I can definitely sympathize with the doctors telling you there is nothing wrong with you or that it is just stress, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, blah blah. Now, these are real diseases as well, but it is so frustrating to not KNOW. I decided to take my health into my own hands. I went to healthline.com and put in my symptoms (you can only put in one or two because more than that will narrow things down too much. I went with joint pain because that was my biggest complaint at the time) and then went through the list. I researched each one and wrote down the ones that I thought were possible. I went to different specialists, but I made the mistake of not going through my regular doctor (who is my NEW doctor by the way). She is just wonderful and tested for things that she thought it may be and for things that I thought it may be. She did send me to specialists when needed. It is better to go where they send you as long as your insurance covers it.
I would definitely get a lyme test. However, make sure they check your B vitamin levels as well. That can cause a lot of your symptoms. Mine were tested and this wasn't the case, but just to be sure.
Just dont let your doctors blow you off! You let them know that you are the boss of you and they are there for you. If your doctor doesn't like that then find someone else. They are just holding you back in your own health if they are on any kind of power trip.
Good luck to you. I really hope they can find out what is wrong with you and fix it right away!
God Bless

Another important thing to consider - get printouts of ALL test results. This will help considerably once you get home & start trying to put all the pieces together & discuss them with others.
=)

Also I was diagnosed with something to do with my rib cage, I have chronic soreness and the doc called it some sort of arthritis, he was going to prescribe a steroid for it but because I have juvenile diabetes that was a bad idea. He gave me an anti inflamitory instead. I know that no one can diagnose me but I have had some of these symptoms for a while but it seems for the last two to three weeks they have suddenly hit me HARD and new things have come on ( the memory problems, and extreme fatigue). I just dont know what to do at this point. I am located in VA and I have an appointment with my family doctor on monday hopefully since this will be my third appointment with him in three weeks he will consider taking me seriously.

Thanks for all of the replies, I am hoping that if I do end up having this that three years is soon enough in catching it. Like I said earlier I never had bite specific symptoms. No rash or anything but enough is really enough.

Kayla,

As they say, we can't diagnose Lyme, but you have so many of the symptoms, it sounds like you need to pursue this. I don't know how it can be ruled out, but you may find some answers if you see an LLMD and/or get some good tests done.

Your post about the confusion is almost exactly what I experience. And I know it is scary! It is horrible!

I do not have the rib cage problem, but I know that many here have that symptom and it is listed as a lyme symptom.

All this does not mean you have Lyme, but I believe it means you need to include this possibility in your pursuit of a diagnosis. I am very sorry that you are experiencing so many symptoms and having Dr. difficulties. It is all so unfair! We are all pulling for you!

yes that is what he diagnosed me with, he gave me an anti inflammitory called meloxicam. He said that it is a common thing for people between that ages of 20 and 40. Some things have been going on a while but kind of got put on the back burner, I have had a child each year for the last three years, and there was always something dealing with pregnancy or dehydration lol that they could try to put it off on. I am sick of this really. Today was a good day though thank god. I didnt feel foggy or too tired, I am hoping I can get that again today. Its so strage.

Hi kaylagib,

Nice to meet you!  As other's said I recommend getting your blood tested at IgeneX since they are pretty accurate compared to other labs that are NOT accurate.

If you go to the IgeneX website you can order a free testing kit though you will need a doctor's signature to get your blood tested.   It's better to know what you are dealing with.

www.igeneX.com

If you do have lyme, it is treatable, I have been better for almost 4 years now and I had chronic lyme for about 10 years. 

Hope you feel better,

Denise