Can it progress this quickly?

I think I was infected last summer because that is when I had the rash and shortly after the rash was gone I came down with the flu. It is less than a year later, and I'm already getting the neurological symptoms and they are getting worse quickly it seems. I did just have a baby three months ago and read somewhere than pregnancy can make symptoms worse. I was just under the impression that the neurological issues usually didn't present themselves until sometimes years later.

I watched Under Our Skin last night and it really scared me to think I could end up with paralysis and major problems like others have. I feel like my brain is fighting to stay alive most days! I am going to try the detox bath today in hopes that it helps me feel somewhat better. I am also worried that I could have passed Lyme to my daughter while I was pregnant. I am also breastfeeding and worried if it can be transmitted that way. Should I have her tested as well?

Thanks for the replies to my first post. I feel like this is a great place to get information and help with this illness when no one else seems to understand.

Hello Sickinsanity,

I'm about to be tested for Lyme from a tick bite 12 years ago. Most of my symptoms I put down to a Back injury around the same time. I remember that I spent 2 years unable to work, within months of the bite. And only with a change in lifestyle, drugs and a pain management course ( where I learnt to pace myself, hydrotherapy and slowly build up exercise ), was I able to start working part time.

After about 6 years I was feeling ok enough and broody so got pregnant. I was remarkably ok with the pregnancy aside from backpain. However post pregnancy and dealing with my baby was hell. My baby was great sleeper, but I couldn't sleep due to pain. Not just in my back, but my legs, arms, neck wrists. I always wondered if I was just moaning and just had a low pain threshold, but I gave birth with only gas. I remember it being so sore to even lift my daughter out of her cot and trying to get my fingers to work. And utter, total, crushing tiredness.

My brain was mince and I had PND. I thought all this was sort of normal, looking after a baby. But wondered how the other mum's I knew seemed to have more energy than me.

Now 5 years later, my daughter's at school and way more independent, which makes life so much easier for me. I still take painkillers and Amytryptaline (?) and am in pain. I still have periods of limp, shaking exhaustion. But that happens if I've been overdoing it. I think I've got ACA ( European skin thing ) but I'm better than I was.

At the moment,I would suggest, get tested for Lyme, but try not to worry about the worst case scenarios. For what it's worth, my duaghter is and always has been very strong, heathly and full of energy. Breast fed too!
Get as much help with your baby as you can. And ditch as much non-essential house work/cleaning/cooking etc as possible. So you can have as much rest as possible. So you don't ramp up the pain/fatigue/pain cycle. Although, if you have the time and energy, I think gentle exercise like walking or yoga helps too.

Thinking of you x