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Early stage lyme

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Lyme Disease
How long have you been infected with lyme?
A year or less - 9.1% - 1 votes
One to five years - 27.3% - 3 votes
More then 5 years - 0.0% - 0 votes
More then 10 years - 63.6% - 7 votes
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Posted 11/17/2011 5:34 AM (GMT 0)
From what I've gathered on this forum many of the members have been suffering with this illness for years even decades. However I have questions about what the 1st year of infection looked like in your individual cases. When I was first diagnosed my Dr stated that I had been infected in the past 4-6 weeks.. My next Dr thought it was more like 3-6 mos because I had developed Bells Palsy and Meningitis.. However from the unexplained symptoms I was having I believe I was infected at least 1.5 years ago if not 3-4 years ago.. So it really makes me wonder if there is any consistant course this disease takes that can coincide to the date of infection.  

              

             I have already experienced many unexpected and unexplained things with this illness and I guess my hope is in hearing what others went through it might be of some comfort to myself and others.

         So with that in mind if you know when you were 1st infected I would greatly appreciate hearing what course the disease took in your 1st year.

                         Thanks,  Kevin            

Post Edited (Inhimwelive) : 11/16/2011 10:39:02 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/17/2011 8:14 AM (GMT 0)
Kevin,

My first year of infection was retry mild. Flu-like episodes, joint pain and stiffness, irritability, fatigue, abdominal pains all coming and going.

Fast forward twenty-five years (lots of seemingly unrelated symptoms and two brief and inadequate courses of tetracycline).

Re-infected with Lyme, Babesia, and Ehrlichia. First year symptoms: flu, joint pain and stiffness, irritability, rages, reaction to alcohol, fatigue, personality shift, depression, air-hunger, balance off, insomnia -- and then I really went downhill!

If you are not sure of when you were infected, it is possible that you were infected multiple time.

Also, taking into consideration the variables of co-infection combinations, different strains of Lyme and the co-infections, individual genetic make-up, other diseases, toxins or parasites you will find that the manifestations of Lyme are simply infinite in their variety!

Good luck with you inquiry!
Posted 11/17/2011 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the great question. I "think" I was infected over 10 years ago, but maybe was reinfected before I started major symptoms. My possible first year symptoms were flu like, nervousness, rage, anger, sinus problems.

Many people including my LLMD said to add 5 years to when you start feeling the major symptoms and that is probably how long you have had it. My major symptoms came out in 2005 under great stress, so it took a while for me to realize the rash and strange symptoms in 2000 could have been the start.

My son started with dizziness, fever, sore eyes, 2 bullseyes, sore throat. I am hopeful that he just go it but not sure. 3 months of doxy and still lighting up the WB like a christmas tree. So much for CDC protocol.

Good luck with your treatment.
Posted 11/17/2011 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
I know for certain I was bitten by a tick when I was a teenager. I'm now 49. My problems started shortly after gallbladder surgery. I began having twitching, buzzing, tingling, pulsating, vibrating, MAJOR anxiety, panic attacks, trembling in hands, numbness in face and feet.....all of this developed within a few weeks.

My LLMD believes that the surgery rendered my immune system no longer able to keep the lyme disease under control which is why my symptoms came on so suddenly and strongly right after the surgery.

Been on treatment 10 months and most of the symptoms have gone away....thank goodness!!!!
Posted 11/17/2011 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
I had neuro symptoms back when I was 17 (and maybe earlier) - I am now 52. A gamut of tests were run - including an EEG (no MRIs back then!) - and all showed 'normal'. That's when docs blamed it on stress - anxiety and depression. So, when I would get another episode about every 5 years, I would assume it was just depression and anxiety again (though anti-depressants never worked)...no need to test for anything physical right?. This time - in June I tested for Lyme and was glaringly positive...docs thought I was recently infected. BUT, the symptoms I began to have mirrored the ones I have had periodically all my life. BINGO! Chronic Lyme. I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland - tick-central USA. Growing up, as a kid into my teens, I was always in the woods doing something and have been bitten (NO LIE) about 500+ times...still was never tested for Lyme until 5 motnhs ago...
Posted 11/17/2011 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
I know when I was infected for sure, I live in an urban area and visited a high lyme area. Then after a month, I got very sick, like a terrible flu. took five weeks to diagnose after symptom onset. Then treated with standard 4 weeks amox. a few months after, new symptoms started popping up (tachycardia, headaches, neck stiffness, brain fog, pain, etc., etc.) and progressively got worse over the course of 2 years. I was rediagnosed at that point and retreated for 6 months. I am now symptom free. Hope this helps, hang in there. J.
Posted 11/19/2011 5:43 AM (GMT 0)
TTT
Posted 11/19/2011 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Okay, I'm initial illiterate!! What does TTT stand for???confused
Posted 11/19/2011 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
I thought that was moderator 101.. TTT= To the top
Posted 11/19/2011 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Oh! We are a little more laid back maybe, we just say 'bump'!! LOL!!! You and your high-falutin words, be honest now, you were just trying to confuse me right?!?! giggle! smilewinkgrin
Posted 11/19/2011 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
haha.....im glad he told what that meant...i was about to have issues on *not having closure*....
Posted 11/20/2011 4:43 AM (GMT 0)
i was infected for 2 years before diagnosis/treatment. the 1st year was easy compared to what followed.

1st year - flu like symptoms, air hunger, panic attacks, brain zaps, constant anxiety, feeling stressed for no reason, feeling awkward, foot pain, and skin ulcers (possibly unrelated). saw a doctor who said i was just depressed. could have saved me from the horror to come.

2nd year - all of the above + insomnia, extreme fatigue, brain fog, difficulty speaking/finding words, photophopbia, loss of vision, increased sweating, weight gain, frizzy/fragile hair, heart palpitations, geographic tongue, dark tired eyes, pain in feet and hands, cold intolerance, social awkwardness, alcohol intolerance, loss of interest in hobbies/friends, and feeling like i was dying on a daily basis.

the good news is it has been over a year since i finished my treatment and i am doing much better now. be aware that recovery might not happen on its own for you. i needed to make alot of changes in my lifestyle before i saw any improvement. it sounds too simple to be true but diet, exercise, and rest really are the 3 most important things for recovery in my opinion. i increased fruits/vegetables, no alcohol or sugar, and a few months ago went completely gluten free. i also recommend drinking green tea daily. the L-Theanine in green tea is very calming for the anxiety/brain fog. or you can take L-Theanine supplements if thats easier for you. hope this helps... good luck.
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