So I "had" Lyme... Or do I still?

Back in May of this year (2012) I started feeling "flu-like" sick with no congestion, weird I thought, but I brushed it off for exactly one week, after 1 week of feeling ill, I started to develop rashes all over my body, and still felt ill. So a trip to a regular family doc I go. He said I had a "post viral rash" and should be feeling better any time now.

I thought Awesome, just a bug. But over the next week the rashes got large, and itchy and I felt absolutely terrible... hardly even remember driving to work and back that week I was so tired. It certain light you could almost make out a ring around my rashes, not always, but sometimes. So at 2 weeks into feeling sick I go back to the doc... He questioned Lyme disease... and Post viral... so he gave me a steroid shot and put me on 21 days of doxycycline... and a Lyme test.... 2 Weeks into have the flu-like would be early detection cure by atibiotics correct? But what about the Multiple rashes, and a positive lyme test? I didn't think those showed up until later stages?

Lyme test came back as 5.45, wasn't supposed to be over 0.91 I believe. When results came back he said it was lyme, which after researching I completely agreed, as I had most all symptoms. After taking my medS religiously and only vomiting one dose dUE to an upset stomach, I felt great again... for about 2 weeks or so...

But here we are at the beginning of august and for about 1.5 weeks now, I'm not feeling good again... kind of light headed(almost the feeling you get when you get really anxious like "faint" feeling I guess), sensitive to sounds, evening headaches, brain fog, eyes strained, Even had my upper lip twitching ALL day today, It stopped finally a little while ago. Not feeling absolutely terrible... But not me...

Is this something that is going to get better over time? I can't really miss work to run to the doc all the time... I've heard symptoms can persist for a long time after treatment... but I got better... then worse, but not as bad as I was, actually kind of different set of symptoms.

And being a "self-diagnosed" Carcinophobic/Hypochondriac.... It takes a mental toll on me also... I'm almost afraid I have a completely different issue all together... just coincidentally right after lyme.

Any advice/peace of mind is appreciated.

Post Edited (Buckmaster) : 8/1/2012 6:41:43 PM (GMT-6)

Buckmaster,  Once you find & start treatment with a LLMD, you won't be running to the dr all the time.  After the initial visit, most people see their LLMD once every 2-3 mos, give or take.

I had the same worry about missing work, but I actuallly missed much more work before I knew for sure that it was Lyme. Same with my husband---we were running around to dr. after dr., clinic after clinic, hours away from home, and when he finally got a Lyme dx, it was one visit every 2-3 mos.  

(((Traveller))) You are AMAZING!!!! and word everything with such power and empowerment.

Buckmaster, I can only add that I was in a similar situation a month ago. Undertreated for a recent Lyme (and never treated for possible 8 year infection). Now I'm finally in care of an LLMD and having all the right tests done has taken a huge burden from my brain. I can focus on getting well, NOT on getting a diagnosis.

This forum here is incredibly supportive and helpful. I wish you all the best as you begin creating your own program for healing. You can and WILL get better.

Blessings,

OK, Buckmaster.....that name can only be true if you are an archery hunter!!! LOL That's me and that's probably what got me infected.

So, great advice above. Take it and find an LLMD!

Your risk factor(s): If you're a hunter, which tells me like myself, you're in the woods/outdoors all of the time and you've probably been bitten many many times! You don't have to get a rash or flu-like symptoms from each bite. I NEVER had a rash or even seen an imbedded tick on myself. But I HAVE brushed off dozens and dozens of them crawling on me. So how many did I never see????

It is possible that you've actually had Lyme for a very long time, but this last bite is the one that finally pushed your immune system over the edge. I've had Lyme and it's co-infections for 10 -20 years before having symptoms.

The term Lyme disease refers to Borrelia infection. Ticks carry many bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases. You don't JUST get Borrelia with a tick bite. It's just happens to be the first infection found, then named.

If your going to continue to hunt, use permetherin religiously. Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops and others carry it. Deet does not work. Don't sit up against trees, rocks, in leaf or needle piles. Do tick check every night and get the most recent tick removal tool.

So, You have had a positive Bb test, Lyme. You will always have it!! Get and stay as healthy as possible which means that after this first episode is over, you may not have others. REad as much about Lyme as possible. Get informed and it won't be so stressful. Cause you have to be your own advocate now. Please find an LLMD.

Keep posting questions and concerns here. These people are extremely knowledgeable and caring.

Happy hunting, Lisa the black tail hunter from Ca.
Didn't get a Ca tag this year. But husband going to Nevada. Which is like hunting in hell during the summer and can't handle that.

Buckmaster,
You might have multiple rashes because you were probably reinfected. You might have been infected earlier and your body fought it off. Do you have a prior history of removing attached ticks off of you? I had some of the same CNS symptoms that you have. I can't stand loud noise. I wear earplugs when I sleep. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it takes about a year after being infected for the disease to manifest to your Central Nervous System where your lip would twitch and you would be really sensitive to noise.
I've taken off about 50-60 attached ticks over last ten years. I would get slightly ill for about a week after each backpacking trip in north central pa. (Moshannon/Susquehannock state forest)(((STRAUB BEER COUNTRY))) then I would get better. I really didn't think much about it. This last spring, after pulling off 4 or 5 nymphs, I got more sick than I ever had before. I broke out in about 10 rashes. (My body could take no more). I just finished six weeks of doxy 200mgs x2 daily a week ago and so far, I feel like I'm healing well, but I'm nervously crossing my fingers.
You might be later stage in the disease like I was, or have a co-infection which means you need to take abx longer. What ever you do, DON"T blow off getting more treatment. Also, if you don't feel the flu-like symptoms, but you still have the brain fog, twitching lip, and are sensitive to loud noise, you are probably still sick. Those symptoms most likely dissipate last.