I have been following this forum for over a year while narrowing down what is wrong with me. Let me just say that you are all a wonderfull bunch. Always so uplifting and helpfull to each other and all of the newbies. Thank God for the Internet and what it has made possible.
Anyways, I am a 30 year old male living in Missoula, Montana, currently. I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease two weeks ago by my new ND who is a LLD. What a long month having to wait for my first appointment. Now another long month waiting for the results of my blood tests. She said that regardless of the test results she is making the diagnosis based on my symptoms, when they started, and my tick history. Not sure if most diseases are diagnosed clinically or not, but I now know Lyme is. I am certain I was infected in the 2006-2008 range, but may have been from childhood as well. It is tough thinking back through it all and trying to piece it all together.
The majority of my symptoms started in 2008 and onward. I will just gloss through these. Irregular hearbeating consistently since 2010. Many food intolerances/allergies since 2010(none as a child). I think I react to most everything I eat, just in varying degrees. Panic attacks and anxiety since 2008. Constant fluid in right ear since 2009. Fluid in lungs regularly since 2009. I am much more forgetful than I used to be and can't seam to access the information that I am sure is in my brain somewhere. I can't concentrate or rememeber anything I read. Blood sugar issues(low only, I think) since 2012. Bad back(hopefully Lyme can get the blame for a lot of this). Knee and foot pain. I really think most of my physical issues are from prior injuries though; they just don't heal. I never get over anything anymore. Problems sleeping most nights. I lack enegy in my opinion. My neck and thumb joints crack all of the time(more anoying than anything).
But I can trace some blood sugar issues back to my childhood. Every now and then it would be like someone would pull a plug out of me and drain my energy. This usually came after very hard physical work and may have been normal though. Now I get this without the work. Also in high school I would get these random stabbing pains in my heart. Maybe a few times a year is all. I got these more so in the 2010 area before I drastically altered my diet for the better. I have had them in my good knee as well in the last few years. I also rememeber having a "tick" in my nose and neck as a child. Not sure how to explain this; but just a need to "stretch" or "flex" them. Still have this. This gives me pause on deciding when I may have first been infected.
I grew up in Northern Iowa before moving to Northern Minnesota in 2006. I worked in the woods constantly for 2 years and had probably 1000 ticks on me. No joking there. I know I was bitten about 100 times. But they were all "wood ticks" as far as I could tell and not the dreaded deer tick. But they are so small I would never have known it anyways. I was told that only deer ticks carry Lyme and so therefore never suspected it until after I had been away from MN for a couple of years. It now seams to me as if woods ticks can carry Lyme and other diseases as well.
So I am getting these blood tests done from IGeneX:
Basic Lyme Panel: Western Blot IgG, Western Blot IgM, Lyme IFA
Eastern and Midwest Regional Panel: some Babesia and Bartonella stuff
Immunology CD 57
Does this look like a good group of test to get my confirmation? I know it won't always come, but I am really hoping to verify this. I just want to know for sure.
Until the tests come in I am taking Quercetin daily as well as some Zen supplement. The Zen is a GABA calming pill. She said these two supplements may help calm my stomach and anxiety. Has anyone tried these pills?
There won't be a real plan of action until the tests come back and I get my next visit. I think she wanted to be sure of coinfections first and suspects that I probably have some of them having been bitten so many times.
Well, that is most of my situation rolled into one post. I very much so appreciate the time anyone takes to read this post. I know I could have used a lot more support these past 5 years. They have been very tough to do alone. I suspect I may be around here for awhile and can hopefullt offer something back. Thanks eveyone.
Ben