HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Thoughts on what to do?

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/26/2013 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
I received a name of a Dr from a member here that is within driving distance of me, Lyme literate and has already responded back to me via email regarding an appointment. This Dr does integrative medicine so my thoughts are maybe if it's not Lyme she can help me with whatever it is regardless. I guess for me I"m looking for a push to make the appointment because a) I will be paying out of pocket and b) I'm not exactly sure if Lyme is what I have but I have been treating my body as if I do for several months now. I will give a quick summary of what's going on and I will gladly take feedback from you all as I've come to find peace/encouragement from this forum.

Me: Feb 2013 at work doing normal things suddenly became dizzy, hot in temperature, thought I was going to pass out-never did-was seen by an EMT and told it was likely hypoglycemia. The next few days I felt dizzy, out of sorts didn't get out of bed, night sweats, weight loss didn't go to work for over two weeks straight. Went to my PCP was told I had low vitamin D count and he gave me a beta-blocker chalking it up to anxiety. This beta blocker made me feel worse. I quit taking it and he decided to put me on Prozac and said he didn't feel I was depressed but that I had anxiety. I was anxious about taking this and finally decided to so that I could have some kind of relief. Of course, nothing changed after a few months so I quit taking it.

Next, I went to a psychologist she said I seemed normal and didn't have anymore anxiety than the next person. After that I was seen by an orthopedic surgeon for joint pain and he said that I had si joint pain assigned me to physical therapy and that was that. My si joint still acts up here and there-I haven;t been able to wear high heels since then. My last stop was the neurologist to see if it was MS since my symptoms sounded a lot like that my blood tests did not show anything except for my ELISA being abnormal for Lymes then the Western Blot was normal. My MRI showed no lesions on my brain. The neuro didn't have any answers for me and since I had been reading on this forum I requested to be treated with antibiotics but have not seen any improvement.

Current symptoms: Dizziness that comes and goes, sensitivity to light, out of body feeling,neck pain/stiffness increase in floaters, cold feeling in back of head, numbness of my tongue, back pain, numbness in my left thigh/calf that comes and goes, tingling in my lips, left side of face, anxiety at random times, fatigue.

Post Edited (gingeranne8) : 12/25/2013 6:36:24 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/26/2013 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hi gingeranne8. Lyme is very individualistic and symptoms vary from person to person. However, you have some of the same symptoms as I, and many symptoms of others in this forum. I haven't started antibiotics yet, but feel much better on the regimen my LLNP has placed me on. You might consider taking another test like Igenex or iSpot Lyme (expensive, I know, but I am planning to take a third test before making a decision about getting on antibiotics even tho I've had two positive WBs). There are different antibiotics that treat Lyme as well. If you have been on antibiotics and are not feeling better, you may be herxing if your antibiotics are indeed working. Herxing is when the die off of bacteria causes toxins to be released which make you feel worse temporarily. Did you have a known tick bite and/or rash? Many Lyme patients don't, but the ticks are so small many Lyme patients never knew they were bitten, so I am just curious.

It was a difficult decision for me to spend the money to see my LLNP, but I must admit I feel much better because my immune system is being boosted and, coupled with my diet, that has helped me become functional again.

I'm sure you will hear from other who will give you great insight here! Good luck! And keep us posted!
Posted 12/26/2013 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
GingerAnne, I am 99.9% positive that you have an infection and strongly encourage you to keep your appointment with your LLMD. The sooner you see your doctor, the sooner you can get started in getting better. It will be a long and hard road to a better health so you need to get started now.

Your story is very similar to mine where I was but on beta blockers after I became symptomatic and had the same outcome. I have the same symptoms that you described. When you take into account the different symptoms, there is no doubt that you have been infected with something. From my experience and the symptoms that you described, it sounds like you might be infected with Bartonella in addition to Lyme.

I recommend that you fill out Dr B's list of symptoms (page 9) and take this list to your doctor so he/she can have an idea of how severe your symptoms are. The list is part of a very good document that will familiarize yourself with the different infections and what some of the options are to treat it. Make copies of this list and every week, fill out a copy so you can keep track of your progress. The link to this document is..... http://www.lymenet.org/BurrGuide200810.pdf

I also recommend that you begin to familiarize yourself with the disease, what happens when you are infected, what you can do to detox, and what your options are in terms of natural and synthetic treatments.

Good luck in your recovery.
Posted 12/27/2013 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi gingeranne,

I do agree with our kind members on here about going ahead and seeing this integrative dr. For me, the difference between alternative and integrative drs is like night/day. At most drs - you are a number and a paycheck.

My experience with integrative drs/alternative drs is that you are person and your whole body is part of your health. I always got a call back or email same day from these drs when I had an issue. Some of them in the beginning when I was more ill, even called in to check on me out of the blue to see how I was feeling. Not to mention- their treatments worked for me and restored my health.

I hope the same will happen for you Ms. Ginger!

~beth
Posted 12/27/2013 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
Ginger,

I really agree with opugirl here. My PC was very indifferent and stand-offish when I tried explaining my symptoms. My ND however, was very compassionate, as is my LLMD. I don't know what I'd do without them. I would definitely go ahead with the appointment.

Good luck!
Posted 12/28/2013 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi GingerAnne,

Okay. I normally would not say with confidence someone has lyme but your symptoms sound SO similar to what I experienced that I believe you have Lyme and most likely Bartonella (anxiety issues). Mine came on just like yours. And I have four kids, husband going to top University, ran a children's program and it all - on my end - just fell apart and I couldn't function. Never remember a bulls-eye rash but I was outdoors a lot (in Upstate NY). Anyways, I tested highly positive for Lyme, Babesia Duncani and was clinically diagnosed with Bartonella (because of the MAJOR anxiety that I was having). Gosh, I just want you to feel better. A quick way to know, would be to take a formula like LB Core Protocol from Green Dragon Botanicals and see how you feel on the 3rd day from taking it. If you feel good the first 2 days, but on the 3rd day feel really bad (I was nauseous big time with a bowl in front of me, major MIGRAINE, and even felt like my body was on a cloud) then it is highly indicative of Lyme. The med I took was Doxycycline when I experienced that reaction (a herx). Then I knew that I knew that I knew that I knew I had Lyme. 10 days later a huge red raised rash appeared on my right arm. And then it was without a doubt. I guess I should have believed when I got a positive lyme test but because I never remembered a bulls-eye rash I was still in doubt that my issues were actually Lyme. Anyways, I wish you all the best and a very speedy recovery.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply