Feedback on Lyme

First off, I want to begin by saying I have no idea if it's Lyme or something else but just want some feedback on whether I should get tested for it.

Ok, my story. So I'm a premed student and decided to travel to a third world country because it looks good on a resume. In hindsight, I should not have gone during the hot summers months because 3rd world countries seem to have some sort of fear/hatred of electricity or something. Within the 1st week, I came down with a high fever. I thought nothing of this as I became better after 6 days. However about 2 weeks after getting better, I noticed a dull, aching pain in my thighs and sometimes would start from my hips all the way down to my calcaneus. I had trouble walking without some sort of support. After 2 days, it got worse and just standing up had these shooting pains like needles stuck against my body. There's was also pain in my back. I would also get dizzying spells when standing. I became completely bedridden. I had to crawl just to get to the bathroom. I went to the best doctors that country had to offer. Brain scans and MRI of lumbosacral revealed nothing. A blood test revealed I had elevated numbers for HCV antibody and some other liver enzymes were also high but rest were fine so I did not get liver biopsy. Other than giving me extremely high dosage meds, doctors could not suggest anything else. I came back to the US in hopes of better treatment.

Other than being confined to a wheelchair, I was upbeat I would eventually get better especially since I was back home and in my element. My neurologist immediately had extensive tests done on my entire spine as he assumed most of my leg problems had to due with my lower back pain. I had many of the symptoms of sciatica and MS. Tests came back normal and MS and other spinal diseases were ruled out. Blood tests revealed I might have mono which I highly doubt. Doctor suggests getting physical therapy which should somehow cure my symptoms. Needless to say I am not satisfied at all with this neurologist. I seem to be getting progressively worse.

For about 2 weeks now I have a constant headache had sometimes originates from the back of my head, to my front lobe, to sometimes all over. At times, it feels like my head is on fire and sometimes like someone is using it as their own private drum. I have become completely depressed and just want to be isolated from everybody including family. I honestly don't know why I am depressed. Because of my personality, I used to think I would never become depressed but clearly the joke is on me. I am now taking antidepressants which have done absolutely nothing. There is also an accumulation of fluid in my ears making them dull and heavy so am taking a nasal spray for that. I also just want to sleep, sleep, sleep but that may be due to depression. I've stopped eating almost completely and just have no appetite so I just drink Ensure and take multivitamins to replenish what I've lost. I've also noticed I am getting floaters way too frequently no matter when or where. These past few days have seen me almost completely lose my voice and I can only speak in a whisper. The most disturbing fact, though? I feel like I am going completely crazy almost like bipolar. One minute, I will get really angry over a minor issue and want to choke the living daylights out of that person and the next I'm happy and smiling. I get really irritated at hearing other people talk and just want them to shut up. I have seen all my family members cry over this and there are times I just want to run off the bed and tell them I'm all right and then times I think I'm the one sick, why are you crying or I get happy that at least I'm getting the attention I deserve which is weird because I should not be thinking like that but I am. Again, I am having conflicting thoughts that I would never in a million years have thought possible. I'm a regular Jekyll and Hyde. Going outside only worsens my headache so I am holed up in my room with my iPad.

This is upsetting to me because I used to be the kid with the skinned up knees and constantly in motion, not the cantevenwalktothebathroom kid. I may not have made sense in that long, garbled mess but would still like some feedback on what it could be. I keep going back to that fateful trip. Anyways, I've talked to my primary doctor and she believes I might have Guillain-Barré syndrome. I've got an appointment at Johns Hopkins so we'll see. Here's to hoping I can finally find out what the hell is wrong with me.

As an add-on - one of my biggest mistakes during this time of illness...is I put off the testing for lyme disease and talking to someone Lyme Literate. I wish I had done it sooner.

James, I know of a few. What's your email?

It's good that you’re going to see a doctor! I hope they're able to figure out what is going on.

teedaalee