New Lymie here... stats n' story.

Hello everyone,

Thanks for reading. I am new to the site, & introducing myself & situation to you all. I am 90% sure I have lymes disease, my Igenex WB & co-infections stats below in my signature. I have spent the past years sick and ill beyond functional ability. I dont know why I never thought to look into a forum for help - but it just dawned on me recently. I will post my bloods & current symptoms first on top - & then my story under. **See my signature for WB & CO's** ANY information you all can give me in regards to my symptoms, treatment and recovery would be priceless imo. So, here it is...

CURRENT SYMPTOMS:
EXTREME INSOMNIA
EXTREME TINNITUS
EXTREME DIZZINESS (vertigo)
VISUAL (visual snow, photo-phobia, decline in vision)
HEADACHES (all the time)
STIFF NECK
COGNITIVE (- Confusion- Managing thoughts / execution
- Disorientation - Working memory / short term
- Difficulty w/ concentration - Inability to retain information
- Word retrieval / vocabulary - Inability to retrieve information

weight gain (inability to loose weight)
and a lot of other random stuff. But these^^^ are the worst.
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My story:

I was a completely healthy male 31 yrs of age.
Hiking - deep woods in north western NJ. Found a Tic embedded in my leg a few days later (over 48 hrs exposure). I panicked & ripped it out ( it was in there!). 2 days later - bite area looked very infected. it was about 1/4 - 1/2 inch in diameter with a VERY VERY distinct white ring with in it. I knew what was up - didnt hesitate - went straight to my urgent care unit. They took blood - gave me Doxy (31 days), told me the test results will be back soon. The Doxy made me woozy at work. Results came back 3 days later -congratulations! test is negative for lyme. I then made the biggest mistake of my entire life.... Stopped taking the doxy. Figured test results were good enough. If I knew then, what I know now.

6 months later - I became ill - elevated heart rate, cold sweats, flu-ish symptoms, for about 3 weeks. Then BOOM - all hell breaks loose.

Major visual problems - terrible photo-phobia, literally blinding. I could barely see. a light bulb could blind out my entire visual field. My body was in some kind of toxic shock. EXTREME weakness, hands shaking, knees buckling. My arms would shake just from holding a jug of water.

Worst of all - and still are, the cognitive dysfunctions. I became slightly dyslexic. I couldnt type or even write. my handwriting looked like kindergarten. couldnt read or remember any detailed info. It felt like a terrible hangover, but 1000 times worse, half-conscious, zombie-like, reality. Brain fog is an understatement in comparison to my symptoms,.. I can barely function. It took me a week just to write this post (I forget what im typing while im typing it). Most days I can barely operate an automobile.

Most of the physical muscular symptoms died off in about 3 months. got my strength back (some what). What I am left with is all the cognitive dysfunction & symptoms from the neck up. No physical body problems. I have been consistently sick ever since - w/ all my symptoms present 100% of the time, with almost no breaks for 2.5 years (I will touch on this in another post).

Finally found a LLMD in PA (year & 1/2 later). WB & CO-INF tested as you see below in my sig. Doc wanted to treat me IV ABX,... but I could not afford. Gave me 6 weeks ABX pills to start, but I had to discontinue with him due to moving out of state. The ABX pills didnt put a dent in my symptoms - nor made me herx. Doc said that their is enough evidence in the blood work to presume Lyme & Co's. And given my symptoms - the infection is most likely all in my brain, and IV ABX was the only way to get past the blood brain barrier. Still to this day, I wonder if this is all something else like Hashimotos. But all testing (MRI, bloods) never showed otherwise. And I cant imagine why spirochete antibodies would be present in my blood for no other reason.

I am currently suffering tremendously from my symptoms - daily - with no breaks, no treatment, no doctor(s), NO money (completely broke), and ZERO support. I had to quit my job, abandon my career, spend my all my savings & 401k, loose personal property & assets, and a whole lot more. Ive spent nearly 50k total in the past 2.5 years, paying out of pocket going in circles w/ the medical community, and just staying afloat. Most of everyone in my life has turned away from me with this situation. I am currently living in NJ w/ family that is non-supportive, and situations getting worse. Im sleeping on a futon in an unfinished basement w/ no heat (its freezing). I think I will be on the road (or streets) very soon. Im currently on MEDICAID - and it does nothing for me. I repeat... NOTHING. (this is not a pity letter - just explaining were I am right now). Ive been a god dam warrior my whole life - I can deal w/ the harsh reality - just not the harsh symptoms.

But... I'm still alive.

I have so many questions to ask here in this forum - I apologize if I post to much in the days coming. But the only way I could think of getting help is speaking w/ others in my situation. Ive took the time to read threads - but my reading & memory abilities are minimal. I plan on sharing all my knowledge & experience I have with Lymes in this forum. I am going to read through as many posts as I can and give help & advice to anyone that needs it. Hoping for the same.

Thanks for reading this long spastic thread. Its the best I can do right now. Hopfully I can get the help I need & provide help to those in need.

Stay Alive.

.