Posted 6/29/2015 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
I am a newly diagnosed Lyme disease patient. I guess I am a lucky one. Despite not remembering a recent tick bite, no bullseye rash, or er doctors who do routine blood work then send you home, I was able to convince
my family np to run the Lyme and Rocky Mountain spotted fever tests. My symptoms began this June the 1st of
2015. I called in sick the entire week, something I hadn't done in 21 years with the same co. My fevers ranged from low grade to 103 degrees. When I initially went in to my np, she did a flu test...neg., gave me some sulfa
and drew cbc , chem7, and hepatic function panel. She called the next day to say all were "normal." On Thursday of the same week, I had what felt like a migraine. I had light sensitivity and began to get nausiated.
I had my husband drive me to the er. I had a low grade fever. The Dr. who saw me asked if I had a tick bite or rash. When I said no he wanted to do a Ua, cbc, and blood cultures. All normal, and it would be another 48 hours for the blood cultures to come back normal. He sent me home with 2 oxycodone and told me to come in tomorrow if fever high and ask for him, not to bother with triaging in. I thought wow someone who is interested at last. With a 103 temp and pouring rain headed out to er. The dr. wasn't there and I was told they know in advance their schedule and he knew he wasn't going to be there. There would be a 2 hour wait. I said I would die at home and left very depressed. Somehow,
I made it through the weekend and week treating my fevers with a mix of alternating meds, tylenol, then advil, then tylenol and an aspirin, then anaprox.
I had controlled my fever but not the night sweats. My body started to itch, first my hands, fingers, forearms, buttocks, ankles...etc. I didn't feel too guilty when I didn't mark the box prior to my 30th anniversary cruise, that I had a fever for 48 hours prior to sailing. In my mind I hadn't, I was medicated.
My cruise became a nightmare. I spent most of it in bed. I dressed for dinner , but had no appetite. I was so sick , I couldn't go on shore at St. Martin. I was afraid I wouldn't get back in the country, so I didn't see the ships dr. My husband and room service got me through the rest of the meals. We docked and I prepaired myself for another work week.
I had just been on vacation, how could I call in sick on Monday? I went in and traded a day with a co-worker to work Sat. instead of Tues. This time I did some lab work of my own...you know who you are that have access to do this sort of thing. My sedrate(for inflammation)= 82... normal is < 20. MY liver enzymes were highly elevated, and although my cbc ran right through the coulter, my manual differential...slide examined under oil with a microscope...showed infection in the form of neutrophil changes...toxic granulation, dohle bodies, and toxic vacoules. Showing these results was what convinced my np, to follow up with abdominal sonogram and Lymes,...other tick borne diseases.
I had been on antibiotics 24 hours when the knee pain started. Even with anti-inflammatories, I was in pain if I shifted my knee. I am off work today. Knee is better, but I feel it is going to be a long hard road that is ahead of me. MY IgG and IgM western blot were positive, 8 bands. I look forward to seeing the full report.
My liver was not enlarged, but my speen borderline. I am waiting to see an infectious disease doctor.
Godspeed to all who are recovering and all of you still looking for answers. Feel free to take my story with you to your Dr.s office...maybe they will listen to you. You aren't crazy and your symptoms are real. As much as 40% of Lymes screening is falsely negative.