Lyme or autoimmune

Hello,
I started 3 weeks ago with extreme sensitivity on the left front side of my head - putting on my glasses hurt. No headache, just sensitivity to touch. That went away after several days; then I developed conjunctivitis, which lasted almost a week. After two days of that, I woke up in the middle of the night with extreme foot pain, which lessened during the day. Same thing happened the next night. Then I started having back pain, which was worse with moving, taking a deep breath, yawning, or - worst of all - sneezing. Now it's my shoulder and neck on my left side. There are times when if I turn my head even slightly, the pain is severe. My foot (ankle?) swells at times, the top of my foot gets red and hot. The doctors say it's a toss up between Lyme or an autoimmune disorder. Blood test for lyme came back negative, as did all the other tests. They sent me for the blot test along with two others - one for rheumatoid and I'm not sure what the other was. I feel like crap (!) almost all the time and also feel like I'm losing my mind - these symptoms are all so bizarre and seemingly unrelated. But I know my body, and I KNOW there is something really wrong. I'm just curious as to your thoughts on whether this sounds like Lyme, or sounds more like some kinda autoimmune disorder. BTW, they did put me on doxy 4 days ago. And I pulled a tick off in May, but they put me on a short course (3 days?) of doxy then. My doctor said it was either that or treating as though I had autoimmune (with prednisone). Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for the information! My doctor ordered a blot test after the first test came back negative. She also said that if it is Lyme, she will send me to an infectious disease specialist. I have to admit - after reading your reply, the fact that she was thinking of treating me with prednisone (for autoimmune) makes me nervous! I guess I'll just wait for the rest of the tests to come back, although my understanding is that even the blot test can be inaccurate.

I am wondering about the initial treatment I received when I pulled the tick out. I think it was a three-day regimen of the doxycycline. Does that sometimes not get it all?

Many, many thanks. I feel as though I'm going to lose it :)

If you get another negative on your lyme test do not be surprised. It has happened to many. Like Girlie said, the most reliable lyme test (if there is such a thing) is by a company called Igenex in Palo Alto, CA. Any lab (or some doctor offices) can draw the blood and send it to them for testing. They have a more refined way of testing than our corner lab companies.
Also please note that not all Infectious Disease doctors are trained in treating lyme (just like many MD aren't). There is schooling that needs to be taken for that credential.

~Annette