Trip to the urgent care or er worth it.

HI otheym432 -

I'm so sorry you're struggling like this. I've had those periods where the symptoms are simply unbearable. I think you're wise to post this question - as sometimes the ER can be a traumatizing experience for us lymees.

I usually suggest 'no' unless there is something specific the ER doc/nurses can do to alleviate immediate pain and/or rule out scary symptoms that could be (but probably aren't) indicative of life-threatening situation like heart attack.

In your case, the ER staff might be able to give you some pain killers (but only after a lengthy interrogation to make sure you're not an addict and will very likely prescribe steroids. The steroids could provide immediate relief but also cause long-term problems since they will inhibit your immune response, which we lymees desperately need.

What antimicrobials are you taking?

What are you currently doing to detox your body?

You sound like you are herxing at an extreme level, which is generally understood to not be conducive to healing. A moderate amount of herxing is to be expected at various points during our treatments but too much indicates you are killing microbes much faster than your body can process the debris and toxins that develop. It might be necessary to slow down treatment, allow your body and your detoxing to catch up and then slowly work up to your optimal dosing schedule.

-p

I am so sorry you feel so badly. I am not sure what to say. I am wondering if it is your heart. Do you have an urgent care nearby? You may be better safe then sorry.

I know that Lyme and co can cause a lot of these symptoms also. You need to listen to your body. Do you think it needs to be addressed?

Someone else who has dealt with this will probably be along soon and be able to give you a better answer.

I am sorry I can't be more help. It is always so hard to know what to do and then as you said you sit and wait and wait while you feel bad. My heart goes out to you.

otheym432-

Also, I'd skip the urgent care. If you're going to haul yourself somewhere, might as well be the ER.

If you DO decide to go, please bring with you a list of all the meds and supplements you are on - you don't need the diagnoses, particularly (the ER staff won't know what they're for, anyway)

And if at all possible, please bring someone with you who you trust and share any concerns you have with them--what you do and do not want the ER to administer, etc. before you go.

And please let us know what you decide and let us know how you're doing.

-p

at the hospital. Possible lung infection and abnormal ekg. Probably here for the night. I have cardiomyopathy and had strokes in the past. The wife drug me in. Guess it was a good idea.

No, I don't have a llmd yet. tel So no treatment at all yet. My first appointment is in a week with her. Hoping I get some help from her. Not enjoying feeling miserable very much.

Post Edited (otheym432) : 6/6/2016 8:06:16 PM (GMT-6)

Feeling a little better they gave me some ativan for my anxiety and are supposed to be giving me some pain meds. Being kept for observation and I see my cardiologist in the morning. They looked at me like I was retarded when I said I probably had lyme as I was reactive to a lyme specific band. Was expecting that bought sometimes docs at this hospital will suprise you with some knowledge.

They actually gave me rocephin in the er when i showed em livedo and muscle wasting ... i mentioned every other infection...and schooled two nurses on tbi
are they going to give you abx for lung funk?

They said probably bronchitis. should clear up on its own Seems breathing isn't important.

I've had multiple mri's on the noggin, 4 months ago lyme like symptoms peaked shortly after I had a series of strokes. Five spots on the mri. Went in diagnosed with dialated cardiomyopathy which caused a clot to form and break off and cause the strokes. To my suprise that type of cardiomyopathy can be caused by lyme.

they have my heart normalized on meds now and pradaxa a blood thinner for the clots.

I have colitis so I have a two week round of flagyl I haven't taken. not sure what that might accomplish.

I got no explanation as to what caused the cardiomyopathy, the only thing infinite tests turned up was High tsh high anti tpo anti-bodies, vitamin d In the floor. low ferritin, low iodine.

Tested positive on quest labs ela 1.95 western blot was only reactive on band 23 IGM. But my current doctor refuses to test with Igenex or even start treatment because I'm not cdc. Going to an llmd June 17th hoping she will be better.

Sadly the simple explanation for my ailments is completely overlooked and obvoius. I'm only 31 by the way.

Post Edited (otheym432) : 6/6/2016 10:50:29 PM (GMT-6)

No, she uses a lab that's tsh normal range tops out at 10 so refuses to do a full thyroid panel. because I fall within that ****ed off range. The only reason. I got tpo anti-bodies tested was because the hospital did tsh and tpo. The llmd I found is an intergrative doctor though so I'm a bit nervous about her potential treatment plans. I'm pro natural solution but also, don't discount the tenants of modern medicine.

I have two back up llmds if she doesn't pan out.

Will do I have another introduction thread that explains every too.

OTHEYM432

PLEASE, PLEASE have your "bronchitis" cultured.

I went through 13 months of agony w/ chronic sinusitis that got so bad it dropped into my chest - bronchitis. 13 months I went to urgent care/ER and several different docs kept assuming bacterial and kept prescribing abx and steroids. They nearly killed me. 2 doses of anti fungal solved 13 months of misery. They never even bothered to check.

I don't know how I acquired the fungus--it had been decades since I'd taken any abx.

Yes, lungs are inflamed--. Please get a culture. Or, you can do what I did and just start taking antifungals. I bought a month's worth from an online UK pharmacy that did not require prescriptions. Email me if you'd like info.

I am so sorry you've been jerked around like this. I hope you find relief and I'm excited for the new LLMD.

-p

Otheym,
Thank you for the update. That was a terrible way to be told that part of your heart is not working. And then to have to wait a week to find out the details.
Maybe your LLMD can give you some ideas as to what they meant. I hope so. The only thing I can think is that it may not be as bad as it sounds or they would have wanted to see you sooner.
Maybe you should call and talk to the cardiologist?

Glad to hear the heart drs aren't too concerned (you gotta take what you can get, right?)

I would wait to quickly to judge your integrative dr. A lot of drs have to take extreme caution in treating lyme even if that means displaying ignorance even if they aren't. I put it that way because she at least knows something given 1- the duration of your doxy and 2- the amount of mg she put you on. Keep in mind to stay out of the sun with doxy and if that med doesn't seem to be working for you-there are others.

I haven't heard of desbios...I'll have to check into it. When I first started treatments I got appts with several drs as backups. I wasn't too sure of my main Western lyme dr so I set up an appt with a more expensive one a few months out (earliest I could get in). I ended up making enough progress that I canceled it. Not a bad plan to have backups!

~beth