Could I have Lyme or some other Neuro-Lyme type illness?

I just took two pics of the marks with my computer's built-in camera. I can't figure out how to upload them from my hard drive to here. Does anyone know how I can do this?

Here are the two pics. In the first one, you can even kind of see what I'm talking about with the horizontal stretch marks on my stomach, even though it's a profile view. You can also see the little blistery things I was talking about.

VIEW IMAGE

The second one is a bit clearer. I'm holding a piece of copier paper next to it to give you and idea of the length.

VIEW IMAGE

Bobby - those marks on your abdomen look like they are raised. Are they?


Yes, you can have normal WBC with lyme.

Also, if the scan of your brain shows scarring/plaques...that does happen with lyme disease. That's why sometimes it's misdiagnosed as MS

Try to not worry too much over the CT scan. It won't help anything, and the stress certainly won't help you at all.

Those are very good pictures showing your striations (Bart "stretch marks"), I would encourage you to share those with your LLMD - as there is little doubt that you have Bart with those!

Can I ask why you are so concerned about Alzheimer's/dementia? Do you have signs of those things? Lyme is actually a part of that for some people according to the new research that is coming out from Dr. Alan MacDonald.

And, I've had a lot of the same symptoms as Alzheimer's during the time before I got treatment the first time, and no longer have hardly any signs of it now at all. As a matter of fact, those that didn't witness it with me, don't believe that I did because I now function so well. For me a lot of it was due to toxins and some of it was due to the Lyme infection I had.

We quite often appear to be "healthy" with some basic blood tests and scans that are done.

Well, according to this site, I was beyond help (lol!), as I was beyond stage 6: http://m.alz.org/stages-of-alzheimers.asp

I actually could care for myself, mostly, but it took an extraordinary amount of time for me to get dressed as I had to double and triple check I had all the clothes I needed on me, and was careful to never have to wear things that needed to be matched because of a pattern or design, not even socks, as I couldn't follow or recognize a pattern, but I could feed myself and use the bathroom/shower by myself.

My husband did have to watch over me when we went out, or I quickly got lost and had to "remind" me daily of what I was supposed to do that day and I had to write it down and immediately put the note in my pocket so I could cross them off the list each day as they got done, but they had to be in the order in which I needed to do them, or I couldn't follow the list.

I was having major panic attacks every time I left the house alone though (only to one grocery store and one drug store) had no working memory, couldn't really engage in any meaningful conversation due to severe memory issues.

I'm sure I'm not listing things, but quite honestly I spent the first few years after experiencing that, desperately trying to forget it and get past the fear it left in me. I do still suffer from some PTSD type symptoms when faced with interacting with someone with that level of dysfunction, but continue to work to get past it as I know what it feels like to have someone react negatively in some manner to behaviors I had no control over. It's a very sad experience in my life that humbled me as I had my cognitive functions return - something many people never get to experience.


STAGE 6:

Severe cognitive decline (Moderately severe or mid-stage Alzheimer's disease)

Memory continues to worsen, personality changes may take place and individuals need extensive help with daily activities. At this stage, individuals may:
Lose awareness of recent experiences as well as of their surroundings

Remember their own name but have difficulty with their personal history

Distinguish faces but have trouble remembering the name of spouse or caregiver

Need help dressing properly and may, without supervision, make mistakes such as putting pajamas over daytime clothes or shoes on the wrong feet

Experience major changes in sleep patterns

Need help handling details of toileting (for example, flushing the toilet)

Have increasingly frequent trouble controlling their bladder or bowels

Experience major personality and behavioral changes

Tend to wander or become lost

STAGE 7:

Very severe cognitive decline (Severe or late-stage Alzheimer's disease)

In the final stage of this disease, individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, to carry on a conversation and, eventually, to control movement.

Individuals need help with much of their daily personal care, including eating or using the toilet. They may lose the ability to smile and/or sit without support. Reflexes become abnormal. Muscles grow rigid. Swallowing impaired.

That post got a little long! Sorry!

Yes I do believe that those are likely Bartonella "scratches". I'm very glad you know have pictures you can show to a doctor. They may come and go.

There actually is a connection between some Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia and Lyme, as Dr. Alan MacDonald has proven, and other researchers, like Eva Sapi, have been able to reproduce the same results in their research.

https://spirodementia.wordpress.com/drexel-university-team-duplicate-dr-alan-macdonalds-findings-of-bacterial-biofilms-in-alzheimers-plaques/


http://alzheimerborreliosis.net/research/

As soon as I was able to stop treatments, stress started accumulating in my life. First we move hubby's Dad in with us as he was in stage 6 of Alzheimer's, he only lasted about 3 or 4 months, then less than a week after that my Mom moved to my area. My adrenals crashed, taking my thyroid down with it, and that was when I was reinfected, so I'm back in treatment now.

I can tell my brain isn't the same but those that didn't know me before can't tell, so I count that a win. I'm excited for when I'm healed again, as I have learned even more about what my body needs and more importantly how and when to just say no. Lol! I've also learned how to delegate.

Good for you for knowing your triggers!! Though I am sorry that you are dealing with it.

Unfortunately, it's something that all too many of us have experienced. I believe that Lyme and Bart can both cause this issue, commonly referred to as Depersonalization/derealization. I experienced it for so long, I assumed that it would stay with me. Fortunately, I managed to heal and come out of that, and it only occurs when I'm herxing now.

www.tiredoflyme.com/depersonalization-and-derealization-from-lyme-disease-and-its-coinfections.html

As I'm getting ready for work, I remembered something that I meant to ask about myoclonus, specifically something called action myoclonus. It's basically myolonic jerks that happen when you are doing something, sort of like intention tremors. Does anybody else get these? There seems to be no end to the different things that Lyme can cause, and I'm curious if this could be another possible Lyme symptom.

My muscle spasms were so different than how others (not Lymies) would describe theirs I ended up thinking I might have Myoclonus Distonia. The spasms or fasculations were in my hands and leg shins and toes causing them to be pulled in directions they weren't meant to. I joined a really great group to see and understand what they were going through and I came to the conclusion I was no where as bad as most of them.

I'm staying more hydrated these days, plus I am hoping the Potassium caps I have to take with my Lasix will protect me from them however, they're mainly a cold weather disorder for me, so I'll have to wait and see if they come back.

I wish I'd known about this site/group when it first got up and running. So many unexplained things I never got answers to until coming here, and things that might have been significant I ended up pretty much brushing off because I already had too many issues for the basic trained rural Drs. I was seeing.

These were over and beyond my usual vibrations and tremors I get when I'm flaring badly.

I gained 40 lbs in less than 2 months when my thyroid and adrenals crashed, without changing any eating habits or any changes in my activity levels - unless you count moving my Mom from Arkansas to California. After that, I should have lost weight, not gained it - and my energy levels tanked, I would have to eat every 3 or 4 hours or I'd get the shakes so bad I couldn't stand.

I would encourage you to make sure that you have your LLMD check all of your hormones - thyroid (T3, T4 and RT3, RT4), adrenal (3 or 4 collection times of saliva only), and "sex" hormones - all of them.

Yep! I used to get called the "Queen" of lost time, as I would loose chunks of time, even when I was awake and supposedly functioning just fine. I drove my very young children at the time over 40 miles and only "woke up" when I got home and realized the kids were asking why we weren't getting out yet. And many more times like that.

I can generally feel better after 2 or 3 pm, or, if I allow myself to not take my sleep meds and I stay up until 10 or later, I too will get that spike of energy and won't want to go to sleep. This, for me, is my adrenals messing around with me again though. They have spiked their cortisol output yet again (trying to keep me going), and it depletes them even further.

I would encourage you to take your temp before ever getting out of bed for 7 days in a row. If your temp is at or lower than 97.9 for 3- 5 mornings, then you need to be sure to get all of your thyroid hormones checked thoroughly - and continue to monitor them, as your thyroid may be struggling.

Many find that they need a different type of B12 than is readily available. The one that is readily available is cyanocobalamin. Many of us find we need the methylcobalamin type instead for better absorption.