Hi everyone just introducing myself

Hi everyone,
Im 36 years old from vermont. We run a campground and marina and do lots of work in long grass and leaves and such. Needless to say i've had a few ticks in me. Over the last years I've had more than my fair share of aches and pains. 2 years ago my brother died of a drug overdose and that was really tough. I handled it well enough,but I think he stress was the tipping point.

Then this may i was working and the bottoms of my feet went numb. I had noticed that my balance and cognitive function was not quite normal and my hearing had become odd from time to time. Plus my legs were just not feeling right, weak and wonky! Then the burning started in my legs and now it's random all over my body. From time to time I get tingling in my fingers. Im tired all the time and I just hurt randomly all over,especially my joints.

I saw a neurologist who diagnosed me with small fiber neuropathy, idiopathic even though he never ran any tick born disease testing. then I had a mri of my brain and spine and i have random spots in my brain and one small spot on my spine,then comes the spinal tap,elevated oglioclonal bands. Of course multiple sclerosis is whats diagnosed from this. Dr recommends steroids and immune suppressing treatment. I decided to see an ms specialist before starting treatment. She gives me an exam and tell me "no i dont recommend treatment,you dont seem like you have ms".

I finally see a llmd and test positive for bartonella by fish test and western blot pos for band 41,23,31, and 23-25 IND on a total of 3 different tests. Come to find out bartonella/lyme could be the cause of all my problems. Ive been in treatment for less than 2 months and Im just hopeful at this point to regain my health! Thanks for having me!

welcome pugmom folks will be along to give you some starting points. i just want to say bartonella sucks, really sucks. lyme sucks too but bart is like the bully on the block.

what are you doing for treatment these past 2 months?

It's more than "could" be the cause, it is the cause.

I remember the wonky legs! A symptom, I'm glad is now gone.

Well you have to know what you have in order to successfully treat and now you do.

Rikky1 said...
welcome pugmom folks will be along to give you some starting points. i just want to say bartonella sucks, really sucks. lyme sucks too but bart is like the bully on the block.

what are you doing for treatment these past 2 months?

welcome yes bart blows and sucks simultaneously. .
dont do steroids they will make it worse

Hi, welcome to our community!

Please read the topic New To Lyme?.......Start here! it will give you a lot of useful information.

Typical abx for Bartonella are Rifampicin or Bactrim, in combination with some other abx, for example Azythromicin. You could ask your doctor about them, to hear his opinion for your specific case.

Welcome pugmom. So glad that your test were conclusive. Wishing you rapid healing.