HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Very confused, need advice

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/22/2009 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
I am posting on behalf of my sister who has had a string of possible lyme symptons.  I will start at the beginning:

1 - She went away this summer on vacation in Vermont, went running outside, etc.

2 - a week late broke out in an odd rash on the right sider her breast (not near nipple).  Rash was very large in size, round, red, burning, oozing, etc.  Later it got scaly and peeled and today is still a bit pink.  Never did she see a tick or puncture site on her skin

3 - Went to the dr who said it was either a breast infection (that women who are breast feeding get) or cellulitis, gave her cream and antibiotic and sent her home

4 - Symptons still there, went to dermatologist.  He took one look and said Bulls Eye (He is not just any derm, he is good and has helped diagnose our family with many many problems). 

5 - Derm did not do blood work but instead immediately put her on 21 days of Doxy

6 - During this time she started feeling off.  Bad headaches every day.  Wakes up with a headache and feeling of hungover. Advil seems to help but not all the time and she doesnt want to take advil every day

7 - She went back to regular dr after medican was finished and dr ordered a a brain cat scan and all blood work, including lyme panel (not sure the exact testing)

8 - Blood work came back as no lyme but faint traces of ehrlichia. Cat scan came up with some bright spots that the dr said are common with headaches

Now what?  She still feels icky and wants some answers.  Should she see an LLMD and take all her results with her?  Any other advice?

Posted 10/22/2009 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I would definitely recommend your sister see an LLMD. 21 days of antibiotics is rarely enough to cure Lyme. Also- erlicha and Lyme seem to go hand in hand, so if she has erlicha, I would think it was very likely she has Lyme disease as well. If she brings her test results with her, and describes her rash, she should be able to get help- especially with her reaction to the antibiotics she already took (Lyme patients often feel worse when they first start antibiotics).

The good news is that you are catching this really early, which means it will be much simpler to treat.

Good luck!
Posted 10/22/2009 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
Is it normal for the dr to put her on antibiotic before doing blood work?

Also would antibiotic block any traces of lyme.
Posted 10/22/2009 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi undiag!!
I'm really sorry to hear of your sisters' issues. Have you read the post at the top of the forum page, "New to Lyme? Start here!" It's got a lot of info that you are (or most likely, will be) asking about.

You will find a lot of great people here. Kind, caring, & giving. We can help you decipher some of the mystery.

Do you have a copy of that 1st set of test results? If not, ask the doc when you go back & be sure to get a copy of this next set of blood work.

Nicky is right about seeing someone very knowledgable for any Tick-borne illness. Most labs don't use reliable enough tests & have a lot of difficulty in reading the test results properly.

There are quite a few of us here that have been diagnosed 'clinically' with Lyme & other tbi's. I was one, as well. It took a full year of antibiotics before I became positive, although I have been un-diagnosed & un & under-treated for most of my life.

I've only hit a few of some very important things here. It would be best if you would read the "New to Lyme?" thread.

Please be sure to let us know what her tests results are when they come back! The only way I understand how we can regain at least some of our health - for those of us that tbi's is to become our own health advocate & health protector!!
~Trav
Posted 10/23/2009 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
I undiagnosedlyme,

Welcome to the forum! We're so glad that you found us:)

For information on finding a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor(LLMD) in your area, please email our long time member, Ticker at:
[email protected] 

If you'd like more doctor suggestions, you can email stephanie at: [email protected]You can also go to: www.turnthecorner.org/bod.htm if you want to learn a little bit more about Lyme Disease. 

You will want to find an ILADS(International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society) doctor. The
ILADS site is a great place read to get you started on your Lyme journey. 
www.ilads.org/

For great info and links, please read the topic at the top of the first page of this forum tittled, "New To Lyme?......Start Here!" It will help you get started learning about lyme.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply