New to Lyme

Hello to all! I'm new here, new to Lyme, and going through a whole range of emotions right now. I'm so glad to have found a place to ask questions!

My story is that 3 days ago I was diagnosed with acute Lyme disease, anemia and acid reflux. I was absolutely shocked about the Lyme - my doctor found it with a blood test, and I guess he was surprised, too. I've only been to this doctor twice, and it was another doctor who requested the tests. At first I was really upset (quietly), because I have a friend who has really suffered with Lyme, but he said the work "acute" meant that it could be cured. He put me on 15 days of Doxycycline, and said he would see me in a month or so, to see how I was feeling. I also have to take an iron supplement for the anemia, and dexilant for the acid reflux. For someone who balks at going to the doctor, and prefers to treat everything with herbs, this seemed like an awful amount of "stuff" to take!

My question is this - how does he know that the Lyme is still in the acute stage, and not chronic yet? He says he thinks I just got it, and that's why I've been feeling worse lately. My problem with this is, some of the symptoms that I've seen are related to Lyme (after looking them up over the weekend), I've had for YEARS, not weeks or months! Can he tell for sure that it's a brand new case? I know I don't remember any rash or tick, although I'm here in NW Pa, where we all hunt deer and process them ourselves every winter.

I'm just not sure that I've only had Lyme for a little while. If it IS a new case, though, how good are the chances that I truly will recover completely??

My symptoms are:

Flu-like feeling (on and off for years)

Very, very tired (years, but much worse lately)

Allergies (for years)

Enlarged Thyroid (blood tests and sonogram normal, no explanation)

Shakey, trembley feeling, lightheadedness (just lately)

Very weak, exertion causes burning muscles and weakness (just lately)

Shortness of breath (over a year)

Bad Immune system (years)

Sinus trouble (only started this past year)

Muscle pain that moves around, but always symmetrical (for years)

Acid Reflux (on and off for years, although worse lately, with esophogus spasms)

Digestive problems, food intolerances (years)

Fluid retention from eating sensitive foods or milk (swollen finger, ankles)

Restless legs

Back Pain (lower)(years)

Degenerative bone disease (years)

Head to toe itching (years)

Nonrestful sleeps (waking up very tired) (years, but progressively worse)

Eye Floaters (when I get up in the morning, can't hardly see, white chunks floating in my vision)

Chemical sensitivity and rashes (years)

Bladder trouble, having to go every 30 minutes or more, throbbing or pressure sometimes (years, but worse this year)

Foggy headed (years)

VERY bad memory (years)

Dry nose (years) ( I know, weird, lol)

Irritable and depressed (years)(my husband can tell me the year my personality started changing, lol!)

The first doctor gave me an allergy shot a couple of weeks ago, and I couldn't believe it, I lost 5 lb. of fluid in less than 2 days, my lower back pain was almost gone, and the next morning, I almost bounced out of bed, I felt so rested, and those annoying eye floaters were gone! I told my doctor about it, and she said she was glad I was feeling better, but that my reactions told her that there was some kind of inflammation going on inside, so that wasn't good. Also, the day after I got the shot, I got a bad cold, and have been sort of sick with sinus and chest cold ever since.:(

Thanks to everyone for just "being there"! :)

Blessings in Christ,

Trisha

 

Post Edited (homesteaders6) : 6/7/2010 2:48:46 PM (GMT-6)

Trisha,

Glad you found us, sorry you have to be here though. But you're in a good place so feel free to ask as many questions as you'd like. Several people will come around to assist you the best we can.

You definitely describe symptoms that are similar to lyme disease. The fact that you don't remember getting bit by a tick or didn't get a rash doesn't mean anything, really. Not everyone who gets lyme disease remembers a tick bite or gets a rash.

What kind of test did your doctor give you to determine that you have lyme disease? Western Blot, ELISA? You asked how your doctor could know if you have acute or chronic lyme disease. He doesn't have a clue. Putting you on two weeks of doxy and telling you to come back in a month or so--wrong answer! You obviously have been doing your homework enough to ask the right questions so you're off to a good start. That's the key, ask questions, research and don't be passive about this disease. I applaud you for that. It's a devastating disease to have, especially if you don't get the proper treatment and get it promptly.

I don't know where you live, but if you know of a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD) in your area, that's where you need to go pronto! No one else is qualified to diagnose lyme disease except a LLMD and a LLND (naturopathic doctor). You mentioned herbs, so it seems you might be open to natural treatment, is that right? Some of us here have gotten well using natural medicines. Others have gotten well on abx. But no one gets well on two weeks of doxy!

If you would like to get some referrals for LLMD's and/or LLND's click my email icon below my name and I'll send you a couple of links to websites that provide LLMD referrals. If you want to know more about natural treatment, let me know and I'll include links for that too.

In the mean time, you could do a search under the names Deejavu, cindy lou hoo, and gwb, all of us who were treated naturally. If you do a search of our names, you'll learn more about the treatment protocols we were on. You could also look up the words Hansa Center, as that's where I went to get treated and so did cindy lou hoo. Another name you can look up is Dr. David Jernigan. His name is mentioned on this forum as well. He's a naturopathic doctor and wrote the book, "Beating Lyme Disease". Deejavu got his book and did the home protocol and got better on it. I'm not advocating you go the natural route, I'm just sharing that there are options like this available and since you mentioned herbs I thought you'd like to know about this.

Like I said, if you want to get connected to websites that can hook you up with an LLMD/LLND, email me and I will give you the information you requested. In the mean time, please do not rely on a PCP or anyone other than a LLMD/LLND to accurately diagnose you. You will be led down the wrong path if you don't see someone who is trained in diagnosing and treating this disease. The fact that you even got a diagnosis from a non LLMD is pretty shocking and quite rare, but two weeks of doxy isn't going to cut it.

By the way, you asked what your chances are of recovering completely if it's a recent infection. If it's very recent, like within the past few months, your chances of a quick recovery is prety good with the right abx treatment from a LLMD. If you've had this disease for a few years, your chances of recovery is still good, it just might take a bit longer, or possibly a lot longer. Don't go there yet. Let's start at the beginning, first things first. Make an appt with a LLMD and then go from there.

I've had this disease for 15 years and am finally recovering from it. I wasn't diagnosed until about five years ago. I wasn't properly treated until last January. So, yes, you can get better, but you need to see the right doctor and get the right diagnosis for that to happen. Two weeks of doxy will not even scratch the surface. Don't put this off, see an LLMD asap and things should work out good for you.

We're here to help you along the way, so feel free to ask any questions you have and we'll do our best to answer your questions to the best of our abilities.

Gary