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Could this be Lyme...again??

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Posted 7/28/2013 10:32 PM (GMT 0)

Hello,

I'm a newbie to this forum, was diagnosed and treated for Lyme about 4 years ago, in its early stages.  I've been having some weird symptoms lately and I keep thinking UH OH....Lyme again.  The the doc who diagnosed me previously is certain my new problems are NOT related to Lyme.  I was hoping you might be able to give me your feedback because I am about to see a new LLMD, and am second guessing myself.

about 4 months ago, I had a weird rash under my bra strap, on my back.  I was itchy and small, not raised at all, but it was there and lasted probably 3 weeks.   Soon after that, I started experiencing awful neck pain.  The pain wrapped around my whole neck, to the point where I thought I had swollen glands as well.  At night, I would turn my head on my pillow, and was afraid to do so because of the pain....it was bad, and persisted during the day as well. 

This has lasted well over 2 months, and now, for the past 6 weeks, I have developed severe knee pain. Without prescription strength Naproxen taken round the clock, I have a difficult time walking.  This knee pain came on VERY suddenly.   Xrays revealed some arthritic changes in my knees,  as well as fluid,  but the doc said that my knees weren't THAT bad. 

I am a very healthy person, 43 years old.  I rarely, if ever get sick and I have a great immune system.  My doc feels that Lyme is more "systemic".  I am having a hard time sleeping, and continue to have neck pain although it has improved....it comes and goes, but I always have some degree of neck pain.

I am really freaking out at my lack of mobility.  It is scaring me and I don't know what to do.  If you were me would you see another  (LLMD) doc?  Could this be Lyme?  I don't have headaches, or fever, or extreme fatigue...I've gained some weight recently, and my doc told me I need to lose weight.  I am sure that that would help with my knees, but why did this knee pain start, literally, overnight?  Combined with the neck pain?  Also, my test came back negative, both the titer and the Western Blot.  Not sure exactly what that means...but they were negative nonetheless.  Any thoughts you have would be so appreciated!

Posted 7/28/2013 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jennie,
Welcome to our little community, although I'm so very sorry that you may have a need to be here.

Personally, I believe that you know what your body feels like when it is that ill with Lyme, so you know best. The symptoms all start somewhere, with only one or two symptoms frequently.

Bare minimum, I would highly recommend that you start doing all that you can to build up your immune system, and go to that other LLMD for a 2nd opinion - what can it hurt?

As for the tests coming back negative, that doesn't mean that you don't have Lyme or one of the other tick-borne infections. The tests are very faulty as they rely on the immune system response - and Lyme and other tick-borne infections can and do suppress the immune system so there can't be any response! Not only that, these tests are designed to only look for 4 or 5 of the possible 100 strains of Lyme in the US. There is currently no way of proving a person doesn't have Lyme.

Detoxing will be necessary as well, as the toxins from everyday living and from any viruses and infections that you may have will create toxins and can overload the liver, kidneys and other detoxing pathways.

This and more is covered in our "New to Lyme? Start here!" thread that sits at the top of our forum. Even though you are not "new" to Lyme, it would still be good for you to read through that information as it's stuff we all need to know when we have these infections.

And remember - it's always best to err on the side of caution!! Better safe than sorry with these infections especially!
Posted 7/29/2013 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
Jennie, If you are concerned about Lyme, you may want to try a therapeutic doze of antibiotics. If you begin to feel better, then you know you have a bacterial infection.

As traveler said, the symptoms that you described are on the list of symptoms that Lyme infected people suffer from so there is a possibility that it could be LD. Specially since they started soon after the rash under your strap.

It is also possible to be infected with another type of bacteria such as babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, bartonella, mycoplasma, STARI, or tularemia without being infected with the Lyme bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi). You may want to get tested for those as well.
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