Recently Diagnosed with Lyme Disease

HI, welcome, and if you haven't yet, reading through the Lyme Disease first Topic Post "New To Lyme?.......Start here!" could help answer a lot of possible questions, or help you understand some concerns, and possibly direct you to some help and/or support.

Reading your symptoms and 'diagnosis' of hypothyroid, was also my experience. I was also labeled as 'premenopausal,' 'menopausal,' 'depressed,' sleep apnea,' 'fibro,' and others. I started to understand the importance of diet, food choices, toxins in the food supplies, etc. All of this research had me looking at natural and holistic treatments, and I actually started working at local health food store. I learned a lot, but due to rapidly decreasing energy, mental ability/memory, physical stamina, and many other symptoms, I had to quit after only two months. I was continually researching and going deaper into cause and effect, symptoms, etc and keep coming back to Lyme disease. I finally started to read and dig deeper into this issue, realizing I have this with other co-infections. I was able to get a test in 1/2014 via Labcorp that was negative, but a test via IGeneX that is positive in 11/2013.

I'm being treated by a LLND the past 4 months, seeing him three times. I am only taking herbals and natural supplements. Things are going well, and after feeling much pain and little relief for many years, I'm finally having more hope and relief from the pain and many symptoms. Diet and stress relief is very important. At least in my experience.

There is hope. I believe I've had LD since 2001. I don't remember a tick, or rash, but I did have what I thought was a very severe flu for about a week or two, and I was very ill for at least a month sometime around the time I would have been bit. I have had severe symptoms for at least 10 years. I'm doing better now than I have in all that time. I'm moving forward more often than before.

Find your path, as every person's LD is very unique to that person, and your healing path will be very individual to you, as well. Don't give up. Keep going, and you will get better.

We're here to help and answer any questions you might have.

I never got a tick bite at all, never mind "not remembering it", my Lyme disease came from an infected friends tear and I ended up catching it from her that way. I knew it was Lyme disease because the symptoms were so intense and bizarre it only made sense that I got Lyme disease in the middle of winter from someone else who was officially diagnosed with it. So I went to 8 Doctors and told them straight up these are my symptoms, this is what I have (Lyme disease) can you please give me antibiotics before this disease goes chronic? They all refused to believe I had Lyme disease no matter how much I tried to convince them. Finally I went to a lyme literate doctor on a vacation to get myself the medication and I saw another lyme literate doctor just in case. Sure enough I was right I have Lyme disease, came from some woman's tear. Story of my life.

Lyme symptoms can lay dormant for years after being infected. I was fortunate to know when I got bit, and had the EM rash, and took 30 days of doxy within a week. Never had noticeable symptoms until 2 years later. Then wasted another two years with my PCP sending me first to a neuro, then to a rheumy, then saying its all in my head and I was depressed. I kept doing my own research and kept suggesting Lyme, but he said that was impossible because I was treated and cured.

I've since fired my PCP, and on my second LLMD making good progress after 4 years in treatment. Even with LLMDs you need to be your own advocate and guide your own treatment plans. read everything you can get your hands on and be open to alternative treatment if ABX does not work for you.

You have been sick for awhile, and you will get worse after starting treatment before you begin to get better. Given your age will be impatient with slow progress, but stay with it and never give up. Some say treatment will take longer than the time you have been infected.

Good luck with your choice in LLMDs.

Jess,

Welcome & glad you found this support group, it has help me A LOT to understand Lyme! I Have had numerous symptoms for "many" years and chalked it up to age such as: frozen shoulder with deep tissue therapy, massive eye issues-headaches, floaters, flashes of lights, red eyes, sensitivity to light, feeling like your eyes will pop out of your head, limb numbness, burning-tingling feet (said it was planter fasciitis), knee surgery (bakers cyst & torn maniskas) also said I had lots of arthritis, enlarged thyroid, muscle weakness, low sex drive, there's more but I won't bore you with any more. In December 2013 I started getting what looked like a hive. I would only get one. It would go away and I'd get another about every three-four days. I started having limb numbness & severe neck pain too. It was really hard to move my neck (on the back left side). I also had tender to touch lymph nodes under my jaw & several small hard masses in my upper abdomin (that moved with touch) I knew then that something was wrong. I never had a rash that I remember. After seeing five dr from December to February I found a great LLMD. I've had the initial appointment where he clinically diagnosed me with Lyme & Bartonellia. I've completed extensive testing and I have not been back for the actual diagnosis but I've seen some of the test results and it's confirmed I do have Lyme, many vitamin deficiencies along with alot of yeast/fungus in my gut. I will find out my complete diagnosis this coming Thursday. I have a great family support system & I'm positive I will not let these little Lymies & their buddies get me down!

Best of luck to you & I wish you a speed recovery.