Lyme??

Hello –

I’m 37 year old female and have been in extreme pain for 1 ½ (left shoulder blade area (worst area) wrist and knees) I use to be very active worked out 3 to 7 times a week, ran marathons, yoga sculpt, climber. I always have been active since I was a little girl. I’m so darn tired past 1 ½ years. I could sleep until 3pm everyday and now I’m lucky if I work out 3 times a month. I have lost a solid 15lbs. I have significant osteoporosis in my spine and knees (yup 37 years old!) I get SEVERAL kidney stones but that somehow has become low on my idea of problems. I’m all over the place with my moods. My hemoglobin is usually 8 and at best 10 my ferritin 3 and it’s been this way since 2005… (when I was pregnant (3rd pregnancy) it was the first time being anemic was ever brought to my attention I ended up carrying her full term and lost her for reasons unknown) I have had several iron transfusions but they seem more like a bandaid as the results (10 to 12 hemoglobin) and last a month. I also managed to catch MRSA this past 2 months assuming because my immune system is down. I’m a mom and feel like an ***hole because I’m always “tired and not feeling well” and I hate thinking my girls will remember me this way. I’m so over being diagnosed with “depression” and being put on this and that for anti depressants of course I’m showing signs of depression…. I’m having chronic pain and feel exhausted for over a 1 ½ who wouldn’t be depressed?? I have been begged doctors to look at my parathyroid more as my dad has his removed but since calcium moves around waiting seems to be a better idea to the doctors. Thoughts Help!!! Also, been a vegetarian my entire life (no fish or chicken) and glucose free for 2 years I'm an identical twin and she is also a vegetarian and does NOT have these health problems.

Last test

Parathyroid - 74
Calcium – 9.4 (sometimes normal sometimes high sometimes slightly elevated so doctors want to wait, wait, wait)
PCT saturation- 4%
Erythrocytes 3.8
MCV – 80.8 fl
Hematocrit – 30.7
WBC – 31-40
Absolute Reticulocyte 33.8
Irion- 7
Tot.Iron Bind.Cap - 447
Ferritin – 3
Hemoglobin – 10.1
Interpretation (w/Morph Eval) - Peripheral blood smear reviewed; only non-specific red blood cell changes are seen.

IGG WESTERN BLOT No Bands
WESTERN BLOT INTERP IGG Negative, no bands present
IGM WESTERN BLOT 23 kDa
WESTERN BLOT INTERP IGG IgM Negative: antibodies to less than 2 of the 3 significant proteins detected

Hi Burke,
Welcome to our community!! I'm so glad you found us!

I would agree as well that it sounds like Lyme could be the culprit, especially when hearing your symptoms and seeing your labs. Can you tell us what lab those were done through? And if you have the test results, or can get them, would you mind posting the individual bands that you tested positive for? There are some band that are "Lyme specific" and no other bacteria will make them turn positive. Even just one of these bands - like band 23 that you posted (but didn't say if you were positive or negative) means that you have Lyme and should start treatment.

An LLMD would diagnose clinically though and hope that the tests backed up the diagnosis, rather than relying on them.

Be sure that your protein levels are quite high as you heal from these infections too. I don't know how you do that without animal protein, but I'm sure you do.

You can get started with detoxing as well. We have some great suggestions for detoxing in the "New to Lyme? Start here!" thread that Girlie mentioned - and it's a great place to start learning about a lot of things with these infections!

Starting a new thread or changing the title on this one and including where you are (area, not exact location) so we can help you find a LLMD is a good place to start. I have a list of contact information for many LLMD's around the US and would be happy to share some of that information with you if you would send me an email with the area and state where you wish to find a LLMD.

Here are a few other options:
You can email Stephanie at: [email protected] You can also go to: www.turnthecorner.org/ if you want to learn a little bit more about Lyme Disease.

You can also go to The Lyme Disease Association and search for LLMD's 3 times in a month. You have to register first. Here is the link: www.lymediseaseassociation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277&Itemid=74

​ You can also now email TBDA (Tick Borne Disease Alliance) at [email protected]​
​ and ask for LLMD referrals also.
​
You will want to find an ILADS (International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society) trained doctor, as ID Docs (Infectious Disease Doctors) believe Lyme is hard to catch and easy to treat, and don't believe in the reality of chronic Lyme. Go to the ILADS site to read the new (2014) Treatment guidelines to get you started on your Lyme journey.www.ilads.org/lyme/ILADS_Guidelines.pdf