New to the forum - a couple questions

Hi everyone. I've been reading post on the forum for the last couple months and finally decided to join. I was diagnosed in late August after months, if not years of being misdiagnosed. I know this is LONG, but I have a lot to say my first go-around

The post that I have read so far have been very helpful and the new to lyme section was great especially with detoxing.

I am at a point when I constantly question whether what I am going through is lyme. The hypochondriac in me gets the gears going with each pang and ache. I was having chest tightness in my sternum and upper left ribcage and random heart pain, not so much palps, although i do have those. My doc, who is an ID, says it's nothing based on 3 ekgs. I'm hoping this is enough???

I started with 2 months doxy which my stomach didn't agree with and took/still taking probiotics. The third month I did Amoxy with Plaquenil which seemed to help a bit maybe. I haven't been on anything in a week and start IM penicillin shots once a week for 6-8 weeks on Thursday. Has anyone had experience with these??? I have read some posts on it but I didn't find anything definitive.

I am in NE PA with access to mid to northern NJ where I'm originally from and still trying to find an LLMD. Tried the ILDAS website for lyme literate docs. 2 were booked for months and the other just was an IV protocol of vitamins and ozone, which I wasn't sure about and is not possible financially at this point anyway.

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Quick History of Symptoms: Bitten in '08 and treated for 10 days with abx. Physical symptoms subsided but I think the buggers stuck around. Had my first panic attack 4 mos. after initial bite. The past year and a half misdiagnosed with bipolar and been on downward spiral since.

I am 33 and tested positive in late Aug. with lyme but negative for cos. but we all know about the testing.

Major Symptoms: major fatigue (more or less been in bed since June), major depression which I have dealt with since I was 18 but I think definitely exacerbated by the lyme, memory loss, cognitive function, anxiety, panic, neuropathy in legs and arms, chest aches, joint issues, but only after I started treatment.

Besides the abx I take fish oil, milk thistle, burbur/chlorella, an essential oil protocol, lemon water all day it seems, Epsom salt baths, and a couple other things people have recommended on here.

I know this is a long post but just wanted to introduce myself and hopefully get some responses.

Hi Bat!
I'm so glad you choose to join our community! Welcome.

I was very, very lucky in that I never had any serious heart issues. These infections can still cause some very disconcerting heart issues though. I had heart palps, and short periods of fast or slow heart beats, along with chest tightness/soreness. Sometimes, those symptoms aren't dangerous. I'm really glad you have had your heart checked out already, but what were/are your heart symptoms?

For some more options for a LLMD in your area, you will need to enable your email option in your profile in order to receive any recommendations, as we don't allow doctor's names and contact info to be posted on the forum for several reasons. You can enable your email option in your profile, under 'edit profile'. Be sure to click the submit button to actually save your preference.

 ​You can send me an email by clicking on my screen name or the small blue envelope under my screen name. I may have contact information for some LLMD's in your area as well.​ ​Please include your state (or province) and area that you would like to find a LLMD in and I will see how close I can get to your location.​

You can start a new thread titled something like "Looking for LLMD in the (insert the nearest larger city & state) area". Members can email you about the LLMD's that they see in that area if you have your email enabled. We don't allow doctors names to be posted though.

 You can email the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance at
​[​​url]​[email protected]​ for LLMD referrals and you can go to ​tbdalliance.org​​ to learn more about these infections.

 You can 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​​

Hi Bat03!-

Welcome to the forum! Sorry for the reason you found us, but I hope you stay around. There are a lot of friendly and knowledgeable people here. I think that it is safe to say that a lot of us are "huge fans of Traveler. " :) Her wisdom and knowledge is greatly appreciated!

You are not alone on feeling like a "hypochondriac ". After I started treatment for Lyme, my body flooded with all new and different symptoms. It can get quite frightening at times.

As you posted above, even though you don't test positive for co-infections, this still doesn't mean you don't have them.

Girlie and Traveler gave you great information. I also think that you should try to find a LLMD.

Best Wishes!

Bat - I replied to your email - sorry I couldn't help you with the LLMD, but I'm sure someone on here will be along to help - if not tonight - then tomorrow.

I'm also a member of the Traveler fan club.

Little Bear - What treatment approach did you take?