Help with diagnosis!

Hi everyone,

I am new and was hoping to get a little help on what you all think as far as diagnosis. Doctors have not been very helpful so I am turning to you all!

First, I will admit I am a bit of a hypochondriac, and have a lot of health anxiety. I do have some symptoms that may indicate lyme, but admittedly could also be explained by other issues. I am 29, female, and have been generally healthy up until the last few months.

My doctor gave me the Western Blot for Lyme. Everything turned up "negative" or "absent" EXCEPT band 30 igG, which said "Present." I wasn't given any other information as far as +. My doctor, of course, says I absolutely do not have Lyme, but the internet as a whole seems to disagree!

I have been to Europe (maybe a total of 7 weeks worth from 2006-2011, but I did not go hiking there). However, I have not been to Europe in 6 years and I don't remember ever getting a rash or flu-like symptoms. I have been hiking often in Shenandoah National Park, and spent two years as a camp counselor in PA.

So what do you all think? Do I possibly have Lyme? Or am I being a hypochondriac again? Please help!

Post Edited (wanderingbreeze) : 10/25/2017 7:00:34 PM (GMT-6)

Hi wanderingbreeze -

Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry you're struggling but glad you found us. We'll help however we can.

We ask that everyone new to the forum and investigating possible Lyme disease read the "New to Lyme?" thread at the top of the page.

You are certainly in good company - nearly all of us were seen by multiple MDs who were not helpful and many of us found answers we needed here in this community and from other good resources.

Do you have a copy of your Western Blot? If not, please get it - just call and ask for it - you should be given a copy.

These serology tests are known to be very inaccurate for multiple reasons. Here is a recent discussion where I post a VERY LONG list of issues with the Lyme testing. Just FYI or if you can wrap your head around it, it's good to know this when talking w/ an MD about test results and their typically "definitive" claim that you couldn't possibly have Lyme. It happens all the time. Often, they're wrong. Even by the strictest CDC standards, Lyme is a clinical diagnosis.

Unfortunately, most MDs wouldn't know where to start to clinically diagnose Lyme, which is an educated analysis of your symptoms.

You covered your possible exposure, there are many other ways the infections can be transmitted that the CDC doesn't talk about much but they also contribute to the current epidemic.

So, the best approach is to evaluate your sx and other context - can you please share:

- what your symptoms are and
- if you've ever taken anything for them and
- if you've taken any antibiotics since you started feeling this way
- and if so, which ones they were?

Also, it would be good to fill out this symptom questionnaire that can help identify possible other coinfections besides Lyme that are often present and can confuse the diagnostic AND treatment process. The questionnaire can also be vital to getting a good start if you choose to see a Lyme specialist:
Jernigan's symptom list:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3673749&g=3673789#m3673789

Based on your symptoms, if they sound Lyme-like or coinfection-like, we can share resources to help you find a Lyme specialist near you.

-p

Well, to be honest, there are multiple possibilities.

You could have a minor concussion.

Those sx are common for Lyme & Co, certainly.

They are also common for yeast/fungal overgrowth.

And, you could also be responding to the vaccine in an unintended way, meaning, vaccine harm that is not related to the purpose of the vaccine - what was the vaccine for?

What treatments have you explored?
What tests have you done?
What treatments have you tried?

-p

YES - fungal infections can be internal as well. Yeast/fungal issues are not well understood by MDs - even dermatologists, particularly internal issues. So they are unaware how to recognize and diagnose it and understand even less about how to treat it.

Swollen nodes are very common with high viral loads AND with these tick infections and even yeast/fungal overload, and could also be from some other infection - the toxins your body is trying to eliminate get backed up and clog the node(s).

What I would do if I were you, especially with your concern over abx, is start with an antifungal. You might have some resistance from your MD that you need it but read through this post and learn about it and you might be able to manage a good, informative discussion w/ your MD.

Here is good info - it's a lot to read but kind of necessary in order to understand your sx and communicate the need to your MD - please let us know if you have any q's -
Y/FO post in the "New to Lyme?" thread:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=1606610&g=3644275#m3644275

If you can't get your MD to prescribe an antifungal, you will probably make more progress with a Naturopath Doctor or an ND.

If you make progress with your sx on the antifungal, you'll have your answer. If not, then it's a good idea to find a Lyme specialist to treat the tick infection(s). And we can also help you find someone.

For those of us who aren't dealing with acute infections (days or a few weeks after initial infection) there are several other treatment modalities besides antibiotics that many of us have found helpful. So don't let your worry over abx prevent you from seeking help. You have other options and we can help you understand them.

-p

Post Edited (Pirouette) : 10/27/2017 9:35:48 PM (GMT-6)