posted
I believe I have been infected for a decade. I have no physical diagnosis, but have mental 'bipolar disorder' as of 2 years ago.
I'm a 24 year old female.
At 14 I went hiking with bf on a Saturday in NC. Following Monday my mom found tick between armpit & shoulder blade area, with bulls eye.
Never saw Dr about the rash. However, I recall several months later seeing Dr about a swollen lymph node on left pelvic area.
Also no treatment for that & it was assumed I had irritated the area by 'shaving'. Eventually went down on its own after weeks.
Noticed difference in periods that followed. Went to gyno, who brushed off my symptoms (didn't check for endometriosis) & treated with birth control pills for 2 years.
Aside from psychotically painful cramps I had
Migraines + light sensitivity
Nausea + vomiting
Diarrhea
Extreme lower back pain & burning in shoulders
Numbness Inability to walk for 1st sometimes 2nd day of cycle
Depression + anxiety (dropping a noodle on the floor could make me cry)
I could literally "feel" when my cycle was starting and prepare myself. School Nurse knew once a month I would be coming downstairs, before I'd even puke, she would call home.
After first round of vomiting, I would be on the bed unable to walk, and my parent would have to carry me out of the building.
My normal/daily/fluctuating symptoms have become more noticeable over the years. I had stopped lifting weights, and I am almost ready to quit yoga.
Occasional heartbeat irregularity (skips?)
Lightheaded / dizzy
Diarrhea (explosive frequent manageable with strict invariable diet)
Fatigue (no nap, workout routine or green diet has fixed)
Sweating & chills
Difficulty falling asleep + Waking almost hourly
Stiff neck and left knee (feels like a bubble in it, once it "pops," I am crying but able to move)
Freezing extremities
Lack of appetite
Sudden extreme weight loss (120 >> 108 in 8 days)
Difficultly concentrating on activities I consider myself good at
Forgetfulness (used to be master of remembering all dates, appointments, and times)
Legs bruise easily (maybe anemia when I'm not eating well?)
Some days it hurts to receive a hug.
The best I have felt was during my pregnancy in 2010, and for two years following that. I returned to work when my child was 4 months old, and was able to handle two jobs! One 5 AM - 1 PM and the other 3 PM - 11 PM, 5 days a week each. I even rode my bike between locations & I was in great shape. Eventually I got a job in a warehouse & quit the other two, but that's when my symptoms again. I blamed the
headaches on wearing headsets
back pain on wearing belt with heavy radio & equipment
knee pain on constantly moving, squatting, bending
Then emotional problems started and I went to look for a psychologist (how I got bipolar with episodes syncing to my period as well).
After only a year the warehouse job became too much and I quit. I spent more than I ever wanted to on a chiropractor with no answers as to what makes my shoulder feel like it's caught on fire.
Now I can't even handle part-time in a Wendy's without crying on register. The beeping and buzzing of everything behind me, the masses of people, the smells, everything is overwhelming. The colors and abbreviations on screens cross in my head and make it harder to punch in an order. I feel like I've become... stupid and nonfunctional.
Which also later raises the question, if I test positive for Lymes could my child? My child is diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum.
I have an appointment this Wednesday with my PCP, I'm taking him a shorted version of this post. I currently have VA Premier, no job, and am a full-time student (end of semester yay). I feel discouraged when I see posts about the right Drs won't take insurance. (How does one afford this?)
posted
Welcome to Lymenet! Sent some names for VA (only one used to take some insurance - call to check if that still is the case)
A bull's-eye rash is definitive for Lyme. Mothers can pass the disease congenitally to their children.
You need to be evaluated and treated by a Lyme-literate doctor (LLMD). Non LLMDs have no clue about this horrible disease or its complex treatment!
They are far and few between, unfortunately. You need to go where they are.
Also most LLMDs do not accept insurance due to the politics surrounding this horrible disease. Read poster TF's explanation, "Why Lyme Doctors Don't Take Insurance":
When calling for an appointment, ask if they have any cancellations or a waiting list. Patients have been able to get in sooner to see a LLMD by doing this.
Call the Lyme Disease United Coalition at (800) 311-7518. They are very knowledgeable and might be able to refer you somewhere.
Btw - please break up your posts into 2-3 sentence paragraphs, as there are people on Lymenet who cannot read large blocks of text due to neurological problems from Lyme. Thanks.
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