Lyme Disease Symptoms List 1. Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing 2. Unexplained weight change--loss or gain 3. Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina 4. Unexplained hair loss 5. Swollen glands: list areas____ 6. Sore throat 7. Testicular pain/pelvic pain 8. Unexplained menstrual irregularity 9. Unexplained milk production: breast pain 10.Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction 11.Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido 12.Upset stomach 13.Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea 14.Chest pain or rib soreness 15.Shortness of breath, cough 16.Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block 17.Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse? 18.Joint pain or swelling: list joints_____________ 19.Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back 20.Muscle pain or cramps 21.Twitching of the face or other muscles 22.Headache 23.Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain 24.Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains 25.Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy) 26.Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity 27.Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity 28.lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance 29.Lightheadedness, wooziness 30.Tremor 31.Confusion, difficulty in thinking 32.Diffculty with concentration, reading 33.Forgetfuiness, poor short term memory 34.Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places 35.Difficulty with speech or writing 36.Mood swings, irritability, depression 37.Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening 38.Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96238 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Speculation maybe, but the symptom list helped me
Figure out what was wrong with me.
Something my doctor's couldn't do.
So I can say that with treatment I am able to do my job again,
Speak again, walk again and remember things....
Just like before I was sick.
Thanks Lymetoo for posting the symptoms.
I'd rather skip the biopsy.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
are you talking about a pcr? that is one of the hardest tests to get positive. yes if it is positive you have it---but if its negative it in no way means you don't have it. it just means they took the sample from the wrong place. ketes move around. its hard to find them. if you herx from tx it is another way to show you have it
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
losferwrds,
Even if you DID get a biopsy confirming lyme, treatemnt would still be the same, speculation on what *may* work.....
So whats your point?
Thanks for posting the symptom list again TuTu, tis the season! Be careful and use precaution.
Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
more symptom lists ....
CHILDREN'S LYME SYMPTOMS compiled by Geneal 6-07 From ``GENEAL'' June 2007
I have been doing some research regarding Lyme and signs/symptoms in small children.
I know many of you have small children that you may be concerned about. I believe my youngest child (4yrs old) may have gotten this disease from me.
For All Children
-dizziness -neck pain and stiffness in almost 90% -sore throats -swollen lymph nodes -excessive thirst, -Chest pains in at least 70%, some have palpatations -Sense of air hunger or shortness of breath, dry cough
-abdominal pain in about 50%, can mimic acute appendicitis -sometimes vomiting, heartburn -rashes that come and go, malar rashes, new psoriasis
-migratory arthralgias, joing pain in 50% to 100% -myalgias in over 80%, back ache, morning stiffness, pain at rest, muscle weakness
-frequent illnesses, dark circles under their eyes -intermittent red, hot pinnae of ears -sleep disturbance in over 80%
-Neurological symptoms are protean and can appear AT ANY TIME during the course of infection *hypersensitivity of skin, scalp and hair *Hypersensitivity to noise, light, smell *Alterations of taste *poor balance and coordination *Uncharacteristic behavior outbursts, mood disturbances, depression *social withdrawal *New onset phobias *Oppositional behaviors *Obsessive compulsive disorders *Deterioration in school performance in over 90% *Difficulty with concentration and attention in school with easily distractability as well as "brain fog" in over 80% *New onset of ADD
*When measured with formal neuropsychiatric testing, children demonstrate defects in auditory and visual sequential processing
Less Commonly:
*Movement disorders-spaticity, ataxia, motor or vocal tics *Cranial neuropathies, e.g. Bell's Palsy or optic nerve neuritis *Peripheral neuropathies-numbness and tingling, distal parathesias, subtle weakness
Pre-Schoolers and toddlers
- Mood swings, sudden emotional outbursts - Irritability - Personality changes - Regression of motor and social skills (developmental milestones) - Changes in play behavior, tire easily, less active
- Trouble falling asleep, frequent awakenings - Nightmares, new phobias, recurrence of separation anxiety - Diaper rash unresponsive to normal treatment - Frequent URI's, ear and throat infections, bronchitis, pneumonia
Congenital Lyme Disease
* Infants can be infected with Borrelia transplacentally in any stage of pregnancy and/or via mother's breast milk.
* The co-infections: Babesia, Bartonella, Mycoplasma and perhaps even the Ehrilichias can be transmitted transplacentally to the developing fetus.
* Gestational Borreliosis can be associated with repeated miscarriages, fetal death in utero, still births, hydrocephalus, cardiovascular anomalies,
intrauterine growth retardation, neonatal respiratory distress, and maternal toxemia of pregnancy.
* Infants either infected congenitally or from breast milk can have
- Floppiness with poor muscle tone - Irritability - Frequent fevers and illness early in life - Joint sensitivities and body pain - Skin sensitivity - Gastro esophageal reflux - Developmental delays -Learning disabilities and psychiatric problems
* Infants bitten very early in life will have many of the same symptoms - loss and decline in developmental milestones.
I found this to be a pretty inclusive list of signs/symptoms for small children, infants, and those suspected of congenital Lyme.
Sadly, my two children do exhibit many of these symptoms and both have positive bands for Lyme via Igenex diagnostic lab in PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA. Geneal, 2007
Also, see Cheryl''s LYME INFO extensive web sites on: LD DIAGNOSIS, SYMPTOMS, & TREATMENT ... wonderful! Read the area on CO-INFECTIONS! You could have from 1-10 other illnesses that tick is carrying...lyme, malaria, etc.
If you are showing symptoms of co-infections, I would like to suggest being tested for co-infections when you have LYME western blots done. It isn't cheap!! But if you are positive, you can treat the co-infections first, and then work on LYME symptoms.
Pronunciation of common co-infections from lymetoo/tutu 12-13-07
Ba BEE' see oh sis (Babesiosis) or commonly known as Ba BEE' sza (Babesia) bart un EL a (Bartonella) er LICK' ee oh sis (ehrlichiosis
___Joint pain and stiffness (often both Left and Right sides as opposed to Lyme which is often on one side only with pain and stiffness that changes locations)
___Muscle pains especially the calves; may be twitching and cramping also
___Foot pain, more in the morning involving the heels or soles of the feet (sometimes misdiagnosed as plantar fasciitis)
___Nerve irritation symptoms which can be described as burning, vibrating, numb, shooting, etc.
___Tremors and/or muscle twitching
___Heart palpitations and strange chest pains
___Episodes of breathlessness
___Strange rashes recurring on the body often, red stretch marks, and peculiar tender lumps and nodules along the sides of the legs or arms, spider veins
___Gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal pain and acid reflux
___Shin bone pain and tenderness
Bartonella is a bacterium that causes illness, the most commonly known of which is a disease called "Cat Scratch Fever."
Thousands of known cases of Bartonella occur in the U.S. each Year, with the vast majority of known cases due to bites from fleas that infest cats or infected dogs (may also occur directly from bites and scratches from infected dogs or cats).
Bartonella can also be transmitted by ticks that transmit Lyme Disease.
In fact, in a study published recently, deer ticks from New Jersey had a higher prevalence of Bartonella organisms than of Lyme organisms.
It is unclear whether the organism that we see transmitted along with Lyme disease is actually a Bartonella species (such as B. henselae or B. quintana) or is "Bartonella-Like Organism" (BLO) that is yet to be fully identified.
While BLO has features similar to organisms in the Bartonella family, it also has features slimiar to the Mycoplasma and the Francisella (causes tularemia) families.
editing; added part i overlooked to add! ------------------------------------------------------
Babesiosis
As with other co-infections, there is a lot of overlap of symptoms between Lyme disease and Babesiosis. An accumulation of the following signs and symptoms probably warrant testing and/or treatment of Babesiosis:
___Chills
___Fatigue and often excessive sleepiness
___High fever at onset of illness
___Night sweats that are often drenching and profuse
___Severe muscle pains, especially the large muscles of the legs (quads, buttocks, etc.)
___Neurological symptoms often described as "dizzy, tipsy, and spaciness," similar to a sensation of "floating" or "walking off the top of a mountain onto a cloud"
___Depression
___Episodes of breathlessness, "air hunger", and/or cough
___Decreased appetite and/or nausea
___Spleen and/or liver enlargement
___Abnormal labs (low white blood count, low platelet counts, mild elevation of liver enzymes, and elevated sed rate)
___Headaches (migraine-like, persistent, and especially involving the back of the head and upper neck areas)
___Joint pain (more common with Lyme and Bartonella)
___anxiety/panic (more common with Bartonella)
___Lymph gland swelling (more common with Bartonella and Lyme)
kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Good to have and know. If I were up to it I would post it under Lyme and Company Resources on Lyme Friends.
Please feel free to post these lists over there if you are able.
Hoping to be doing better later so I can check these out.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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nenet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13174
posted
quote:Originally posted by losferwrds: Also the symptom of life after/during puberty, what's your point?
You can list symptoms till your blue in the face, until you can get a lyme BIOPSY, you are treating symptoms and speculation based on antibodies.
Here is an informative collection of studies supporting dozens of Lyme symptoms. You will need to look at the actual studies to determine whether each individual study worked with DNA-proven or antibody-positive Lyme only:
A false positive Lyme WB is exceedingly rare, and when it does occur, even IDSA researchers have written in peer-reviewed articles that it is easy enough to differentially diagnose those cases.
If one has a positive Lyme Western Blot, AND has symptoms that coincide with Lyme (and especially if the patient in question has had other possible, more easily diagnosed causes ruled out), the clinical diagnosis and treatment of Lyme is sound, and has a very strong scientific basis.
I don't understand the negativity directed at a list of symptoms that can occur with Lyme. This list is just the tip of the iceberg of what symptoms are possible with Lyme Disease. It is just a tool to help those that are looking for all possible causes for their health problems.
posted
Lymetoo, Is it OK for me to include the Bart/Babs Symptom Questionnaire here to your thread? I noticed Betty has a portion of it in her newbie package shown above.
Give me a holler, TuTu, if tacking this on to your thread is not ok.
An LLMD gave me this list of Bartonella/Babesia symptoms back in 2007.
___Joint pain and stiffness (often both Left and Right sides as opposed to Lyme which is often on one side only with pain and stiffness that changes locations)
___Muscle pains especially the calves; may be twitching and cramping also
___Foot pain, more in the morning involving the heels or soles of the feet (sometimes misdiagnosed as plantar fasciitis)
___Nerve irritation symptoms which can be described as burning, vibrating, numb, shooting, etc.
___Tremors and/or muscle twitching
___Heart palpitations and strange chest pains
___Episodes of breathlessness
___Strange rashes recurring on the body often, red stretch marks, and peculiar tender lumps and nodules along the sides of the legs or arms, spider veins
___Gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal pain and acid reflux
___Shin bone pain and tenderness
Bartonella is a bacterium that causes illness, the most commonly known of which is a disease called "Cat Scratch Fever." Thousands of known cases of Bartonella occur in the U.S. each Year, with the vast majority of known cases due to bites from fleas that infest cats or infected dogs (may also occur directly from bites and scratches from infected dogs or cats). Bartonella can also be transmitted by ticks that transmit Lyme Disease. In fact, in a study published recently, deer ticks from New Jersey had a higher prevalence of Bartonella organisms than of Lyme organisms.
It is unclear whether the organism that we see transmitted along with Lyme disease is actually a Bartonella species (such as B. henselae or B. quintana) or is "Bartonella-Like Organism" (BLO) that is yet to be fully identified. While BLO has features similar to organisms in the Bartonella family, it also has features slimiar to the Mycoplasma and the Francisella (causes tularemia) families.
_________________
Babesiosis
As with other co-infections, there is a lot of overlap of symptoms between Lyme disease and Babesiosis. An accumulation of the following signs and symptoms probably warrant testing and/or treatment of Babesiosis:
___Chills
___Fatigue and often excessive sleepiness
___High fever at onset of illness
___Night sweats that are often drenching and profuse
___Severe muscle pains, especially the large muscles of the legs (quads, buttocks, etc.)
___Neurological symptoms often described as "dizzy, tipsy, and spaciness," similar to a sensation of "floating" or "walking off the top of a mountain onto a cloud"
___Depression
___Episodes of breathlessness, "air hunger", and/or cough
___Decreased appetite and/or nausea
___Spleen and/or liver enlargement
___Abnormal labs (low white blood count, low platelet counts, mild elevation of liver enzymes, and elevated sed rate)
___Headaches (migraine-like, persistent, and especially involving the back of the head and upper neck areas)
___Joint pain (more common with Lyme and Bartonella)
___anxiety/panic (more common with Bartonella)
___Lymph gland swelling (more common with Bartonella and Lyme)
Posts: 503 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96238 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
losferwords,
also if you want to see this stickied as a feature at the top of this forum, click on lymetoo's 1ST POST at top.
then go to lower RIGHT HAND CORNER where it shows her no. of posts, what state she is from, and EXTREME RIGHT SIDE,
click report post; then ask lou b to FEATURE this at top of medical? good idea; i copied my info 4-5 times last night; alot of time taken on my part. hugs.
kreynolds
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15117
posted
Wow great coinfection symptom list! Thanks for posting it!
I "Love" this part:
"In fact, in a study published recently, deer ticks from New Jersey had a higher prevalence of Bartonella organisms than of Lyme organisms".
That may explain why I have both strands of Bart!
Thanks again for posting it!
-------------------- Diagnosed CDC + 6/2007
Quest: + IGG Bands 18,23,39,41,58,66 and 93.
Quest: + IGM Bands 23,39
Quest: + Bartonella (B.Henselea & B. Quintana),+ Babesia, and + Mycoplasma and Lyme-Induced Addisons Disease
+ Biofilm blood test 12/2010 Posts: 1185 | From New York | Registered: Apr 2008
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nenet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13174
posted
Is it alright if I post a partial symptoms list I compiled from a few different sources for my "May is Lyme Awareness Month" email to friends and family?
It also contains a small list of possible misdiagnoses that can actually be Lyme Disease, or caused by Lyme, and a link to supporting studies for Lyme symptoms. (Please let me know if it doesn't belong here, and I will make a new thread for it.)
Lyme is the most common and fastest-growing vector-borne infection in the United States. Lyme is in every state of the US, even Hawaii (as well as in many other countries). You can catch Lyme, and other infections (viral, bacterial, and protozoal), from several species of ticks, not just the most publicized Deer tick.
You can contract Lyme as soon as the tick is attached, not just after the commonly publicized 24 hours. Nymphal (and adult) Deer ticks are a common transmitter of Lyme Disease, as they are so small they are very difficult to detect and remove before attachment; they are the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Adult Deer Ticks are not much larger, and can appear to be a speck of dirt or a dark freckle.
Some co-infections like RMSF can be contracted from simply touching the tick or its fluids or excrement. Always handle ticks with a "tick removal kit" (like this one: http://www.lyme.org/tickkit/tickremovalkit.html ), which can be purchased in many drugstores or found online, OR with good tweezers and a steady hand, making sure to remove the head without smashing the tick.
If at all possible, save the tick in an airtight container, and send it to be analyzed by a Tick-Borne-Disease specializing lab.
Below is a sample of the many possible symptoms of Lyme disease. The first symptoms can start immediately after a tick bite, or they can first appear weeks, months, and in some cases, even years later.
Symptoms generally relapse and remit, meaning that they can come and go. One hour, day, week, or month, you can be feeling sick, then the next you're feeling better for a while, and so on.
You can have one symptom or a spectrum of symptoms - some may not manifest until the infection spreads to particular tissues, particularly the CNS, but it is interesting to see how it can mimic other ailments (dissemination to CNS can occur in as little as 12-48 hours, as observed in some animal studies).
Lyme Disease Symptoms (Partial List - there are many other possible symptoms)
1. Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing 2. Flu-like symptoms or malaise 3. Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina 4. Unexplained hair loss 5. Swollen or painful glands/lymph nodes 6. Sore throat 7. Headache 8. Rash - either bulls-eye or other forms. Can vary in form, color, and number, and appear in areas other than tick bite. Less than 50% of confirmed Lyme cases report remembering a rash. A bulls-eye rash from a tick bite is DIAGNOSTIC for Lyme Disease. 9. Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction; Interstitial Cystitis 10. Upset stomach, GERD, or acid reflux 11. Change in bowel function - constipation, diarrhea 12. "Sick all the time" - seem to catch every illness that comes around, or old infections seem to resurface (e.g. Eppstein Barr) 13. Disturbed sleep - too much, too little, early awakening 14. Cranial nerve disturbance (facial numbness, pain, tingling, palsy or optic neuritis, Bell's Palsy) 15. Lightheadedness, wooziness, syncope (fainting or near-fainting) 16. Increased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance, or change in gait 17. Pain, stiffness, and/or swelling of the joints, neck, or back, traveling or localized 18. Tendon and ligament pain or stiffness 19. Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain 20. Muscle pain or cramps, traveling or localized 21. Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity, loss of hearing 22. Jaw pain or stiffness 23. Twitching or tics of the face or other muscles 24. Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains; areas of skin sore to the slightest touch; sensations of hot or cold 25. Muscle spasms; limb or head jerks 26. Difficulty swallowing, tight throat 27. Tremor 28. Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity, pain, uveitis 29. Heart palpitations, chest pain, pulse skips, heart block, heart murmur, or valve prolapse 30. Shortness of breath, air hunger, cough, painful lungs 31. Chest pain or rib soreness, costochondritis 32. Mood swings, irritability, depression, bipolar disorder 33. Unexplained menstrual irregularity or increased PMS symptoms 34. Unexplained milk production, breast pain 35. Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido 36. Testicular pain/pelvic pain 37. Unexplained weight change - loss or gain 38. Confusion, difficulty in thinking 39. Difficulty with concentration, reading 40. Forgetfulness, poor short term memory 41. Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places 42. Difficulty with speech or writing, difficulty with word-finding 43. Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol 44. New food sensitivities or allergies 45. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) 46. Neurally-Mediated Hypotension (NMH)
Symptoms that can be found in disseminated Lyme Disease (called Disseminated late-stage Lyme Disease, or Neuroborreliosis) can generally appear anywhere from several days after infection, to many years later:
47. Seizures 48. Autism, ADHD, OCD 49. MS-like Lesions in brain and/or spinal cord on MRI 50. Paralysis 51. Dementia 52. Psychosis 53. Auditory and visual hallucinations
Lyme symptoms are systemic, or multi-systemic. Lyme can sometimes be the cause of, or cause sets of symptoms that can be misdiagnosed as:
Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
quote:Originally posted by Meg: Another question, just what is a Clinical Diagnosis...
A clinical diagnosis is based on the patient's symptoms and history, rather than on test results.
Carol
Posts: 6949 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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nenet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13174
posted
Here is another great symptoms list from Lymepa.org that I found in 2007, which includes 150 possible symptoms in a checklist form - the list of symptoms begins on page 19 of the pdf:
``Lyme Disease and associated tick-borne diseases: The Basics'' 5th Edition 2007 by Douglas W. Fearn
"contains essential information about Lyme and other tick-borne diseases needed by anyone beginning to learn about these infectious illnesses.
It is written in a nontechnical question-and-answer format and was reviewed for accuracy by knowledgeable members of LDASEPA and by several prominent Lyme-literate physicians. "
The link you now have above is an older version that is missing the latest info. Thanks, M
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
mel,
thanks for the correction of your NEW post !! corrected the above and my MASTER list of links!! good deal...
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posted
yes, carol is an outstanding student/educator!!
tutu, i sent a request to lou b to make this a STICKY FEATURE AT TOP; since it shows ALL symptoms lists of lyme & CO-INFECTIONS! hoping he will....
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96238 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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lymeHerx001
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6215
posted
I have maybee 35 symptoms. Is that bad>?
Im going to my doctor and going to ask him about the purple pill and tell him also Im depressed.
Posts: 2905 | From New England | Registered: Sep 2004
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
+Tried to find a list on erichelia (sp?) but couldn't. Is it here??
Clicked on mel's url went to the site and then click on the url again and came back to this site.
must be my lyme brain this am.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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Lymetoo...I have a doctors appointment on Monday. I hope there will be answers for me there. Thankfully I found by accident that antibiotics made me feel a little better or at least didn't let me slide down that tube. It felt like slow death!! I have had to demand the abx. I have searched & searched for ways NOT to die!! My doctor finally said maybe we should test for tick disease. They did a blood test & it shows that I have been exposed to ehrlichia..THEN I went to an infectious disease doctor..Enough said there!! Thank goodness for the internet - it let me know what he said WASN'T right! Just pretty much told me I was nuts...
I've been struggling on filling out the paperwork to take with me to the doctor. It's hard to harness my mind right now since I've been of the abx for over a week & 1/2 so they can run tests at the doctor.
Posts: 75 | From Missouri | Registered: Apr 2009
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
kam,
erlichia was NOT directly shown above, but using 1 of co-infection links, i found this and will post for you/ALL:)
Ehrlichia (Ehrlichiosis) Bites from infected ticks
posted
Thank you bettyg
Posts: 75 | From Missouri | Registered: Apr 2009
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Thanks Betty.
I also thought of mycoplasma and something else that is not right in front of me.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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Ocular Migraine Small Vessel Stroke Myasthenia Gravis
One of my son's biggest symptoms was crossed eyes (diplopia) which is rare for Lyme. But it's a common early marker for MG. They wanted to diagnosis him with Myasthenia Gravis and he was about to have a very caustic test done for it when the Lyme test came back positive.
If I had been able to locate material pointing to diplopia as a real Lyme symptom early on then I would have felt more comfortable pushing the issue.
In my searches on the web it was difficult to find the connection so I want to be sure it's included here...
Posts: 43 | From Southeastern US | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
Lyme Disease Symptoms List 1. Unexplained, sweats, chills, or flushing 2. Unexplained weight change--loss or gain 3. Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina 4. Unexplained hair loss 5. 6. 7. pelvic pain ( hx of ) 8. 9. unexplained breast pain ( off and on ) 10. 11.Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido 12.Upset stomach 13.Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea 14 rib soreness
15.Shortness of breath, ( thought this was due to smoking ) I have quit btw
16. 17.Any history of a heart murmur 18.Joint pain or swelling: list joints__ankles, wrists, hands, knees, shoulders ___________ 19.Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back 20.Muscle pain or cramps 21. 22.Headache 23.Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain 24.Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains 25. 26.Eyes/Vision: increased floaters, light sensitivity
27.Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain,
28.lncreased motion sickness,
29.Lightheadedness, wooziness
30. 31.Confusion, difficulty in thinking
32.Diffculty with concentration, reading
33.Forgetfuiness, poor short term memory 34. 35.Difficulty with speech or writing
36.Mood swings, irritability, depression
37.Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening
38.
These are the symptoms I suffer from either all the time or just sometimes. it sure looks like alot on this list doesn't it!!!
Posts: 25 | From Tennessee | Registered: Aug 2009
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
Sorting Out The Co-Infections *******************************
AliG Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts) Member # 9734 posted 04-10-2009 11:42 AM
I came across this while looking for something else and thought some might find it helpful. I'm breaking it up for easier Neuro-Lymed reading.
Sorting Out The Co-Infections - from page 25 of DrB's guidelines
CLASSIC LYME (Bb infection)-
� Gradual onset of initial (viral-like) symptoms- this often makes it difficult to pinpoint when the infection began.
� Multisystem- almost always, in disseminated stages, involves more than one part or system (i.e. joint pain plus cognitive dysfunction).
� Migratory- first a knee will hurt, then over time this may lessen and the elbow or shoulder acts up, and later the joints calm down but headaches worsen.
� Stiff joints and loud joint crepitus, especially the neck (``Lyme shrug'').
� Headaches are often nuchal and associated with stiff, painful and crepitant neck.
� Afternoon fevers, often unnoticed- most Lyme patients have subnormal temperatures in the AM but rise to 99+ by early to mid-afternoon. No obvious sweats.
� Tiredness and limited stamina- often is a strong need to rest or even nap in the afternoon, especially when the flushed face and elevated temperature appears.
� 4-week cycles- Bb activity, and thus symptoms, wax and wane in a cycle that repeats roughly every four weeks. This cycle, if clear, can guide your treatments.
� Slow response to treatment, with an initial symptom flare in most (``Herxheimer-like reaction'') then improvement over weeks, punctuated by the monthly symptom flares.
Likewise, if treatment is ended too soon, an initial period of well-being will gradually, over a few weeks, be replaced by a return of symptoms.
� EM rash in 25% to 50%
BARTONELLA & ''BARTONELLA-LIKE ORGANISMS''-
� Gradual onset of initial illness.
� CNS symptoms are out of proportion to the musculoskeletal ones- if a patient has no or minimal joint complaints but is severely encephalopathic (see below), then think of Bartonella/BLO.
� Obvious signs of CNS irritability can include muscle twitches, tremors, insomnia, seizures, agitation, anxiety, severe mood swings, outbursts and antisocial behavior.
� GI involvement may present as gastritis or abdominal pain (mesenteric adenitis).
� Sore soles, especially in the morning.
� Tender sub-cutaneous nodules along the extremities, especially outer thigh, shins, and occasionally along the triceps.
� Occasional lymphadenopathy.
� Morning fevers, usually around 99. Occasionally light sweats are noted.
� Elevated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) occurs in a minority, but the degree of elevation correlates with activity of the infection and may be used to monitor treatment.
� Rapid response to treatment changes- often symptoms improve within days after antibiotics are begun, but relapses occur also within days if medication is withdrawn early.
� May have papular or linear red rashes (like stretch marks that do not always follow skin planes), especially in those with GI involvement.
BABESIA SPECIES-
� Rapid onset of initial illness, often with sudden onset of high fever, severe headaches, sweats and fatigue, thus it is easy to know when infection began.
� Obvious sweats, usually at night, but can be day sweats as well.
� Air hunger, need to sigh and take a deep breath; dry cough without apparent reason.
� Headaches can be severe - dull, global (involves the whole head, described like the head is in a vise).
� Fatigue is prominent, does not clear with rest, and is made worse with exercise.
� Mental dullness and slowing of reactions and responses.
� Dizziness- more like a tippy feeling, and not vertigo or purely orthostasis.
� Symptoms cycle rapidly, with flares every four to six days.
� Hypercoaguable states are often associated with Babesia infections.
� Rarely, splenomegaly
� Very severe Lyme Disease can be a clue to Babesia infection, as it will make Lyme symptoms worse and Lyme treatments less effective.
EHRLICHIA/ANAPLASMA-
� Rapid onset of initial illness with fever, headache, prostration.
� Headaches are sharp, knife-like, and often behind the eyes.
� Muscle pain, not joint pain, and can be mild or severe.
� Low WBC count, elevated liver enzymes, and (rarely) inclusions seen in the WBCs.
� Rarely see diffuse vasculitic rash, including palms and soles (less than 10%).
� Rapid response to treatment.
DNA VIRUSES (HHV-6, EBV, CMV)
� Persistent fatigue, made worse with exercise.
� Sore throat, lymphadenopathy, and other viral-like complaints.
� May see elevated liver enzymes and low WBC counts.
posted
Thanks for that list bettyg, nenet & everyone. I thought maybe I was starting menopause early with the night sweats but now I'm not so sure. I do not know yet if I have lyme but if I do get diagnosed, I am fearful for my kids. They do not show any signs or symptoms, thank God, but they are outside way more than I am. If they do show any signs I am getting them to a doc STAT(as soon as I FIND a doc! lol). I live in Illinois but I have seen a doctor in Missouri mentioned and I am more than willing to take a trip in order to feel better. I would walk there barefoot with a backback full of rocks to make sure my kids don't get this. Thank you everyone for your help & info. I am so glad to have found this forum. It's terrible that this info is not easily available to the public and docs are not more informed but I think this website and others are helping to change that. OK I am back to reading!
Posts: 50 | From Midwest | Registered: Nov 2009
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
I was treating for menopause even though I had been through it. Had hot flashes, migraine like headaches, fatigue, depression, shin pain, lack of motivation and feeling completely detached from self and life. . . this was bartonella. For those of you looking for bart symptoms, check your skin for pea size brown spots, white spots, pin head size blood blisters, nodules under the skin that hurt when pressed, lumps along the shin bone, swelling in feet and legs that does not dent when pressed, spider veins, broken blood vessels, unusual patterns on skin like stacked clams, unusual scratch type rashes, what appears to be stretch marks (often red or purple) and other unusual skin abnormalities. Bartonella causes depression, agitation, anxiety, rage and can even lead to mental illness in some people.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
When DNA viral infections, such as EBV, are listed as co-infections...does this mean that these diseases often accompany lyme disease because one's immune system is so run down these infections will occur? I understand the link between the other bacterial infections that would be also transmitted when infected...are DNA viruses also transmitted? Does anyone know if chronic ebv infection is a sign of lyme disease?
-------------------- College Student Suspected tick bite: 07/2007 Diagnosed and started treatment: 01/10 Posts: 33 | From Ohio | Registered: Nov 2009
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posted
Thanks for the info listed above. I have been diag with Lyme/Bartonella and Babesia. I got an appointment with my LLMD next friday but I am concerned and confused as well about what exactly the EHRLICHIA/ANAPLASMA- and DNA virus are. Should I mention them to my Doctor? He tries to keep costs down for me as I have no insurance. Honestly, I've been so discouraged and depressed in the past...im not really sure if I even want to know if I have them as well. Thanks for th help.
Posts: 423 | From Virginia | Registered: Nov 2009
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Babesiosis can cause many different signs and symptoms. Here are the most common that should raise suspicion:
High fever to persistent low fever Slowed thinking Listlessness Decreased appetite Chills Sweats Headache Fatigue Muscle aches Joint aches/Pain Depression Anxiety/Panic Nausea Vomiting Cough Shortness of breath Air hunger or unsatisfying deep breaths Dark urine Enlarged liver (under your right rib cage) Enlarged spleen (under your left rib cage) Yellow hue on eyes, hands and skin (Jaundice) Enlarged lymph nodes (also in Lyme or Bartonella) Significant memory change Profound psychiatric illnesses Struggle organizing Daytime sleep urgency despite nighttime sleep Waves of generalized itching Balance problems with dizziness Severe chest wall pains Random stabbing pains Weight loss or gain Sensitivity to light Sleep in excess of 8-1/2 hours per day You have received blood from another person
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96238 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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quote:Originally posted by bettyg: Sorting Out The Co-Infections *******************************
� Stiff joints and loud joint crepitus, especially the neck (``Lyme shrug'').
� Headaches are often nuchal and associated with stiff, painful and crepitant neck.
The reason I noticed it is because my dad made a comment once to me. We were talking about "stims" like my sister twirled her hair around one finger, my brother tapped his foot a lot, my dad tended to rock back and forth, my mom pulled at her bangs, and, Daddy said, "You do this shoulder/neck shrug thing." I said, "I do? Show me." He kind of moved in a funny way and I said, "Yeah, I do that. I'm trying to crack my neck because it always feels like it needs it, even if I've been to the chiropractor. And the area between my shoulder blades always needs crunching. So I guess I do shrug like that."
-------------------- Funky tick bite ~1986 Home schooling mommy of 4 little ones. Posts: 15 | From West GA | Registered: Jul 2010
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