I don't want to make this a long story, I will try to shorten it.
While Stationed in FT Campbell KY in 99, on a field exercise I came back out of the woods infested with ticks. I dont know what kind, I didnt save them or anything.
I had one that was grossly engorged and 2 maybe 3 others that where imbedded in me. We were out in the woods for about 2 weeks, who knows how long these were attached to me.
Anyway, I got them off with the help of my wife, and went about my military lifestyle. About 2 months later, one early morning I woke up and had a bad itchy rash on my thigh, by midday that rash had spread over my torso.
I went to the Med Clinic on Post and was given some benadryl, which did absolutely nothing for it. By the end of the day my body was pretty much grossly covered with this rash that looked like my skin was hanging off my body.
I went to the ER thinking I may die in my sleep if my throat started to swell, and was given a shot of Cortizone, again it really did nothing for this rash. Next day I brought up the "Ticks" to the Dr at the clinic and he put me on 100mg of Doxy bid(2xday) for a 14days. After about 4 days the rash went away.
Now we are talking about a military facility, so they never tested me for lyme or anything else. They did do a cbc, and all I remember is he said that my WBC(white blood count) was elevated.
About a week later, I got really sick with some kind of flu, fever and all. That went away with meds after a few days and that was that.
Well over the coarse of the following 3 years, I had severe back problems, some kind of muscle spasm that nobody could explain, and no matter what kind of muscle relaxer or pain reliever I was put on nothing helped this spasm go away.
The only thing that really helped was hot and cold packs, but after a few hours the spasms would come back. Along with this I had numerous other aches and pains, but just chalked them up to over doing it, and I was getting older.
I left the military in 2003, the back pain(spasms) came and went. Then in 2004 I mysteriously developed Diabetes. No family history, not overweight, 33 years old, I wondered how, why did I get this.
In 2005 I went to my diabetes dr at the VA hospital and she asked if I had anything that had happened to me in my past that drastically took a toll on me physically. ie: bad flu, infection, anything. I told her about the 'ticks" and all I had been through.
She said that it was a possibility, and told me to request a Lyme test from my normal VA DR. I made the request and was told everything was normal. But every 3 months when I go get my blood tests for my diabetes, the results come back with an elevated WBC.
Every blood test result since that day back when I had the rash has had a high white blood cell count.
Is it possible that I didnt get a proper test? Is it possible that my diabetes was a result of improper treatment for lyme?
I did want to add that I did not develop the typical adult onset TYPE 2 diabetes that happens with some overweight, older, underexcercised adults. I developed TYPE 1 diabetes and had a C peptide test done, and my pancreas basically had shut down.
-------------------- D Barry Posts: 2 | From New Port Richey FL | Registered: Feb 2007
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David95928
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3521
posted
dbarry,
First of all, I'm really sorry to read about the problems you have been having.
It seems quite possible to me that you still have lyme. A lot of your symptoms are classic. The treatment you got was fairly early but was the absolute minimum that could possibly work.
My knowlege in the area of diabetes is very limited but I wonder if you could have the infection in your pancreas. These bugs can get ANYWHERE. The implication of this COULD be that the shutdown of the pancreas could be treated with antibiotics.
My former internist practices in Clearwater. He's no Lyme expert and, in fact, missed mine. However, he's a wonderful doctor and a wonderful person who works with his patients. We have had contact since I moved and got diagnosed and treated and he has been impressed with my recovery. He would listen to you. If you would like his name, PM me.
-------------------- Dave Posts: 2034 | From CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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I am not a doctor but, it seems to me that you need one who is Lyme literate.
Post over in Seeking Doctor section. Someone will get back to you.
Also read all you can here. Very,very good information and great people too.
Good Luck and welcome. Tic
-------------------- Adversity is the diamond dust heaven polishes it's jewels with. � Robert Leighton
Daily world-wide prayers welcome for the Lyme Community - every day at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time and 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time � all faiths welcome! Posts: 309 | From S.E. Mass | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
Two weeks [14 days] of doxy is grossly inadequate for treating Lyme disease....especially at 200 mg a day. Most people take double that.
The tests for lyme are grossly inadequate also. Please find a dr who will run a blood test thru Igenex Labs in CA. www.igenex.com
Best of all, find an LLMD [lyme literate MD] ASAP! Your body has already suffered some SERIOUS damage. Don't let more things happen to you because of the Lyme.
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: 96227 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
welcome barry to the board! you've come to the right place for unlimited answers and moe Q/A to come! it's overwhelming, and i'm going to add to it for you.
i'm going to send you a PM, private message, with my 45 pages newbie links, advise, long symptoms list, western blot igm/igg testing at IGENEX, SSDI..SS DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS info galore, and many other things.
in it is TREEPATROL'S NEWBIE LINKS ARCHIVE of 1,000+ good lyme links of info! i told you this is overwhelming.
just start in bits and pieces. skim my 45 pages and highlight the things you want to know now!
you need to get a WESTERN BLOT IGM AND IGG BLOOD TEST done and it should be sent to IGENEX LABS IN CALIF!
i was bitten by an unseen tick from a LIVE XMAS tree 12-69! dx w/mono/epstein barr virus and many other things for 34 years by 40-50 mds/specialists!!
i was dx w/diabetes 2, 6 mo. prior to my correct dx of chronic lyme in 6-04!!
do you have diarrhea, bloated stomach/gas galore? if yes, you may find out like many of us that we have food allergies!!
go to seeking dr. and we'll help you get names of LYME LITERATE MDs. if you don't learn anything else from my post here. remember these words,,lyme literate mds, LLMDS! they will be responsible for your life and hoping to get QUALITY OF LIFE BACK!
those you want to stay away from are INFECTIOUS MDS!! there are a handful of GOOD ones; but the rest will make you worse by improper treatment/dosages!!
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
So sorry you are sick. I agree with others, you need an LLMD. Don't waste time going to anyone else. This is a complex illness and most doctors don't have a clue.
You need someone who can test you for lyme and all it's co-infections (there are many). You need a doctor who knows which labs are best and how to interpret the results properly. You need someone who can do a good differential diagnosis, looking for anything that might be causing your symptoms. No one better than an ILADS LLMD. http://www.ilads.org/
I'm not a doctor but frankly, I'd be surprised if you didn't have lyme and/or co-infections. Your history fits the history of many lyme patients in terms of bites, rashes, symptoms. Also the fact that you got better on doxy and clearly did not have a high enough dose or for long enough to get rid of the infection. In addition, if you have a co-infection (the majority of lyme patients seem to), you will not get better until you get rid of it. Co-infections often require different treatment than lyme.
Literally everyone in my family is sick with lyme symptoms and every one of us has diabetes. That's 6 out of 6. My understanding is that it is highly unusual for everyone in a family to have diabetes. I'm sure we all have lyme since I have positive IgeneX IgM and IgG and we all have similar symptoms. Both my brother and father had some weird hybrid of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. My diabetes is mild at this point and assumed to be type 2 but who knows.
I've read that type 1 is suspected to be caused by a virus but I would not be surprised to find that many infections can cause type 1 and 2.
Learn everything you can so that you can help yourself. Read the newbie links at the top of the medical forum page.
I hope you will go straight to an LLMD and let them figure this out. They are the experts. Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
I would get an evaluation by a LLMD(Lyme Literate Medical Doctor). Your treatment was inadequate and not long enough to eradicate Lyme. Plus, you should be tested for co-infections. Given your exposure to ticks, and the ignorance of the doctors you have seen, I'd say a LLMD visit is long overdue. Email if you need help finding a doctor. Good luck!
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