posted
I know you might get this question a lot but it's important so if you have the time please read on.
I've been bitten by ticks many times when I was young but one time maybe 9 - 10 years ago I had a tick on my head when I was visiting my grandparents in summer.
I managed to get the tick off, it was night, I felt something there so I took it off. A few hours later I couldn't sleep anymore, the spot where the tick had bitten me had become swollen and infected.
My parrents came and took me to the hospital. I had some bad luck because the doctor wasn't there right then so the asistant decided to do something before the infection spread any further.
It was pretty big by then, I could feel it, that part was 1 inch higher than the rest of my head and it hurt.
The asistant cut it open and cleaned it, gave me some pills and I came a week later for another check up. I thought it was the end of the story then.
The past five years I've been trying to find out why I feel so tired, why I can't concentrate anymore and my cognitive abilities are getting worse by each passing day.
I have bladder problems, anxiety, my back hurts, my knees hurt and my muscles twitch uncontrolably when I'm under stress especially my neck muscles and my hands.
I can't stand being arround many people that I don't know, also I can't talk well when I'm under stress.
In my family everyone talks a lot, they have no constraint whatsoever when taking to people they have never met.
I can't bear it, I avoid talking like the plague, it's like something instantly lodges in my neck and my voice changes like I'm afraid, I start twitching and sweating.
As you'd imagine I don't have a lot of friends because of it altough I try my best to be sociable and not seem too wierd.
It's been killing me for the past 2 years, I feel the need to sleep all the time, I'm never relaxed, my concentration and memory are getting worse, my grades in school have dropped from a 9-10 level to 5-6 level.
I can't learn anymore and I have a graduation exam coming in a month, I don't think I'll fail but neither will I do any good, and then there's the college exam.
I know there's no one shot, one day cure but what can I do ? I'm just so depressed and in pain.
I've been to doctors but they don't seem to think its serious, most just said I should get more exercise or stuff like that and a few gave me supliments like vitamins and magnesium.
I exercise, I take vitamins, supliments and nothing, no relief, I'm tired and fatigued. Maybe this is how 80 year old people feel like.
I took a cognitive ability test, it said my brain is 46 years old, I'm 19.
Is it possible that I have lyme after being bitten by a tick years ago ? Is there something to relieve the simptoms ? Should I take the lyme test ?
[ 06-01-2009, 04:42 PM: Message edited by: Kesarion ]
Posts: 1 | From Romania | Registered: Jun 2009
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posted
Yes, it is possible. To relieve the symptoms you need treatment. A Lyme test would be a good idea.
Check out this website - www.ilads.org - there are diagnostic and treatment guidelines there. Also, keep reading here, you will learn a lot.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Welcome, Kesarion (but so sorry that you had to find this site).
I can't talk well when I'm under stress, either (and I used to teach public speaking!). Relax, this will get better.
What you describe sounds like lyme is very likely. And you probably also have adrenal/endocrine exhaustion that can go with that. That is why stress is so hard on your body (it's not your character that is weak, but your body that is ill).
I am so sorry that the doctors do not take you seriously. You are the same age when I first got very ill - but no one took me seriously either and I was not tested for another 20 years - and then could not find a doctor. That should not happen to anyone.
I hope you can get the care you need. But, first, this is as if you've been thrown into a graduate-level course of study. Do you have any good friend who is very bright and could help you with this material - and help you find a doctor?
Is there someone at your school who might be able to help? Or a a church or synagogue? You need a good advocate.
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Be careful with excercise. To keep your heart safe, NO aerobics exercises are allowed until a patient is better. Gentle walking and other movement - or gentle weight lifting - is good as long as it does not wear you out. Do not exercise two days in a row- but everyday some kind of stretching or gentle movement exercises can be helpful.
Do not overdo it. If you feel like it's too much, your body is sending you a message. Listen to your body. Rest is very important. Be sure to take naps when you feel the need. More about self-care is in Burrascano's guidelines, below.
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About your studies:
Can you take an "incomplete" for health reasons) in your course and finish it later? I did that every semester during college. It may not be what you WANT to do but it may be necessary and may save your grades.
Yes, I think you could definitely have what is called Disseminated or Tertiary Lyme Disease - meaning chronic infection months to years after untreated (or under treated) primary Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi). Too often, a short course of treatment is not enough.
Here is the U.S., it is incredibly hard to find a doctor who is properly educated in lyme and TBD (tick-born diseases) as there is much disagreement among doctors. It's become very political and insurance companies pressure doctors to ignore it.
The ILADS links that sixgoofykids posted for you is the best place to begin. You will need a doctor who is educated in this - do not assume they are all informed. You might ask if they are ILADS members. That is best.
It is a tape of a great show on lyme disease done by a Boston TV station a few months ago. (Thanks to TF for that link.)
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This explains WHY you need a special kind of doctor. This is a very important article to read so that you can understand the controversy and what symptoms can go with lyme.
The controversy is not limited to the U.S. I don't know if there are any doctors who are lyme literate (LL) in Romania, but some doctors in Germany are finally seeing that following the U.S. doctors' group, IDSA, is NOT the way to go:
You should also be evaluated for coinfections. Not all tests are great in that regard, either, but a good LLMD can evaluate you and then guide you in testing. - One of the top labs is IGENEX. They also do international testing.
It's important to have a proper evaluation with a doctor who is educated - not just about lyme but, also, about all the tick-borne infections. From there, there may be various ways to treat but, if you have lyme, it must be addressed with specific measures that attack the infection.
Best of luck to you. I hope you have the support around you as you may your way back to health. Take excellent care of yourself, now. Okay?
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[ 06-01-2009, 01:24 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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I did not see anything specifically located in Romania. However, you might find out more here:
seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
If you're in Romania, you can likely cure your Lyme according to Marnie - do a search on the site for 'Marnie', 'MgCl' and 'Cure.'
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Seekhelp,
Thanks for that reminder. I have that on my list of references but totally spaced out.
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What is described here is more for newly infected patients, and I have some concerns about it, but you might contact the authors of the study for more detail.
Betty's suggested POSTING GUIDELINES . many of us have neuro lyme where we can NOT read long solid block text and be able to comprehend and read it as is.
please edit your post by CLICKING PAPER/PENCIL ICON to right of your name. that opens up BOTH subject line and body text.
now please break up your WORDY SENTENCES into one sentence paragraphs. Then hit ENTER KEY ``TWICE`` after each paragraph; we need that space for comprehension.
then go to left hand corner and mark box to receive ALL REPLIES, and click EDIT SEND
we thank you for helping us; otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. ------------------------------------------------------
People seeking doctors might be able to get help from their state online information and support group. Nearly 3,400 people belong to state groups. Some of the groups are small but more than 20 of them have 50 or more people and seven have over 100.
The groups are moderated and you have to apply. Most don't allow doctor names, but once on the group, you can ask for doctors in a certain area and ask people to email you privately. *******************************************
This explains the medical politics around lyme WHY you need an ILADS-educated or ILADS-member LLMD (and there are also some ILADS-member LL NDs (naturopathic doctors):
You should also be evaluated for coinfections. Not all tests are great in that regard, either, but a good LLMD can evaluate you and then guide you in testing. One of the top labs is:
"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both. Some antibodies against the borrelia are given more significance if they are IgG versus IgM, or vice versa.
Since this is a chronic persistent infection, this does not make a lot of sense to me. A newly formed Borrelia burgdorferi should have the same antigen parts as the previous bacteria that produced it.
But anyway, from my clinical experience, these borrelia associated bands usually predict a clinical change in symptoms with antibiotics, regardless of whether they are IgG or IgM." ===========
ILADS The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) provides a forum for health science professionals to share their wealth of knowledge regarding the management of Lyme and associated diseases.
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otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. 
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