[This message has been edited by HaplyCarlessdave (edited 19 September 2004).]
Sorry that you have joined the HORROR club. Otherwise, Welcome to Lymenet. You saw the tick which if it is a small round one then it is probably a carrier of the disease. Your doctor should have his/her license REVOKED because this is absolutely detrimental to make you wait for symptoms to appear. It takes a year to seven years on antibiotic TO GET RID OF THIS DISEASE ANYWAY!!! You need to go back to your doctor and plead to get yourself put on antibiotics! Doxycycline is probably suitable. In the meantime, go to the SEEKING A DOCTOR part of this website and find an LLMD (Lyme Literate Medical Doctor) in your area. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND VITAL TO RECOVERY! Oh, and if it was red in that area where you got bit, you didn't have the "textbook" rash but your body may have reacted to it in its own way. I have read certain cases of people having the same thing. Email me if you have anymore questions.
Take Care and Good Luck!,
K-lyme
Do read the links here for new members and find a llmd that can properly evaluate you.
Please don't try any cures that aren't approved by your dr.
Many respected members here have warned against the salt cure.
And welcome to lymenet-
Welcome to Lymenet.
We're especially glad you have found us as you were only bitten by a tick quite recently.
It's imperative to understand that there is only a crucial window of opportunity of treating a Lyme disease infection early on with the best chance of a good outcome.
If you did contract Lyme Disease & unknowlingly ignore vague symptoms, Lyme Disease (LD) can rather insidiously slip into a chronic form of LD.
You definitely don't want that.
Because many of us have been in similar situations as you, we feel a strong responsibility to get the facts out about Lyme Disease.
I think many of us here have initially wondered-----do I have Lyme Disease or not?
Should I seek treatment?
Was that a bullseye rash or not?
What if I think I don't have Lyme Disease, and it turns out I do have it?
Our mission is to try our very best to provide you with factual information about Lyme Disease.
Then it's up to you to make informed decisions about your health based on facts-------not 30 year old science.
While it's important to note that only a physician can diagnose you with Lyme Disease (LD), we are glad to share our experiences with you.
Many Lymenet Board Members have posted messages to others numbering in the thousands, so they have paved the way for newcomers and made it virtually painless to research Lyme Disease (LD).
They are a goldmine of information & have invaluable experience. There's not too much they haven't heard or seen on this Board.
Below is a link to Dr. Burrascano's Treatment Guidelines which include a symptom list.
Most folks go ahead & print the entire booklet out & refer to it constantly.
It refers to antibiotics for a newly infected patient. It states how long one should take them & not at low doses.
The treatment is very precise.
It's a lot of information to take in at once.
Here's the Link for the Guidelines:
http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.htm
I'm sure others will visit your post with additional information.
Many of us have been told our weird symptoms were due to stress.
Some were told we had too many symptoms & our symptoms "did not fit."
Lyme Disease (LD) is the new great imitator. That's what gets so many patients & physicians sidetracked with secondary
diagnoses which are merely the result of an undiagnosed primary diaagnosis of Lyme Disease (LD).
It becomes extremely complicated for both physician and patient.
After seeing innumerable well-meaning physicians, many of us have chosen to seek out a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD).
He can evaluate you properly because that's his specialty. You don't have to be your own doctor and patient at the same time.
Please be aware that LD is a clinical diagnosis based on your past history and symptoms.
The diagnosis is not based on test results.
The test only supports a clinical diagnosis.
If a physician tries to diagnose you with a negative test from Quest or Lab Corp, you know it's time to seek out a real Lyme Literate Medical Doctor.
I know.
I lost a year of treatment because my first Lyme Test was negative so I thought I didn't have LD.
The physician interpreted the test incorrectly.
We're just trying to give you a heads up here & the benefit of our own mistakes.
Many LLMDs prefer using a specialty lab for Lyme testing such as IGENEX Labs in California.
Patients can have a negative IGENEX Western Blot test, but can still have a raging Lyme infection.
If you are newly infected, most LLMDs will wait at least 6 weeks prior to testing.
It takes at least 6 weeks for antibodies to build up in the blood & to show up on testing.
A test done too early will prove uesless.
However, an LLMD will understand the implications of a negative Lyme test long after the infection has occurred. Some of the sickest folks have negative tests.
Also, less than 50% of LD patients report seeing a Bulls eye rash. You can have Lyme Disease (LD) without having had a textbook case rash.
If you have a rash, or a rash returns which can happen, place a coin beside the rash for size comparison & take a photo of the rash. Save the photo forever.
The Bulls eye rash is diagnostic for LD.
Every patient presents with a myriad of symptoms. This makes treating each case of LD very complex.
After diagnosis, most Lyme patients are on a treatment protocol tailored to fit their past medical histories and current infection.
An LLMD will want to eventually test or treat you for tick borne co-infections that ticks carry.
These are Babesia, Bartonella and Erlichiosis and others, as well.
Many of these tick borne co-infections are silent infections without raging symptoms.
They're very hard to distinguish from Lyme symptoms.
Hope this information has helped you.
Please keep asking questions.
If you wish to find an LLMD in your area, just let us know. We will be happy to give you more specific instructions.
Some folks have to travel long distances to obtain proper medical treatment.
Most of all, if you do indeed have LD, we just want you to be able to ward off an impending disastrous, infection while you still can.
You deserve to know whether or not you have Lyme Disease.
If you do have an untreated case of LD, then the clock is already ticking fast & hard against you.
Hope this message provides you with the basics about diagnosing Lyme Disease & the travesty of not diagnosing LD in its early stages.
Best Wishes,
Jan
P.S. Just so you'll understand about the unusual wide spacing I placed between paragraphs-----
it's for those of us who have developed vision problems. It really helps us read others posts without going blind. Thanks!
Edited for typos.
[This message has been edited by RECIPEGIRL (edited 20 September 2004).]
[This message has been edited by RECIPEGIRL (edited 20 September 2004).]
Tincups' Links for New LymeNet Members
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/009342.html
quote:
Originally posted by rosesisland2000:
BOOK MARK this page!!!!!!!![b]Tincups' Links for New LymeNet Members
URL=http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/009342.html]http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/009342.html[/URL] [/B]
When you go to the site, go to page 10 also for my web sites IF you are/going to be applying for SS Disability benefits! I believe I showed 3 lyme sites there too
PLUS IGENEX...see that post as I gave details after I/my hubby each went thru this and murphy's law happening to me on my entire adventure.
You can order western blot blood tests by calling IGX's 800 no. Do NOT email them; they get so much spam, they have deleted some including me that were specific on lyme WB subject areas.
Welcome to the board.
I haven't read the other reponses but....
if I were you, I would contact my LLMD and have a telephone conversation with him.
There also is a Washington Support Group. But, from what I understand...most of them go out of state for a lyme specialist.
If you would like the contact info for the Washington state group...let me know.
I just spoke to the leader of the email group and she is being treated by a person in CA who is using other resources besides abx.
She has phone consultations with this doc. I also have this docs name and number if you are interested.
I am just curious...where in CA were you?
Hi and WELCOME! Get a LLMD or at least Dr that is willing to learn about lyme. Borrelia Burgdorferi is a clinical diagnosis, based on symptoms and on your response to treatment. Good Luck, bumpy road ahead.
Post for a LLMD in Seeking a Doctor. Ps remember I am not a Dr, just a fellow sufferer.
How to Search Courtesy of Danq
LymeNet Links for New Members
Newbie's Lingo
Lyme Disease Audio Network
Dr. Joseph J. Burrascano's Treatment Guidelines
CDC Website on Lyme Disease
International Lyme and Associated Disease Society
Lyme Disease Symptoms
Rashes
Co-IinfectionsThanx M
Rose's 15 Facts for Newcomers
Making the Most of Your LLMD Visit
Camp A and Camp B, The Lyme Disease Contoversy
2nd Version Camp A Camp B
Why You Can't Trust Medical Journals Anymore
Something to share with friends and family members But You LOOK Good!
Labs
MDL
Igenex Labs
Western Blot Info
Explaining Borreliosis (Lyme) Western Blot Tests
Explanation of Western Blot Bands
Igenex Labs on the Western Blot
Melissa Kaplan's Lyme Website Explains Western Blot
Dr. C Explains Western Blot
- Not present
+ Low
++ Medium
+++ High
+/- Equivocal = indeterminate (there, but not as intense as Low)
Drug Interactions and Other Drug Info
Drug Digest
American Medical Women's Association Tiscali Reference Encyclopedia
Herxing
What Is a Herxheimer Reaction?
What Is Herxing?
The Herxheimer Reaction
Check Diet Link Atkins Diet
Sexually Transmitted ???
Transmitted Through Sex?
Sex Question-Serious-Adult Content
Video On Demand: Blood Supply May Be Source Of Lyme Disease Infections
Good Site Canadian Lyme Disease Association
FDA on Lyme Testing
Legal Help
( No you don't always see a bite and if there's no bullseye the only way your going to be able to tell is (symptoms) and (((Maybe))) WB or lyme dot blot 3 day urine banged with abx's to free your antigens up for the test. )
See this ( . )thats the size of the larva stage tick...
Next nymph size... ( * )
Next is adult ( o ) to ( 0 )
Pretty small????? HUH
Marnies......... Ten Points Regarding Mg and Lyme Disease
quote:
Originally posted by earthpeace:
it seems that antibiotics dont do a good job of riddding this disease. i dont know if i want to trust this drug that is ANTI-BIOTIC meaning, wont it hurt me too... as i am a biotic creature myself?
Huh? who says? I was thinking I would not post to you as I was having bad thoughts about your first post, I could be wrong.
But, here you are saying this, when I it PROVEN that with a recent infection, you CAN and PEOPLE DO get cured, early on, if just infected with enough abx for a long enough duration...like 1000mg of Doxy per day for one whole month...that will really do the trick.
quote:
Originally posted by earthpeace:
What is so bad about the salt and Vit. C cure?
I read a lot of posts and I have as yet to see where someone was cured of LD by taking Vit. C and salt. You may as well eat a lot of fresh Pineapple for it, too, has abx qualities. But, I've never heard of anyone with LD getting well from that either.
You have a recent infection and, yes, it can be cured. The majority of folks that post here for long periods of time weren't as lucky as you to even have remembered the bite that delivered the LD to them and then got the run around for sometimes upwards for years before they were able to get a dx and tx.
quote:
Originally posted by earthpeace:
Does anyone know how i can cure this without going broke. I am broke as it is. I am a struggling college student.
thank you, god bless...
Yes, Doxycycline is very cheap. JUst think about it if you were to start on a high enough dose, then this time next month you would be cured!!!
Sorry, but, I have to ask this, are you trying to start something here? Where are you getting this wrong information? NOt here!!!
Before responding again, why not read through the links that Treepatrol has provided you, ok?
Rosemary
Which, BTW, Bowen is not new, either.
My LLMD, www.drcharlescrist.com a well respected and who has many patients who post here, uses Igenex for his testing of the WB.
Also, many insurance companies will not except the Bowen results...that is something to consider. So, IMO, you are wasting you time not to go to and do what an LLMD has you to do.
You are truly wasting your time and this IS curable at the early stage that you are currently in...why are you wasting your time on this and taking the chance for it to move on into another stage where it is much harder to cure?
You've been given the Links for new LymeNet members. My suggestion is to go through them again, for your own benefit.
I hope you soon get to the proper help that you really need.
Rosemary