I spent 7 days in the hospital. When I got home I tried to find information.

I am still really tired. I am trying to find someone who has had this for some base information. I don't even remember being bitten by a tick. I can tell you this--it was awful until I was placed on cycline meds.

Thank you for your time. It means a lot to me.
 

scroll down the page a bit and you will see a series of links on erhlichiosis.
 

Ask all the questions you need to.

Have you been tested for Lyme? Often most people have more than one tick-borne disease.

Many people here are like you -- they have no memory of a tickbite and they never got a rash. Sometimes it takes years to get a diagnosis of Lyme disease. That's why I am asking -- if you also have Lyme it generally requires different treatment than Erlichia.

Try posting another question with the words newbie in the title and a list of your symptoms.

Bea Seibert
 

I once read somewhere that potassium para-aminobenzoic acid was an anti-ricketsial agent.

since erlichiosis is a ricketsial infection,
i wondered if anyone has tried K-PABA?

there seems to be a paucity of info. on this; then again i haven't done a serious search on this.

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by seibertneurolyme:
Welcome to LymeNet. Sorry that you are sick, but you have come to the right place for help. Lots of friendly people.

Ask all the questions you need to.

Have you been tested for Lyme? Often most people have more than one tick-borne disease.

Many people here are like you -- they have no memory of a tickbite and they never got a rash. Sometimes it takes years to get a diagnosis of Lyme disease. That's why I am asking -- if you also have Lyme it generally requires different treatment than Erlichia.

Try posting another question with the words newbie in the title and a list of your symptoms.

Bea Seibert

---

Thank you Bea. All I know is the doctor said I had the disease. He didn't say anything about lymes. They were all satified with the results after I started taking the cycline meds.

I could sleep forever. I don't have a temp now and haven't had one since I got home.

I have a lot of problems working. I am retired and do a part time job. But even with that course, I can work for a couple of hours then I just sit and stare at my desk. I am scared because I don't have any idea what is going on here. I can sleep for hours then get up and be sleepy again in about 2 hours. I sleep again and then repeat the same schedule. I have not energy to even make myself want to get up and work. I don't think this is in my head. I don't like what is going and I don't have any thing to compare. I am taking vitamins plus stress tabs. Still sitting :-(

Thank you for being so nice. It helps to have someone listen.

Sorry to hear you are not feeling well.

My husband tested positive for ehrlichiosis three years ago. Ehrlichiosis actually responds well to doxycycline. My husband's ehrlichiosis caused acute kidney failure. He temporarily lost 60 percent of his kidney function according to his nephrologist (kidney specialist). It also attacked his shoulder and wrist joints, where arthritis already existed. He now is in need of a total shoulder replacement and wrist fusion. However, his kidney functions did return to normal eventually.

My husband was put on complete bedrest by the nephrologist when he was experiencing acute kidney failure. He was sick for seven months total and out of work for three of those months. The nephrologist was surprised that he had worked as long as he did concidering how ill he was. However, within six weeks of taking 300 mg of doxy a day, he was able to return to work part time for two weeks and then full time. It did take many more months before the fatigue totally lifted. He had other symptoms while he was ill.

If I can be of further help, please feel free to ask.

Best wishes - Debbie/RI

[This message has been edited by Deb (edited 21 August 2005).]
 

Thank you for being so much help. You will never know how much it has meant to have people respond. I finally just sat down and cried the other night because there didn't seem to be anyone or sites with information.

Again thank you so much. Please give my regards to your husband. You make it through things like this with support. I don't know much, but sure can listen.
 

My heart goes out to you, sir....

Your description of the pattern of tiredness sounds ever so familiar! I wouldn't wish it on anyone except a medical insurance company executive.

I was in my thirties when lyme and babesia hit me...I went from being the one woman who did it all: kids, school, work, on every committee, etc.....to being asleep in the playroom by 3PM every day, waking to my husband serving dinner at 7...

Then I was off to bed again...It was a shock to my entire way of life, and certainly not a result of depression. I loved my life and being busy in it.

I am now 47 and would love to have half of what I had then. I could certainly be satisfied with that...

I am glad that you are receiving care. Do look into lyme disease and the other infections that tick bites offer up to us.

You are not crazy, lazy, or suddenly senile. You are ill. And, it's very difficult for our friends and families to conceptualize what's happening to us.

Look into lyme disease support groups in your area as well. Often times we have more than one type of infection from these tick bites, hence a lyme support group also serves to support families with erhlichia, babesia, bartonella, etc.....

I have lyme disease as well as babesia WA1.
My daughter has lyme, babesia microti and erhlichia.
We are waiting to hear about my son's lab tests.
My dog has only lyme.
We are a family mess! But hanging in together!

You are certainly welcome here...

Carol Ann

I was wondering if there might be someone in your life that might be able to care for you at this time?

When my husband was ill, I pretty much took care of everything. He spent a lot of time sleeping and simply resting. He came very close to being put on Kidney dialysis. As time went on and the antibiotics were working for him, I was able to gradually bring him back up to speed in terms of increasing the amount of time he was up doing things versus being down and pretty much out of it.

My husband was fortunate in that he did not have Lyme Disease or any other co infection. Thus, his progress of recovery went rather quickly once we had the correct diagnosis and treatment.

Rest is very important as well as taking the antibiotic. If it is possible, you might want to think about taking some time off from work so that you can get more rest. Also, now might be a very good time to seek out some support in helping you out around the house (cooking, cleaning, shopping and all those fun things) should you presently be dealing with this on your own. This would help you to conserve your energy and most likely speed up your recovery.

I truly wish you all the best...glad you dropped in to chat.

Debbie/RI

[This message has been edited by Deb (edited 22 August 2005).]
 

Our friends were here also to help us. I can't believe what a change this makes in your life. Both of us were very active. But I have to look at the fact we have lived through it and time will take care of the rest. I am not one to sit and wait. I want things to happen NOW. So I am learning so much about sitting.
 

Thanks, Betsy