Just wondering - since my sister has been diagnosed with Lyme after my urging to get tested because her "fibromyalgia" sounded suspicious to me, I've been asked by other family members and friends whether I thought they should get tested also. Is there a benefit for people who currently have no symptoms to get tested? If the test came back positive what would a physician do? I thought that abx control the symptoms but don't eradicate the 'chetes. If that's true, then why get tested in the absence of symptoms?
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
I am not sure I would have everyone tested. However, it may make sense to have sexual partners tested or her children. Otherwise I think general friends is probably not indicated.
I asked my LLMD this question. He said if the person is not experiencing any symptoms even with a positive test he would not give them abx.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
when you say "no symptoms" are you aware of ALL the symptoms? there is a symptom list in dr b's guidelines. i say this because my daughter-in-law was the only one of us to have a bulls eye rash and a positive pcr. none of us (and there's a lot of us) ever had the rash and all our tests were neg or equivicol. SHE said she had no symptoms(meaning no joint pain, or fatigue) BUT-she had been sleepy and tired most of her life and didn't realize her need for sleep was abnormal. also she had severe pms and other mood problems. when she went on treatment-the llmd felt the combo of a rash and pos pcr warrented at least a trial to see what would happen-she didn't seem to herx but she realized she was much more cognitively aware and began to go to college and had a much better academic experience. over the years she realized when she stopped treatment her hormone related and cognitive symptoms got worse and on treatment they didn't bother her so much. some symptoms are "sut-tle" (how DO you spell that stupid word???)and if you have lived with them a long time you won't even know you have them.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Lyme 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
------------------ Do not take anything I say as medical advice. I am not a doctor, but I DID stay at a Holiday Inn Express! oops! Lymetutu
Posted by Lymeblue (Member # 6897) on :
As DUKE 77 told you, even if you have a positive result but no symptoms you don't need treatment. A positive result means that you have been exposed to the bacteria nothing else. My LLMD have seen families where one is sick with symptoms and the rest show just positive results but no symptoms.
Posted by Sue vG (Member # 3143) on :
It's often hard enough for a person disabled by lyme to get a test.
Count your blessings and forget about it!
Posted by Cruisin97 (Member # 7773) on :
Lymetoo,
How many of these symptoms should a person have before panicking? And to be confidently diagnosed?
I had seen a list of 75 somewhere (canlyme maybe). I believe 20 was a concern there.
Posted by HEATHERKISS (Member # 6789) on :
Wouldn't you at least do antibiotics just to see if you herx?
My husband had a bulls eye and has "No Symptoms". We are waiting for MDL LABS results.
I feel sometimes the symptoms slowly progress. Some people have a high tolerance to pain and don't realize they have a problem. Also feel why let the keets mutiply?
oops! 
