Do you remember being bitten by a tick?............. No when________ Do you remember having the "bull's eye rash"? ..No Any other rash? YES, Red lines that come and go for no reason.
Have you had any of the following? CIRCLE ALL YES ANSWERS 1.Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing - YES 2.Unexplained weight change- (loss or gain- circle one)- NO 3.Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina - YES 4.Unexplained hair loss - NO 5.Swollen glands: - NO 6.Sore throat - NO 7.Testicular pain/pelvic pain - NO 8.Unexplained menstrual irregularity - YES 9.Unexplained milk production; breast pain - NO 10.Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction - NO 11.Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido - NO 12.Upset stomach or abdominal pain - YES 13.Change in bowel function- (constipation, diarrhea) - NO 14.Chest pain or rib soreness - YES 15.Shortness of breath, cough - NO 16.Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block - NO 17.Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse? - NO 18.Joint pain or swelling: - YES 19.Stiffness of the joints or back - YES 20.Muscle pain or cramps - YES 21.Twitching of the face or other muscles - YES 22.Headache - YES 23.Neck creaks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain - YES 24.Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains, skin hypersensitivity - YES 25.Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy) - NO 26.Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity - NO 27.Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity - NO 28.Increased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance - YES 29.Lightheadedness, wooziness, unavoidable need to sit or lie down - NO 30.Tremor - NO 31.Confusion, difficulty in thinking - YES 32.Difficulty with concentration, reading - NO 33.Forgetfulness, poor short term memory, poor attention, problem absorbing new information - YES 34.Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places - YES 35.Difficulty with speech or writing; word or name block - YES 36.Mood swings, irritability, depression - YES 37.Disturbed sleep- too much, too little, fractionated, early awakening - YES 38.Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol - NO
These are my symptoms. I have been dealing with this for over two years now, however, the last year has been the worst. I'm currently on tetrocyline for three weeks. I was diagnosed with Lyme when my blood test came back positive last week.
Posted by Corgilla (Member # 4066) on :
Hi,
I'm not sure what you are asking here but if it's verification that you have lyme, you do. You have a positive blood test. That's more than a lot of the people here who have lyme have been diagnosed with.
The red lines that come and go could be Bartonella so you may have one or more coinfections.
You need to see a doctor who knows how to treat lyme and all of it's coninfections. 3 weeks of antibiotics is not enough even with a simple case of lyme.
If you've had lyme for longer than a couple of weeks, it could take years of treatment.
Read the newbie links on this page. There is a lot of info that you'll need to know.
Take care,
Corgilla
Posted by BostonLyme2005 (Member # 7680) on :
Hey!
I am Rob. Good Luck! You are now on Tetra? Me too! You have been ill longer than I and no meds for two years, is that right?
If so, hold on to your butt! Time for the ride of your life! I was taking Amox. 1500 mg's a day for a few months. I thought I was having what was a herx....hahahaha!
Now that I am taking tetracycline..I am having real herxes! I still go to work and do most things, wish the fatigue would go away...
It is not always the same streangth each day...I even have new symptoms....
Bottom Line here.....Tetracycline will send you for a ride if you have Lyme, if not, no ride!
You will know what I am talking about when it happens...Sorry, ok.....Don't mean to scare you.....You will become healthy!
Posted by skbland (Member # 8644) on :
Corgilla...thanks for the reply. I posted my symptoms because I wrote on Friday that I tested positive and someone told me to list my symptoms so that people here could help me. I'm so glad you know what those red lines are. I've had them for a long time, they just come and go. I never remembered doing anything to create the lines...they just appeared. It's good to finally have a reason for them, but I'm scared now too. I don't know what co-infections are. I need to read more about this. What type of infections are co-infections? What do I look for? I'm surprised that more people don't test positive with a blood test & now I'm wondering if my case is really bad because I tested positive. All I know is that I can't remember the last time I felt well. I have gone to bed at 7:00PM every night because I have no energy. This has been going on for so long, and my memory has been affected so I can't even really remember the last time I felt good.
Rob,
Yes, I have not had any long term meds since I have been ill. I did take doxycycline last June but only for 2 weeks. The doctor in the ER thought I had lyme back then but when the blood test came back negative I stopped taking the antibiotics. Looking back I think I have had this disease for a long time. I doubt I'll ever know how long ago I got it. You are scaring me about my symptoms getting worse before they get better. I have been in so much pain and have felt so bad in general. I keep getting fevers on and off. They seem to come every month, along with really bad neck/rib pain. I don't want to imagine my symptoms getting worse. What exactly is "herxing". I've never heard the term before..I see it a lot on this board. Thanks for your reply.
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
skbland~
Welcome to Lymenet! Read the info called "Newbie Help Links" that Treepatrol has posted for us. It's the 3rd thread down from the top in the Medical Questions section.
It will help get you started.
Then, ask away with your questions. Lots of helpful people here!
Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
Hi SK Its Good you posted your symptoms list--it gives a clearer picture of you situation---
I dont know alot about bart but one of the main charticts is lines similar to what you discribe--
Botcholism(spelling ) can cause this too--so keep that in mind--
Probelly bart tho---
You look perty positive to me for Lyme and babs--
But you show many of the symptoms of Babs but not Fully--
Your list is perty good- but you need to give alittle more info on your Yes answers-- Fill it in under each symptom--
Then arange so I is Real Easy to read--
At the bottom of the list-- Give every symptom you have Had or Have now-- Include everything-- but make clear and breaf--
Include what other docs have thought--
Take as much room as you need-- Dont include info Like-- The first Time I was on a airplane- or I was driving my blue car ect--
Include things like-- only at night-pain moves around- I cant breath --I have rash it looks like-- Discribe any rash clearly and completely-- Post pictures if possiable
Post your complete symptoms list for a while--so everyone who comes here has a clear picture of you situation --
Some Very knowlagable lymes who have gotten better and they only every once and awhile-- You Want these people to see your posts-
Having a Good clear symptoms list- WILL get you on the road to being well FASTER--