I was bitten by a tick about 4 weeks ago. It was attached for about 26 hours.
About a week after that I started having really bad headaches.
Two weeks after I started having severe joint pain and stiffness, muscle cramps in legs and feet, nausea, chills, fatigue, shortness of breath, and mild dry cough.
I also developed a red bump after 2 weeks where the tick was attached and a couple of other bumps a few inches from it.
I was tested for Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever last week and the results were negative. However, it was found that I have magnesium and vitamin b deficiencies.
I have read that Lyme Disease can cause magnesium deficieny but I am not sure if the information is accurate.
I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on my symptoms and how it relates to your experiences with Lyme Disease.
Thanks in advance for any info you can give me!
Posted by Tj33 (Member # 7214) on :
Lab tests can be very inaccurate for this disease.
If you get any more rashes, take photographs for your personal records. Also, start a diary of symptoms.
Post over in the "Seeking a Doctor" section something like "Looking for a LLMD in (your state)"
LLMD=Lyme Literate Medical Doctor
You can actually beat this thing if you take the proper treatment now!
Posted by sweetm79 (Member # 9271) on :
Thanks for your responses TJ and Tabby! I am reading all of the newbie info and I am going to try to see a LLMD asap.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Definitely sounds like Lyme and most likely Babesia as well. Ticks often carry more than one infection and that is why you need to go to an LLMD -- they are the specialists that know what signs and symptoms point to multiple infections. And the tricky part is that generally each infection needs different antibiotics.
Welcome to LymeNet. Sorry you are sick, but you have come to the right place for help.
Here is an old thread that should convince you to seek treatment if you are not already convinced.
Bea Seibert
Posted by AZURE WISH (Member # 804) on :
Sorry to meet you because you are feeling bad but Welcome
I am glad you are going to try to get a llmd...
Lyme is much easier to treat when it is caught early
Best wishes
Posted by newdurham77 (Member # 7815) on :
Find an LLMD FAST. IN the meantime (some appointments take a while to get), go to your personal NOW MD and tell him this story and DEMAND doxyclycine. The LLMD might choose to to change the medication, but at least you won't be untreated until then.
Good luck!!
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
Hi Sweetm79
Sorry to hear you are sick.You have all the symtoms of lyme and also babs.
The tests for lyme are very inaccurate and same with the co-infections that go along with each tick bite. A good lyme specialist will go by symptoms and not by just the test results. You have about at best 50/50 chance of testing positive . You may as well toss a coin. A specialist knows this.
Try to get a copy of your lyme test. Do you know what lab you where tested at?
here's a link that states many reasons why you can have lyme and still test neg:
If it where me I would try to find a lyme literate doctor. People treated right away with the right meds have a good chance of getting better.
I wish I had known this 20 years ago. I would have had a wonderful life
Run, dont walk to a LLMD. ASAP In the mean time try to get some ABX from your GP if you have to cry & plead. It's really important.
Take care and keep us posted.
Posted by cbb (Member # 788) on :
Welcome to LymeNet. Sorry you need the info on this website, but so glad you're here.
Want to repeat what's been said - Get an appt with a LLMD (go to Seeking a Dr & put your location in the title). Info will be sent to you in Personal Message. Usually have to wait several weeks to a couple months for an appt with an LLMD.
In the meantime, go to your local doctor (or Dr's Care in your neighborhood) & hopefully get started on antibiotics.
Print "Diag Hints & Treatment Guidelines..." 33 pages of excellent info written by one of the best LLMDs & take to your dr. www.ilads.org/burrascano_0905.html
page 17: Antibiotic Choices & Doses Doxycycline - 200 mg bid (twice a day) with food. This is stronger than the usual dose of Doxy, but it's needed for these tough spirochetes that cause Lyme. Doxy also treats Ehrlichiosis, if it is present.
page 19: Treatment Categories Disseminated Disease Early: milder symptoms for less than 1 yr. Adults: oral therapy until no active disease for 4 to 8 weeks (meaning NO symptoms for 4-8 wks).
Take a copy to your dr & try to persuade him/her to follow these Guidelines. When you get an appt with a LLMD, ask if you should continue the antibiotics (abx) until your appt. It's possible it could affect some test results.
Read & learn all you can about Lyme & other Tick-Borne Diseases. Your symptoms could indicate Lyme, Babesiosis &/or Bartonella. A Lyme Dr will have the experience & expertise to know how to deal with them.
Posted by sweetm79 (Member # 9271) on :
Thanks for your advice everyone. It is nice to meet you all...although I wish it was under different circumstances.
I am going to follow up with my doctor tomorrow to see if I can get some antibiotics...but I don't think she is going to want to give them to me. She didn't even want to test for any tick related illnesses to begin with since I did not have the classic bullseye rash (only have small bumps) and she said that I had NONE of the symptoms of Lyme. She only tested because my husband insisted. But I will still give it a try. If not I will try to find another doctor here that will help.
I am also going to call and LLMD tomorrow to see if I can get an appointment asap.
I will keep everyone posted. Thanks again for your help.
Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
Hi Sweet-
You do have Lyme symptoms- Clearly-
Get a New doctor-Dont waste time-
Like your husband did - You have to take control of the situation - Dont get pushed around--
If I asked for a test and My Doctor denyed it--
I would remind the Doctor who is the Boss--You--
If you hirred someone to paint your house Blue and they told you Green Only--
Im perty sure you would end up with a Blue house Quickly -Right-
The test for these diseases are Very Poor --perty much Useless-- and cause More Harm by giving false results --
Bullseye bruse is not nessiary-
These germs are Very strong and have to be treated vigerously --
These diseases are dianogosed Best by your symptoms --Only -
Time is not on your side -- It is important to start ABX now-
As time goes by- having a good out come in your treatment gets much Harder and Longer--By a Bunch --
You may still be in the Golden Hour but you only have a few minutes left-
Doxicycline is a good ABX to start with because most doctors perscribe it regularly and its Real Cheap --
Many ABX are effective for treatment but most have to be taken in Higher doses to have Best effect--
As you can see from other posts SC and NC have lyme- For Sure -
Read the Newbee pages- Dr. B's info is a good place to start -its written in easier to understand language--
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