I have been unwell for 20 years with various diagnosis' ranging from Lyme to CFIDS. I also have NMH and have been on disability for 5 years. Anyway I never had a positive Lyme test although a Bone Marrow biopsy to rule out Leukemia found the Lyme DNA in my marrow. Thankfully, Dr B out here in the Hamptons has always been my doc and he felt I had Lyme even before the biopsy. Sooooo....long story short, over the past 20 odd years I have had every possible abx treatment available including oral, IM and IV. Many combinations. I have been off all abx for about 4 years now and feel relatively well. At my worst I was hospitalized and in a wheelchair. At this time I live a pretty "normal" life altyhough I tire quickly and still suffer joint pains and chills etc.... I always feel a bit like I've got the flu.
My major problem is my stomach. I have suffered severe diarrhea and pain for the past 3 years. It's not constant I have good, relatively normal weeks and then horrible weeks with all kinds of gastro symptoms. I've had endoscopies and colonoscopies and stool samples etc.... Nothing is ever found. I am also suffering yeast problems which I've never, ever had before. All my blood work is normal and my immune function seems better then ever by test results anyway.
Any ideas? My docs are mystified (no shock there....)
Gallbladder? What blood tests would show trouble there?
[ 30. October 2006, 09:25 AM: Message edited by: Stardantzer ]
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Even though you've had all kinds of diagnostic tests and have probably had a test for celiac, HAVE YOU TRIED ELIMINATING gluten COMPLETELY from your diet for several weeks or months???
You might be pleasantly surprised if you try that! Let's hope so, anyway!
I don't think blood tests will show GB problems. Have you had an ultrasound?
Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :
Kristina,
You mentioned you have yeast. Well, I would think yeast in the gut would do that.
I also second the idea of considering gluten elimination. I went totally gluten-free two months before being bitten by the tick so I already had the diet down pat.
Dr. B. probably told you, but many people with Lyme develop celiac disease (if you have the genetic predisposition) or celiac-like symptoms.
There are numerous celiac disease associations that you can join that provide tons of information or just go on the Internet and learn the diet - that's what I did.
If you haven't been properly tested for celiac disease, the best lab is Prometheus Labs where I live - San Diego. Unfortunately, my tests were not done through there so I did not have all the very latest tests. But their celiac panel includes them.
There is also a lab called Enterolab that does stool testing for a wide range of gluten sensitivities (not just full-blown celiac disease) as well as other allergies and sensitivities. Some people swear by the tests but it's considered controversial by the celiac doctors.
Are you on the supplement sacchoromyces boulardii in addition to probiotics? It's specifically to help the gut and help prevent diarrhea and C. Diff. infections.
Have you been tested for C. Diff?
All the years on antibiotics could easily have left you with intestinal permeability (leaky gut) and so does candida. Do you have a holistic M.D. or naturopathic doctor who could do an intestinal permeability test on you through Great Smokies or a similar lab? There are nutrients you can use to help heal leaky gut.
Good luck and let us know what happens. I had the same problem for eleven years when I had chronic fatigue syndrome and I know how debilitating it is. Working on my food allergies made a huge improvement!!!