It seems people symptomatic and asymptomatic often discover their own illness during pregnancy or childbirth. If this happened to you - what were your symptoms? Did your OB/Gyn test you? Did anyone else in your family have a history of Lyme? How did you get diagnosed for Lyme Disease? -p
Posted by lymeparfait (Member # 14268) on :
NO one tested me at the time, It took me 16 years after pregnancy to figure it all out.
symptoms immediately after pregnancy: Major inflamation: could not urinate for two weeks without a catheter.
Breast inflamed, would not let down with milk. Nothing worked, so I had to bottle feed after three weeks.
Flu symptoms, and bladder/kidney infection from catheter. Dehydration, Near death. It got better with antibiotics....interesting!
ligament pain in legs and feet
rashes on joints, elbows, toes and fingers
severe post partum depression
flu symptoms every month, that come and go.
brain fog
anxiety
hair loss
fibermyalgia pains that come with stress
got better after 3 months.
And much better later, until I got pregnant again 1 year later, and it all happened all over again!
Then after #2 birth I lost my sex drive.
I just thought this all was normal during pregnancy.
Found out about lyme from a neighbor, and our whole neighborhood tested positive. But we all have different symptoms.
So my neighbor saved my life...my Dr';s could not help me with my continued symptoms that became, Chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, thyroiditis, lupus, brain fog, etc.
After my igenex test and lyme treatment, I am now in remission, and what I have left is heavy metal related.
My thoughts: lyme is only one small piece of the puzzle, but it's the significant finding that will help you work on the right things by giving you a direction, and eventually heal you.
I gave it to my children, but I also gave them mercury and candida! Those are more of a problem than the lyme right now for us all. We cannot absorb nutrients due to the leaky gut. So my advice, is to work on this as well, then you will get better! I thank God for what I have learned after acquiring lyme. Getting lyme, and treating it properly, may have saved me from getting alzheimers, or cancer.
Posted by MY3BOYS (Member # 17830) on :
did not get dx util 8/08. have had 3 kids ages 12,8,3 and 2 miscarraiges.
i was tx for "lupus" for over 8 yrs. just got lyme dx when work up for MS was -. a very confused neruologist tested for lyme on "off chance". lucky (devine intervention) i got into a new neruo day i could not walk and he is new to tx via NY so was familiar wiht lyme
got the "lyme is not in tx though", then recanted when i was positive
my symptoms got better prego, and varied. pain has always been issue. seems like each pregnancy when symptoms came back was worse and more progressive with added sympotms each time.
my pregnancies were difficult. on progesterone first trimesters, and pre term labor each time with last one starting at only 24 wk. he was NICU and hubby got vasectomy after that.
we had never even thought of lyme as possiblity. was just "auto immune" dx for me with "low to no risk" to kids......not now
Posted by Peedie (Member # 15355) on :
Hi girls! Thank you for the information - I hope I get more responses. I'm doing some research.
two questions: 1. If you had been given a Lyme information sheet at your gynocologist or OB office, would you have found this helpful?
2. How would you feel about a voluntary blood test done when couples apply for a Marriage License that would check for Lyme and coinfections?
Many states have done away with the manditory marriage blood test requirements. California has not required blood tests since 2003.
This test checked for venereal disease, rubella or the presence of genetic disorders such as sicle-cell anemia as well as Rh blood factors.
Can't help but think the government cut still another program vital to the health of our population.
I understand the Lyme tests are unreliable - but if even 40-50% were discovered...
And the benefits would be public awareness and perhaps more accurate tests?
Just to add more thoughts. -p
Posted by lymeparfait (Member # 14268) on :
1. YES, gyno's also need to know how to encourage a pregnant lyme mom to safely treat so she doesn't pass this onto her unborn child. Also what to expect later!
2.YES
Would also welcome lyme and co-infection test before anyone is allowed to give blood to the public blood bank!
Posted by orrn (Member # 6672) on :
I think it is a great idea, but the testing is so inaccurate. It would catch some people I guess though...
I was not aware I had LD until my daughter was 3 years old. I had a great pregnancy, but did have preterm labor.
I also did not produce alot of milk, which was bad because she was allergic to every formula(even the hypoallergenic one).
She was allergic to milk or anything that had milk in it until she was like 2-3 years old. And I mean ALLERGIC!
She would turn red and swell up. We were at the ER 3 times before we figured it out. Very scary!!!!
I have chosen not to have any more kids, because I don't want to pass it to another child. I got very lucky with my daughter.
She is pretty healthy, even though she has LD....if that makes sense?
orrn
Posted by peacemama (Member # 17666) on :
I"ve talked at great length with my friend who is a midwife. They currently have no education in this arena. Yes. I would take the test. Yes, I would end the pregnancy if I got pregnant now(you can't expect abx to keep co-infections out). I think the information should be taught in all sex ed and pre-conception classes.
I have two congenital lymies AND I lost one at 16 weeks gestation.
I think, at the very least people who have had lyme and were treated at any degree (10 days, etc) should be told about the risks. I have a student who had lyme 5 years before her daughter and had the standard 10 days. She is a scientist and calls her now flared up symptoms, "post lyme". Education. We need education.
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
My wife started her symptoms when she was 3-4 months pregnant.
She was not diagnosied until about 4 years later and several doctors.
She started to drag her foot during pregnancy and was never tested for Lyme.
Over time she was getting worse and eventually was diagnosed to have neurological disease before Lyme.
1) I think it would help if her gyno. had Lyme info. and informed her for a test.
2) I do not personally believe in any disease test for marriage. I think that's rather inhumane. But I do believe in test for pregnancy.
Posted by Kali Dhi (Member # 19686) on :
I was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme two years before my pregnancy
But my whole pregnancy was such a relief--my pain lifted & I had 6 months of almost no muscle spasms...
I was able to get out of the house EVERY DAY!!!
2 months after I gave birth though It all came back
So Im back inside raising my mini man from the bed...
Posted by kareamber (Member # 20110) on :
I am undx'd however my sx came about 2 months after my 2nd child was born. It lasted 5-6 months then eventually got better. Now it is back and worse.
Posted by Peedie (Member # 15355) on :
Thanks to all -
Do you all think a single sheet of information at the OB/Gyn offices with a list of symptoms - and basic information is a practical idea? -p
Posted by lymeparfait (Member # 14268) on :
Yes, I think a sheet for the patients to read in the waiting room is a good start! The patients know what their odd symptoms are, and are also educating themselves on pregnancy and motherhood.
Giving the pregnant mothers a chance to request testing is the way to go! It would be refreshing if a ob/gyn would pro-actively get involved with offering lyme testing and diagnosis. lp
Posted by lymeparfait (Member # 14268) on :
Another thought...is to have a hand out on how to prevent autism.
This will grab every Mom.
Show the links of autism , heavy metals, and lyme!
Every Mom will want the test then!
Posted by Peedie (Member # 15355) on :
Great ideas Lymeparfait ! I think people should get tested before giving blood also.
I'm thinking the handout for the OB/Gyn office would have to be pretty generic in order to get them out there for the public.
The web addresses for further information on Lyme Disease - which will make people aware of co-infections as well. The web address for LIA too?
Wouldn't this be a great place to start?
I think this is a worth while project. Is anyone interested in brainstorming ideas as to how to get this done?
![[Frown]](frown.gif)