I know there are other posts on this topic and I've read them but I'm so confused and I just don't know what to think about this.
I was bitten by a tick in 1999, had a bullseye rash, didn't get sick & doc said I didn't need anything. Got sick in 2003 & misdiagnosed for 4 more years. Have both neuro & arthritis & fibromyalgia related symptoms in addition to other strange & bizarre symptoms.
Met my husband in 2000, married in 2001, he has custody of 2 girls. My current LLMD (since 01/09) thinks that Lyme is sexually transmitted and my last LLMD said that it wasn't.
My husband isn't sick, but 2 years ago when he was on a steroid spray for allergies, his legs started aching all the time and he was exhausted. When he quit taking it, he recovered. But in the past 6 months he has had rashes on the bottom of his feet that are just like my 2 month rash. Every two months, I get an itchy rash around my left ankle that forms blisters on & below the skin. His are just like this.
He has not been tested for Lyme, even though we have the kit from Igenex right now - I forgot why we are waiting. But I came home from a doctor's appointment just now to find a note written by my teen daughter that said she dragged him to give blood. I called him in sort of hysterics explaining why he can't do it. It never occured to him even though we have discussed this.
Anyway, now what does he tell our daughters? I didn't want them to know yet because if they think that I gave Lyme to their dad...we just didn't want to explain this until we knew for sure. And even though we can explain that I can't give it to them, they may want me out! The guilt is already huge and sorry I am sounding hysterical but I can't believe he went to give blood with her!
So, am I just being an idiot? What is the decision on Lyme being sexually transmitted? And if there's a chance, he can't give blood, right? I am convinced that this is how my uncle and aunt got it. They saw the area dermatologist who re-used needles on patients. But that is another story.
Posted by Melanie Reber (Member # 3707) on :
I'm so sorry...
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
please do NOT GIVE!!!
melanie's post says it all....
Posted by pepperspeck (Member # 18837) on :
I used to check off organ donor on my license. Not anymore.
I do not give blood either.
I could see my husband (who continues to test positive but denies symptoms) giving blood for the cookie and oj...
I can so see what you described happening here.
Posted by unsure445 (Member # 15962) on :
I have read that if you have had Babesia you can NEVER give blood! I think right now the theory is that you can give blood if you are not symptomatic (ignorance of course!!)
Also, I tried to get on the bone marrow donor registry list to help out a friend and was turned away because of Lyme. You can never donate bone marrow once you have had Lyme.
Why would blood be any different?
Posted by pepperspeck (Member # 18837) on :
I was going to ask that unsure445. I have not seen or looked into the blood donation check list.
I do hope that if you have a tick born disease (or, perhaps more importantly, have ever been diagnosed with one) that you can not give blood, donate an organ etc.
Will have to look into the guidelines and see what they say.
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
No blood or organ donor ever again. Its sad but at least some unsuspecting person dosent get it again and die anyway.
Posted by ladeedah (Member # 21642) on :
Okay so being a newbie here to Lyme, I'm still confused.
Is it sexually transmitted?
Does this mean I am scarred for life?
I can never have unprotected sex with my husband (not there yet but want it someday) so I can have kids one day?
Are you telling me that because of some stupid bug I now can pass this on to my kids? Or is it only when it's active?
Any information helpful...
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
pepper,
blood folks go by what our MILITARY GUIDELIENS SAY ... if you've had NO symptoms i believe in ONE year....