I know much discussion and information is out there on "post-lyme syndrome" and chronic lyme disease but I am having a hard time finding information on what happens when lyme disease occurs in a patient more than once and different strains of the disease. I was diagnosed last year and had very different symptoms (body aches, low body temperature, eye pain) than I have this time (low grade fever, severe headaches, fatigue). I know last year I was exposed in Maine, this time it is likely a tick bit me in Europe. Are there different strains that could manifest different symptoms? Has anyone had lyme disease twice within a year and felt completely different both times?
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Welcome!
Yes, many strains... over 300 world wide.. and many sub strains and species. Over 100 KNOWN strains in the USA.
Many symptoms can be apparent and be complex.. and supposedly.... like snow flakes... no two people are exactly alike before they melt.
The snow flakes melt.. not people. As far as I know... melting isn't a Lyme symptom, yet.
BTW- You can get progressively worse with each new bite.
Then there are coinfections.
Example- a mouse can carry 99 known diseases. The tick that bites that nasty mouse could pick up a multitude of them... then bite you.
Melanie has a wonderful website- the Lyme Memorial site- that lists tick borne diseases and hosts, per state. It will give you an idea of some of the infections KNOWN to be carried by ticks.
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