First and foremost thank you all for this great resource. I've spent all day reading and doing research.
Are neurological problems related to a late stage in lyme disease? I have terrible "brain fog" for the last 5 months.
Most people don't understand what I'm talking about when I say brain fog. It's feeling totally out of it like I'm under the influence of drugs, difficulty concentrating a sort of detached feeling. Is this a sign a late stage lyme disease? I've read that this is a symptom but is this a late stage symptom? Is it possible that I've had Lyme disease for year unnoticed?
Here are my other symptoms: stiff neck pain in lower back dizziness anxiety panic attacks sharp pains shooting in my chest short term memory problems disturbed sleep constant red eyes, with floaters tunnel vision difficulty driving lightheadedness hearing problems fatigue weight loss
I'm know I'm missing a few symptoms, but the brain fog stared a week after my knee stopped hurting right after Memorial Day?
I've had a stiff neck and lower back pain for years which I always ignored thinking it was related to work or exercise.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Hi there and welcome! Have you been tested for other resaons for your neuro symptoms and found no answers?
If so, many symptoms that you list are on the Lyme symptom checklist. The best thing that you can do for yourself is get tested through Western Blot and see a Lyme Literate Doctor who will be able to diagnose you one way or the other.
That being said, neuro symptoms can come on abruptly, early or late in disease.
Posted by been (Member # 23127) on :
I had a Cat Scan of my head MRI/MRA of the brain, ECHO and doppler of the heart and everything is normal. My IgE level is at 123 slightly above the normal rage of 114. BTW, I'm 38 male (was a gym rat) ran 3 miles 3x a week and felt great until this started in June! I haven't worked out or ran since late August.
I had a Western Blot done by Quest in late August only 41 KD (IGG) Band was reactive. I read that abx will give a false negative. In June my PCP put me on Augumentin b/c he thought I had a sinus infection. The lyme test was taken at the end of August. Is it possible that the abx effected the lyme test?
Posted by LizaLu (Member # 21483) on :
Your IgE is higher than normal. I would investigate that by going to an allergist. I have had plugged ears, brain fog and dizziness that i now contribute to being allergic to my 3 cats.
However, i am lab positive IgM for late stage lyme so it gets tricky to decipher what's caused from the undiganosed allergy and the more seriousness of late stage lyme. You certainly have the Lyme symptoms...and i've heard that abx can affect testing, but don't know if they force more bands to show then less.
One band can be signficant and if you are having all those symptoms, see a LLMD.
Posted by been (Member # 23127) on :
Been to an allergist and he put me on Singulair and Veramyst. I can breath better now, but the brain fog is that same if not worst. It's always there, it never leaves, it's as if I'm permanently detached from myself.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
been,
i think this link will explain the cognitive things really well; it did for me
Distinct Pattern of Cognitive Impairment Noted in Study of Lyme Patients .....MUST READ!! EXPLAINS EVERYTHING !!
written by Marian Rissenberg PhD & Susan Chambers MD,
Your pattern of symptoms certainly sound like they could be late stage lyme. Lyme affects many bodily systems, and frequently cause neurological symptoms.
You need to see a lyme literate doctor to be diagnosed.
Remember that lyme is a clinical diagnosis, as the blood tests have so many false negatives.
I only had band 41 at first also in blood testing, despite known tick bites in endemic areas, positive co-infection tests, and a positive spinal tap. The blood tests should not be relied upon for diagnosing lyme, they are just one piece of information, along with your history of possible exposures, your symptoms, other tests, etc.
I used to have all of your symptoms, and they went away with long-term antibiotic treatment. Best wishes for your health.
Posted by disillusioned (Member # 23003) on :
The fog, and the feeling in my head and occasinally my limbs, like I was plugged into an electrical socket, has been my most prominent symptom. Per my ID, and this may be the one intelligent thin he said to me. is that the nerve cells are damaged from the disease, and that those cells are very slow to heal. He said the reason I felt better on Rocephin was that it had neuroprotective properties, so I assume it was "soothing" those cells. Sure hope he is right! I am better with time, although it flared up when I had the flu-my immune system "recognizing" the damage?
Posted by Skyler (Member # 11549) on :
I know exactly what you are talking about when you describe your brain fog.
For me, one day, it just went away. now, It makes a reappearance once in a while.
I started getting brain fog about 8 years after being infected.
I hope this is of some help. All I can say is my experience, everyone is different, as you know.
Hang in there. I really hope this goes away for you soon.
Posted by timaca (Member # 6911) on :
been~ Other pathogens can also cause your same symptoms. Consider testing for HHV-6, EBV and Cpn (use Focus Diagnostics lab) and get tested for enterovirus at Arup lab.
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