I am new to this but so far not feeling well since last Oct. My onset of symptoms was very abrupt: a flu-like symptom, then in less than a month, I started feeling mild tremor and ringing in the ears (I understand them as neuro symptoms) along with other muscle soreness. Is there anyone here that shares similar pattern of development? Can I hear your stories?
Thanks, Jason
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
Yes they are. I had tinnitus, muscle aches, tingling before I was diagonosed. Doing much better now. Ill send you a pm
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Neuro symptoms are common lyme symptoms because lyme is basically a disease of the nervous system.
"Chronic" lyme means something much more specific.
Dr. Burrascano recognizes three stages of lyme: acute, early disseminated, and chronic. Here is what he says about chronic lyme:
"A very important issue is the definition of �Chronic Lyme Disease�. Based on my clinical data and the latest published information, I offer the following definition. To be said to have chronic LB, these three criteria must be present:
1. Illness present for at least one year (this is approximately when immune breakdown attains clinically significant levels).
2. Have persistent major neurologic involvement (such as encephalitis/encephalopathy, meningitis, etc.) or active arthritic manifestations (active synovitis).
3. Still have active infection with B. burgdorferi (Bb), regardless of prior antibiotic therapy (if any).
Chronic Lyme is an altogether different illness than earlier stages, mainly because of the inhibitory effect on the immune system (Bb has been demonstrated in vitro to both inhibit and kill B- and T-cells, and will decrease the count of the CD-57 subset of the natural killer cells).
As a result, not only is the infection with Bb perpetuated and allowed to advance, but the entire issue of co infections arises. Ticks may contain and transmit to the host a multitude of potential pathogens. The clinical presentation of Lyme therefore reflects which pathogens are present and in what proportion. Apparently, in early infections, before extensive damage to the immune system has occurred, if the germ load of the co-infectors is low, and the Lyme is treated, many of the other ticktransmitted microbes can be contained and eliminated by the immune system. However, in the chronic patient, because of the inhibited defenses, the individual components of the co-infection are now active enough so that they too add to features of the illness and must be treated. In addition, many latent infections which may have pre-dated the tick bite, for example herpes viruses, can reactivate, thus adding to the illness." (pages 3-4)