I am still wondering why lyme seems to affect women more seriously with autoimmune issues, and I would guess mostly under 40, just like auto immune diseases show their ugly face between 20 and 40 years old... What is it that make women different?... Also, if you are over 40 and your symptoms started when you were in your 20's, did you notice a difference in your 40's?
Posted by penguingirl (Member # 28688) on :
I am 33 - I got diagnosed with endometriosis when I was 25 but I was always got sick very easily with sinus infections since 1996 so I had a bad immune for awhile.
Then I had crushing fatigue for at least 2 years in my early 20s which I just attributed to my endometriosis so I just don't know what was what.
Then I think if I even had lyme it was dormant for a good 5 years when I started getting joint pain and neurological symptoms.
Posted by mbdq (Member # 26277) on :
I am 35, and turn 36 on Thursday
Diagnosed with lyme in 2009. Symptoms since late 90s.
I got sicker and sicker very slowly so I was misdiagnosed for a long time. I know I got significantly worse when I started on a different hormonal therapy (progesterone patch) in 2002.
My ana is + but I am negative for Lupus.
Still not where I want to be, but better than I was with treatment.
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
Thanks girls! By the way, I am 30 and got very sick in 2009. I am getting better but hopefully by 40 years, i will be done:-)
Posted by skies (Member # 28064) on :
I'm 29...just got married last year (barely made it through my wedding, I was so sick).. was planning to start a family soon after getting married, but this has certainly put a damper on things. Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- "Auto immune" disease is most often undiagnosed stealth infection. -
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I was 40 when I got terribly ill. I had Lyme most of my life and got bitten again and became bedridden. I'm 47 now and feel better than I have ever felt in my life.
Posted by Aleigh (Member # 21074) on :
I'll be 40 in 9 weeks.
I started feeling my symptoms 5 years ago after lots and lots and lots of stress.
I was clinically diagnosed by my son's LLMD's PA about 6 months ago. No blood testing done. Not sure if I believe my diagnosis.
I joined the forum after my son became ill about 1.5 years ago.
Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
I am 24 and have Vitiligo and Hashimoto diseases
Posted by Bugg (Member # 8095) on :
just turned 40
Posted by jadams (Member # 28016) on :
I am 27...I thought I always had really good immunity because I rarely got sick but when I did it was bad. I would be extremely sick rather than just under the weather. I also have endometriosis.
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
Keebler, I agree that auto immune is an infection, however, it seems to affect women way more than men so it certainely has sth to do with our hormonal system or sth...
Posted by undiagnosed22 (Member # 28152) on :
Skies...I am in the same boat as you. 29, just got married this past summer. I got sick about 3 weeks before my wedding and it put such a damper on everything. And, like you, plans for family and everything else fun that I had planned for first year of marriage is put on hold indefinitely now until I get better...
Posted by AnnaOD20 (Member # 29942) on :
I am 39 and was just diagnosed at the end of December. I was actually pregnant and had a 2nd trimester miscarriage in September that was unexplained and I started my search for answers soon after and got diagnosed w/ Lyme/Bartonella.
I just watched the documentary Under Our Skin and highly recommend it especially for those of you considering pregnancy. I could completely relate to one of the women featured. I have to say again that I have some symptoms but overall feel pretty good. Think the antibiotics will be harder on me then what I was dealing with before them. Besides lyme/bart I have been in good health (have two little boys ages 3 and almost 2).
Posted by hopeforhealth (Member # 23673) on :
I just turned 30, became ill 3 years ago. Also have Endo. But no problems with pregnancy, have had 2 unplanned but very welcome pregnancies in the past 4 years. It's actually the only time I felt decent in the past 3 years.
Posted by SashaC (Member # 18968) on :
I'm almost 39. I've had Lyme since the month after I turned 35.
Posted by WhitneyS (Member # 25666) on :
I am 26, and used to be a professional runner and have always lived a very healthy lifestyle. I also have Celiac disease which was diagnosed after I was infected with Lyme (but didn't know it). I am 9 months into treatment.
Posted by skies (Member # 28064) on :
quote:Originally posted by undiagnosed22: Skies...I am in the same boat as you. 29, just got married this past summer. I got sick about 3 weeks before my wedding and it put such a damper on everything. And, like you, plans for family and everything else fun that I had planned for first year of marriage is put on hold indefinitely now until I get better...
Undiagnosed22--I'm really sorry to hear that. I got sick a little over a month before my wedding (although I hadn't been feeling "right" for months before that)..I am sad that I couldn't really enjoy such a special day, I was just going through the motions for the guests. Anyway, I wish you the best and hope that treatment goes well for you. You are certainly not alone.
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
Diagnosed with "chronic reactive arthritis" at 23.
In and out of hospitals with strange diagnoses for the last 17+ years.
I turned 40 last November. At least I know what's wrong with me.
Posted by undiagnosed22 (Member # 28152) on :
Thanks, skies. Best wishes to you too, we need to get better and enjoy life as newlyweds!!!
Posted by BarrelKat (Member # 30329) on :
I'll be 40 in May. Have had Lyme for 21 years tho still waiting for a definitive diagnosis/treatment.
Hopeforhealth-Me too. I have Endo, and have had 3 kids, and pregnancy was the only time I seemed to be symptom free and feel great.
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
Barrelkat, do you mean that your lyme symptoms went inot remission while you were pregnant?!!
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
I agree with hopeforhealth and BarrelKat-- when I was pregnant, I felt GREAT!
I have been taking grapeseed extract every day (since I found it) for what was diagnosed as arthritis at 23 years old...
When I was pregnant... no pain, no grapeseed extract!
And look at how sick my son is!
I heard the owner of the Thriiive.com website (autism, lyme) say jokingly, "If you want to detox, have a baby..." 2/3 of your toxin load goes to your first born.
That's why most people with chronic infections feel great when pregnant. Also why they must be on abx to protect the baby!!
Posted by Florence1 (Member # 22960) on :
38, possibly bitten in 2005 got really sick in 2009 at 36.....hashimotos......
Posted by renny1985 (Member # 25222) on :
25. sick since I was 10.
Posted by opus2828 (Member # 15407) on :
Turned 40 last Sept. and have been sick since I was a kid.
I felt better BEFORE I had my kids. Pregnancy really brought it all out for me and I felt awful while pregnant.
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
also, this remission may be due to hormonal changes, not necessarily toxins going to the baby.. that's why I asked about our age, as after 40, hormonal chnages may play a role into reaching remission... Momlyme, hw old is your son? Did you notice he was sick since he was born?
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
He's twelve. I was 28 when I got pregnant. I had "chronic arthritis" since I was 23. It was post dog bite and post 16 amalgam fillings.
When I was 25 I stopped taking pain killers and arthritis medicine and started taking grapeseed extract to keep the pain at bay.
He has had the white spots on his fingernails ever since I can remember. (HPU)
He didn't talk until he was 2 1/2... although we knew he was very intelligent. OCD issues since he was born... texture issues. Hated sandboxes and dirt. Would never finger paint or play with clay.
Some of that, as I look back was very autistic-like. He did not get sick with Lyme Disease until he was 11. He got bit by a tick when he was 10... maybe again when he was 11. I don't know. I never saw either tick. Didn't find out about the tick bite when he was 10 until he was 4 months into LD treatment.
He got a T-Dap booster that they screwed up and had to give it to him twice. Immediately after, he went to science/math camp for two weeks, stayed at a college dorm. Got nosebleeds a lot at camp, which had never been a problem.
He came home and was sick with what I thought was the flu.
Things went really down hill when the amoxy didn't work in the 28 day period so the doctor gave him prednisone for "normal gout." That was when I found out about the controversy. Wish I never had him take that prednisone, but I trusted the doctor.
I know I gave my son the mercury. We have found him to be very toxic in mercury. Did I give him Lyme? I don't know if I even have lyme disease. I do have recurring Mycoplasma Pneumonia and he tests positive for that.
I believe we give our children more than our DNA.
I will never be a good test subject to whether hormones at 40 will change our health. I just turned 40 and I had my amalgams out. I believe that will change my health for the better.
Posted by MamaMelvis (Member # 26818) on :
I'm 31, sick since early 2007.
Posted by lpass (Member # 26781) on :
I'm 32. Sick since November 2009. Diagnosed in June and started treatment then.
Posted by lpass (Member # 26781) on :
I'm 32. Sick since November 2009. Diagnosed in June and started treatment then.
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
hum, very interesting... thanks ladies! it seems most of us are in their 30's which is also statistically the age at which "auto immune" conditions are diagnosed. I really wonder how it goes for those of us who have been diagnosed after 40 years old... Again, I am just searching for answers regarding hormonal implications in lyme and in auto immune conditions...
Posted by IckyTicky (Member # 21466) on :
I'm 33. Diagnosed 3 years ago. Have had LD for at least 21 years undiagnosed.
Posted by IckyTicky (Member # 21466) on :
Oh..and I also had a complete hysterectomy at the age of 29 for Endometriosis that had practically taken control of my internal organs.
Posted by Pam08 (Member # 19203) on :
I'm 35 but became ill about a month before my 26th birthday.
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