I had not been diagnosed with Lyme when I had both of my young children. I had them both naturally and then breastfed them both until 9 months and 7 months old. It was a few months later that I was diagnosed with chronic Lyme after a Western Blot tipped off my primary care physician. The disease has quickly progressing and I'm undergoing heavy treatment now. I'm wondering if I should have my kids tested? So far nothing appears out of the ordinary but should I be proactive? And what should I do if the tests came back positive? Besides worry incessantly.....
Posted by WPinVA (Member # 33581) on :
You're not alone. I've been wondering the same thing with my kids and I look forward to hearing others' responses to your post.
And I don't even know who I'd take them to to treat them if they do have it. It seems like the options for pediatric LLMDs are even more limited. : (
Posted by aperture (Member # 34822) on :
I'm glad I had my son tested. He is Igenex positive. He had very frequent illnesses since birth. He also developed sensory issues and autism traits. So, once I made the connection that I had tick borne diseases and Brucella, a lightbulb went off and I took him to see my LLMD.
In my case, it was obvious something was wrong. I just didn't know what.
My teenage daughter is healthy and, for that reason, I feel there is no need to have her tested at this time. (Even though myself, my husband and son are all sick).
You guys are definitely not alone Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
I have one child with PANS, Lyme induced, symptoms from birth. 2 other children healthy and completely neurotypical, I will not have them tested.
Our LLMD says if there are no symptoms, they do not treat.
Posted by ktkdommer (Member # 29020) on :
My sickest was obviously in treatment.
We decided to treat out positive oldest son who has mild symptoms. Things we thought were normal weren't. Thought TMJ pain was from braces, thought hip pain was from sports, told swollen glands was the way he was. Since treatment all of that is gone PLUS he says he can focus better and he is less irritable.
Part of our decision was the fact he was like a ticking time bomb and he was going off to college. That might have been the stressor that did him in.
With Lyme testing then we found out his testosterone was low, his cortisol was incredibly low and his vitamin D was depleted. I will always wonder what he would have been like if those things had been treated earlier.
My sister thought her son was symptom free until she really started watching him. He had light sensitivity and his shins hurt when she touched them. More things are slowly showing up at age 5.
I watched my son decline until he hit bottom. Puberty is a hard thing on kids with Lyme.
I would want to know. If an emergency came up, maybe the testing would explain it or be helpful. What if there was an issue and prednisone was needed? I'm a "what iffer?" so I would have to know. Maybe wouldn't treat, but would need to know.
Posted by Nicole_Denise (Member # 20620) on :
I don't know because I don't have kids, but I'd be tempted to say yes. If they show up as Lyme positive, take them to an LLMD.
The LLMD might say that they don't need treatment until they show symptoms- they might have a strong enough immune system to keep it in check.
Or he might say to treat them pre-ventatively.
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :
Yes, get them tested! Your reg. Doc might not do it for you.
If you have an LLMD, ask him/her to test them.
If you don't have an LLMD, then post for one in (seeking a doctor).
I'll pray the kids test Neg.
G
Posted by Truesun (Member # 19735) on :
My eldest son didn't show signs till he was ten years old and got a Hep B vaccination. It was immediately to much for him. My youngest didn't show signs until he was four. We didn't find out what was at the root of this until I was diagnosed in 2008. They are both positive.
I would definitely have them tested and think long and hard about vaccination schedules until you know more.
I am not a Dr. Just a Mom
Posted by willo7 (Member # 24263) on :
Yes! I didnt know I had lyme until about a yr after my 3rd child was born.
My oldest never showed any sign until he was 7.
I started testing with my oldest. That way I knew if he was positive, then I obviously passed it to all 3.
And they were all positive!
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
The wonderful Dr. J says with an untreated mother, infected with Lyme, there is a 50% chance of passing it in utero.
The DVD 'Putting Lyme behind you' a few of the LLMD's (longstanding) thought the chances were 40%.
I don't believe personally it is a 'given' that since I passed to one child, I passed to all children.
JMO.
Posted by sick (Member # 9143) on :
Yes by all means have them tested. Do not wait like so many of us have done only to find out years later that they do have Lyme. Why wait and wonder. Do it now! sick
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