As the subject said...how do I know chronic Lyme (and/or co-infections) is(/are) causing my health problems and not something else? So far, I know my health issues aren't related to diet/food allergies, Candida, chemicals in my environment or thyroid disease. I tested positive via W. Blot for Band 23, but I'm wondering if something else could be making me sick and it's just happenstance that I am positive for Lyme.
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
You could go to a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor and do a trial/ start treatment for Lyme disease, and get further correct testing for co-infections and borrelia from them, too.
Posted by unsure445 (Member # 15962) on :
The hallmark of Lyme disease is that symptoms come and go and migrate around the body. In the years prior to being diagnosed and becoming extremely ill, I would have a symptom such as numbness and tingling in my hand and foot and it would last 2 weeks.
A few weeks later I would have brain fog that would last a few weeks and then go away, etc...
If you have had the same symptoms every day for a long time, probably not Lyme.
Posted by nikkabelle (Member # 43604) on :
Just wanted to chime in really quick.
Actually, you can have lyme symptoms for a long time everyday. It's true that many come and go, but some can also be more constant. Everybody is different.
I just asked my llmd the other day if it's normal to have some symptoms that come and go and others that are constant and he said yes, absolutely.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- You are positive but have not yet been treated, you can bet that lyme MUST be addressed. That's key.
Yet other factors should be considered so that any other stressors / barriers can be mitigated so that lyme treatment can be as successful as possible.
A LL doctor is best to determine which of your symptoms might be due to other factors at this time. Only someone really "lyme literate" will be able to help sort. Yet lyme really can cause so many symptoms as
it can affect every body part, organ, function - including thyroid (yet thyroid Rx may be required).
All bets are off, really, though as to how symptoms play out. Lyme / TBD (tick borne disease) can vary from person to person, from time to time, day to day or hour to hour.
Or, as mentioned above, some symptoms can be constant before diagnosis and even for some time during treatment. But, many who have had symptoms for years most often find that treating the CAUSE will result in symptoms subsiding, even if it takes a while.
Article below for anyone who really wants to understand (after you read it, share with those close to you).
Plan something refreshing for yourself after pouring through this. Take it in steps, it is a rough format so you may want to copy, paste and then change font and add some space breaks for your "study" copy.
This article is also essential reading to gain an understanding of what it's like to HAVE lyme. This can be frightening, yet it is informative -- and then empowering so that symptoms and patterns are not so scary.
Hopefully, you can find and get assessed by a good LLMD &/or LL ND.
OTHER tick borne infections also need to be considered as lyme usually never travels alone. All this can be very overwhelming - for sure. So, be sure to breathe and take it one step at a time.
You are on the way. Many go years, decades, lifetimes and never know the underlying cause. You are on your way. -
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by nikkabelle:
I just asked my llmd the other day if it's normal to have some symptoms that come and go and others that are constant and he said yes, absolutely.
-
Absolutely!!
Do be sure to read the article that Keebler posted.
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
Well honestly I don't think there is any way to tell for sure. I think if they were test a random group of individuals many would test positive but that does not mean they need treatment. Some even feel the positive results are merely showing exposure.
I spent over a year treating lyme with oral antibiotics, positive for band 23 only. In the end I decided to move on and address other possible reasons for my symptoms and began to feel better.
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
quote:Originally posted by onebratt08: As the subject said...how do I know chronic Lyme (and/or co-infections) is(/are) causing my health problems and not something else?
You don't but we know from our own experiences what lyme and company does and exactly how it makes us feel. The odds are high the reason you feel so bad is likely due to lyme and co infections.
There may also be other things to add to it, but IMO lyme and co infections would primarily be at the heart of it all. They are tough to deal with, no doubt and make people feel awful (understatement).
As far as looking for more things, Doc H wrote a really good book, Why Can't I Get Better, Solving The Mystery of Lyme and Chronic Disease, that covers a multitude of issues that can affect lyme patients (worth reading).
Posted by onebratt08 (Member # 43577) on :
Thanks for all the input!
I am on antibiotics - 2 kinds (as well as Samento and Banderol). I had been on one antibiotic before (+Samento and Banderol) and had what I feel was some improvement, but still many symptoms. This time around, I'm not improving one bit (I was only off antibiotics 4 months). So I got to wondering if something else might be causing me to be ill.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
You have to be on the right antibiotics (ones that kill lyme in its different forms--it takes at least 2 taken simultaneously), in the right dosages (if dose is too low, it won't kill lyme), and for the right amount of time (2 months past the symptom-free point).
Plus, you have to treat every coinfection that you have. You won't feel better until you do.
And, you need to take the appropriate supplements, no alcohol or smoking, eat the anti-yeast diet, and do one continuous hour of weightlifting every other day.
So, if your doc isn't giving you good lyme treatment, you won't get much better. The doc is the key to getting rid of this horrendous disease.
I suggest you study the Burrascano Lyme Treatment Guidelines and see if your treatment lines up. The Guidelines are here: