Newbie here 3 weeks into this crazy and scary thing. Looking to see if my symptoms sound familiar to anyone and what i can expect for the uncertain future.
Background- moved to long island last year and recently got a pretty nice job unfortunately part of it involves field work, i am an environmental engineer, working in the wetlands of LI.
Recently got sick 3 days after returning from last field work. Always check myself for ticks but one got by, started with gastro issues, then flu like symptoms, bad back of neck skull aches, dizzyness, spaced out feeling, chills, full body shakes, involuntary muscle twitches and movement, pins and needles neuro pain, chest tighness, ribs sore oh and tonight full burning mouth. sore heavy limbs, swollen knee
After initial flu symptoms in late summer i quickly got to an ID doc and told them my story. Got put on 2weeks doxy 100 mg 2x day been on a week and most symptoms gone except the lingering neuro stuff. This thing came on quick and felt like looming death, then some symptoms left just as quickly. Each day brings the question ok what wierd symptom and i gooing to have today?
I have been reading alot and found out about llmds vs traditional cdc treatment and have an appt with a major player in this field next week. Two days after my 2 week meds run out. I am hoping he will ramp up my treatment so i can knock this thing out.
Question i have is does this sound like lyme? And is 3 weeks post initial symptoms too late to get the 'right' treatment from an lllmd? One thing is once i started on the doxy after the first week most symptoms subsided or left completly. In my opinion that means its some knd of tick borne illness mostly lyme?
This will be my second major illness in 4 years, got a virus a few years back that put me out for a year. Went to every doc imaginable nobody knew anything just throws medicine at symptoms
So i am not that confident about the 'fast food' 2 week treatment, in and out mentalilty of standard medicine.
Thank you for any insight you can give.
M
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Sounds EXACTLY like Lyme to me. Be sure to be checked for babesia and other coinfections as well. The LLMD will know to do that.
You are very lucky to have gone to the DR right away and to have been treated right away. No need to worry about the time frame here. You are on top of it.
The dosage you were given is too low, but it is a good start .. better than most of us got .. which was nothing. Mainstream docs will NOT give more than that.
PS .. Be SURE to take doxy in the middle of a full meal .. no skimping on the food. Do not lie down for 45 min to an hour after taking the doxy.
Take probiotics 2 hours away from any antibiotics. Watch your diet as well .. you need to protect your gut from candida/yeast which will come on from taking antibiotics long term.
Posted by matt238 (Member # 46849) on :
Thanks LT! Know anything about burning mouth? I have it really bad right now with slight sore throat. I am thinking either its the lyme or thrush from the abx. Tongue doesnt look like thrush pics online though, maybe its an early form or the doxy side effect. Its the weekend so only choice is convenient care centers or spending 250 to go to the ER
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Sounds terrible to have a burning mouth. I read not long ago of someone who had that from herpes.
There is something called oral allergy syndrome too. You could research those.
But yes, it could be candida/yeast/thrush.
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
Actually just finished it right before i seen you sent this note , lol. Need to get my diet up to date and probably suppliments once i meet with my llmd next week. Looks like a long road even for an early dis. such as myself.
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
Tell us more about the virus that kept you out for a year. How was that diagnosed?
Posted by matt238 (Member # 46849) on :
Right, its actually unrelated, as suspect as it seems. Caught something during a sexual encounter that wasnt an std but was a virus unknown. Caused alot of pelvic pain and initial constittional symptoms, was tested for lyme during that time as well from my ID doctor. Alot of anitbiotics thrown at it which didnt affect anything. Time was the best healer.
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
OK. It is just that more than a few people had some unknown health problem prior to their lyme diagnosis and it turned out to be a previous tick encounter, so second time around, no treatment the first time.
Had to be sure because a longer running lyme case would need significantly more treatment.