I am 23 years old and was diagnosed almost 3 years ago with idiopathic transverse myelitis. While in the hospital paralyzed from the shoulders down, I was treated with IV antibiotics and steroids for the inflammation in my spinal cord, and I was tested for everything, including Lyme, but no cause was ever found.
Before becoming ill, I was a completely healthy college student. Now I am numb on most of the left side of my body, and I have chronic fatigue. Anxiety is a daily battle, I have random shooting pains in different parts of my body (mostly upper abdomen), and I have muscle spasms in my legs and arms. I also have to take medicine for over active bladder. I feel like a 23 year old senior citizen (no offense to the older members!)
I would be content with diagnosis if it was not for my experience with Lyme as a child. I was treated for Lyme when I was 9 years old. After a vacation in Arkansas where I was bitten by a tick on the shoulder, I developed a lot of the early symptoms of the disease. My pediatrician tested me for Lyme, but the test was negative. I was treated with antibiotics just in case and eventually got better. I never thought about Lyme Disease again until this mysterious disorder, TM, entered my life.
I was just wondering if this could possibly be Lyme even though I've tested negative twice, 11 years apart.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
DEFINITELY COULD BE LYME!!!!! and most likely IS!!!!
Lyme tests are VERY unreliable when coming from the labs most drs and hospitals use. You need a specialty lab, like Igenex Lab in CA.
www.igenex.com Ask for test #188 and 189 .. the Western Blot.
I'll send you info.
[ 06-06-2009, 12:45 PM: Message edited by: Lymetoo ]
Posted by meridia (Member # 20609) on :