Ok, here goes. I was feeling under the weather last Sunday. I got a stomach bug from my daughter, which subsequently spread to my wife and the in-laws. The bug lasted 48 hours, and everyone got better.... except me. I still had a splitting headache. I was living on tylenol with very little relief. The headache was directly behind my eye, and wouldn't go away all week. At work thursday, I suddenly began having a tightness in my throat. It felt like my epiglotis was swollen. Along with this I was getting a killer neck-ache. It felt like whiplash. I immediately thought I was having an allergic reaction to something. I took benadryl, but it didn't help. I started running a low grade fever about 101. I was breaking out in sweats. Started to panic because I was having trouble swallowing. I went home and my wife (also an RN) checked me out and couldn't see any swelling in my throat. I decided to try to sleep it off. When I woke up, I couldn't swallow my own saliva. The headache was worse than ever. and I was running a fever again. So off to the E.R. I went. The P.A there reviewed my symptoms and did a strep test. (came back negative). At this point he asked me the weirdest thing...."do you have a rash" I immediately said no, but then I thought about it. I had what had looked like a very large, but minor bruise on my leg (it was large, but just slightly dusky blueish red, barely there, but it had a 1/2 inch red border around it, but it was WARM to the touch) I had originally thought that I must have banged it pretty good or gotten it from my 2 yr old daughter somehow and not remembered.....she does like to fling herself around So i had thought bruise....my wife had thought jock itch. I tell the P.A this and he says "let me see". He takes one look and says "That looks like a lyme rash. I'm going to do a lyme titer and start you on antibiotics. I'll start you on ceftin, that would treat either the lyme or the pharyngitis....this way you are covered.....follow up with your primary"
So long story short, I go to my primary, he says...ok, continue the ceftin, stay home for a week, and we'll see how it goes.
I just found out that the lyme titer came back positive, so I am sure that is what's going on. My question is.....now what? is ceftin any good for lyme? how long am I looking at being under the weather? I still have the swelling in my throat and my neck is killing me. I can't shake the headache, I get chills and sweats, and my legs ache when I try to sleep. I am just trying to figure out what happens now...I have a 2 year old and another on the way. There is just so much info here I can't keep up with it all, I am so drained. I' went from sleeping 6 hours a day to about 18 hours a day. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Posted by beach4so (Member # 3832) on :
jerseyRN,
Welcome to Lymenet. If you go to the Medical section there is a post that says "Links for new members". It has all the info you could ever want.
I wish I new how to put the link here for you, sorry I am just learning this stuff.
[This message has been edited by NP40 (edited 17 August 2005).]
Posted by jerseyRN (Member # 7775) on :
Thank you for all of the information. Now I guess I just need to spend some time reading. Those links are helpful. I will check them out in depth tonight.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Just wanted to add -- Glad you are getting treated. You have come to the right place to get all your questions answered.
Be sure to get copies of all medical records and if the rash is still there it might be a good idea to get photos -- may be needed for insurance documentation at a later date. Be sure to write the date on the back of photos.
It would probably be a good idea to start a journal. Note your symptoms and meds on a daily basis. Over time you should be able to track your progress. This also could help your LLMD determine if you are suffering from a coinfection.
Most Lyme patients have additional tick-borne infections -- babesia and bartonella are most common. These coinfections require a different treatment than the Lyme and that is why it is especially important to see an LLMD.
The one supplement you should start immediately is acidophilus. This is needed to prevent candida/yeast from the use of long-term antibiotics.
Bea Seibert
Posted by pq (Member # 6886) on :
JerseyRN,
Welcome to Lymenet!
Ceftin was an excellent start, with one probable rationale being mixed skin pathogens, based on visual characteristics of the rash.
Hi and WELCOME! Get a LLMD or at least Dr that is willing to learn about lyme. "Lyme literacy" means, first and foremost, knowing how to diagnose the disease accurately. Borrelia Burgdorferi is a clinical diagnosis, based on symptoms and on your response to treatment. Good Luck, bumpy road ahead. Lyme Disease symptoms 2005 Lyme Symptoms 2005 Post for a LLMD in Seeking a Doctor. Ps remember I am not a Dr, just a fellow sufferer. Support Links LLMD's
First things first...when researching about Lyme, forget the Merck Manual--throw it out. What is written in that book is at the least out of date and at the most knowingly innacurate.
Check out some European Lyme Organizations, such as ILADS, to get information.
Sorry you have this...but you are fortunate. Most people on here went years without any treatment.
Posted by Kara Tyson (Member # 939) on :
Oh, and you also need to be tested for other tick borne illnesses.
If you test positive for Babasia, your state may require that RN's be on a registry.
Also, please DO NOT donate blood. The Red Cross somewhat has a dont ask dont tell policy. They wont take your blood if you are infected with Lyme, but they dont ask on their forms. Unfort. there are Lyme patients who have donated their blood.
[This message has been edited by Kara Tyson (edited 18 August 2005).]
Posted by Linda LD (Member # 6663) on :
I'm sorry to tell you this--but you may want to have your kids and wife tested. My doc thinks you get the rash because you have been exposed before and your body recognizes it is allergic the second time.
Maybe he is wrong but that is what he told me.
I gave both my babies Lyme through breastmilk or invitro--also you can give it to your spouse sexually (imagine llaine on Seinfield saying it).
Print off the links then check them off as you read as you could spend several months reading all of this. Treepatrol constantly adds new links as they become available from the members here.
print & read Dr. B's (a lyme literate MD) info first; you will come back to this often.
Some guidelines from Betty/others on using this message board:
* Do NOT use all caps when posting; it's hard on our eyes. But I know one of our members has macular degeneration, and all caps is what she can see & read so exceptions like this are acceptable for good reasons.
* We chronic, late-stage lymies can NOT read long paragraphs. So please limit your paragraphs to 6-8 lines max of text and double space between paragraphs.
* You can EDIT your text comments anytime. You can NOT edit your subject line so please make it as specific as possible instead of ``help, question'' etc. in order to have more readers/replies in trying to assist you. There are between 30-40 NEW/replies to post daily so we can't read all the posts on our limited time here...thanks for understanding.
* If you use the ``quote'' icon, please DELETE [B] bold at the beginning & ending of the quote. This makes it easier on our chronic, late-stage lyme eyes.
* To just reply without quoting, go to the top or bottom of screen in the black & white area to reply or post a new topic. Many of us couldn't see it when we 1st started posting. Thank you for helping us all out! * * LYME SYMPTOMS - http://www.lyme.org/otherdis/ld_symptoms.html Bettyg, Iowa
