Hi. I just joined this forum and wanted to introduce myself. I was diagnosed with Lyme (no coinfections) two weeks ago and am pretty overwhelmed. I had been through many doctors and many provisional diagnoses that were ruled out - MS, sarcoidosis, temporal arteritis, transverse myelitis, and a host of other things. My favorite was an anxiety disorder. I have never been anxious before until my body started going haywire 8 months ago. I read about lyme and saw a show on it on TV and started asking the doctors. Three had actually already tested me for it - but using the ELISA test and I was negative. I had MRIs, EMGs, ABCs. My symptoms were: urinary incontinence,, urgency and frequency, numbness and tingling in feet, hands, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes in the back of my neck, horrible burning intermittant pain in my legs, arms, and pelvic area, memory problems, leg weakness, muscle cramping, eye and finger twitching, and anxiety from not knowing what was wrong with me and imagining all the possibilities. I found a dr. who treats lyme and she sent my labs to igenex and lo and behold - I'm positive. I'm on oral Ceftin and am trying to make the decision about IV Rocephin which she wants to order. My insurance does not cover home health care and probably not the abx either from what I have read. I'm still in a little bit of disbelief that I actually have it because of all the controverly I've read of, but I want to have something to fight, so in a way I want to believe it. I'm glad to have joined your forum and look forward to learning lots and comiserating with all of you. Lizzie
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
Lizzie,
Glad you found your way to Lymenet and introduced yourself! Also glad you were able to persist and find out what's wrong with you; that's the first step in healing.
I just wanted to put in my bid for oral ceftin. I've been on it ever since I started treatment in June, 2005. I had a hard herx but finally began to heal. I'm now well enough to be back at work fulltime.
I suspect I might have healed more quickly had I gone on IV abx, but my LLMD suggested this route, and I agreed. I haven't regretted the decision.
I also want to make sure you're aware of treating co-infections, in addition to Lyme.
Anyway, welcome and keep us posted about your progress.
Andie
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Welcome!
Night sweats indicate babesia and tests for babesia are known for false negatives. My LLMD is treating me for babs based on my nights sweats and air hunger even though my tests are negative ... babs is a clinical diagnosis. You might want to talk to your doctor about this because coinfections need to be treated first.
It sounds like you have done your research. I discovered myself that I had Lyme, too.
My doc prefers oral antibiotics, so I don't have any advice about the IV, I don't know much about it. I'm on a boatload of orals.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
Hey Lizzie, nice to meet you. Hang around and read as many of the posts as you can.
If you're on antibiotics, you'll need to learn about candida, detoxing, and supplements.
Have you had a chance to look at the newbie help links? Heh, that'll keep you busy for a while.
Carol
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
welcome lizzie to the board and our chronic lyme world!
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, and you have certainly been doing your homework to have posted such a detailed intro so we know what you've done and not done to date! congrats on a well done intro!!
i'll send you a PM, private message, with my 51 pages of newbie lyme links, advise, symptoms, ssdi disability info, etc. and it includes TREEPATROL'S MASSIVE LYME ARCHIVES of wonderful links of around 1,000+ !! yes, you will be busy.
use the SEARCH function shown at the top to type in what you arelooking for; works great now!
medical questions is in medical;
support ... do you need to unload, need encouragement, or talk about NON-MEDICAL LYME issues ... post in support
activism ... read on how you CAN HELP us with lyme political bills in congress, your individual state, writng newspapers, helping dr. jones...our no. 1 kids lyme dr. brought up on charges by conn. health dept. to take away his license, etc.
computer questions go in computer, etc.
now i'll send you my newbie stuff before my lyme brain forgets! Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
W E L C O M E !*)!*)!*)*! !*)*!)!)!*)!*)!*!)*!)*!)!*!
Posted by AZURE WISH (Member # 804) on :
Welcome Posted by lizzie518 (Member # 11763) on :
Wow. I feel very warmly welcomed. I will set about reading this evening. I am still working, though at about 1/2 time, so that is taking up all my energy during the day. Should I also post an introduction on the medical forum, or just on one?
Posted by motownlyme (Member # 11485) on :
lizzie518,
Welcome!
I too was diagnosed with "an anxiety disorder". I was not anxious before my body started going haywire either.
I know what you mean. As scary as it is to be told you have Lyme,at least you finally know what you have.
Hang in there. There are some great people on this site who will help.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
lizzie, here is good enough.
if you have a medical question, then post there and then you can introduce yourself at that time.
we have around 1000 people who come here within 24 hrs. so ONE post is enough due to volume. Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
p.s. IV Rocephin gave me back my life!! Wonderful stuff for me!*)!*)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best wishes-!!!
Posted by iceskater (Member # 8655) on :
welcome aboard. Hope that we can be of help to you.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[hi]](graemlins/hi.gif)