posted
i'm 39 years old from massachusetts and live in a heavily ticked area. i have no past medical history of any kind. see a doctor once a year for a check up and i'm good to go.
For the past six weeks i've encountered so many body system failures and strange occurences it has landed me in the emergency room on two occassions with either stroke/heart attack symptoms or one sided paralysis. my last er visit on wed i was given a five day script for z-pac (zithromax). on Saturday, four days into the treatment i had the worse possible experience of my life. my face became paralyzed , my feet started vibrating and sending vibrations into my legs, both legs spasmed, my hands were tingling and a burning sensation began in my back spreading over to my face and arms. my chest felt like it was being squeezed. and my legs started feeling numb. i woke up sunday feeling like i couldn't walk on my right side, the burning continues and i had trouble ussing my right fingers. monday i felt a little better. tuesday, the heaviness in my shoulders, leg and right arm continued.
i have not been diagnosed with lyme. i had a test done on sunday when i was in the er and don't know if the zpac would have it come out negative, no results yet. nor do i know if going on the zpac made these symptoms come out in some term i can't recall.
i have been actually posting on the ms support group as i'm pretty convinced i have ms from the symptoms i've experienced, or worse. i have an appointment with an opthamologist and neurologist later this week. i was actually given ativan because they think i'm panicked.
my symptoms, briefly through six weeks vertigo, stiff neck, sensitivity to bright lights, blurred vision, floaters, imbalance, heaviness of leg, spread to heaviness of arm, right side of body went flaccid three times, then the episode on saturday exaberated it all.
after being freaked about ms, which it could be, i saw some info on lyme and recall that i have found two ticks on me, one in my hair and one in my pubic hair, threw the tick in the toilet and never thought more about it til now.
any suggestions as to where to proceed with this?
thanks alot karen
Posts: 68 | From uxbridge, mass | Registered: Jul 2006
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Hi Karen, I am sorry you are feeling so bad. How did you remove the ticks you found? For future reference please save any ticks you find, they can be tested for disease.
Lyme disease is multi-system bacterial infection and it can cause many symptoms, including the ones you describe. No test is completely reliable and results can vary by lab. It is my understanding that the ELISA or titer is the least reliable and the one most doctors run first. Do you know what test was done? I suggest that you get copies of your results.
What dose of Zithro were you given, 250mg?
There is a reaction called the Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction (herx). Often, when people who have Lyme take antibiotics, their symptoms become worse or they get new ones. When the antibiotics kill the bacteria, toxins are released making them feel sicker. It can be very scary when it happens, but it is a good sign the antibiotics are working. Although it can vary individually, many people experience this at the beginning of treatment and every three to four weeks. It sounds like this may be what you are experiencing.
It is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor. Many doctors do not understand Lyme and treat with outdated protocols. Besides Lyme, ticks can transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. Many people who have Lyme are co-infected, and it may affect treatment choice and progress. It is important to be tested for these by a Lyme reputable lab.
If you would like a doctor recommendation for your area, you can email me at [email protected]Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
quote:Originally posted by firepipersnurse:
i'm 39 years old from massachusetts and live in a heavily ticked area. i have no past medical history of any kind. see a doctor once a year for a check up and i'm good to go.
For the past six weeks i've encountered so many body system failures and strange occurences it has landed me in the emergency room on two occassions with either stroke/heart attack symptoms or one sided paralysis.
my last er visit on wed i was given a five day script for z-pac (zithromax). on Saturday, four days into the treatment i had the worse possible experience of my life.
my face became paralyzed , my feet started vibrating and sending vibrations into my legs, both legs spasmed, my hands were tingling and a burning sensation began in my back spreading over to my face and arms. my chest felt like it was being squeezed. and my legs started feeling numb.
i woke up sunday feeling like i couldn't walk on my right side, the burning continues and i had trouble ussing my right fingers.
monday i felt a little better. tuesday, the heaviness in my shoulders, leg and right arm continued.
i have not been diagnosed with lyme. i had a test done on sunday when i was in the er and don't know if the zpac would have it come out negative, no results yet.
nor do i know if going on the zpac made these symptoms come out in some term i can't recall.
i have been actually posting on the ms support group as i'm pretty convinced i have ms from the symptoms i've experienced, or worse.
i have an appointment with an opthamologist and neurologist later this week . i was actually given ativan because they think i'm panicked.
my symptoms, briefly through six weeks:
vertigo, stiff neck, sensitivity to bright lights, blurred vision, floaters, imbalance, heaviness of leg, spread to heaviness of arm, right side of body went flaccid three times, then the episode on saturday exaberated it all.
after being freaked about ms, which it could be, i saw some info on lyme and recall that i have found two ticks on me,
one in my hair and one in my pubic hair, threw the tick in the toilet and never thought more about it til now.
any suggestions as to where to proceed with this? thanks alot,,,,karen
Karen, earlier today, I sent you by private message, pm, a copy of my newbie link sites, etc. including the extensnvie list of symptoms. Bettyg
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posted
Boy, it sure sounds like lyme. It's pretty easy to miss a tick the size of a poppyseed. The reaction you had to zithromax sounds like a herx. If I were you I would get a lyme doc ASAP and get treatment. The faster you do it the much better your outcome.
Posts: 293 | From healdsburg, ca , sonoma | Registered: Feb 2005
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Since you had tick bites & you have typical symptoms of Lyme, you should be evaluated by a LLMD (Lyme Literate Med Dr) - ASAP.
It's possible, but not very likely, that the opthamologist and neurologist will be the best to help you with Lyme and other TBDs (Tick-Borne Diseases). You need a LLMD!!
Go to Seeking a Dr & put your location in the title. Info on LLMD(s) will be sent to you privately.
If steroids are prescribed - Anyone who could possibly have Lyme should definitely NOT take steroids (a few rare exceptions). If LD is present, steroids will complicate treatment.
If testing for Lyme - No lab test should be used to "rule-out" LD. Use a lab that specializes in Tick-Borne Diseases, like IGeneX in Calif. This improves the chances of accurate results.
If spinal tap is recommended - not the best way to test for Lyme. A low percentage of taps are positive even when the disease is present.
Be sure to read Basic Info on www.ilads.org Several items pertain to testing.
How long has it been since your tick bites?
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Man, your symptoms REALLY sound lyme-ish!!
Your doctors will probably give you an "ELISA" test -- the test that's wrong about half the time. Don't count on it to pick up a positive result.
You should find a lyme-literate doctor fast.
You should be treated for lyme based on your symptoms. That's called a "clinical diagnosis" - what doctors are SUPPOSED to use to diagnose you - not a blood test. (However, most doctors are clueless about this.)
In the meantime, insist on a western blot (the better diagnostic test) from IGeneX. That's the best lab anywhere for tickborne diseases. See the website by the same name.
You might also have picked up coinfections such as babesia, bartonella, ehrlichia, etc. -- it's more common than not to have gotten one along with lyme. Most non-lyme literate docs never even think to check for them, but you won't get better from lyme while you have one.
Read the newbie links, post lotsa questions, and start getting better. We're here to help!!
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
I agree with the others here. It really looks like lyme and maybe babesia. Your reaction to zith is a herx. My advice is don't depend on the test results. If you do, use a reputable lab like IgeneX. AND don't overlook coinfections. Your chest being squeezed really sound like babesia...some LLMD don't believe you can effectively treat lyme til coinfections are dealt with, especially babesia.
Best Wishes!
Posts: 187 | From Gaithersburg, Maryland | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
You have Lyme. Treat it, and FAST. I had your exact symptoms and went form doc to doc for years. Took me A LONG TIME to get well. DON"T WAIT. SEE AN LLMD ASAP.
Chris
Posts: 216 | From Upstate NY | Registered: Oct 2004
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