posted
I am looking for advice. I live in New Orleans, LA.
Since the end of November I had a problem with my foot swelling, followed by the shakes for 2 nights, swollen glands around the throat, and then small bullseye splotches all over my body with some starting to swell.
Since then, I have seen 3 doctors with countless blood tests, and different steroids and antibiotics. However, no one has been able to determine the cause of these symptoms.
My latest bout last week included excruciating pain in my feet and hands, with the small ring rash all over my face and the back of my head. Tremendous swelling occurred in the spots of the rashes.
I am taking steroids for the next 3 weeks to hopefully eliminate the symptoms and clear whatever is in my system out. I am also taking Doxycycline for 2 weeks.
However, on most mornings, I am still getting small rash points in my hands one day, on my face another day and over my torso the next day, with small swelling. Once I take my steroids in the morning, they clear up.
I am concerned that once I am off of the steriods, that the same systems will persist.
Do my symptoms sound like Lyme Disease? If so, is there a Lyme-literate doctor around LA, TX, MS or AL that someone can recommend?
This has been going on for nearly 1 month and I still have no answers. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Michael
[ 26. December 2007, 04:22 PM: Message edited by: mharkins123 ]
Posts: 2 | From New Orleans, LA | Registered: Dec 2007
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
Michael,
I'm sorry to hear what you are going through at this time.
First, IF this is Lyme, the last thing you want to take is steroids! They will only make Lyme worse, even though you may feel temporary relief. Many here can attest to his first hand.
However, that being said, you would need to ask your doctor how to taper off the steroids because it can be dangerous to stop them all at once.
One thing I would suggest is that you take photos of your rashes, using something like a ruler, coin, etc. to show the relative sizes.
I know there is a good LLMD in LA. Hopefully our resident Tammany Parish area member will be along soon to help you with specifics.
In the meantime, please break your posts up into smaller paragraphs, so those of us with neuro-Lyme symptoms are able to read and understand them.
Otherwise it looks like a big blob of print that is impossible to even consider reading.
You an edit your first post by clicking on the pencil icon and then add some paragraph breaks, sometimes after each sentence, so we can all read and help you out.
Good luck, and welcome to Lymenet.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
welcome michael to the board.
i sent you a private message, pm, on your outstanding LLMD in your state! ********************************
GENEAL is from your state and a wealth of info and COMPASSION! i'm sure she'll comment on yours next time she comes on daily. you can find her mainly in SUPPORT!
to find pms, go to top left, look under HELLO by flashing light and in my profile!
i sent you another one also. welcome, 87 pages of newbie links, advise, symptoms, tests, disability.
symptoms long list, testing, disability, and much more including treepatrol's archive of over 1000 links of good lyme info!
SKIM my info first to determine what it is you are most interested in learning also just sent you my 87 pages of newbie package of links, advise, about FIRST to help you ok! now it's reading time!
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Hi Michael,
I am your neighbor across the lake. There is Lyme here.
I have 14/15 people in less than a quarter of a mile area diagnosed with Lyme disease.
It took me months to get diagnosed as we "don't have Lyme in Louisiana" (how I wish that was true).
Check your private mail.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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lymemomtooo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5396
posted
You need to also be concerned about a systemic mold issue. It is also a neuro toxin and can mimic most of lyme diseases symptoms.
Gigi has a lot of info in the archives about neuro toxins and the mold ghru, has a site at chronicneurotoxins.com or something close to that.
Unfortunately, my daughter has the double problem of Lyme and Mold.
Posts: 2360 | From SE PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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tailz
Unregistered
posted
It sounds like one of these bugs, but please consider microwave sickness as part of the mix. If you're using a cell phone, you might want to toss it.
Whatever you do, steroids are not the answer. I felt great on steroids the first time I was on them. Okay, but not as great the second time. The third and fourth rounds though did me in.
I have not been able to get my immune system right since.
Have your doctor wean you off - yesterday.
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lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
I have to say immediately (because I have experienced it and so have countless others) that IF you have Lyme Disease steroids are the absolute worst thing to ingest. The may help temporarily, but IF it is LD things can get much worse by using them.
Please study all you can, www.ilads.org "basic information" link is excellent and you also can read a ton of info at the link below.
Tick bites are not noticed in most circumstances and they are carriers of serveral other bacterias called co-infections, so if you do have any of these tick borne diseases they need absolutely need treatment.
To be rule in or out LD and be diagnosed correctly you absolutey need to see an LLMD (Lyme literate MD) I have pm'd you some more information.
Which antibiotics have you been on and did they make you feel worse or better overall?
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