posted
Do your LLMD's think that muscle twitches are an indication of active infection?
It seems to be my one lingering chronic symptom.
-------------------- unsure445 Posts: 824 | From northeast | Registered: Jun 2008
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
I don't believe there is any way to tell at all by the one symptom. It could be a sign of Lyme, active or chronic, or a number of any other things.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Muscle twitching can be caused by an electrolyte imbalance. Lyme can easily cause a mineral imbalance because it takes minerals to detox from lyme toxins.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
Twitching is my one lingering symptom, too. It has gotten better, but it is still there.
Right now, I'm still being treated for lyme and bart. I'm currently starting month 5 of abx treatment.
I have been wondering about this same exact question. Will these twitches go away, or will do people continue having these even after abx (like the white elephant gift you can never get rid of!)?
Posts: 67 | From SF Bay Area | Registered: Jun 2008
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
I have to agree with Tracy. It could be caused by lyme or something else.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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-------------------- unsure445 Posts: 824 | From northeast | Registered: Jun 2008
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Bugg
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8095
posted
Hi there-
Please note that muscle twitches may be caused by magnesium deficiencies. Many lyme patients, especially those who have been ill and treating for years, are deficient in magnesium. Many have magnesium cellular transport issues as well as magnesium absoprtion issues.
If I were you, I would speak with my physician about trying magnesium. I would also recommend that you try a HIGHLY ABSORBABLE one due to the malabsorption issues. I know that Magnesium Glycinate is recommended as a highly absorbable form. You can actually find this at the VitaminShoppe. Some lyme patients are so deficient in mag that they find relief through IV infusions of mag or mag shots....that's something you would need to discuss with your doctor.
As for testing for mag deficiencies, there are a number of articles in PubMed about this. Generally, docs will either prescribe a general blood serum test for mag or one that measures the amount within your red blood cells. The latter test seems to reveal a more proximal relation to a mag deficiency. Remember, though, even if your mag blood tests are normal you may still be deficient of mag within your tissues. Therefore, if I were exhibiting symptoms of mag deficiences such as twitches and tightness in muscles, I would definitely try to supplement as much as possible with mag pursuant to my doc's instructions.
Unfortunately, I know all of the aforementioned because I've gone through it personally. I've also learned that my mag deficiency was not supporting the metabolic process as performed by my thyroid. You will see a high correlation in lyme patients who are hypothyroid and have mag deficiency issues. You need mag to help support your endocrine (thyroid) metabolic process.
Hope this info helps....take care
Posts: 1155 | From Southeast | Registered: Oct 2005
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Sorry you had to expeience this firsthand but I'm glad you got to the bottom of your symptoms.
My doctor just ordered a magnesium blood test. We will see what happens.
Maybe a deficiency is somehow responsible for my non stop weight loss too!!!! That one is STILL a mystery.
Best Regards!
-------------------- unsure445 Posts: 824 | From northeast | Registered: Jun 2008
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Bugg
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8095
posted
Actually, your nonstop weight loss could be due to an issue with your thyroid....I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis (hypothyroidism) and had weight loss....dropped to 112 lbs and I'm 5' 8"...ugh....
Usually, hypo symptoms cause weight gain so I never suspected I had an issue with my thyroid...Also, when I had the TSH tested, it looked to be in the normal range...Boy, was I wrong...Three tests later and it was all over the place...also had positive antibodies for Hashi's....
I would have my thyroid checked: TSH, Free T3, Free T4 and the two TPO and TPA tests for Hashimoto's.....
Good Luck
Posts: 1155 | From Southeast | Registered: Oct 2005
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emla999/Lyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12606
posted
Unsure445,
Some blood tests do not reflect your true magnesium status.
A serum magnesium blood test may come back fine and this may seem to indicate that your magnesium status is OK.
But you may still have low intracellular levels of magnesium even if your serum magnesium test does comes back fine.
A Red Blood Cell (RBC)magnesium test is considered to be a more reliable indicator of your intracellular magnesium levels than is a serum magnesium test.
The Exatest is also considered by some to be a better indicator than is the serum test for determining your intracellular magnesium status.
A magnesium loading test is also considered to be a good indicator of your body's true magnesium status.
Posts: 1223 | From U.S.A | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
I will make sure I get an accurate magnesium test and another thyroid test. Good advice...thank you!
Aren't we always chasing symptoms? Its been a significant part of my life for the last 4 years and it all seems so muddled at this point.
Every new month, season, year I think its bound to be more "normal" for at least a little while. I guess you just can't think about it all too much.
And I'm done venting now!
Thanks all!
-------------------- unsure445 Posts: 824 | From northeast | Registered: Jun 2008
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Bugg
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8095
posted
You may also want to have your adrenals tested....sometimes weight loss can be associated with adrenal dysfunction....
Most conventional docs will only test you for Addison's or Cushings where as alt docs will do saliva or urine tests for underperforming adrenals....
I know that testing/treating for adrenal insufficiency is debated by many so I would just discuss it with your doc if you think it might be an issue....
Posts: 1155 | From Southeast | Registered: Oct 2005
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