LymeNet Flash: Lyme illiterate

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»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Lyme illiterate - advice needed

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Topic: Lyme illiterate - advice needed

macrophage
Junior Member
Member # 23431

posted

Three years ago I did not know anything about LD. It all started with a mild fever and some pain in low back and joints (typical during a mild fewer). One day my wife noticed a ``bruise'' on my thigh which I thought was just a bruise. The fever and the bruise stayed with me for a week, pain intensified and I decided that it is time to go to ER. There, I was diagnosed with the LD (the ``bruise'' transformed into a nice bull's-eye), did a little striptease to educate all residents and nurses, and was given doxy for 21 days. In just three days I felt like I never had it before. I stopped taking doxy after 14 days (we had a baby) and I forgot all about this tick-born nonsense.

Three years later I have a knee pain (though I had a knee surgery 15 year ago) and often feel very fatigued (though I have a demanding job and two very rambunctious sons). Do I need to see a LLMD or is it all in my head? Should I get tested for the LD again? It is reasonable to think that I still have some level of the antibodies so ELISA and Westerns will not be definitive. In that case PCR should be more reveling...(?)

Posts: 2 | From Cherry Hill, NJ | Registered: Dec 2009 | IP: Logged |

bigstan
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 11699

posted

1)Do I need to see a LLMD or is it all in my head?

YES without a doubt/don't walk run.

2)Should I get tested for the LD again?

Same answer. Make sure it's a Western Blot/skip Elisa test, WB more accurate but not perfect.

3)In that case PCR should be more reveling...(?) Not Necessarily.There is no perfect test and most think the WB is best.

Your 21 day of doxy didn't do squat, I'm sorry to say. Prescribed by an uneducated ER doctor who just wanted to move you along.

Now it's probably chronic Lyme that you are dealing with.

Do you have more symptoms? List them all.

How's your children doing, wife? Any symptoms? I ask because there is belief it can be disease sexually transmitted.

http://www.canlyme.com/sex.html

My advice find a LLMD. Good luck and we are here to answer qustions.

--------------------
HERX is a Four Letter Word!

Posts: 716 | From If you're going through hell, keep going......Winston Churchill | Registered: Apr 2007 | IP: Logged |

macrophage
Junior Member
Member # 23431

posted

bigstan, thank you for the advice and ref. Yes, my wife was recently diagnosed with the LD.

Posts: 2 | From Cherry Hill, NJ | Registered: Dec 2009 | IP: Logged |

map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022

posted

macro, after having the baby your wife's symptoms go crazy? Often posted on here how childbirth was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Sorry you both are dealing with this. A good LLMD for both of you is a must.

Pam

--------------------
"Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill

Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged |

Lymetoo
Moderator
Member # 743

posted

Good answers from bigstan!

The PCR is one of those all or nothing tests... If it comes back positive it's a homerun.. If it's negative you could still have Lyme.

Go for the WB unless you have the $$$ to do both.

Go to Seeking a Doctor to find an LLMD who can get you well.

Glad you found us!!

--------------------
--Lymetutu--
Opinions, not medical advice!

Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged |

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