posted
I had severe EM last summer after a tick bite on my leg. It grew to about 10 inches, hot and itchy. I had swollen lymph nodes in legs, arms, and neck, and a low-grade fever. My doc. tested for Lyme, but came back neg. She put me on antibiotics for two weeks. In the fall/winter I began suffering knee and back pain, muscle aches, fatigue, and heightened anxiety...Now the pain is quite severe starting this spring! I went back to the dr. and was diagnosed with Arthritis in my back and knees after X-Rays. I am only 28! I asked if I should get tested for Lyme again, and she said it was not necessary, because Lyme is so rare in MO. Is she right? Should I go see a LLMD, and have this investigated?
Posts: 71 | From Missouri | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
There can be other bacterial co infections with a tick bite. They need a different test. yes go find the best LLMD that you can. don't be shy about consulting with two docs. Ticks are all over and even if it were true that Lyme is rare in MO - you did get bit by one right? And one can get lyme from mosquitos and horseflys according to my doc and it can be transmitted sexually. ( Iknow that stinks uh)
Go see a LLMD. Good luck
Posts: 29 | From arizona | Registered: May 2010
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posted
you should definitely go to an LLMD... a regular doctor isn't going to be able to help. oh, and i'm from missouri too... LOTS of people have lyme in the area where i got all my tick bites!
Posts: 220 | From Kansas | Registered: Mar 2010
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
Yes, find a LLMD asap.
You need a good eval for Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, etc also, which are very common.
Do not listen to other Dr's regarding lyme. They are totally uneducated.
You are too young to remain sick forever because of them.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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onbam
Unregistered
posted
No. You should be treated for it, because that bullseye rash means that without a doubt, you got it.
'Kete-tracker
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17189
posted
Se's an Idiot, you suffered the consequences & you need to find a Lyme-literate doctor PRONTO.
There aren't a whole lotta LLMDs in Missouri but you can start by checking for a Lyme support group in the nearest large city to you. (Check the 'Support Groups' link just below 'Flash Discussions'.) This site also has a 'Seeking a Doctor' link on the 'Flash Discussions' home (choice) page.
Posts: 1233 | From Dover, NH | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
I agree! DO NOT LISTEN TO YOUR REGULAR DOCTOR when it comes to this. You may not know it, but you are very lucky, because you have the "classic" signs that it is Lyme.....the tick, the rash, etc. Even though you were "treated" for it, you most likely weren't treated long enough.
I didn't have any of the signs that it was Lyme. I saw at least 20 doctors in the last year. By the way, i was tested for Lyme 5 times, all negative!!!!! Doctors would say, you definitely don't have it.
Finally, a good doctor recommended me to a doctor who does Lyme research. I wouldn't consider him an LLMD, but he sent my tests to a "better lab". It came back positive, but was barely positive compared to the next set of tests.
I just saw an LLMD about three weeks ago, had further testing done at IGeneX (from what I can tell, they are the Gold Standard for testing) and my results lit up like a Christmas tree!!! They showed way more than the other lab! Several bands positive, and some co-infections!
As a result, I'm finally on the way to recovery!
If you do see an LLMD, I think I would find one who does their testing with IGeneX. I think most people would agree.
-------------------- Lyme IgM: +18, +31, +34, +39, ++41, +58 and 83-93 is Indeterminate.
Currently pulsing IV Flagyl and Rocephin. As well as daily Mepron and Azithromycin. Posts: 34 | From New York, NY | Registered: Mar 2010
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posted
Thanks for all the replies! I am going to get tested again, just for my own piece of mind! My whole family, including my husband, thinks I am crazy for worrying about this so much. You all make me feel better for feeling concerned! Hopefully, I don't have to prove my friends and family wrong...fingers crossed. I'm going to see an LLMD in Columbia, MO. I'll let you all know how it goes!
Posts: 71 | From Missouri | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
Nevermind! I didn't realize it would cost me $700 to see him! My next step is to see if I can get a Western Blot from Igenex through my GP. We'll see...
Posts: 71 | From Missouri | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
LLMD's are expensive and usually don't take insurance, but they are worth the investment because they are the only ones who will be able to help you. It will cost you far more money in the long run if you just keep getting sicker without proper treatment.
Other doctors will either do nothing for you or will make you worse. We all have money problems and have to travel a long distance to see an LLMD, but you can spend a lot more than that getting the runaround from other doctors.
It is a good idea to get your GP to sign off on a Western Blot from Igenex. Make sure you get a copy for yourself. If you go to an LLMD later, you won't have to rerun the test or waste time waiting for it to come back.
However, an LLMD will diagnose you based on your symptoms, because the tests are so unreliable that they come up negative in a very large percentage of people who actually have Lyme.
You don't really need a test. The fact that you have a tick bite, an EM rash, and had and are still having Lyme symptoms would make it clear to any LLMD that you definitely have Lyme. You need treatment as soon as possible.
Do not listen to everyone around you who will keep trying to get you to doubt yourself. They will thank you for being persistent when they see you getting better.
-------------------- Don't forget to laugh! And when you're going through hell, keep going!
Bitten 5/25/2009 in Perry County, Indiana. Diagnosed by LLMD 12/2/2009. Posts: 756 | From Inside the tunnel | Registered: Jan 2010
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