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Breaking up the post, many Lyme patients can't read paragraphs.

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Originally posted by tiredmama:
First to *Lymetoo* THANK YOU for your information on the Dr. Since I'm in St. Louis, I called them with some questions and they were very helpful. Thanks again!!


After doing some research and as I said before I've been battling depression for over 8 years and MAJOR, DEBILITATING fatigue for 3 years....sleeping sometimes 24 hours straight and more. I've requested my Dr. to do a lyme test using Western Blot. Lymetoo, your Dr's office told me that was the right start.


Unfortunately, I am not able (logistically) to go get my blood drawn until tomorrow. I guess that will take a couple weeks or so to get back. So - in a weird way, I'm holding out hope that it will show *something*.


Everything I've read makes it seem very likely that Lyme (or some similar bacteria) may be the answer. Of course, no one wants some terrible diagnosis, but I've suffered so long with pain and fatigue with no answers. Most of our family doesn't know the extent of it and continually ask me if I'm exercising, dieting, etc. as though that's the only answer.


So, I hide the facts about how bad it is, how much I've slept, how much pain I'm in most of the time. Only my husband and my 3 young kids know and feel the extent to which I've been incapacitated with whatever illness this is.


I've officially been diagnosed with arthritis, psoriasis, battled with strep throat over the years, had an immune response to something resulting in erythema nodosum (diff. than the tick rash, supposedly) and multiple food allergies, low blood pressure, forgetfulness, memory loss, fatigue, depression, bursts of rage (years ago, but is now better) GERD, mild sleep apnea and ezcema.


I've recently started on thyroid medication for an under-active (subclinically hypo) thyroid am on antidepressants, myriad of supplements and also taking an ADD medication (memory lapse on the name) to help me stay awake and alert, but it's not working very well. My Dr. is suggesting Nuvigil to try after this dose is over.


Here are my questions: (thanks for reading if you've gotten this far!!!):


- My Dr. did finally agree to order an MRI. Should I go ahead with that with or without a positive test for Lyme? Won't they be able to tell more than just a positive/negative test result and tell me if I have brain changes from that or not?


- Also, my Dr. is a naturopathic M.D. Are there any natural medications/supplements you've found to help and how do you counteract the results of being on antibiotics for a long period of time. I'm allergic to penicillin medications...are there antibiotics that are just as powerful to Lyme as the others?


- I'm having a hard time understanding the difference between the "true lyme" disease and the other bacterial things that are similar. Can anyone explain or guide me in the right direction if I can't get an official diagnosis? Any other thoughts on my symptoms that I may not be aware of that you can help me look into? Thanks for all your time and help.

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