I am a 21 year old student and I have just been rediagnosed with lyme. when i had it ten years ago the first time i had terrible fatigue and my joints were swollen. i recieved proper treatment and the swelling went away. i was often tired the years after but i figured these were typical "growing pains" from hitting puberty.
this year i became very ill and fatigued. turns out i had pneumonia for several months. i was treated properly for pneumonia yet my fatigued continued. i had a blood test and it came back positive for lyme. i am back on antibiotics now.
my concern is i could have been exhibiting lyme symptoms for several years?? before i had pneumonia i often was extremely fatigued. will this slow my recovery? i am on antibiotics for the next month. i am thinking i might need them long term?
thank you all for your help,
luffdaddy
Posts: 18 | From Maryland | Registered: Aug 2011
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Brussels
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13480
posted
What was your initial treatment 10 years ago? And for how long?
It sounds like chronic lyme, but who knows?
Posts: 6199 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
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glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
Check into treating for parasites which can be an underlying cause for relapse if not treated. Google parasite symptoms and do a search on here. Treating parasites saved my life and turned things around for me.
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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I'm sorry to say, but depending on how long you were infected this treatment was inadequate.
If it was enough to put you in remission it is possible that the pneumonia was enough stress and strain on your immune system and body to bring the LD out of remission.
I highly recommend that you locate a Lyme literate doctor in your area for proper treatment, especially if you've had it for ten years.
As far as you having active Lyme for that long without realizing something was wrong, I have no idea and I don't know if anyone can answer that.
I started feeling closer to death each day following a strange three month long flu last may, my wife also began showing symptoms but mild in comparison to mine. We both tested positive in the last week of July. We got 21 days of doxy, her symptoms went away half way through, mine persisted for about a month or two.
In the last week of December (about three months symptom free for my wife, about two months for me) my wife's symptoms came back and hit her like a truck, easily two to three times more severe than the first time. Mine came back around the same week, but much more mild and gradually.
We played with the thoughts of when we actually got LD, if it was in April like they suspect or if it was actually a year or two prior. The reason is because we both had some minor things that were unusual in the year or two prior that were relieved with proper treatment from our LLMD in January.
On the other hand a relative came into contact with pertussis the summer prior to our LD diagnosis and we were all prescribed a couple of weeks of azithromycin to prevent infection since we have a small child. As I understand LD reacts to azith, but neither of us had any reaction to taking it.
Again, you really should be treated by a LLMD especially if you suspect you may have had it for ten years.
I'm sorry to hear that you are joining us in fighting LD, good luck in the road ahead. You've come to the right place for information though, there is a wealth of helpful information on these forums.
Posts: 80 | From US | Registered: Aug 2011
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Do make sure you have found a qualified LLMD. I seriously doubt that one month of doxy "cured" you. You also need to be checked for coinfections, like babesiosis and bartonella. They require different meds from lyme meds.
posted
Luffdaddy- I was diagnosed with Lyme (after 6 months with no diagnosis) after a pos western blott and treated with lyme in 1986 when I was 13 years old while living in CT. I took doxy for 2 weeks as perscribed by a very famous doctor of Lyme (not a LLMD!) I was symptom free from 1987 until 2008 when I was CDC positive on western blott, super low cd 57 levels too. For the majority of the time between 1986 and 2008, I lived in the concrete jungle of Chicago. I highly doubt I was bitten again.
I find Dr. Burrascano's "Advanced topics in Lyme" a great place to start. Also the history and treatment of Syphilis is relevant to your story. (I know it sounds crazy but...)
Welcome to the club you never intended on joining. But also, on the positive side.......... You will learn a great deal about science and medicine on your journey. There is a lot of incredible access to information on this site.
Lymetoo is correct. Seek a LLMD and rule out coinfections.
You are not alone. Good luck and best of health to you.
Posts: 65 | From oregon | Registered: Jun 2011
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