posted
Hello, I just found this website and am suprised at the number of people who are dealing with Lyme Disease.
I was finally diagnosed with LD in Aug of last year. I had been dealing with my symptoms for quite a long time - years even- without seeing a Dr. What finally brought me in to see a Dr. was facial numbness. The left side of my face and tongue were almost completely numb. I also had severe headaches, severe joint pain in my knees, hips,neck and sholders, sharp knife-like pain in my thigh among other less debilitating symptoms.
Coincidentally, following a CT scan and a MRI I was also diagnosed with a brain tumor. It sounds funny but I actually think the Lymes Disease is more difficult to deal with than the brain tumor.
Initially, I was treated with an oral antibiotic and then an IV antibiotic (rocephyn) which was given prior to my tumor biopsy. I actually felt better after the Iv antibiotic but recently - in December I started experiencing some of the prior symptoms thus giving me yet another round of rocephyn.
Tell me, will I ever be rid of these symptoms or am I doomed for the rest of my life?
I know that because of the tumor and the lyme disease diagnosis there is a difficulty in distinguishing which symptom goes with which problem but I feel like I have lost myself. I feel that my personality has changed. I feel flat, no enthusiasim, no energy. I am aware of the high possibility of depression but I think that what I am feeling is slightly different and I attribute it more to the LD than the tumor.
Has anyone else experienced similar feelings and if so, what have you done and how are you dealing with them?
Thank you in advance for your responses.
[ 22. January 2006, 10:12 PM: Message edited by: melerle ]
Posts: 4 | From Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2006
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
Hi Mel in Minn. from an Iowan. No, I won't kid you about the Minn./Iowa jokes...LOL.
Welcome and glad you found this LYME support group board. Just a minor error; we have lyme disease; not lymes ok.
Mel, may I suggest you edit your post also to have SHORTER paragraphs of 6-8 lines for those of us with chronic lyme, and double space between them just as you did above. We can't comprehend long paragraphs and no spaces in between them.
Since you are spanking brand new to the board, may I suggest you go to TREEPATROL'S NEWBIE LINKS in medical section, 1st screen. Print off the 8+ pages of the links tree shows. Check them off as you read as there are months of reading there.
Print off Dr. B's 05 lyme guidelines, 40 pages. He's our chronic LLMD, lyme literate MD, expert. You'll read answers to some of your questions there.
I was misdx for 34 yrs; on antibiotics/yeast meds now for 1.5 years without any improvement. The longer we've been without correct treatment to lyme, the longer it will take to get us well.
In future when you post, show a specific topic title, example; depression, will these symptoms go away. Then you've grabbed their interest, and they will jump in to reply.
Also, read the success stories to provide you HOPE on getting better.
This is a very active board of 3-4 FULL screens daily of posts/replies. At the bottom the 1st screen, chose no. 2 to go to the next full screen of posts. Your post will get knocked off 1st screen, so it didn't disappear ... it just went lower on the board to read.
So the more specific, the more replies you will get since we have to pick & chose on replying.
You've taken the 1st step by finding this board. Again, see Tree's newbie links as he constantly updates it. Then to check what is new that he has put on, click on the last page shown by the topic title, page 7, and then click on SHOW RECENT POSTS. Tree then shows the links of what he is adding and the page number...ok.
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char
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8315
posted
Welcome. Glad you are here.
You can get better with treatment.
Chronic lyme can require quite a long course of abx. I have been on strong abx, always 2 at a time, pulsing a cyst buster for 10mos.
I have improved a ton. I will stay on until all symtoms are gone. I am thinking at least another 9mos.
Welcome to the board and sorry you have to be here....but this is a great bunch of helpful people, so ask anything you'd like.
Success stories are what bolster most of us here--won't deny it.
This disease is depressive, until you turn the corner and see results, which can take a long time. Hang on to the success stories, they will serve you well and the thread for this is lengthening every day.
Betty's come thru with some great advice. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Hi Melerle!
My, Lyme disease AND a brain tumour? You've got a lot to deal with! If you've had problems a long time, as your intro indicates, you might expect to be in treatment for a long time.
Have you found yourself an LLMD? Because it's a rare neuro who knows how to contend with Lyme -- they typically undertreat. Based on your ongoing symptoms, sounds like you're far from done! Read the Newbie Links. The compendium of articles on the persistence of the Lyme bacteria in the body even after repeated courses of antibiotics is pretty compelling.
What's your prognosis on your brain tumour? Good, I certainly hope!
Wishing you well!
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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healthgeneration
Unregistered
posted
Mel - Check out my psoting below your on General Support board. It pertains to Lyme and your tumor. It is truly amazing technology.
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