Hi, There is so much talk on here but not about what I need help with. Can someone please tell me how you can tell multiple sclerosis and Lyme disease? Can a person have lesions that look like MS in the brain and the spine and have only Lymes? I am confused. Also if I have MS and it goes untreated what will happen to me?
Thanks, Charlie.
Posted by LostCityAgent (Member # 9050) on :
Hello, It seems to be that they often cannot tell them apart. Carefully read the following patient neurologist dialogue:
I know we have a lot of posters come here and say they were diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, but then changed to a Lyme diagnosis and got better on antibiotics.
There are some who would say that MS is Lyme. It is entirely possible, as there are over 100 strains of the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium that causes Lyme disease in the US alone, and it is believed that each strain may cause slightly different symptoms.
There is a map that shows that the location of deaths due to MS is eerily similar to that of Lyme. Maybe someone can find the link to that for you.
More about MS and Lyme can be found on the Canadian Lyme site HERE . Do a site-only search on MS.
If it were me, I would seek out a Lyme-literate physician (go to the Seeking a Doctor forum and be sure your Private Messages feature is enabled for replies). If it's Lyme, the doc can put you on antibiotics that can help you get well, which is far more desireable than just trying to alleviate the symptoms, IMO.
Best wishes, Shaz
Posted by char (Member # 8315) on :
Oh,DannyBoy,
I love that name!
I'm Irish at heart.
There is information on Lyme Misdiagnosed as MS and a host of other diseases on this site.
You go to Medical Questions. Then scroll down to Newbie links. Click there and scroll to Lyme Misdiagnosed As....
I am sorry that you are even having to think about these quiestions.
My 2cents is that you should get to a dr that is qualified to diagnose you with lyme or rule it out. Lyme Literate we say here.
Char
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
Charlie, it would help others if you change your topic title by editing/PENCIL ICON it, and show "MS and lyme; what's difference?"
Now, you've got the attention of folks diagnosed with MS and are wondering the same that you are.
Sorry, you are so sick and confused; this illness does it to you.
You could also do a SEARCH here; search is at top of page under POST REPLY.
type in MS & LYME for MEDICAL SUBJECT ONLY date -- any date leave poster no. blank & hit enter to search.
You should be able to come up with 10-20 posts; lots posted lately about this.
Also, a lyme member, DAYSTAR, started a NEW ONLINE MS/LYME SUPPORT GROUP. Perhaps you can send her a PM, private message, and ask to be added to her group list. Best wishes Charlie.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
From what I understand of MS, if you don't "treat it" nothing bad happens. There is no "cure."
On the other hand, if you don't treat LYME, you will be doomed to a lifetime of misery. That I know for a fact.
If you actually have Lyme and they treat you for MS, you could make the Lyme go deeper, thereby making it even harder to get well.
One of the things they give you for MS is immune-suppressant drugs....and those make the Lyme go deeper.
MAKE SURE you don't have Lyme. Get evaluated by an LLMD ASAP!
One of my sons is named Danny...I would give him this same advice...
When I was misdiagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis,ms,als...etc...I was given many different immune suppressant drugs...which made me worse and probably chronic...lyme...
If your DUCK says you have MS...ask him what Etiology causes MS...If he is unfamiliar with spirochetes as a possible Etiology then tell him to take the immunosuppresant drugs and give you an antibiotic..........zman
Posted by LostCityAgent (Member # 9050) on :
Charlie, We seem, after reading more information, to have the same type of situation. The only problem for you is that you have not seen an LD MD and been diagnosed, nor have you had the blood tests to assist in this confirmation. You should do this right away.
Good Luck! Jmcc.
Posted by suki444 (Member # 4261) on :
I'm of the opinion MS is Lyme...docs here in Belfast were starting to say I had a neurological autoimmune disease, possibly M.S. and I had all the early onset symptoms.
I saw Lyme literate docs - one in the UK and US and they both found Lyme in my blood. You need to get to a LLMD for evaluation.
Remember with the correct treatment for Lyme you can recover...steroids make Lyme worse so avoid those at all costs.
Emma
Posted by dmc (Member # 5102) on :
Count me in as a supposed MS for 17 year5s till found LLMD and found out lyme...doing well on lyme treatment. Yes I have lesions on brain, as does my sister & brother-in-law who have more than me, but because they have prior positive lyme WB test they did not get the MS label.
Multiple Sclerosis- Multiple Lesions- is a disease name for a symptom...many hardening...many lesions. Just like if you have a sore back, oooo, you got bad back disease, but the cause is a herniated disk. Find the cause of the immune response, treat the cause, STOP progression.
I have the MS immune response to Borrellia Borderferi.... the MS response to Lyme.
Dannyboy, A word of advise, stay away from your local university's med. center.
Posted by OhDannyBoy (Member # 9368) on :
Hey, thanks everyone. I have found a doctor who takes care of lymes. that was a cool link lost city and interesting. all of this stuff seems a bit unreal.
Charlie
Posted by Trina (Member # 9270) on :
I do not know if this will intrest you or not but here goes.
My dads best friend was diagnosed with ms later in his life ( 50's) and wouldn't you know it with his luck he also got lyme disease.They must have caught it in his blood work.
I Remember my dad saying he was in a real mess and he had had it a long time (Lyme). Fast forward 20 years... he dies... his 3 kids have been diagnosed with ms but 1 son has also been diagnosed with lyme disease.
He is the one who has not been tested for ms.Now the other 3 are going to a hospital that is going to pay for genetic testing.I do not know the results.Did they happen to have ms run in the family.We never knew they did, Did they live in a lyme infested erea ? Evidently... I got lyme within 30 miles of the same spot and heard of an old high school friend within fifteen minutes of where they used to live as kids that had lyme pretty bad also.
The test will be intresting I sure hope it is lyme rather than Ms but it is rather odd.
Posted by LostCityAgent (Member # 9050) on :
Trina, I am confused by what you are saying to him. Can you explain more.
Posted by OhDannyBoy (Member # 9368) on :
Hi all
thanks for all of your help. T-I am confused also.