Been extremely busy, and now miserably wretched again, after registering and still being very much a newbie.
I do however have a real question for those who know testing techniques and methodology before I begin whining.
I've shared here that my husband has access to a scanning electron microscope through his employment. We're interested in finding out what culture medium to use, how much blood is needed, and what are the merits of simply studying my blood without culturing it first. Any information would be appreciated. Next will be finding someone willing to do the draw. . .
After about four weeks of hoping against hope that my problems were being caused by Atenelol, I'm learning differently. All the same crap.
Swollen painful joints, especially my knees, extreme bloating and water retention, exquisite headache and lots of lumps and bumps under my skin.
I also had a big nasty cyst on one of my breasts that popped and some really nasty smelling, and I mean NASTY, guck came out. Had to wash my hands several times to get the smell gone.
Also, acne, facial swelling, back ache, bad neck ache and overall malaise and body pain, pain level of about 8/9 most of the time, even with meds. Blood pressure up to average of 153/98 again, even with meds. I'm totally miserable.
This has been going on monthly since about 2000, to this extreme anyway, and to lesser degree since about 1989, when I had an EM rash that doc said was spider bite because "we don't have lyme here." I was in Northeast Kansas at the time. Lots and lots of deer.
I can't tell you how many ticks I pulled off me and my kids each summer between 1989 and 2003. This "cyst" I had on my boob was right in a spot that I pulled a little tick off of myself the last summer we were there. I had that happen once before too. Had a tick right in the crease of my armpit just inside the muscle. Later, there was a nasty cyst there.
A few weeks later, after the bite healed, I had a really weird rash on my lower back and around my ankles, and it is shortly after that, that my symptoms escalated to where they are now. Looked like shingles or chicken pox, but wasn't.
Then it all goes away, until the whole cycle repeats itself. The only time this cycle has broken is when I was on cipro and flagyl for four months getting ready for a partial colectomy for diverticulitis last year. Had a really bad herx while in the hospital the first eight days on these drugs IV, about day four. REALLY bad. Temp 105.2, delirium, body pain, extreme headache, and my white cell count jumped from 16K to 19K after starting antibiotics. Doc was puzzled. I wasn't having already read extensively on lyme.
My husband thinks I might have overdone last week. I took on a painting project with a friend to get one of our church buildings prepped for painting.
It was hard work, no doubt, but a few weeks ago, I worked like a dog trimming bushes, trees, cutting grass, weed whipping, etc., etc., etc., at home and at church, and had no ill effects.
And I know from the past that it could be the dead of winter and I'm doing no real heavy work whatsoever, and this hits like this.
All the conventional testing done has found nothing. We'll go to IGenex, but my husband would really like to give it a stab. He is a forensic microscopist and scientist and this really has him intrigued. Any answers or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for allowing me to whine as well. I read here alot and it helps me to not think I'm totally insane and/or at delusional. Thanks, Moosie
Posted by radiogirl (Member # 9202) on :
You may even inquire at bowen labs to see what they use.Maybe some kind lab tech or DR. Whitaker herself might find the lab project interesting.Ill PM you with another source.
If it works maybe we can go into biz together!Id love to see whats having fun at my expense in my body.Bet alot of others would too!RG