I have tried to space this out better for those that have trouble reading. My apologies.
My husband was a healthy,active man in May of 2008. He drives horses (in a cart) on a daily basis since last December, 5 days a week.
We went to Acadia National Park in May, drove 30 miles and had a blast. When we got home he went totally downhill.
He was having 10 second chills 5 times a day, fever of 99 for two months, total fatique, anxiety, depressed (because no one can find out what is wrong with him!)
He has been tested for everything from Lyme to Thyroid. His Lyme test came back negative - Titer (sp?). In May I did pull a tick from his thigh - it was a little red. So now it has been 3 months of feeling fatique, but not tired, he has basically been in bed for 3 months or on the couch.
His primary care doctor finally said we are going to treat him for Lyme and gave him Ceftin for an antibiotic in July. He is allergic to penicilan and he had an allergic reaction to Ceftin and seizured and wound up in the hospital for 5 days.
The doctor's at the hospital tested him for everything, gastro, infestious diseases and still nothing.
As of this writing he is still fatiqued, cannot do anything without feeling like he has no energy and his knees ache.
He is still getting the 10 second chills but has no more fever. Because we have had no diagnosis except he is B6 deficient, possibly Celiac Disease (came back negative), he has had a endoscopy, colonoscopy, blood work, B12 shots and still feels like he is going to die.
So now our new doctor thinks he is nuts and should see a shrink. This man has no reason to be depressed except for his body feeling awful and no real diagnosis.
Because we are around horses, he mows the fields, is outside all day long could it be Lyme???? He is pretty much at the end of his rope and I don't know how much longer he can stand feeling this way.
Update 8/26/08. I ordered the test kit from Igenex and will bring to our appointment tomorrow.
I think I will order the #4090 Western Blot Test and #200 Babesiosis from your recommendations. Do you all agree?
These tests are expensive!!!
It will be interesting to see what our doctor thinks of us bringing in our own test kits....
Will keep everyone posted.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVICE AND HELP.....it is comforting.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
That seems like a reasonable starting point. I am new to this, but those symptoms sound VERY suspicious of Lyme. It amazes me how every doctor wants to Dx depression so fast.
I think that is such a sickening approach unless the patient truly has signs and the doctor has talked through the issues. People rarely stop doing what they enjoy out of the blue.
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
They are expensive but health is worth everything....
Getting the Igenex WB is a smart move...just hope ur doc is willing to send it to them...is he/she a good doc?
Posted by tonyp (Member # 14960) on :
I also ordered the Lyme panel test which basically gets the IGG and IGM Western blot as well as the Lyme IFA. My doctor only relied on the IGG and IGM, so buying the IFA could be a waste of money
So, If you want to save a few bucks, then you may order the 188 and 189 test ( IGG and IGM).
In it's place you may want to order the Bart test, 285. From my reading, it seems to be a common coinfection and mimics some of the same Lyme symptoms
Good luck, so in summary you would be ordering 4 tests IGG WB, IGM WB, Babs and Bart. I think that is a nice first start.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by tonyp: [QB] I also ordered the Lyme panel test which basically gets the IGG and IGM Western blot as well as the Lyme IFA. My doctor only relied on the IGG and IGM, so buying the IFA could be a waste of money
So, If you want to save a few bucks, then you may order the 188 and 189 test ( IGG and IGM).
The IFA is great IF it comes back positive, but if it's negative it doesn't mean he doesn't have lyme. Confusing, I know!
Personally, I would only order the #188 and 189. Then possibly the bart and babesia tests...though if money is tight you could wait on those until he gets to an LLMD.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
thank you...your spacing was wonderful!!
be sure to get them FEDEXED TOMORROW, WED, since you live in NEW HAMPSHIRE ... long ways to CALIFORNIA!!
you do NOT want them sitting in the post offices OVER WEEKEND! ***********************************
make sure they spin your blood down or whatever that term is ... make sure INSTRUCTIONS are followed...
dr. signs, dates, puts DIAGNOSIS CODE for reimbursement to you of what money you can get back!
be sure office/fax nos. are shown for dr. takes 3 wks. to get back to dr.
YOU WANT COPIES OF IGM AND IGG for YOUR files! **********************************************
I agree with lymetoo....igenex BASIC tests only now.
if co-infection testing is needed, then chose FRY LABS since it's cheaper than IGENEX!! Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by bettyg: [QB] if co-infection testing is needed, then chose FRY LABS since it's cheaper than IGENEX!!
agree! .. but do the Lyme testing thru Igenex.
Posted by Miss Murphy (Member # 17005) on :
We went to the doctor yesterday and he was wonderful.
He put my husband on Doxy for 42 days.
He was open minded about the Western Blot and we went to the lab and they use the lab in California as well.
They drew the blood and sent it along so we did not have to pay, hopefully our insurance will.
We will now wait and see if the Antibiotic helps.
At least we are on the right track.
Thank you all for your help. Will keep you posted as to his health.
Miss Murphy
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
YEA!! I hope he will see the dr again before he runs out of antibiotics.
You don't want to run out before he's WELL. Keep us posted!!
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
hooray for you both; glad you got 42 days or whatever you mentioned!
agree with tutu, do NOT run out of antibiotics! **********************************************
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