I am at wits end at trying to figure out what is wrong with me. With the exception of the Tinnitus , the following symptoms have either manifested over the last year or have become worse.
I have the following symptoms ...
Tinnitus (fairly loud)
Slightly numb left leg from the knee down that comes and goes for days at a time.
Reoccurring painful joints for no obvious reason (mainly hips, wrists and neck).
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Increased eye floaters both worm like and dark shadows, visual snow (new), random flashing and lightening bolts.
There is more than likely more but this is what is coming to mind immediately. I have been to a couple of doctors and they pretty much think I'm crazy or making it all up.
Is it reasonable to request a blood test from a physician to see if I have Lyme? How did some of you come to the diagnosis? Any Information would be helpful.
Thanks!
Posted by greengirl (Member # 25316) on :
With the joint pain, especially migrating, totally reasonable to ask for lyme testing.
I also had floaters and ear symptoms.
My diagnosis is based totally on symptoms, my labs from a regular commercial lab are all negative. But I have an LLMD who treats based on symptoms and the treatment itself actually confirms the diagnosis (there is an increase/change in symptoms upon treatment).
I had to go to a lyme literate md (LLMD) to do that (see finding doctor thread). It sounds like you'll at least need to find a doctor more educated/open minded about your symptoms and/or lyme.
You'll learn that regular commercial labs can give false negatives.
Other people, here, will probably talk to you about special labs, but I haven't done that and may never if not necessary.
Good luck. Sorry you're not feeling well, but happy you found us.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
COULD be. Look thru these symptoms and see if anything else jumps out at you.
Go to Seeking a Doctor here and ask for help in finding a dr who will properly evaluate you.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
Majority of my symptoms for 3 months were ear and eye, similar to yours. I had no joint (still don't) and only a few vague muscle cramps.
I think you potentially have Lyme. Get an IGENEX western blot ASAP. My original Elisa was negative but Igenex was positive IgM
Posted by nnscott (Member # 25806) on :
Thanks for the feedback and great list! I'm 31 BTW so I have discounted age related causes.
These stood out as fairly common with me over the last year ...
7. Testicular pain/pelvic pain 12.Upset stomach 13.Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea 16.Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block 19.Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back 20.Muscle pain or cramps 21.Twitching of the face or other muscles 22.Headache 23.Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain 24.Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains 26.Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity 27.Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity 28.lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance 29.Lightheadedness, wooziness 30.Tremor 31.Confusion, difficulty in thinking 32.Diffculty with concentration, reading 33.Forgetfuiness, poor short term memory 35.Difficulty with speech or writing 36.Mood swings, irritability, depression 37.Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening 38.Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol
Number 38 is the kicker... If I have one drink or twenty the hang over is terrible for an entire day later.
There is a certain event that comes to mind about four or five years ago. It was my one my birthday and before my wife I could go out I came down with a really bad "24 hour" flu for no obvious reason. A little after that I developed a lump on my groin (not an STD) that my doctor couldn't identify that slowly went away. Hmmm.
I will check the list for a Doctor in the Northwest Ohio Area. I'd really like to figure this out.
Posted by Remember to Smile (Member # 25481) on :
Hi, nnscott. Welcome! I trust you'll find supportive suggestions here. And how opportune that it is Lyme Disease Awareness Month!
Sorry to hear you've had such a yucky array of symptoms and so little support from doctors so far. Keep working to get help. You know when things aren't right in your own body!
I'm not a medical professional, just a person with Stage 3 Lyme Disease, so any of my ideas are just that, ideas.
No matter what route you take in the next few months, it will be helpful for you to start jotting down your symptoms so you can track things for any consultations you have coming up.
Sounds like you have numerous symptoms that may be part of the "Lyme Disease Complex" (that includes possible co-infections with additional parasites). It will be worthwhile exploring more about Lyme Disease since it is a growing problem worldwide.
The most respected information source on Lyme Disease today is the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. Tool around on their website where you can read brochures, scientific articles, and/or watch videoes. ILADS
And I appreciate this link: Essay by John D. Bleiweiss, M.D. It discusses some symptoms I've had for years that no one else ever mentioned to me! (Lyme can be a lonely disease...)
An excellent book for just about any adult is "Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic" by Pamela Weintraub. It reads like a suspense mystery, and it's the true story of modern Lyme Disease. The author is a terrific writer. You should be able to borrow it thru your local library system.
All best wishes, Smile
Posted by littlebit27 (Member # 24477) on :
I first suspected Lyme because I was having an avalanche of symptoms, every day was something new and no one could figure it out. I was talking to my husband about my friend who has Lyme and he said maybe you should get tested for that. I thought, no this isn't Lyme.
Came home and asked her about the symptoms that came to mind immediately, she said her mom (who also has Lyme) had the same first symptoms. So I did a search and found that same list and after looking over it I had over 20 symptoms.
Some were things that have been happening for years but I didn't think anything of it. Now the more I read and the more I learn Lyme could explain every.single.thing. I've experienced since 2004. It is really a crazy disease.
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Keep working to get help. You know when things aren't right in your own body!