During the summer of 2000 I developed a rash on my chest and a had low grade fever for about 8 weeks. Don't recall an actual bite mark.
Was always very healthy and physically fit.
Finally sought medical attention up in Malone, NY and was given antibiotics for 10 days late that summer.
That stopped the fever and the rash went away, but from then on I have had a steady decline in health. Mostly arthritic like problems at first.
I Complained to a doctor six months later and he put me on Viox.
Helped a little but stopped taking it after a year as decline continued.
Was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2005. Symptoms have gotten much worse every year since. Am taking 60mg Cymbalta and 50mg Trazadone. This has been the worst year so far.
After reading posts here for last few days I am certain I have been dealing with Lyme.
Symptoms I have experienced in no particular order:
The pain varies in intensity, but is always there. Nothing I do gets rid of this pain. Sometimes it is so bad I feel like I want to crawl out of my skin. Vision has gotten worse, blurry, hard to read anything.
Any feedback would be appreciated. Have appointment with my regular doc tomorrow, but have located a LLMD about three hours away.
Should I just go ahead and contact her regardless of what my doc says and have her do the tests? Not thinking straight at all. Thanks.
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
If you have been going to your regular doc all this time and getting no help, do you think this person will help now?
Should you think it likely, you could get an order for a lyme test from Igenex. Someone will come along and tell you which one.
If not, then skip the appointment and wait for lyme doc. Go ahead as soon as you can with lyme doc. Sometimes they have long waiting times.
This has been going on for ten years? That means treatment is going to take quite a while. You might also have coinfections. Insurance is going to be a problem.
It never ceases to amaze me how long people are patient with inadequate medical treatment.
Posted by PTrain (Member # 28773) on :
Thank you for the feedback. I won't have a problem taking the meds long term. Life has been hell for years - what's a couple more. Has anyone actually seen their symptoms disappear? Can I hope to have my pain go away, vision clear up, etc. someday?
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Hey, onbam. You have broken the no doc names rule!! Please only send names in private messages. AND EDIT IMMEDIATELY to remove these names from the board.
Why are you giving middle west info? This person is in NY.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Hi - glad you finally found us. First, you will need to see an LLMD.
Second, fibromyalgia is Lyme disease. For example, my case - I had a KNOWN tick bite, then ten weeks later, got sore neck and shoulder muscles, then 18 months later, was diagnosed with fibrocitis, with a name change to fibromyalgia in 1990.
The trick is to find the antibiotics that will work for you. We are all different when it comes to med responses. And take probiotics also when you take antibiotics.
The abx that's working for me is clindamycin, 150mg, 2x/day. When I started it, I took it around the clock every 6 hours. In three days, my pain was decreasing and my energy increasing. In a week, no more muscle pain! So there is hope - you just have to find the one that's going to treat your Lyme strain(s).
Re energy - I recall that Supermalic gave me energy. That's a combination of malic acid and magnesium. We're very deficient in magnesium and usually have to supplement it in some way.
Next, for your eyes - I am successfully treating all Lyme eye symptoms by drinking mangosteen juice, an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant juice.
Within 24 hours of trying it, no more blurred vision, eye muscle pain, light sensitivity and floaters! I still drink a small amount 2x/day.
There are lots of brands in health food stores and online. I drink the Ultra one from Trace Minerals, with 70 minerals added.
If you try it, go slowly and drink water also, as it can be powerful.
Also, like everything, we're all different in our responses, including to mangosteen juice. We just have to try stuff and see if it works for us. The key is to keep trying recommended things to see if they work.
You can study here, ask Qs, see an LLMD, and join a support group near you (listed to the left).
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
Greetings and welcome. Ah...the North Country. I know it well. I went to college up there and lived there for a few years. Love it.
It certainly sounds like you have lyme. There is a good LLMD in Chazy / Plattsburgh. She had lyme herself and is now well after treating for a year +. I will send you a Private Message.
I do not believe your regular doctors can help you.
Posted by PTrain (Member # 28773) on :
Thanks very much! I'm calling that LLMD tomorrow morning.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Get to an LLMD right away. Make sure they do a Western Blot through Igenex Lab.
