Hi. I am just really confused and not sure what to think
I own a landscape company and work outside. On average each season, I get about 40 tick bites. That’s not counting the amount that I find crawling on me. Most of the time I get the ticks off of me by evening/night. The ticks are all different types, lone star , deer ticks, etc.
I tested positive for Lyme in late summer 2011 and 2012. As well as in Spring 2017. In 2011 I took doxycycline for 30 days.
In 2012 , I was prescribed doxycycline again ( 30 day cycle) but only took it about a week. I hated taking doxycycline and back then I thought Lyme wouldn’t bother me.
In Spring 2017, I took doxycycline for 10 days, right after taking 10 days of prednisone for back pain.
In November of 2017, I was tested again and it came back negative. I couldn’t believe it. All the Lyme tests were both ELISA and western blot not done by Igenix. I never thought Lyme would affect me but now I have symptoms and am terrified I have something like MS.
I was on prednisone again in August 2017 and got a epidural steroid shot (lumbar) in August as well. 5 days later I woke up with this off balance, being pulled to floor feeling. No spinning. It lasted 6 days and did not come back for 2 months .
The feeling came back in November ( when I tested negative for Lyme) . Since then It comes and goes.
Now I also have pain in the bridge of nose, migrating pain in arms, hands, shoulders, and neck. Sometimes mild jaw pain. And just recently a lump in throat feeling.
I have had a normal brain mri, normal cervical spine mri, abnormal Vng ( weak right vestibular system) and Emg tests.
Has anyone had any symptoms like mine or experienced something similar ? Please help.
(breaking up the post for easier reading for many here)
[ 02-17-2018, 05:00 PM: Message edited by: Robin123 ]
Posted by Charlie Fitzgerald (Member # 50657) on :
quote:Originally posted by Rachval: Hi. I am just really confused and not sure what to think. I own a landscape company and work outside. On average each season, I get about 40 tick bites.
You're acting as if that's a normal thing. If you're getting that many bites per season, you should be using permethrin on your clothing or some type of precaution.
quote:Originally posted by Rachval: I never thought Lyme would affect me but now I have symptoms and am terrified I have something like MS.
You never thought Lyme would affect you? Time to get educated, you realize that you've been letting ticks infect you with one of the most resilient bacteria on the planet right?
Considering your Doctor is giving you prednisone and probably chirping in your ear you might have MS, I think it's time to see a literate physician.
Find an educated LLMD, read up on the latest breakthroughs on persister cell treatment, listen to what Doctors like Dr. J and Dr. H are treating with. https://youtu.be/BZu0wEOFVM8
Realize that this bacteria can go dormant, spring back up again, go dormant. There's numerous forms of borrelia such as biofilms, round body forms, L forms, and of course the persister cells which make this bacteria hard to treat.
A lot of Doctors have been having success with traditional antibiotics like
tindamax+doxy+ceftin flagyl+doxy+ceftin
New drugs that's been hitting persister cells hard Disulfiram Dapsone Pyrazinamide
Honestly, if you've been letting this infection go for quite some time, using steroids like prednisone can knock back your immune system. You're probably going to have a tough time with treatment, most likely you'll get worse before you get better, but keep hope, as everyone does get better!!!
quote:Originally posted by Rachval: with this off balance, being pulled to floor feeling. No spinning. It lasted 6 days and did not come back for 2 months . The feeling came back in November ( when I tested negative for Lyme) . Since then It comes and goes. Now I also have pain in the bridge of nose, migrating pain in arms, hands, shoulders, and neck. Sometimes mild jaw pain. And just recently a lump in throat feeling. I have had a normal brain mri, normal cervical spine mri, abnormal Vng ( weak right vestibular system) and Emg tests. Has anyone had any symptoms like mine or experienced something similar ? Please help.
All are typical lyme symptoms, especially the off balance feeling, migrating pain, TMJ jaw pain. Also the lump in the throat feeling.
Ignore all the tests, they won't tell you anything. There's about a 100 strains of borrelia in the US, ELISA test for one strain. Tests are inaccurate, Igenex lab is the most accurate, but still can come up false negative.
Herbs can help, but for the most part you'll need to get started on Antibiotics.
Posted by Brussels (Member # 13480) on :
I also agree with Charles.
It looks like lyme.
But you are a strong person, as after 40 bites a year, you are still walking around!!
Some people fall ill with just 1 bite (most people never even see any tick their whole lives!)
It looks like lyme to me too.
Exams are just guides, they are not final words.
Just treat, and if you feel better, why bother with exams?
Here in Switzerland, there was a study saying that , in my area, most farmers are Westernblot positive, but they are not ill. Fully active, just with positive antibodies.
Do you think they are all treating lyme? No.
Whatever the result of your exams, I'd rather treat with herbs, at least.
I would start with buying Buhner's book and ordering his herbs.
What's the use of waiting? Chronic illnesses are VERY HARD to be diagnosed, and MDs usually have little to offer you, even if you got positive results.
Either look for a specialist, pay zillions, get some help, or treat on your own with herbals or homeopathics (or energy medicine), and if you improve, well, that's the aim right?
That is what I would do.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
Topic: what do STEROIDS actually do to those with lyme?
Risks of even short runs, long term damage discussed. Links. -
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I agree with the above comments. I hope you address it and feel better soon!
I especially agree with the advice to avoid ticks despite your business.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I think you've been a sitting duck, so to speak, re your outdoor landscape work. First of all, could you please investigate how to protect yourself from any more tick bites?! Will mean tick repellent on/in clothing, etc.
Testing often comes back negative even though we may have Lyme and co-infections.
I think you are in need of an LLMD at this point. You can post in Seeking a Doctor for referrals for your area.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Oh my .. all you had to say was "landscape company" and I'm already worried. Then I see the "40 tick bites."
To escape infection would be a miracle. Get help now!! Do your best to stay away from steroids in the future.
Here is a link which contains tons of links about Lyme and its coinfections.