philly78
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31069
posted
I went to my PCP today for a follow up appointment after having blood work drawn. When I had told him how I was feeling, he had thought enough to test for lyme.
My results were reactive for 23IGG and the 23IGM but that was it. The symptoms I have been having are fatigue and brain fog for the most part along with some sinus pain and pressure and H/A in the occipital region. Oh...and I'm also having a problem with my memory and having brief moments where I feel lost or disoriented.
Anyway, he says not to worry about being reactive but from what I have read online, I feel there is reason to be worried.
I did find a LLMD only 30 minutes from my house and called to schedule an appointment. I need to fill out a new patient packet, fax it back to them, and they will call me back for an appointment. The initial visit if $500. I do have the money to pay but that isn't cheap!
Should I be worried? Or am I just over reacting? I've been so stressed out lately and have a pretty demanding job so I guess part of me is just blaming my symptoms on stress.
Help! Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
-------------------- When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal. Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011
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posted
well, stres does contribute to this disease but it certainely isn't all, it just lower aour stress resistance...
Posts: 723 | From Montreal | Registered: Oct 2010
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posted
$500 for the first visit? did they mention anything about doing a test through Igenex?
Posts: 44 | From Pa | Registered: Feb 2011
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philly78
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31069
posted
The thing is, I recently started having panic attacks as well, which I've never had before. I am 33 years old and have no other medical problems. I rarely even get sick! So this is all new to me...these symptoms...and I don't like it!
A few other things on my blood work had me concerned. My WBC is low at 3.2 but my differential is fine and my glucose levels have also been dropping. MY fasting glucose level is on the low end of normal at 73 and I dropped down to 54 during the glucose tolerance test I was given.
My hubby thinks I am over thinking this but his mother had a lot of problems which stemmed from undiagnosed lyme. My cousin who is 17 now and was a star athlete has had to give up sports as well. He has been on and off antibiotics for three years. Then there is my coworker whose niece had to drop out of college for issues with this disease.
You know...in typing all of this out, I think I have made up my mind about going to the LLMD. At this point, if I did go and it ends up not being lyme at least I will definitely know.
-------------------- When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal. Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011
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philly78
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31069
posted
They didn't mention much at all but in talking with other people, it appears this doc does use Igenex and he comes highly recommended.
I did find two other docs that were close, but got some negative feedback on them....too much negative feedback for my liking.
-------------------- When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal. Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011
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gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
Your PCP is a rare find. It's not often a PCP will suggest you be tested for lyme. You apparently have a PCP who keeps up on things or is seeing a lot of lyme related symptoms in his patients.
No, no reason to worry, but not because of what your PCP said. You definitely need to see an LLMD and get tested, and if you're infected, get treated asap. As hard as it is not to worry, try not to as it will only make you feel worse.
I know, easier said than done, but you are on the right track, so feel good to know that you are doing the right thing and soon you'll know if you're infected or not. If you are, you will get treated and in time you'll get better. Positive outlook is an important part of treating this disease. I've had to learn that the hard way.
Do you remember ever getting bit by a tick? If so, how long ago was it?
posted
taking gwbs question a little further, have you done any activities that would expose you to ticks?
hiking, yard work, etc.
I was very careful about removing ticks from myself after getting out of the woods and still ended up with something. no visible bite.
Posts: 44 | From Pa | Registered: Feb 2011
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philly78
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posted
I don't recall getting bit by a tick but until 5 years ago I lived in a house that backed up to the woods. We always had deer running around. The family also has a house in the mountains and we go hiking and trailing through the woods all the time.
I'm also in the woods with my son for scouts. I don't live backed up to the woods anymore but still have deer lingering around the back yard. So it is possible I was bit and just don't remember. I've also been told that the county I live in is a high risk area.
-------------------- When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal. Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011
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tickled1
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Member # 14257
posted
Ticks are so tiny that you could EASILY miss a tick bite. My daughter had one that I thought was a speck of sand and kept trying to flick it off of her. When it wouldn't budge I finally had to take a magnifying glass to it to see the legs. They are very easy to miss and you could have picked one up just walking accross your lawn. They can be as small as the period at the end of this sentence.
Your symptoms sound a lot like the early stages of when I got sick. Trust me, you don't want to let it go to the point that I did before getting dx. You have no need to worry IF you decide not to waste time and you go straight to an ILADS LLMD.
Your husband says you are over thinking this? I can relate to that!!! But, b/c of that, I've wasted years of treating this disease incorrectly with an inadequate dr. b/c they took my insurance. I am just now finally going to see an ILADS LLMD no matter what anyone thinks. It is the right thing to do and I should have done it from day one. I probably wasted more $$ treating the wrong way than I would have spent if I went straight to an ILADS LLMD.
Be prepared for some tension in you marriage over this. Have your hubby read Burrascano's Guidelines to get an understanding of how this disease needs to be treated.
Don't try to write your symptoms off as anything else. I did that for years until there was finally no denying it b/c I became disabled. You have Lyme. It will be ok but go to the right dr. Don't let friends/family influence you otherwise. I wish I hadn't.
It's only 37 pages and well worth your time.
Posts: 2541 | From Northeast | Registered: Jan 2008
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gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
quote:Originally posted by philly78: I don't recall getting bit by a tick but until 5 years ago I lived in a house that backed up to the woods. We always had deer running around. The family also has a house in the mountains and we go hiking and trailing through the woods all the time.
I'm also in the woods with my son for scouts. I don't live backed up to the woods anymore but still have deer lingering around the back yard. So it is possible I was bit and just don't remember. I've also been told that the county I live in is a high risk area.
Ever seen a rash on your body that you could not explain how it got there?
tickled1
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14257
posted
BTW, I was bitten in 2000. No rash so doc said not to worry. Symptoms waxed and waned until 2004 but didn't attribute to Lyme b/c of what doc said. In 2004 knew something was very wrong. In 2007 completely crashed and became bedridden. Took another year to get dx.
From what you've said, you've had more than enough exposure to suspect Lyme, even without a rash. Less than 1/2 get the rash.
Posts: 2541 | From Northeast | Registered: Jan 2008
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philly78
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posted
In response to GWB....nope, no rash that I am aware of. At least not one that I would have thought was indicative of lyme. I do get a weird rash on my chest that seems to come and go. Almost looks like tiny little blisters. I've never thought anything of it though as it really never bothered me.
Thank you so much for all of the responses! I'm going to make the appointment with the LLMD. I just need to get all of this paperwork filled out and faxed over there first. I figure I would rather waste the $500 and know that I'm okay than not go and regret it later.
-------------------- When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal. Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011
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posted
Definitely go see the LLMD - I suspect it's the one I see, and I've done really well with him over the last 2.5 years. He thinks beyond Lyme and coinfections to cleaning up other issues, as well.
Can relate about spousal support (or lack thereof) ticked1...grrrrr!
-------------------- Increasingly ill over past 10 yrs; treating since October '08. Posts: 180 | From Philadelphia, PA | Registered: Oct 2008
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gwb
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Member # 7273
posted
Philly, believe it or not, that rash could very likely be lyme related. My wife still gets rashes that come and go on her body (she too has lyme disease). I'm so glad you're going to be tested soon. Yes, it's expensive, but if you have this disease, the sooner you treat it the better off you'll be.
The longer you wait longer to treat it (assuming you have it), the more it will end up costing you, and it will take much longer to treat. Better to be safe than sorry.
You're doing the right thing by seeing an LLMD, and I'm confident you'll be glad you did.
quote:You know...in typing all of this out, I think I have made up my mind about going to the LLMD. At this point, if I did go and it ends up not being lyme at least I will definitely know. [/QB]
I do this all the time I think $500 is worth piece of mind and covering your bases you can't put a price on your health. :-)
-------------------- When the going gets tough. . . I'll keep fighting! Ms. Geet3721
New LLMD, New abx, New life coming right up!!!! Posts: 714 | From La La Lyme Land | Registered: Jun 2008
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philly78
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31069
posted
Well people, I have an appointment next Thursday with a LLMD. Excited but nervous at the same time.
The thing that has been bugging me....if this does end up being lyme is that I have absolutely no idea as to when I would have contracted it! That bothers me a bit, and try as I might to figure it out, I can't.
-------------------- When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal. Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011
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BackinStOlaf
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Member # 23725
posted
You are doing the right thing. Believe it or not, $500 is on the low side. It is worth it for your health
-------------------- First Symptom 9/09 Multiple docs, negative Labcorp test LLMD: 1/10 Positive Igenex/CDC test Treatment 2/10 2/10-8/10 Amox, ceftin, zith, flagyl Currently: Bicillin, Minocycline, still dealing with severe breathing issues
Posts: 1121 | From New York, New York | Registered: Dec 2009
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richedie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Who is your doc? PM me...I am near Philly
-------------------- Mepron/Zith/Ceftin Doxy/Biaxin/Flagyl pulse. Artemisinin with Doxy/Biaxin. Period of Levaquin and Ceftin. Then Levaquin, Bactrim and Biaxin. Bactrim/Augmentin/Rifampin. Mepron/Biaxin/Artemisinin/Cat's Claw Rifampin/Bactrim/Alinia Plaquenil/Biaxin Posts: 1949 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Feb 2008
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