posted
Hi, I am new here, forgive my long post that may repeat some others' questions.
My daughter's dad (we have been separated as a couple for several years now but raise her together) came down with a host of bizarre symptoms beginning last Spring. This week he contacted me in a panic, crying and begging me to meet with him in person.
When we talked, he said he had been experiencing an unusual 'pressure' in his head episodically that he related to both being in his home and being emotionally stressed. He felt it had to do with unresolved feelings towards me, so we talked for a long time, he cried uncontrollably for a time, then seemed relieved.
As we talked he revealed that what he thought was an ear infection, accompanied by vaguely flu-like symptoms that came on in the Spring, had never fully gone away.
He said he began to think there was something wrong with his heart. He went to the ER in early summer and they said there was nothing wrong. He concluded it was in his head, something to do with anxiety, which he has never had trouble with previously.
He tried walking it off, eating better, and resting. The symptoms would subside and he thought he was better--only to have it happen again.
He went again to the ER last night after panicking from the pressure in his head, the dizziness and inability to walk. Again, they were dismissive and scoffed at the idea of Lyme, which I had suggested to him. He had to force them to test him.
Other symptoms he has experienced include muscle soreness in his back and shoulder, neck stiffness, vertigo, sensitivity to light, sleep disturbances, and weight loss (about 45 lbs in 6 months with no change in habits).
He is very frightened and feels like he is going crazy. I am quite worried and while not trying to play Dr., feel his experience is consistent with Lyme.
All of the Dr.s seem to think it is in his head. Standard tests have revealed nothing. I have known him for close to 12 years now and have never known him to be seriously ill or exaggerate symptoms. In fact, he is rather stoic and keeps emotions bottled much of the time.
We are both oriented away from western medicine and rarely go to doctors for any reason. We even had our child at home with a midwife, though that is illegal in our state.
He does not smoke, rarely drinks, and used to walk 3-5 miles a day before this all began. He eats pretty healthy.
He has an appt. with a general practitioner in Atlanta in a few weeks. However, from my limited readings I gather we are going to have to push for any doctor to even consider Lyme as a possibility.
My ex is not quite convinced himself that Lyme is the right answer. He keeps thinking it may be mold or some environmental toxin in his home, though our daughter, who lives with him half of the week, has no symptoms whatsoever. And this week his symptoms returned despite staying in a hotel.
In all of your informed opinions, could this be Lyme? He never has the tell-tale rash nor does he recall a tick bite. He just has this strange collection of physical symptoms accompanied by the anxiety and panic episodes and increasing paranoia.
Thank you for listening (reading). I apreciate any and all feedback.
Posts: 5 | From georgia | Registered: Jan 2012
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manybites
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33750
posted
I have the same symtoms and it came was LYME ( test at IGENEX ) Bartonella and a new infection with babesia made it even worst .ALL OF them.Be carefull it could be Babesia Duncani as well that causes neurological issues the most.
HE NEED TO BE seen by an LLMD asap.I wasted time going from one dr to another and on scaner to another MRI and therapies that made me worst near death. Neurolyme and babesia can do it immidiatly.
Posts: 1379 | From disable | Registered: Aug 2011
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posted
I had the same symptoms as well.Also tested through Igenex. I dont think that you are crazy at all. I think that you are probably very right. Get him to a llmd.
Posts: 137 | From Illinois | Registered: Jan 2010
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posted
So I would get him to an LLMD (or open minded doctor--do they exist, ha) and they would take samples and send them to IGENEX is that right?
Posts: 5 | From georgia | Registered: Jan 2012
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Jamers
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28016
posted
I would 100% agree that he has lyme. In my experience no other medical condition has as many symptoms as lyme. An LLMD is the very first step, which you can find on the "seeking a doctor" page on this site. The LLMD should test him using the lab Igenex as mentioned above. The sooner the better.
A tick can transmit many infections like Babesia, Bartonella, or Erlichia. Lyme is also known as Borrelia. Most infected people have these co-infections in addition to Borrelia.
-------------------- Diagnosed Pos. Lyme Nov. 17, 2010, Igx. Pos. Babesia Duncani March 2011, Igx. Clinical diagnosis for Bartonella Posts: 1127 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2010
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WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
This is actually a good time of year to get in to see an LLMD. At least in my experience, they seem to have more openings now than they did this past summer at the height of Lyme season. But if you can't get him in soon enough, you could try a holistic or integrative medicine practice in the meantime.
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
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Kudzuslipper
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31915
posted
"in his head" and Lyme are not mutually exclusive!!! in fact they make each other worse. I want to commend you for being a such a good friend to your ex. Sounds like there is a lot going on emotionally, but I do think Lyme (and or company) is a great possibility. Stress can bring it to head, and make you aware of symptoms that were buried when you busy getting on with life. everyone has aches and pains, and headaches, and panic. But usually when you become aware of them being different something is going on.
Posts: 1728 | From USA | Registered: May 2011
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
It might be Lyme or the co-infections but it might be something else. It's hard to tell in many cases. I have seen people here who thought it was Lyme & did the treatments & still did not get well. I'm sorry to say that it could be complicated...
If he says he's sick - it doesn't sound to me like he's making it up or that it's "only" stress.
It's very hard to find good doctors in the south. I lived there for a few years. You may want to try the Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Center in Atlanta if all else fails. They are expensive & not always the best but it may be better than going to see someone who thinks it's psychosomatic.
Good luck!
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
Links to many articles and books by holistic-minded LL doctors of various degrees who all have this basic approach in common:
Understanding of the importance of addressing the infection(s) fully head-on with specific measures;
Knowing that support supplements are important, but NEVER enough alone. And knowing which supplements have direct impact, which are only support and which are both.
You can compare and contrast many approaches. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
had the exact same kind of symptoms and just had a western blot test come back positive, have a western blot test run. The other tests are useless. Make sure mycoplasma and other coinfection antibody tests are run to. Wouldnt have to be LLMD to run these tests, i just forced my id doc to run them do the same
Posts: 2 | From denver | Registered: Jan 2012
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Tricky Tickey
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 26546
posted
I think the best place to start is with the LLMD. He may not be a ND, but at least they are ILADS trained.
-------------------- Early Disseminated LD- 2010. Currently doing acupuncture and yoga. Negative Igenex (IND & Pos Bands) ISSUES AFTER: Tendonitis, letter reversal, Low immune system. PREVENTION:SaltC,Iodine,Humaworm, Chiropractic. Posts: 1013 | From In a van down by the river. | Registered: Jun 2010
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bcb1200
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25745
posted
Rainbow...Your ex's story sounds almost identical to mine.
I'm a male, just shy of "middle aged" and had very similar symptoms early on with all tests showing I'm normal.
I tested positive on the IGENEX test from my LLMD and have been in treatment ever since. I'm considerably better today (all the weird head stuff is gone, as is the diziness).
Only a few small symptoms remain so I continue to treat.
Get him to an LLMD ASAP.
-------------------- Bite date ? 2/10 symptoms began 5/10 dx'd, after 3 months numerous test and doctors
IgM Igenex +/CDC + + 23/25, 30, 31, 34, 41, 83/93
Currently on:
Currently at around 95% +/- most days. Posts: 3139 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2010
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jackie51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14233
posted
Does he have a dog? what about where he lives? Could there be mice?
Has there been any water damage where he lives? Mold needs moisture to thrive, although it can get by with just high humidity.
Sounds like he needs an LLMD to at the least determine if it is lyme or not.
Other than bacterial or parasite infection, I can't imagine what it could be, but I'm not a doctor.
Good luck. Do your best with your ex and your good karma will be your reward.
Posts: 1374 | From Crazy Town | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Thank you all for your responses, learning all I can is the only thing that alleviates my sense of helplessness in the face of this.
To answer the last questions, he has a cat but no dogs. He lives in a rural area populated by tons of wildlife as well as livestock--his property borders grazing fields for cattle and horses and there are also packs of coyotes, raccoons, opossums, etc.
He has had problems with mice in his home and that was another possibility he considered, was whether some sort of bacteria from droppings was causing him to be sick. Again, however, I question why our daughter, who is much smaller, would not be affected.
He has always taken frequent walks around his property and the adjoining land, much of which is wooded and overgrown with shrubs and grasses.
It seems clear that an LLMD would be best, but apparently there are none in GA currently. I am being told that there are doctors here who might be willing to diagnose, but not long term treat-- this makes no sense to me.
Why would you be willing to diagnose something but not help the person get well? Are there inherent risks in treatment that doctors are not willing to take on?
I have also been told that it could be a number of tick-borne diseases, including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which killed my grandfather in the '60s.
The idea that he could die suddenly while we are trying to find appropriate treatment is scaring the hell out of me. That's unlikely since he's had these symptoms for so long, though, right?
Posts: 5 | From georgia | Registered: Jan 2012
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nonna05
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33557
posted
No-It's urgent
Posts: 2563 | From Denver,CO | Registered: Aug 2011
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