posted
I was diagnosed in 2006 after 11 months of symptoms (really lucky since here in Utah the knowledge of chronic Lyme was pretty limited at that time).
My main symptoms were weight loss, chronic extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, spasms, twitching and paralysis, short & long term memory difficulties, difficulty concentrating, low appetite, weight loss, nausea, abdominal pain, headaches, sensitivity to light/sound, low comprehension.
I had a pretty quick recovery--back to functioning after about 1 year of treatment and after 2 years my only lingering symptoms were long-term memory loss (I still can't remember much detail back further than 3 years) and a tremor in my hands.
I felt great until 2010. Since 2010 I've been struggling on and off with chronic fatigue, headaches and abdominal/pelvic pain. No luck finding the source of the symptoms so I've just been dealing with it. I hadn't considered the possibility of a relapse since the symptoms were different, and were not worsening just chronic (before treatment my Lyme symptoms worsened quickly over a short period of time until I was essentially bed-ridden)
Even though I've had some chronic symptoms, they have been nothing like the severity I experienced with my Lyme onset and quality of life overall has been good.
Over the last month however, there's been a drastic change in my symptoms, and I'm starting to feel the same trifecta of symptoms I experienced back in 2006: muscular, abdominal and neurological. I've also lost over 20 pounds past my normal weight over the last year (I'm down to 92 pounds which is way too low for a 26 year old IMO). I'm starting to wonder whether I might be relapsing.
Is that even possible after over 5 years in remission? To be honest I haven't even wanted to think about the possibility; in 2006 I was still in high school and had parents to take care of me and the medical bills. Now I am a mother of a 17 month old and the provider for our family. We can't afford for me to lose time at work let alone the medical bills--I know from the last round that our insurance won't cover the treatment.
Any insights are really appreciated!
Posts: 3 | From Utah | Registered: Oct 2014
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Razzle
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 30398
posted
It is possible you either had a re-exposure or are relapsing. But it might be good to consult an LLMD to get their opinion...
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4167 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Yes, I agree with Razzle.
If it is a relapse, and sounds like a coinfection, best bet is to nip it in the bud and see an LLMD pronto.
Waiting will only make things worse if your problems are indeed caused by bacterial infection.
Not sure what the laws are like where you live, but in British Columbia, naturpathic doctors are able to prescribe antibiotics, some can prescribe IV antibiotics.
And naturopaths are on different pay scales.
Do you have lyme literate naturopaths near you?
Best of luck, Greta
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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posted
Thanks Razzle and Greta. We have one LLMD in the area who is an MD and Naturopath (the one that treated me back in '06). Looks like I may be paying him a visit.
Posts: 3 | From Utah | Registered: Oct 2014
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CherylSue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13077
posted
I am so sorry to hear you are relapsing. That is so common with Lyme and coinfections. Nip it in the bud, and see your LLMD promptly. You will have to be mindful for the rest of your life, but you can manage to live a normal life if you stay on top of it.
Good luck.
Posts: 1954 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2007
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