Monica
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 224
posted
Briefly ... I have been infected since about 1988. On abx on and off since 1997. Last round of Biaxin and Ceftin from 2/04 till mid 12/04. Worst and longest lasting symptom was right leg weakness. Well, the leg is no longer that weak, but I have difficulty walking (for about the last 2 years).
I walk with a cane. It's as if my body has forgotten how to walk. Sometimes there is overall weakness but that happens when I'm hungry, stressed or tired.
Today I came back from my lunch break, got out of my car, and could not remember how to walk. Just didn't know what to do. Or maybe more correctly couldn't make the connection between brain and body.
I knew I was going to fall so I was able to go down gently and suffered no ill effects.
Has this happened to anyone else?
Posts: 1757 | From Somerset County, NJ | Registered: Oct 2000
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I've never had this happen to me but I can sure relate to not remembering how to do every day type stuff.
I've forgotten how to turn on the water faucet. Just couldn't think of the first thing to do to get it to work.
I also forgot how to spell the word "a" once. That one really made me feel stupid.
Couldn't figure out how to put on my dog's leash the other day. I was leaning down over the dog with leash in hand and couldn't figure out what to do next.
It sure would stink to forget how to walk though. I feel bad for you. Have you remembered now???
Take care. Hopefully more will see this and respond.
GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
posted
Monica, you are not alone. I could not get off the couch for a couple of days - not because I was too weak - but because I did not know how. My legs just literally did not respond to any command by my brain. A total disconnect.
Totally fine now and no more Lyme. My husband who was in a wheelchair because of Lyme and Parkinsons symptoms is also well now.
You will find a lot of good info here.
Take care.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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Monica
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 224
posted
Thank you for your responses. I am pleased to report that after that incident I was walking better than I have been in quite sometime. It reminded me of a "slap" that you might give an hysterical person so that they snap out of it.
I have an idea that I was feeling a great deal of stress at the time which precipitated forgetting.
Posts: 1757 | From Somerset County, NJ | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Monica, I have had to relearn so many things so many times it's rediculus!...And, I still cna't spell
I'm glad to are walking better after relearning. That's great!
I swim one day / wk when deaccessed, and work on walking patterns in the pool. I have been doing this for years to keep my coordination and balance in check.
I also try to ski as often as I have the energy for in the winter. 2 weeks ago I could barely do the bunny hill, last week I was intermediate and slow, this week back to beginner. Tha balance and rhythum of skiing and the beauty of the mountains helps me a lot. I usually need a day in bed after, but maybe not next year.
posted
One of the the weirdest experiences for me related to this happened only once, thankfully, but it was really scary.
While walking around in public I stopped being able to tell a person's sex. There was nothing wrong with my vision, just the interpretation of what I saw. I couldn't make the connection with my brain.
I felt utterly paralysed and lonely because I didn't know what was happening to me and couldn't even explain it to someone if I had to. I thought, surely I'm going completely crazy or something along those lines.
The lyme diagnosis now explains so many bizzare experiences, it's kind of a relief and kind of frightening how destructive this disease is.
I have to add that when this happened to me I didn't know how to act with people. I realized that I depend very much on knowing if someone is a woman or a man to decide on my actions and feelings about them. For example, I make easy eye contact and smile at women I don't know as I go about my day because I feel they are like sisters. I feel I can be open without negative consequences.
With men I don't know, on the other hand, I'm more closed and avoid unecessary eye contact so as not to encourage unwanted attention. (I was a model and young at the time) So when this happened I felt like I lost an anchor of sorts.
Thinking back on this, I was probably tired, but I didn't have any physical problems, just the mental stuff like others have mentioned.
Posts: 925 | From California | Registered: Sep 2004
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lymemomtooo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5396
posted
Monica, Good luck..These diseases can be horrible..Hope you are better soon..
Posts: 2360 | From SE PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I, in a sense, know what you mean. I had weakness in my right arm and leg which made walking an adventure sometimes, and made walking without looking like a drunk quite a challenge. This persisted until I was treated with Rifampin. Never tested for bartonella, so I don't know if that was the cause for sure. The Rifampin knocked out my weakness however, and I am walking fairly normally now. Just something to think about.
James
Posts: 18 | From Peoria, IL, USA | Registered: Jan 2004
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beachcomber
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5320
posted
Monica:
I know how scary that feeling is. Last February (during an abx break) I could not get me feet from the bed to the ground. I just couldn't make them move. I started abx again the next day but it took a long time for my legs to respond to what my brain was telling them to do. I walked with a cane in one hand and the shoulder of a sibling in the other everyday until I could finally manage on my own.
The immobility was not as bad as the fear I felt. Try to stay calm and focused. I think you will get through this.
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