I live in New Hampshire, USA. I am an unemployed ex-computer programmer, living on odd retail jobs for the past 3 years. I have gained a lot of weight, about 50 pounds, in the past year.

With regard to early symptoms, about a year or so ago, I noticed a large (say about 5 inch diameter) reddish, warm, slightly itchy rash on my right shin. It stayed a few days, was a little disconcerting, so I checked out some medical sites. I did eventually come across Lyme rash photos, but my rash didn't seem to have the characterist bullseye pattern. It eventually went away, and a couple days after, another similar rash appeared a little lower down the leg, same appearance and duration. There were no accompanying flulike symptoms, so I shrugged it off and forgot about it.

BTW, my house stands on about an acre of cleared land surrounded by woods, plenty of deer and ticks on the property, my cat used to bring them in all the time. I could have easily gotten bit while mowing the back lawn.

About 3 months ago, I noticed a tingling sensation on my stomach, just below the sternum. These sensations have increased in intensity, and now I have tingles in some part of my body almost constantly, most commonly arms, legs and face. They keep me awake a lot. There is also a spot below my left knee that burns really bad if I rest on my knees.

Also, I have some slight muscle pain and stiffness. My hands are stiff sometimes, my typing speed and accuracy have diminished sharply from the 78 wpm I could do 3 years ago. My feet ache sometimes to walk on them.

Other problems include slurring of s's and f's, difficulty finding words for what I mean to say, a general "spacey" feeling, and sensitivity to light (when I look at bright objects, the afterimage lasts a lot longer. When I leave the computer, it takes about a minute for the afterimage to fade). I also have ulnar nerve damage in the left hand (the left pinky, half the ring finger, and that part of the hand are semi-numb).

Over this same time period, the wax in my right ear has become foul-smelling and my urine has developed an acidy smell, unlike normal urine smell.

For a diagnostic symptom list go to www.canlyme.com click on symptoms and add up yours. Twenty or more is very likely Lyme. Most doctors are poorly informed about Lyme so don't expect much help from your local doc. go to support groups at the left here and find one or more in your area. Contact them and ask for doctor recommendations. Go to the best you can afford and be willing to travel.

Many Lyme rashes are not your typical bull's eye. perhaps someone else has a link to atypical Lyme rashes or you could google for a site. did you, by chance, take a photo?

Blood tests are poor, especially the Lyme screening tests- the ELISA & the IFA. BAD, BAD, BAD. The only sorta good test is a Lyme Western Blot. Most labs use outdated technology and fail to detect many positives. Lab most often recommended here is Igenex. WWW.igenex.com Call them and they will send you a collection kit at no charge.

Lyme disease is a CLINICAL DIAGNSIS and negative lab tests should not be used as the only basis to rule it out.

If your symptoms point to lyme then i suggest you print out the material and take it to a local doc (unless you can get an appt at a Lyme doc quickly) and have the doc order an Igenex Lyme Western Blot. GET A COPY OF YOUR TEST RESULT. You could phone Igenex and ask what other co-infections they recommend you test for in NH.

Go to www.ilads.org click on treatment guidelines and print and take to doctor. Most probably you may need doxycycline 200 mg twice a day until you are able to see a LLMD (lyme literate MD).

Check back with us-there are precautions you need to know when taking doxycycline.

And keep posting!

Janet

Look for Treepatrol's newbie post. (that is someone form this board who has a lot of info he (are you a he tree?) posts for new folks and oldies as well!) Should be coming along here soon.

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Originally posted by groovy2:
Hi
You had rash 3 years ago?
Did symptoms start all at once?
Discribe rash in more detail-
--Jay---

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quote:

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Originally posted by janet thomas:
Glad you found us!

For a diagnostic symptom list go to www.canlyme.com click on symptoms and add up yours. Twenty or more is very likely Lyme.

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Well, let's see, to some extent I have or am to some degree experiencing symptoms 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 18, 23, 24, 30, 34, 37, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 57, 58, 60, 65 and 75. Is that 20?
Seems like a very big mixed bag of symptoms tho, I wonder how many people could chalk up 20 if they were in the right frame of mind.

quote:

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Originally posted by groovy2:
Hi
You had rash 3 years ago?
Did symptoms start all at once?
Discribe rash in more detail-
--Jay---

---

quote:

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Originally posted by janet thomas:
Glad you found us!

Lab most often recommended here is Igenex. WWW.igenex.com Call them and they will send you a collection kit at no charge.

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You can go to the website, Igenex.com, look around. There are articles, etc. Also the toll free phone number.

You want the Western Blot IgG and Western Blot IgM, #188 and #189. http://www.igenex.com/formset3.htm

Ask them to send it to your home. If they send it to your doctor, then the office staff has to find it again for you.

This is what you need from a doctor: A signed request for Western Blot IgG and IgM, written on one of his prescription pads.

You can take the test kit, which has the forms, a test tube, and packing materials, to any lab to draw the blood.
Read all the paperwork before you go, so that you know that the blood sample has to be spun down and the serum drawn off and put into the Igenex test tube. (I had to explain this to the nurse at my doctor's office, because she missed it when SHE looked at the instructions.)

There is a styrofoam holder to protect the glass test tube, and then a zip top bag.
Make sure the form is properly completed, and that your doc's fax number is on it.

Enclose a check (I think it's $190 for the two tests) with the blood and the forms, pack it into the postpaid FedEx envelope, and call Federal Express to arrange for a pickup. (In your telephone directory.)

Have the blood drawn on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, so that it will arrive at Igenex in California before the weekend.
They want to work on a fresh specimen, not one that's been sitting around for a while.

--Jay--