Welcome to LymeNet!

Well, it looks like the first thing that you really should do is to seek a doctor that knows what they are actually doing! Lyme is a highly misunderstood disease, and requires the attention of a specialist for an adequate evaluation and treatment plan.

If you have had this infection since 1979, it is well entrenched by now, and will require long-term treatment. There is NO allotted time period that any doctor can point to and say'' you should be cured by now''...it just isn't possible.

Think of it this way...what if you were a cancer patient that had undergone one round of chemotherapy. Do you think the oncologist would suggest that you were ``cured'' beyond any doubt without looking at bloodwork and symptomology? Of course not. Neither would a LLMD or Lyme Literate doctor try to say that you were cured with one round of antibiotics, no matter what they were.

Go to the ``seeking a doctor'' section, and request information in your area. Be sure to leave a contact email so that someone can get back with you.

Prednisone...as in steroids? A HUGE no-no for lyme. It will suppress the immune system, and with lyme, your immune system is already suppressed, please, consider stopping this ASAP.

Here are a few new member links to get you started with information. You have been dealing with this for far too long to not try and become better informed so you can become your own best advocate for proper healthcare from now on.

Feel free to keep asking questions, and we will try our best to help.

Melanie

LymeNet Links for new members: http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/009342.html

Dr. Joseph J. Burrascano's Guidelines: http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.html

Rose's 15 Facts for Newcomers: http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/011977.html

Symptom Check List: http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/021063.html

Abbreviations for Lyme-speak: http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/020494.html

Making the most of your LLMD visit: http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/020605.html

Camp A and Camp B: http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/021395.html

Something to share with friends and family members: http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum3/HTML/008886.html

Success Stories: http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/022173.html

Often, AFAIK, WBCs are normal in Lyme, maybe even lowish-anyone else know about this?

Tell us more, and BTW, your rheumy is poorly informed.

The ironic thing was each time I was sick I was told this same thing by doctors.. cant be lymes you have been treated already.. its your imagination. I've had spinal taps because of my headaches and memory loss..

after having the infection for 4 years I had 6 IM shots of penicillin and was declared cured.. still had problems and a few years later I had 3 weeks of IV penicillin and declared cured. I got retreated as they researched and learned more about lymes. Then in 1989 I had the IV antibiotics for 7 weeks. The doctor wanted to go longer but it was too much on my system.

Does your doctor?

You need a Lyme doctor.

Chronic Lyme may take years to treat.

It's best if you spend some time reading the info from the links.