posted
Hi everyone - Sorry I haven't been out here lately ...... too many dr appts. and tests. Within a two day period this is what I found out:
1) I have a mass in my left breast. Had a bunch of tests and am seeing the breast surgeon tomorrow.
2) I have a growth on my thyroid (a goiter) which could explain why I choke so often on food, why I dream that I can't breath and wake up with a raw throat, why I can't lose any weight no matter what I eat (or don't eat). Had ultrasound and bloodwork and have an appt. with an endocrinologist in a couple of weeks.
3) ALL of the discs in my neck are "bulging" and one is pressing on my spinal column causing arm and hand pain and numbness and tingling. Plus I am having extreme shoulder pain so dr gave me cortisone shots in each shoulder .... I know we're not supposed to get cortisone with Lyme but the pain was so great and now it is managable. Should have surgery on my neck but dr says my body can't handle it right now. I have appt with back dr in a few days to discuss options.
4) I have a blockage in my right kidney .... also that same kidney is swollen due to the backup of urine. That is because I have an Atony bladder .... the nerves to my bladder aren't working so I retain urine even after I pee .... this makes the bladder enlarge because it is a muscle and the retention of urine causes the bladder to grow. I have one more test on my kidneys but the dr says this blockage can wait while I get my breast and thyroid taken care of. We'll just have to manage the pain somehow. I also passed a stone a couple of weeks ago .... WOW ...... like peeing razor blades for about 8 hours. Fun, Fun, Fun!!!
I think that pretty much covers everything. My chronic neuro lyme disease has been put on the back burner. STILL fighting Medicare to get IV's covered. So I haven't been on any abx for a year. Orals tear up my stomach so they are not an option.
So ... has anybody ever heard of any of these health problems as a result of lyme disease or am I just lucky to have nothing to blame for all of these extra health problems????
Take good care Everyone and thanks for listening to me unload. Deb
-------------------- Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain. Posts: 830 | From Endicott, NY | Registered: Aug 2001
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Hi Deb.
Wow. That is a whopper of a bunch of health stuff to be dealing with!
I have heard of Lyme/thyroid connections plenty but have never read any research on it -- all purely anecdotal.
Shoulder pain can definitely be from Lyme. Kidney issues MIGHT be, though I don't know about stones.
Maybe you'll be able to get on Bicillin shots since you can't tolerate orals and insurance won't cover IV?
I am going to sure hope your breast mass is something benign. Have you had a biopsy yet?
I'm sending you some warm thoughts. I have a superb breast surgeon myself. She's totally understanding about Lyme and very intrigued to learn about it. I wish I could get her to be my LLMD and GP all rolled into one!
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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You have a lot on your plate that is for sure. It might make you feel better to know that I had a huge lump in my breast also, about the size of a large lemon, that was a cyst. Evidently there is a connection between Lyme disease and cysts.
I also have severe endometriosis.
I was one of the lucky people who had hypo and hyperthyroidism. I gained weight and had severe constipation and a very low body temperature consistent with hypothyrodism but had the elevated T3 and T4 levels along with very fast heart rate, terrible temperature regulation and the shakes that are consistent with hyperthyroidism - which is what I was diagnosed with.
I also, like you had terrible shoulder and neck pain, with numbness and shooting pains down my arms and sometines my legs.
I have never had anything diagnosed with my kidneys but for many years it felt like I had a blockage in my kidneys - when I would go to the bathroom it would just trickle out.
I am pretty sure all of these things are Lyme related - on the plus side I have now managed most of them through a naturopathic approach and a very very healthy diet. I am still trying to determine whether to take antibiotics. I have had Lyme for at least 17 years, although I was just diagnosed last summer, and I am giving myself a year to make up my mind whether to do the allopathic or alternative route.
posted
Hi Shadow I know that Lyme can definately affect the thyroid. As for the kidneys I think yes it can. As for the pain in the shoulder, most definately. As for the lump in the breast.. Goin back to 1999 I found this HUGE lump in my breast and I do mean HUGE.. I ofcourse panicked and made an appointment with the breast center in NJ where I was living at the time. I saw a surgeon and he did an ultrasound as well as an exam and it turned out to be fibrous tissue that had swelled, nothing more.. He said it was a "hormone" thing. For a few months afterwards each month before my period I'd get this lump for the duration of my cycle and then it would disapear. So maybe thats whats happening with you also...
posted
Deb, All I can say is that I am praying for you with all of your horrific health issues. Please keep the faith..... Jill
Posts: 203 | From Jacksonville, FLorida | Registered: Oct 2005
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mlkeen
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1260
posted
Lyme, being a chronic infection, runs down your body compromising every system. We are less able to repair our bodies and fight off things a healthy person might deal with easily.
I have had two brushes with C since lyme. Neither turned out to be.
My son had disc issues that have resolved now that he is mostly well.
map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
shadow, a year ago I had the dreadful phone call that there was a suspicious area in one breast. They did another mammogram on that area and they twisted turned and flatten that breast the best they could to get a better picture of the area.
They determined it's probably not cancer and to have it looked at again in 6 months. The next mam showed no change and so again they said probably not cancer.
I go next month to have it looked at again. Through muscle testing my doc says my body has this walled off. My body muscle tests not cancer.
My opinion is it's most likely a cluster of some toxin, be it bacteria, parasite, etc. If they were to do an extensive xray of my entire body, I bet they would find many more of this areas.
Lyme can and will do all the things that you listed going on in your body. Lyme loves the kidneys and the bladder. It can distroy any gland in the body. Esp. the thyroid. And consider some things on the mass in your breast. Ask this surgeon alot of questions. Seek a second opinion.
Do you have a LLMD? Have you discussed all this with them?
Take care, Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Hi everyone - thanks for all of your input and best wishes. I saw the breast surgeon this morning .... it is not a simple cyst. On the 13th, she will do a needle aspiration which she is about 99% sure WILL NOT remove any liquid as it looks like a solid mass. After the aspiration, she will do a Mammotome biopsy ... kind of like a "cut and vacuum" to take samples for pathology. I then have to wait 2-3 days to find out if it's cancer or not. Then we go over my options.
Just thought I'd update you ..... thanks for listening. Deb
-------------------- Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain. Posts: 830 | From Endicott, NY | Registered: Aug 2001
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trails
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1620
posted
My thoughts are with you. Take someone special with you for these procedures. Do nice things for yourself before and after them. A bath, a slow walk, a visit to somewhere, a movie, a good book, a good place to eat?
My partner has been through hollow needle aspirations and biopsies more than once. Never found anything except "breast tissue."
Thanking all the spirits for that!
Lyme affects hormones and hormones affect so much!
Also lyme affects inflamation and inflamation is the cause of so many problems and is being researched as one cause of cancer.
Other spirochetes cause specific damage to kidneys. L. interrogans can cause kindney failure. So it is possible that the Bb spiochete in YOU has found a home in your kidneys.
Again , my thoughts are with you, take good gentle care of yourself! Trails Posts: 1950 | From New Mexico | Registered: Sep 2001
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posted
I'm very sorry that you are going through all of this. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I was DX with early stage breast cancer nearly 3 years ago, and now, so far so good. I found a lot of help and support at breastcancer.org
They have a lot of info and a great forum.
We all have different ways of dealing with it, but before my biopsy and before my surgery I read whatever I could. Just like with Lyme...I felt that I had to be my own best advocate.
As far as a connection, for me, I'm going to say that yes there is one. A very low NK cell count, an immune system not doing it's job.
Take good care and may everything work out for the very best, Hopeful4
Posts: 873 | From WA | Registered: Dec 2005
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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
Deb,
I'm not sure if this will be helpful, but prior to my Lyme dx, I was shuffled from one specialist to another chasing weird test results and symptoms.
A urologist was certain I had kidney cancer, because of things showing up on tests. He tested me again, and the anomalies were gone.
Something similar happened with obg stuff, too. I had two endometrial biopsies (ouch!) because of initial test results.
Now, it seems those specific things have melded into just plain old Lyme.
Hope this works out; my thoughts will be with you.
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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Nal
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6801
posted
Oh wow! My prayers are with you right now!! I had a needle biopsy done on my left breast when I was a lot younger. Its scarey. I too get various lumps in the breast tissue. They have done ultrasounds,mamograms, etc and have found nothing more that fibrous breast tissue.
You are dealing with a lot. Feel free to send me a PM anytime. Im a great listener.
Nancy
-------------------- Life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you respond to it!
-Chuck Swindoll Posts: 1594 | From Colorado | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts and words .... it really means alot. I don't feel so alone now. I've already resigned myself to the lopping off of my left boob .... that way the news the DR gives me from the pathology report can only be what I expect or better. I know .... it's a weird way of looking at it!!!
As for the kidney blockage .... that is definitely there on the ultrasound. The CAT scan will show if there are any more hiding in there. I've already passed two stones (pain beyond belief and I can tolerate alot of pain).
And the thyroid goiter .... that will have to be removed whether it is benign or malignent because of my symptoms. The biggest one is my weight issue. But it would also be nice to be able to eat solid food without choking on it!!!
Thanks again for all of your good wishes and thoughts. You guys really help me feel not so alone and I really thank you for that.
Deb
-------------------- Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain. Posts: 830 | From Endicott, NY | Registered: Aug 2001
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
shadow, why does your thyroid goiter need to be removed? I've had a goiter and been hypothyroid for 20 years. I've been on synthroid and will be for life. My problems with goiter ended when I received the correct dosage of thyroid replacement.
I hope you don't have a bunch of knife happy doctors looking out for you.
Take care, Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Hi Pam - My thyroid goiter needs to be removed mainly because of my symptoms ... choking on solid food and breathing problems at night. Otherwise I would try to keep it under control with medication as it looks like I may be losing a boob soon. But I live alone and that choking business really scares the bejesus out of me.
Deb
-------------------- Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain. Posts: 830 | From Endicott, NY | Registered: Aug 2001
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