posted
Hi, I'm new to Lymenet but I heard that you have had Rocky Mtn. Spotted Fever. I have just had a new exposure (I already have lyme and multiple co-infections)and want to know what your symptoms were, how you were treated and how long your recovery was. Also, did you add any herbal treatments? Thanks, Dunc
Posts: 8 | From Virginia | Registered: Apr 2006
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
hi dunc, i'm not tincup but have a suggestion for you.
go to TREEPATROL'S NEWBIE LINKS found at top of medical ok.
now skim thru there looking for TINCUP'S name; i know her specific EYE LOSS is there, and may be more of her story, but it's worth your time to go looking for it, and discover other "gold mines" of info of Tree's massive, IMPORTANT LYME INFO to help us all. go get em dunc!
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robi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5547
posted
hey Dunc ......... where in VA are you?
robi
-------------------- Now, since I put reality on the back burner, my days are jam-packed and fun-filled. ..........lily tomlin as 'trudy' Posts: 2503 | From here | Registered: Apr 2004
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Welcome to LymeNet... Dunc.
Sounds like you are attractive to all sorts of little blood suckers who come to visit... and leave behind their calling cards!
Great FALLS, Virginia! Beautiful place!!! I learned to repel there.. years ago when I was just a "little mountain girl". I remember it fondly.
Seems back then I thought that rather than crashing down on jagged rocks if I messed up my ropes.. the beautiful rushing river below the jagged rocks would be the better (softer) final landing place! HA!
If I remember right.. that is where National Geographic photographed a few of us repelling one day. I'd forgotten all about that! And it is very beautiful there. Lucky you!
As for the RMSF... and the symptoms.. and the treatment.. and all that...
My symptoms.. when re-exposed... were basically noted by the fact I felt about 10 times worse than with "just Lyme" and any (unknown) co-infections I had.
When I got sick again I KNEW something was wrong.. but didn't know how to describe it... and I was at the mercy of the ducks back then. BIG ducks.
From what I can recall...
My fever went up.... my head hurt a lot worse... and I felt like I had been hit by a truck. My whole body ached beyond belief. I was whimpy whiny.. which comes when I have a fever... and I felt like if I moved it would drain me totally of energy... if I COULD move.
I spent YEARS in bed thinking any day I would die... and actually wanting to die. I remember saying I went from age 29 to 90 overnight.
And yes.. I was in bed for YEARS! No one would help me. I could barely see (went nearly blind).. couldn't walk (could barely get out of bed).. and lost the ability to talk/speak during that time. My heart gave me fits... and my brain damage occured then too.. the irreversible stuff. The light nearly made my head explode.. and noise was worse than being beaten.
And the ducks kept insisting there was nothing wrong with me.
For treatment (other than the order to "take antidepressents" and "get more exercise") I was given only 2 weeks of doxy.. 200 mg. a day to "cure" me.
I was already on 100 mg a day for the ongoing Lyme infection... and had been for a year and a half so I could function. I was told I didn't need anything else.. and that the two weeks of doxy had "cured" both my NEW Lyme infection and the RMSF... and nothing else was wrong with me. (It might have only been 10 days worth of doxy.. but I will say it was 2 weeks and give them the benefit of the doubt.)
Keep in mind at that time I could have also picked up the Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, several strains of Bartonella, etc... so it is hard to know what exactly caused what. But I was one sick puppy. And I stayed that way for YEARS even though I begged for help from ALL the big ducks!!!
Since I am unable to give you much input about MY case specifically (symptom by symptom and what goes with what)... here is a brief explanation about RMSF from an article I wrote several years ago called "Overlooked Infections Associated with Lyme Disease."
If that doesn't help.. please ask me a more specific question and I will do what I can to help.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever:
RMSF is a rickettsial disease normally presenting with a sudden onset of fever, chills, fatigue, muscle pain, headaches, and conjunctivitis. A spotted rash may appear on the hands and feet in about 50% of cases. Delay in treatment may result in death or a chronic illness which can affect the brain, spinal cord, heart, lungs, kidneys, or liver.
Chronic cases of RMSF may also cause a loss of bladder or bowel control, blood clotting problems, partial paralysis, hearing loss, congestive heart failure, movement disorders, and respiratory distress syndrome. The fatality rate can reach 20% in untreated cases.
Treatment: The most common treatment for RMSF is Doxycycline which should be started immediately if this disease is suspected.
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If I can provide any more info.. please let me know. I'd be happy to try to help. And I DO hope you are getting better help than I got!!!
Oh.. I believe it is Hopkins that has an article about the symptoms and damage chronic RMSF causes.
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