I was diagnosed in June of this year, although I had the vaccine about 8 years ago, so I guess I'll always test positive...
About 10 years ago I suffered from some debilitating lower back pain.
It wasn't like when you wrench your back, it was a constant throbbing.
I was tested for a number of things by a duck and was at first diagnosed with lupus and connective tissue disease.
After freaking out about that, I went to a couple of rheumatologists that said that my test results showed no such thing.
After that, I slowly became addicted to marijuana (yes, it's possible) and also eventually got addicted to various narcotics after having surgery to remove a bunion.
I was trying to escape pain caused by family issues and addiction runs rampant through my family.
I have been clean for over a year and a half, and my Lyme symptoms started rearing their ugly head just a few months after cleaning up my act.
I'm wondering if my drug addiction masked more sypmtoms that may have been Lyme (or babs) related.
Any thoughts? hatpianka
Posts: 97 | From Clinton, CT | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
What other symptoms do you have besides back pain?
Do you have the results from your Western Blot? If yes, post all the postive and IND bands here. The vaccine can make you test positive on certain bands (31 and ??). Still, the WB results may shed a clue.
Posts: 257 | From Connecticut | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
Since last fall I've had brain fog, joint pain, headaches, earaches, stiff neck, air hunger, etc.
I've been treating Lyme and babs since June, so I've been on abx for about 6 months so far. My LLMD is in Madison (Dr. K).
Posts: 97 | From Clinton, CT | Registered: Jun 2007
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
I had lyme since 1988 when fevers and all the symptoms started . Finally got diagnosed by DR LLMD that I had it 2 strains and coinfections I knew I had it but could not prove it untill 2003 with a llmd. Yeah you can have it ten years.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
posted
I eventually became 'dependent' on Klonopin, a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety. It was really weird because I'd come off the medication on my own numerous times with no problem, but then one year I tried to come off if it on my own, and I pretty much started convulsing. From that point forward, my doctors treated me like a drug addict.
The reason I responded to your post though was because I don't think you should be so hard on yourself. I eventually cold-turkeyed Klonopin on my own, and my symptoms did not really worsen all that much - they just remained extreme.
In doing so, I learned that what I was calling a 'dependence' and what my doctors were calling an 'addiction' was really undiagnosed and untreated Lyme and babesia - as well as undiagnosed microwave sickness and electrical sensitivities.
I no longer believe that people cause their own addictions or dependences (or whatever you wish to call it) - if your family has a history of addictions, I suspect that you all share the same bugs as well as a similar pattern of electromagnetic field exposure.
Of course, my theory has not been scientifically proven, so it's only a theory, but please google 'microwave sickness' and 'electrical sensitivities', obtain a gaussmeter/RF meter, and measure it for yourself. I did, and it was the best thing I ever did - my brain has recently reached heights I never thought was possible!
Certain frequencies have been proven to cure 'addictions'. It only stands to reason that certain frequencies can cause addictions, too. I think we are less in control of our thought patterns and behaviors due to the proliferation of such dangerous technologies as cell phones and wireless internet than scientists would like us to believe.
By blaming us for our weaknesses and foibles we remain victims.
I'm thinking of getting a 'wavemaker' to kick my smoking habit (addiction). Here are some of the claims:
"The Be Smoke Free Now protocol helps you to remove the default, automatic quality of these connections between smoking and other experiences. We "debug" your inner human software so that there is a dis-connect between smoking and things like - first thing in the morning, smoking with coffee, smoking after meals, smoking while on the phone, smoking while driving, smoking when you are bored, etc."
Except they forgot my favorite - the after-sex smoke! - (or is that covered under smoking while bored?)
I like the way they blame the electromagnetic field of the nicotine here for the disharmony and imbalance (instead of my neighbor's cell phone):
"All things in the universe emit oscillations (waves). These waves are measured as frequencies of vibrating energy. They are a normal part of everyday life. These electro-magnetic waves are so important that we can not live without them. We need them for the beating of our heart, the pattern of our breathing, and the communication between our cells. Unfortunately, not all of the oscillations (waves) in our bodies are health producing. Many, like the ones found in the toxins of each cigarette (over 4000!), cause great disharmony and imbalance within the human body.
The WaveMaker� works by picking up the ultra-fine electromagnetic charge of a sample of the cigarette you smoke. This signal is passed through the internal electronics, where the frequencies of the cigarette's electromagnetic field are scanned, electronically inverted, amplified and sent back to the body. This process weakens the electromagnetic field of any nicotine residue in the body and all of the other toxic substances contained in the cigarette, rendering them nearly inert."
Here's a study on the link between electromagnetic field exposure and suicide among electrical workers:
But yes, you could have had Lyme for 10 years easily. I think I've had Lyme most of my life - probably babesia, too - and I'm just getting started here, so who knows what else I have.
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My back pain went away years ago, and I don't even remember exactly when it did go away (drugs will do that to you).
I don't remember having any other symptoms that I would now know are connected to Lyme disease, but I was pretty doped up so what would I really remember from that time anyway?
I certainly know that I could have had it for a long time, but I didn't really make the connection between symptoms I had 10 years ago to Lyme disease - until not too long ago.
Posts: 97 | From Clinton, CT | Registered: Jun 2007
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lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
I know I have had it at least 10 years. What is really strange, my husband and son starting having "symptoms" of it then as well.
But all the symptoms were different I had migraines & sporadic vertigo. My son was very sick and hospitalized, my husband had back pain then surgery, then knee pain, then surgery.
If I were really to connect the dots, I could have been sick since I was born. My mom had pain symptoms when I was growing up, frozen shoulder and fibro type stuff. I was sick a lot growing up but in my teens healthy until about 25 when severe neck pain started.
I wonder is it possible, I was born with it and passed it to my husband and then gave it to my son during pregnancy.
The drug addiction in my opinion wouldn't mask the symptoms, maybe. But then again my pain has been so severe a morphine drip with ativan IV in the other arm wouldn't relieve it.
posted
THC does negatively impact the immune system, so it's possible the drugs eroded your immunity over time and that's why you had a surge of symptoms once you quit.
I agree that you shouldn't beat yourself up over the addiction. I think quitting may give you at this point a better chance of healing, even if things get worse before they get better. Smoking pot is also killer on the lungs, worse than cigarettes.
I have known people who were addicted to pot and found it to be one of the hardest substances to quit. So you should give yourself some credit.
Posts: 929 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
Since the emergence of your brain fog and other symptoms were in the fall, have your Vitamin D level tested (25 Hydroxy vitamin D). It may not be lyme, it may be a simple D deficiency.
Posts: 442 | From Biddeford, ME | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
i worked in a rehab program for awhile, and it was generally said that when people are finally able to give up their addictions, then all the health problems start becoming apparent. in fact we required people to go the doctor and begin to get their health in order.
also i agree with what everyone here is saying. i too suspect i've had lyme at least 10 years.
as a teenager i used to get horrible knee and back pain. sometimes i would sneak into my dad's medicine cabinet and take some of his vicodin. thus beginning a habit that became not entirely medicinal. it happens.
Posts: 35 | From Washington, dc | Registered: Jul 2007
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
In Jonathan Edlows book Bullseye this guy is bitten and then has full blown symptoms 13 years later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
I started getting ill 10 years ago & all of the doctors I saw told me I had Fibromyalgia. Some of us have it a long time before knowing what is really wrong.
Many people self-medicate with lots of substances... for some it's coffee, sugar, chocolate, food in general, exercise, sex, etc. I even heard milk can be addictive!
Good luck with your treatment.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I'm going on 39 years of infection with short periods of no symptoms, and 22 years of continuous symptoms. It pretty much s*cks being sick that long
-------------------- May we all find peace one day and may peace prevail on earth ~ Traveler Posts: 66 | From traveling the U.S. | Registered: Aug 2007
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