shazdancer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1436
posted
If it were me, and I believe my LLMD has said the same thing, if I had no symptoms, I would wait until I did to treat. Many people are positive but asymptomatic. Will they get Lyme at some point? No one knows for sure.
But it is good that he knows, so he can keep it in mind in case he should come down with "mystery" symptoms some day.
-- Shaz
Posts: 1558 | From the Berkshires | Registered: Jul 2001
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adamm
Unregistered
posted
"Is it foolish to let your child go off to college knowing he has a
time bomb ticking inside?"
If it's not a years-old infection, absolutely, I think! I speak as a
college freshman who, in order to
pursue his education, postponed treatment, possibly with
disastrous results.
This summer I had my heart absolutely set on attending, for its
full duration, a summer music festival which was in session
all throughout the months during which, had I started
treatment, I may
have been able to cure my illness. Now, at the age of 18, I am
slowly but surely
slipping into a dementia from which
I may never fully return. I find myself in despair daily as a result
of my mistake.
Just out of curiosity, did your children get their Lyme
congenitally, were they both bitten by ticks, or does it seem that
there was human-to-human transmission outside of the womb?
(Sorry... lately, I've just been really curious about the
posted
I have been severely ill and was originally dx in 1995. never thought all these years it was the lyme. anyway, got dx in august and been on abx since
I had my son tested when i found out, because he had some similar symtoms as me. he tested positive.
he had chronic asthma and respiratory infections, and we dont know if they are lyme related.
some vague symptoms, but relatively healthy and very athletic and active. i also think the exercise helps increase oxygen and keeps it in check
i have had him on abx since sept. just doxy. its a tough call, but i feel the risk of abx are much less than the risk of not treating.
Posts: 615 | From maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
lymeparfait, this thread hits really close to home for me!
I was dx in my junior year of college after 18 years of being misdiagnosed and untreated. I tried to stay in school during treatment but eventually I got so sick on ABX that my advisor called my father and told him how ill I was, and he made me come home.
Treating Lyme has put me on a roller-coaster, but after 5.5 years, I did finally graduate from college with honors and was accepted to a top ten PhD program in my field last January.
I plan to wait until my Lyme is under control before I start my post-grad studies.
I would advise you to let your son make this decision. I was already sick when I went away to college, but it forced me to take responsibility for my decisions, and it eventually worked out all right, though my battle is far from over.
He'll resent you if you don't give him some autonomy. If he gets sick, treat him, but don't try to talk him out of going away if he has his heart set on it-- even if he does become ill, college isn't going anywhere just because he has to take time off.
Best of luck in your decision-- your son is welcome to send me a PM if he wants to talk about his dx-- we also have a wonderful Lyme awareness group on Facebook and I know the members would be happy to talk to him.
Cat
Posts: 54 | From Virginia | Registered: Jan 2008
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I think there's some good advice here already. I just want to suggest that you make the decision together. Before long he will be incharge of his health issues, you might not have the say later. When he turns 18 I think he can keep you from his health info if he wants.
You could also agree that as long as he lives a healthy, clean life waiting might be OK. Stress the importance of exercise, nutrition, sleep etc.
Times of stress mentally and physically bring out lyme. College can be a very stressful time mentally. If you bow to peer pressure and go the the social or party scene that can cause stress your body can't cope with.
Just having a child lose a scholarship by having to drop out of college due to lyme, makes me want to mention financial issues. Consider how much you could be risking finanially currently and in future scholarships.
One compromise might be community college to begin with.
Good luck! This is not a cookie cutter decision. I think you should make it together, with the advice of a good llmd!
MommaK
Posts: 242 | From Mississippi | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I agree with Schaz. My only other concern is to make sure he really does not have any symptoms. Looking back I can see symptoms in my very ill adult children years before I realized they were ill with Lyme.
Posts: 488 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2004
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
one thing you need to discuss together too is NO STEROID SHOTS, ETC. ... a bad NO NO to his system. I never knew that since i was misdiagnosed for 34 years !!
i agree with above, it's a decision the two of you need to make together.
i was bitten at age 20; did not know it since it was a tick off my folks LIVE xmas tree. didn't see it; NO BULLS-EYE RASH! just got terribly sick and they said it was mono/epstein barr virus!
that's when my extreme sensitivity and pain to lights/glare/reflection, noise/sounds, chemical sensitivities, and being touched startled me to death.
he needs to be aware of this, and the syptoms so he can note them IF/WHEN they do occur for him.
wishing you the best!
i would have given anything to know at age 20 what was wrong with me; tried for remission, and MISSED THE PERSON I WAS MEANT TO BE BEFORE LYME DESTROYED ME/MY PERSONALITY!
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lymeparfait
Unregistered
posted
Thanks Shaz for your insight....I appreciate all the great advice I received. I'm sure I will be back to youall soon on this after I see the LLMD with my teen. Thanks. LParfait. -- Shaz [/QB][/QUOTE]
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lymeparfait
Unregistered
posted
[QUOTE]Originally posted by adamm: Thanks for your candor Adamm....
to answer your question..
Just out of curiosity, did your children get their Lyme
congenitally, were they both bitten by ticks, or does it seem that
there was human-to-human transmission outside of the womb?
(Sorry... lately, I've just been really curious about the
possibility of that last one occurring.)
I am curious as well as how people contract lyme
without the tick bite...no known bite for my
teen son, but there was a bite for my daughter
at age 4. So I wasn't certain if the tick bite
was the first infection.
Because of my son's recent positive diagnosis
with no known bite...it leads me to believe even
more that it was in utero. I now believe I gave
it to my kids in utero. they are 16 and 17
years old. (due to symtoms over time)
My kids are not and have never been sexually
active, no girl/boyfriends.
No time for it...They are national level
athletes...extreme swimmers.
Although for the regular population of today's
teens, (who are sexually active), I personally
believe Lyme can be transmitted sexually. This
is just my intuition. I am interested in knowing
if this is really true.
I would like to know if anyone with Lyme who is
faithfully married long term and had a regular
sex life, has a spouse without Lyme? This would
answer many questions...
I personally think there is a relationship
between alzheimers disease and Lyme! Especially
early onset alzheimers!!!!!!This thought comes
to me based on your original question about
human to human transmition.
There are too many connections between Lyme,
Alzheimers, dementia, ADHD and Autism to be
believed!
I care for my inlaws who both have alzheimers
and are cared for by a neurologist at columbia
Med in NYC. (in clinical trial) I am immersed in
discovery about all these neurological
problems...and cannot help but see the
connections.
This has to be investigated. I believe it is
transmitted from generation to generation...and
shows up at different times in each individual's
life depending on the variables of where the
disease is located in the body, and each
individual's unique body chemistry and healthy
lifestyle.
My son has no joint pain now,(but did have
osgood slatter disease at the time of a 7 "
growth spirt) no myalgias. although was
diagnosed with ADHD in middleschool,
inattentive type. (not hyperactive at
all...actually the opposite)
I believe that these innattentive ADHD diagnosis
are probably Lyme for most kids...as they do not
exhibit the same symptoms as the hyperactive
ADHD type.
He has trouble with math formulas and
remembering to do things... like homework, take
out the garbage. Forgets to write things in his
agenda. I Thought this was just a typical teen.
Although he tests way above grade level and in
all AP type classes. Got into the most
competative colleges.
A bright kid. Has vaso-vagel syncope problems
two years ago and would pass out from low blood
pressure while doing flip turns in pool, or
kneeling at church. Had him tested at columbia
in NYC for stress test and orthostatic
hypotention.(positive)
Extreme heat causes him problems with dizziness,
while running during training or playing
tennis. Every few months he gets a flu like
illness, which is attributed to an ear
infection from swimming. Their coach tells me
he has never seen kids with such poor immune
systems as them....they pick up everything in
that pool...and do miss practice much more than
the average swimmer.(my daughter has all the
typical symptoms...fever, joint pains that move,
myalgias , headaches, etc...) All his main
symptoms have gone away for now...for over two
years.
This is another reason why I feel I gave it to
him...he never had an initial start of lyme type
symptoms...just always forgetful!
I believe I had Lyme as a child, due to looking
back at symptoms over the years. I was fairly
bright, but had brain fog occasinally, and had
trouble with retaining numbers as I still do
today. Thought I may have had ADHD...but
believe it has been lyme all along causing the
innattentive symptoms.
But unique symptoms for me appeared while living
in CA when I thought I had a spider bite...a
definate bite, but no bulls eye. Had Babesia
symptoms, but only figured that out now. (my
tests are negetive to Babs)
So I still believe I had Lyme for a long
time...could have gotten it from my parents, but
was re-infected in adult life and
most likely got co-infections then. My Dad had
symptoms too, but is dead now. Never thought
about lyme for him. I read about the WWII
soldiers and the lyme connection...he was in
Europe, Germany, the black forest, and on
NOrmandy. My Father in Law who has
Alzheimers...also was a spy in WWII , and most
likely exposed to whatever happened there with
the germ warfare...if that is all true!
Would like to know your thoughts on contracting
lyme human to human and what you have found from others.
I question that I may have infected my husband!
I hope to get him tested sometime soon.
This disease is being realized in epidemic proportions!
Thanks everyone for all the great advice and support.
CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
IN college they thought I had lupus- which went away with antibiotics for walking pneumonia!!!
So...
I would talk to him and if he resists treatment, just watchful waiting!!!
-------------------- 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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posted
Agree with Shazz, I wouldn't treat him if he doesn't have symtpoms, even if his bloodwork is positive.
Posts: 983 | From The sky | Registered: Feb 2005
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