Icon 1 posted 23 May, 2008 10:06 PM Profile for Ericaberica Send New Private Message Edit/Delete Post Reply With Quote posted 23 May, 2008 08:29 AM Profile for Ericaberica Send New Private Message Edit/Delete Post Reply With Quote Hi...I'm new to Lyme too, I think... I've also never done a discussion online like this before, so please bear with me...
I was perfectly fine until April 6th 2008, when I woke up with swelling and mild tenderness in my rt ankle. It swelled starting on the inside under the ankle bone and then spread to the outside of the ankle. My knee and hip hurt on the rt side also.
My doc ordered x-rays, thinking I had a hairline fracture. No fracture found. It was very painful especially in the am-it felt like someone one shoving a needle up my heel. The pain would go away for some days, then come back and swell again
n April 26, my left ankle started to swell as well, with pain.
May 4th- my knees were very painful (both) and I found a painful little bump on my forearm. No rash, a red bump. I also developed a sore throat Went to the doc again, tested for lupus, cat scratch fever, rheumatoid arthritis, lyme.
All came back negetive, meanwhile, my pain and swelling getting much much worse.
May 8th both ankles swollen, left clownishly swollen, knees too painful to walk. Can't stand up- pain too excruciating. Iwas also running a low grade fever. 100.9. I begged my doc for antibiotics for lyme because I knew tests can be neg. He gave me 2 wks of doxy 200mg per day and prednisone to take down swelling.
I took the first doxy that nt, NEXT DAY was able to walk again!!!!! Swelling still there but much less pain as the days went on. On May 13 I started prednisone to help with swelling. Now I am pain free (Except rainy days-not pain, just tightness in knees) I was exteded the doxy for 2 more weeks for a total of 28 days.
I know I'm probably giving too much insignifigant info, but my question is, will this come back? I'm looking at all of your posts and it's scaring me. Should I be on longer dose of doxy?
Is it possible to have Lyme with no rash, no flu symptoms, no nothing, just straight to joint pain? I think that the fact the doxy worked overnight is pointing to lyme- right? Thank you to anyone who reads and answers this!!! I appreciate it Posts: 1 | From: New Jersey | Registered: May 2008 | IP: Logged Posts: 2 | From: New Jersey | Registered: May 2008 | IP: Logged
Posts: 5 | From New Jersey | Registered: May 2008
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posted
good news is you have certainly responded to the antibiotics. If you continue having symptoms, treat!
The prednisone is not a good idea though as steroids supress your immune system.
My advice would be to get another Lyme test performed...not just the ELISA but a WESTERN BLOT as well. You really should see if you can get test results to help you confirm a diagnosis of lyme. Most here will suggest you have Igenex do the test.
You are correct, there are issues with the tests and you may have been tested too soon into the disease. Your symptoms and response to antibiotics certainly sound like lyme.
Try not to let our stories scare you too much...many of us have a complex case of lyme/co-infections. The fact that you treated shortly after getting symptoms and are so lyme-savy will likely prevent you from having the complications many of us here are dealing with. Just stay on top of it....you know your body!
good luck! Kristin
Posts: 561 | From mass | Registered: Jul 2007
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Hi Erica, Welcome!
Steroids are contra-indicated if you have an infection. They supress your immune system while causing the symptoms of an infection such as inflammation, to subside. Because they supress your immune system, your infection will get worse but the symptoms of infection will be masked.
If you really want to know if you have lyme, please seek out an ILADS LLMD (lyme literate medical doctor)who is a member of ILADS www.ilads.org by going to the seeking a doctor section of this website. LLMDS will typically run tests for co-infections and usually viruses, heavy metals etc.. They look for lyme and illnesses that look like lyme so if you have an infection that isn't lyme, they can probably find it.
Cat scratch is similar to lyme in that there are many strains (several new ones discovered over the last few years) but only a few are actually tested for in the current lab tests that are available. You need a doctor who can look for infections and who will treat clinically if necessary. The only doctors that I know of who are usually willing and able to do that are LLMD's.
I hope you get a quick diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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