posted
I will start off by explaining how it all started for me. About 2 years ago I developed breathing problems, had a horrible headache and high fever. After a few days of this I ended up in the ER. My oxygen levels were in the mid 70's which had the doctors really concerned. They did a lot of tests one of which was for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
I ended up spending 8 hours in the ER and they sent me home. The next morning I got a call saying my RMSF test came back positive and I needed to come back and get treatment asap. They put me on IV antibotics and I spent 3 days in the hospital.
The recovery time at home lasted about 10 more days & I continued to take antibotics (can't remember the name but it started with a D) for the next few weeks.
I thought everything would be fine after that but I still continue to have problems 2 years later. My doctors have thought it was arthritis, lupus, stress, depression, anxiety, etc...but all the tests come back normal. Except for my blood count which is usually elevated.
When I experience the symptoms they include; dizziness, headache,hearing problems, joint pain, and breathing problems. Much like my original problem.
I have heard that RMSF is very similar to Lyme disease and I am hoping someone can help me out. I have never been officially tested for it but I had one doctor say that it is very likely that I was infected with both.
My questions are...
1. Is it possible to be infected with both?
2. What are the differences between the two diseases or are they basically the same? (I have heard that some in the medical field they are the same thing)
3. Should I ask my doctor to test me for it?
4. How long with the syptoms continue to last?
I am so frustrated with feeling this way all the time and I do not know how much more I can take. It is starting to really affect my life in a negative way and prevent me from doing my normal activies.
Thanks for any help or suggestions you might have for me!
Posts: 1 | From Utah | Registered: Jun 2008
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Alv
Unregistered
posted
you have to consider the fact that you might have had lyme as dormant.Rocky mountin fever had make it active and you treated just the coinfection...but not lyme and in 2 years ..the symtoms became noticable.
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Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
posted
Hi Stormie and welcome,
1. Is it possible to be infected with both?
Yes, it is possible. Ticks carry MANY diseases, these are only 2.
2. What are the differences between the two diseases or are they basically the same? (I have heard that some in the medical field they are the same thing)
No, they are not the same thing at all. Lyme is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. RMSF is caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii.
3. Should I ask my doctor to test me for it?
Usually, if you ask a misinformed doctor to test for Lyme, they will run the ELISA which misses MANY cases. Lyme is a Clinical Diagnosis sometimes confirmed by testing.
It takes an educated doctor to understand the proper diagnosis and treatment for Lyme. Please post in the 'seeking a doctor' section to find a physician nearest you.
4. How long with the syptoms continue to last?
Lyme symptoms will last indefinitely.
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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More ticks carry Lyme than RMSF. Many ticks are infected with multiple pathogens as we refer here to as co-infections. Search this forum or google Lyme disease co-infections.
Your ongoing symptoms sound like Lyme.
I would seek the expertise of a Lyme Literate Medical doctor.
Symptoms from untreated tick bites never seem to go away. With treatment many get their symptoms manageable.
-------------------- Positive 10 bands WB IGG & IGM + Babesia + Bartonolla and NOW RMSF 3/5/09 all at Quest
I read your signs and symptoms. I'm not a doctor, but I agree with the above comments.
I suggest: www.ilads.org, to the left menu, click "Treatment Guidelines." That brings you to the ILADS Guidelines above and Dr. B's 33 pages of tips for 2005, below.
These have a lot of information on Lyme.
Yes, I agree--you need an LLMD (Lyme-literate MD) who follows ILADS Guidelines, to help with Lyme and possibly latent RMSF.
Please know that I got a huge Lyme bulls-eye rash while in Utah, where you live: I got Lyme and babs there near Hill AFB. I've had bartonella since I was a girl.
Most conventional doctors and especially the IDSA (infectious disease doctors) will not help you as they do not take Lyme seriously: they follow IDSA Guidelines, which means no help.
Chronic Lyme treatment can take years of treatment.
Yes--you can post in the forum for "Seeking A Doctor." Go near the top of any page to "forum home" and click.
Most--if they get proper treatment, and everyone is different--get a whole lot better, to the point that they can live their lives! A small number do not and no one knows why.
posted
welcome; so glad you found us and have been great info by all the replies!!!
outstanding 1st post; nice long history and broken up just the way neuro lymies like me need!!! so when you read the bottom of mine, ignore it!
but you will also learn how to edit with my below instructions for the future .....
yes, post in seeking dr. forum; i'll help you with names there ok! those in UTAH have the MOST current info over us with 'LISTS' !!
WELCOME, would you like a FREE copy of my newbie package of 124 pages info galore sent by LYMENET'S PRIVATE MESSAGE system here; includes TREEPATROL'S LINK of his archive of over 1000 links of good lyme info?
I've been completely REORGANIZING it; NOT DONE YET; but up to page 60 since I have now created a TABLE OF CONTENTS WITHOUT PAGE NUMBERS since it changes DAILY! The part NOT organized yet is the last 30 pages of SSDI, ss disability insurance benefits tips/forms!
also, please go to TREEPATROL'S NEWBIE INFO IN MEDICAL; at top being features; mark it as a favorite! over 1000 links of good lyme info. He/I have some duplicates.
most of mine is very DETAILED info on certain things: SSDI/ss diability insurance benefits; FINANCIAL BURDENS; about IGENEX blood testing, symptoms lists for the basic types, NOIR/no infrared SUNGLASSES, etc. and how to use this board!
If you would like my newbie package, please send me a PRIVATE MESSAGE. PMs are the 2 people standing together icon to right of your name. Just ask me to send you lyme package, and I'll get it to you promptly. Thank you!
**********************
When you post or reply, please break up your solid, continuous block text
welcome to the board! many of us have neuro lyme where we can NOT read long solid block text and be able to comprehend and read it as is.
please edit your post by CLICKING PAPER/PENCIL ICON to right of your name. that opens up BOTH subject line and body text.
now please break up your WORDY SENTENCES into one sentence paragraphs. Then hit ENTER KEY ``THREE`` after each paragraph; we need that space for comprehension.
if you are NOT a wordy person, you can do 2 or 3 total ok. do this for your entire post.
then go to left hand corner and mark box to receive ALL REPLIES, and click EDIT SEND
we thank you for helping us; otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. I'm also in the early stages of losing my eyesight from diabetes retinopathy.
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Dawnee
Unregistered
posted
Yep.. it's possible. I have RMSP, Lyme and Mycoplasma!
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daise
Unregistered
posted
Hi Dawnee,
You write at the end of your posts: "Anyone get the license plate of the tick that bit me?"
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
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It is starting to really affect my life in a negative way and prevent me from doing my normal activies.
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![[hi]](graemlins/hi.gif)
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otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. I'm also in the early stages of losing my eyesight from diabetes retinopathy. 
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