About 2 months ago I was driving to work and my vision shifted like the ground from under me fell. About 10 Min later I was sweating and shaking, turned completely white, short of breath and was about to pass out. I pulled over and called 911 was treated for dehydration and sent home. After that I could not get up or sit up-- if I did I felt as though I was going to pass out. This lasted about a week and a half.
Now 2 months later (and tons of testing and ER visits) I am still fuzzy headed, and feel as though I am on a roller coaster when I walk or sit up. I am pretty weak.
I was tested for lymes and I was told I don't have lymes 100% but 3 of my titers tested pos but in order to classify it as lymes 5 have to in this specific test. Anyway I insisted to be treated as though I have lymes since I do have slight muscle pains as well as the dizzy weak symptoms.
What I am wondering is should I push for further antibiotic after my doxy runs out (im on it for 21 days). I feel as though my doc is pretty ill informed on lymes (she treated me for vertigo for a month before I insisted on lymes tests)
Any advice?
thanks
Posts: 9 | From NY | Registered: Jul 2008
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
The CDC guidelines were never intended to be used for diagnostic purposes. However, most doctors, like yours, use them to diagnose.
What you need to do is post under seeking doctors and find a Lyme literate physician (LLMD) near you. Don't mess around with other doctors as you want to nip this in the bud ASAP.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16359
posted
Suffah-
As stated, get a Lyme knowledgeable doc if you suspect Lyme.
Plus get the right tests from the right labs and educate yourself. This site helps a great deal.
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
welcome; so glad you found us.
you have LYME no s on end named after lyme, conn.
we recommend western blot igm and igg blood test sent to IGENEX, CALIF. to test for all proteins for lyme.
they also have co-infection testing for OTHER DISEASES: bartonnella, babsiosa, and erlichia...most common of 40 illnesses!
read about them in my newbie package below link.
use EDIT, FIND, and type in IGENEX ... hit enter until you come to the DETAILED info where prices are shown, etc.
here are the symptoms signs of lyme/co-infections; see how many YOU have if you MIGHT have co-infections too!
The Quick Checklist
This was the initial checklist that began to lead to my Lyme diagnosis. It is based on the Burrascano "Guidelines". Keep a tally of the "yes" responses.
Although many of these symptoms are common or indicative of other things, a number of them may suggest the need for further evaluation. (My own count was 18 out of 46.)
As part of your symptoms, have you had any of the following? Yes No
1. Tick Bite (deer tick or dog tick?) Y N
2. Rash at bite site Y N
3. Rashes at other sites Y N
4. Joint/muscle pain in feet Y N
5. Swelling in toes, balls of feet Y N
6. Ankle pain Y N
7. Burning in feet Y N
8. Shin splints Y N
9. Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills Y N
10. Unexplained weight change (loss or gain) Y N
11. Fatigue, tiredness Y N
12. Unexplained hair loss Y N
13. Swollen glands Y N
14. Sore throat Y N
15. Testicular pain / pelvic pain Y N
16. Unexplained menstrual irregularity Y N
17. Unexplained milk production (lactation) Y N
18. Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction Y N
19. Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido Y N
20. Upset stomach Y N
21. Change in bowel function (constipation, diarrhea) Y N
22. Chest pain or rib soreness Y N
23. Shortness of breath, cough Y N
24. Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block Y N
25. Joint pain or swelling Y N
26. Stiffness of the joints, neck or back Y N
27. Muscle pain or cramps Y N
28. Twitching of the face or other muscles Y N
29. Headache Y N
30. Neck creaks and cracks, neck stiffness Y N
31. Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations Y N
32. Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy) Y N
33. Eyes/vision: double, blurry, pain, increased floaters Y N
34. Ears/hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain Y N
35. Dizziness, poor balance, increased motion sickness Y N
36. Lightheadedness, wooziness, difficulty walking Y N
37. Tremor Y N
38. Confusion, difficulty in thinking Y N
39. Difficulty with concentration or reading Y N
40. Forgetfulness, poor short term memory Y N
41. Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places Y N
42. Difficulty with speech Y N
43. Mood swings, irritability, depression Y N
44. Disturbed sleep: too much, too little, early awakening Y N
45. Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol Y N
46. Any history of heart murmur or valve prolapse? Y N ************************************************
Lyme Disease Symptoms List
1. Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing 2. Unexplained weight change--loss or gain 3. Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina 4. Unexplained hair loss 5. Swollen glands: list areas____ 6. Sore throat 7. Testicular pain/pelvic pain 8. Unexplained menstrual irregularity 9. Unexplained milk production: breast pain 10.Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction 11.Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido 12.Upset stomach 13.Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea 14.Chest pain or rib soreness 15.Shortness of breath, cough 16.Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block 17.Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse? 18.Joint pain or swelling: list joints_____________ 19.Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back 20.Muscle pain or cramps 21.Twitching of the face or other muscles 22.Headache 23.Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain 24.Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains 25.Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy) 26.Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity 27.Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity 28.lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance 29.Lightheadedness, wooziness 30.Tremor 31.Confusion, difficulty in thinking 32.Diffculty with concentration, reading 33.Forgetfuiness, poor short term memory 34.Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places 35.Difficulty with speech or writing 36.Mood swings, irritability, depression 37.Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening 38.Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol
The following signs/symptoms may be present in those infected with Babesiosis:
Fatigue Arthralgias Myalgia Drenching sweats Headaches Emotional lability Depression Dark urine Splenomegaly Dizziness Nausea and vomiting Cough Dyspnea Fever Chills Hepatosplenomegaly Jaundice Malaise Shortness of breath Bleeding tendencies, bruising Thrombocytopenia Hemoglobinuria Hyperesthesia Pulmonary edema Encephalopathy Low to normal range leukocyte counts Possible elevated levels of dehydrogenase, bilirubin, transaminase* Anorexia
Approximately 25%- 66% of Babesia patients are known to be co-infected with Lyme disease. These symptoms may continue for long periods of time, decrease, then return. A low Babesiosis titer (IgG) often indicates a chronic infection.
An acute or current infection may show a higher reading on the IgM test initially. There are over 100 species of Babesia in the United States but only ONE or TWO species are currently checked by commercial labs.
BRAIN: Encephalopathy may occur 1-6 weeks after the initial infection and is fairly common in patients with Bartonella.
Note: Approximately 50 percent of patients who develop Encephalopathy can be affected by seizures (from focal to generalized, and from brief and self-limited to status epilepticus). Headaches, Cognitive Dysfunction, and CNS Lesions may be evident.
RASH AND LYMPHADENITIS: Erythematous papules (red splotches or slightly raised red spots) may develop. Such papules occasionally occur on the lower limbs but are more common on the upper limbs, the head, and neck. The papules may appear on the skin or mucous membranes. Bartonella may also cause subcutaneous nodules, with some bone involvement possible. The nodules may show some hyperpigmentation, be tender, fester, and/or be enlarged or swollen, but not always.
EYES: Conjunctivitis, Bartonella Neuroretinitis, Loss of Vision, Flame Shaped Hemorrhages, Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion with Vision Loss, Cotton Wool Exudates, Parinaud's Oculoglandular Syndrome, and Papilledema.
BONES AND MUSCLES: Osteomyelitis, Myositis, Osteolytic Lesions (softening of bone), Myelitis, Radiculitis, Transverse Myelitis, Arthritis, Chronic Demyelinating Polyneuropathy.
HEART: Endocarditis, Cardiomegaly. Possible lab findings: The following may show up during standard testing: Thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia, anemia, elevated serum alkaline phosphatase level, elevated bilirubin, abnormal liver enzymes.
X-ray of the bone may show areas of lysis or poorly-defined areas of cortical destruction with periosteal reaction. Cardiomegaly may show up on a chest X-Ray.
Biopsies of lymph nodes reveal pathology often indistinguishable from sarcoidosis. Reports of biopsies strongly suggestive of lymphoma do occur. Tests occasionally show an enlarged liver with multiple hypodense areas scattered throughout the parenchyma.
To those exploring endocrine issues: Please, please, please don't forget to examine your adrenals....Some hypothyroid patients may actually make their adrenal fatigue worse by just treating their thyroid (you need to look at both; some doctors are now saying you need to treat/examine your adrenal issues before starting thyroid treatment):....
For optimum results, please look at both...
SIGNS OF ADRENAL FATIGUE:
1) Do you have a hard time falling asleep at night? 2) Do you wake up frequently during the night? 3) Do you have a hard time waking up in the morning early, or feeling refreshed? 4) Do bright lights bother you more than they should? 5) Do you startle easily due to noise? 6) When standing from sitting or from lying down, do you feel lightheaded or dizzy? 7) Do you take things too seriously, and are easily defensive? 8) Do you have difficulty "recovering" (are really sore)from exertion/exercise
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/
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