Just wanted to introduce myself and say hello. My apologies for being a bit of a lurker these past few weeks. I wanted to read and understand a little bit about my first diagnoses which was bartonella.
I've just been told by my doctor that I now have a possible case of lyme disease. He's been treating me since end of October with 2000mg daily of tetracycline for the bartonella. Symptoms have been getting worse and it seems more and more like lyme. And to be honest, I do feel like crap.lol.
I was initially diagnosed with cfs and fibromyalgia way back in the early '90's. I don't remember being bitten by anything, and I don't recall any rashes. I also have hashimotos thryoiditis, migraines, sinustus, hiatus hernia. Oh, did I mention, I feel like crap? lol
This is a great site with loads of helpful information! Thanks for letting me join!
petal
Posts: 7 | From Canada | Registered: Nov 2008
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
Welcome Petal. Glad you found us.
I don't recall a specific tick bite, but was around the buggers all the time as a child. Keep reading here and be sure to download Dr. B's guidelines. I refer to them all the time!
They are in the newbie links and on the ILADS site, www.ilads.org.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
You could have both and more( Babesia, Erlichia).
Posts: 81 | From Nashville Tennessee | Registered: Oct 2006
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Welcome Petal!
Tetra is kind of a weird treatment for Bart, usually it is used to treat Lyme. Maybe that is why you feel so poorly....Lyme herxes and Bart isn't really being attacked in a big way....not really sure if tetra attacks Bart or not.
Usually Bart is treated with Levaquin, Cipro, Rifampin.
Do you see a LLMD?
Where were you tested for Bart? What lab? Have you been tested for Lyme?
Best, Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
welcome! check out my newbie package link as time permits with table of contents!
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glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 16556
posted
Welcome Petal,
Sorry your sick and have to be here. Don't be afraid to ask for support when you need it. Lots of kind and generous people to help you,
gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
I just got my test results back, positive for bartonella.
I have an RX for Rifampin like another poster mentioned. I also have bronchitis which I thought was getting better but I realized tonight I need to get on antibiotics for that.
I wonder if I can be on two different ones at the same time. Can't wait to hear what the doc says. I don't have a spleen and usually at the first signs of flu/bronchitis (I get just about every year now) I get antibiotics. This time I just waited.
I was diagnosed with MS in 2003 and then last year was told maybe not. Just heard about Lyme two months ago.
This website is a godsend. Problem is most of the time I don't feel up to reading. And this disease is very complicated.
I had testing done through Igenex but the western blot came back indefinite. The LLD said it is either positive, negative or indefinite?!
I had a tick bite in 1999, had my spleen out in 2001, and since then started feeling sick. And it has been downhill from there, especially this year.
I am supposed to get tested again in a month or so. I am thinking that if I have bart then I probably have LD.
And may still have MS, after I get this LD diagnosed/treated, I will have to get another opinion about MS. I have brain lesions, tremor ect.
I haven't seen anything written about an indefinite test result. Has anyone heard of this before? It would have been nice to just be positive and be done with it. But I realize that my immune system is so messed up that is why the tests probably came out the way they did.
I just hope I feel up to going out Christmas with the bronchitis. Three years ago I missed Christmas dinner at my brothers because I had it. I certainly don't want to be hacking away spreading germs.
I was tested for bart by a lab up here. I don't see an LD, but I am going to a very good ID specialist. Not sure what his plan of action is for giving me tetracycline? Perhaps to see if lyme symptoms would emerge? Which apparently they have.
I will be tested every couple of months or so to see if I get a positive on the lyme. I also sent my blood to Igenex last summer for testing. These were my results...
IgM - Negative.
Band 31 +++
Band 41 IND
IgG - Negative.
Band 41 +
My doctor initially said I did not have enough bands to have lyme!?! That's why I am so confused about all of this?!?
Happy New Year to all! Wishing everyone better health in the New Year!
petal
Posts: 7 | From Canada | Registered: Nov 2008
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
Some of us have had the CFS & Fibro diagnosis... I thought I had Fibro for 9 years before finding out it was Lyme.
I don't remember a tick bite but it is possible. Many do not have the "classic" bulls eye rash.
I thought once I found out I really had Lyme, it would be easy to beat... it's not always like that. Especially, if you've been ill for a while.
I hope you will find a way to get well. It's been alot harder than I expected but you just have to keep going forward as best as you can.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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