posted
Hello to anyone who can give us advise.My older
brother is a landscaper and abouta month or 3
weeks ago got very very sick with a high fever
and flu like symptoms. As things progrssed he
went to the doctor and was given a zpack. last
week while he at the pharmacy he collapsed and
lost consciousness. He was sent to the hospital
where he was admitted and started on some iv
antibx. he did recall finding a tick on his
stomach before he got ill. he is having serious
dizziness and lightheadedness and weakness. I am
afraid for him because they also put him on
steroids, I am not sure why. I also know that
last year he had chest pains that dropped him to
the ground. He is not lyme aware and needs
support. My mother told me today that the
doctor mentioned something about crystals in his
ears. Is that a symptom as well? Any advise
would be greatly appreciated.
Posts: 31 | From north attleboro, ma | Registered: Apr 2009
| IP: Logged |
dmc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5102
posted
you can download and print the Green Lyme booklet from http://www.lymepa.org Info on alot of the tick diseases it has symptom checklist last few pages.
get list of LLMDs in MA by posting on "seeking doctor" page
best wishes
Posts: 2675 | From ct, usa | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged |
disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Here's an article I found explaining ear crystals and what they do, etc.:
"Ear crystals" can only mean benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV. First, let's make sure that you and I are talking about the same thing. Patients with BPPV experience a severe spinning sensation (vertigo) in response to particular changes in head position. The most common complaint is vertigo after rolling over in bed. Quite often, patients have problems only after rolling over in a particular direction. People with BPPV are often intolerant of other head movements, such as looking upward or looking over one shoulder.
Vertigo in BPPV lasts only for several seconds -- never more than one minute, though feeling off-balance may persist for much longer. A person may have several attacks in a short interval (perhaps a week), followed by a remission that may last for months or years.
Usually, an ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT) can make this diagnosis based solely upon the patient's description of symptoms. The ENT can also put the patient through particular positional changes to provoke vertigo, and then observe the patient's eyes. When the patient is feeling vertigo, his or her pupils will bob up and down (vertical nystagmus) or turn in a characteristic manner (torsional, or rotational nystagmus).
BPPV is "benign" in that it does not signify anything life-threatening to the patient (such as a brain tumor). "Paroxysmal" refers to the fact that the episodes are brief and self-limited. The "positional vertigo" aspect of BPPV should be evident from the description above.
So, what on earth are "ear crystals?" The medical term for these is "otolith" or "otoconia." Everyone has otoliths. They are found in two inner-ear organs, the utricle and the saccule, collectively known as the "otolithic organs." These organs are responsible for our ability to sense a gravitational field. In other words, even if you are in a pitch-dark room, submersed in a swimming pool (thus deprived of visual cues and musculoskeletal cues), you will still know which way is up, thanks to your otolithic organs.
The nerve endings in the otolithic organs are embedded in a gelatinous membrane known as an "otolithic membrane." Also embedded in this membrane, like grapes in jello, are the otoconia. They are tiny calcium carbonate/calcite crystals. Their whole purpose is to make that jello as heavy as possible. That way, when you tilt your head in a gravitational field, the otolithic membrane moves accordingly, thus stimulating the nerve endings underneath.
Now we move from hard scientific fact to the realm of theory. Experts theorize that otoliths may become liberated from the membranes and are then free to float through the inner-ear fluid. These free agents are capable of stimulating other parts of the inner ear. In particular, with regard to BPPV, they are thought to most commonly stimulate a structure responsible for our sense of rotational motion. The result is a sense of rotational vertigo.
Fortunately, there is a very simple and virtually risk-free treatment for BPPV. A positional maneuver (known as the Epley maneuver, for the doctor who developed it) allows the otoliths to "settle out" in a region of the inner ear where they will not cause problems. Patients can be taught this maneuver and can practice it at home. If, in fact, your husband's diagnosis of "ear crystals" corresponds to BPPV, then he needs to ask his ENT about the Epley maneuver."
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
| IP: Logged |
Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
Have him tested for Lyme anyway. Preferably by Igenex or a Lyme specific lab. He sounds like
classic lyme to me. And doctor should be aware of cardiac possibilities. Crystals are not questioned
unless there has been head trauma. Inner ear infections will cause the vertigo. Meineres
disease. Since he has symptoms long before this I would say please check for Lyme.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
| IP: Logged |
Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
I would suspect Lyme, unfortunately. If I could offer any advice at all, I would suggest being ruthlessly persistent in considering Lyme and co-infections. It is a disease that confuses doctors all the time and your brother's symptoms are quite serious.
Canlyme.org has an excellent list of symptoms you can print out for your brother.
I do not know anything about ear crystals, but the other symptoms is he is suffering from could indicate Lyme, especially since he recalled a tick bite and subsequent high fever.
Is it possible for him to have an Igenex Western Blot done? Perhaps while he is still in the hospital, even?
I hope he finds an answer to his health problems and that he is able to recover. You are a very kind sister to search for answers for him. I know you are terrified and concerned. I wish you, your brother and your mother all the best in this journey.
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
You need to know that Lyme disease is not the only infection you can get from a tick. Even without a rash I would suggest your brother be tested for Rocky Mountain Fever. Other common coinfections are babesia (similar to malaria), Bartonella (similar to cat-scratch fever) and ehrlichia or anaplasma.
Unfortunately the tests for the coinfections are not much better than the Lyme tests and that is why people will suggest you see a LLMD (Lyme literate medical doctor). Many hospital docs and infectious disease docs don't know much about tick-borne infections.
Good luck to your brother.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
My GP told me the dizziness was related to the crystals in the ear theory. However, when I went to the ENT he told me that was old theory and that the newest info shows that it is a latent virus that is in your system and is normal kept in check by your immune system. When your immune system is compromised the virus can overcome it. He gave me an antiviral and it did help along with the antibiotics. He was at UMASS and I can problem find his info, PM me if you want it.
Posts: 441 | From USA | Registered: Jul 2004
| IP: Logged |
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
-
DJP,
Glad your ear problem was made better.
However, crystals in the ear can still absolutely be on cause of vertigo for some. Disturbed me, in a post above, describes this well - benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV.
Bacteria and viruses can also be a frequent cause of vertigo. And lyme often causes varies kinds of vertigo and other ear troubles, too.
A simple test can determine if or crystals are the problem and then something called the Epley maneuver can help - if and only if - the crystals are the reason for BPPV.
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!
Printer-friendly view of this topic