posted
Hi. A friend of mine, who I believe has lyme, has been told that she has coxsackie disease. She tested positive for it (coxsackie) last spring, and of course, negative for lyme.
The original reason for her going to the doctor was unexplained swollen ankles (I believe they were painful, too but not sure).
Her doctor told her that she could feel symptoms of the virus for 9 months before she felt better. Her symptoms include migrating joint pain, headaches, swollen ankles, fatigue, and others.
I have shared much information with her over the months and she was agreeing with me that it was probably lyme for a while...then she went with the coxsackie diagnosis.
I should add that we live in a highly endemic area...basically, if you go outside, you can get a tick. It's fun. (not really)
My question is...I am trying to find some research saying that coxsackie could last a long time with the type of symptoms above. I cannot find any. Also, is coxsackie one of the illnesses that lyme is misdiagnosed for? I so far have not seen in listed anywhere...although, I know anything is possible.
posted
Very interesting. When I was hospitalized for leg weakness the neurologist came up with coxsackie virus. (I never had the test done.)
He did say it was nasty and could last for a year.
I was diagnosed with lyme (negative tests) and have been responding to treatment.
Still think about getting viral testing. but you could have lyme AND a virus.
Posts: 207 | From NH | Registered: Jul 2009
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
22 years ago when I had the initial lyme symptoms of extremely sore throat, etc, my family Dr told me he thought I had a coxsackie virus....now I know it was lyme.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
The symptoms for a chronic coxsackie infection are the same as the symptoms for a chronic lyme infection. Basically, chronic viral infections look like chronic lyme symptom wise. That is why you CANNOT go with a "clinical" diagnosis for lyme. You must run all the tests you can think of (including viral panels) to determine what the heck you are sick with.
Having said that, it is entirely possible to be sick with more than one pathogen, and it is possible to have both bacterial and viral pathogens be part of the problem.
Do a search here on lymenet using my member number and the words "viral testing" and you'll find some info.
For enterovirus (coxsackie) check out www.enterovirusfoundation.org. It is best to use ARUP lab for testing. I had high antibody titres to a number of coxsackie B viruses and they have dropped remarkably with treatment (oxymatrine) and I have felt better. Both ID doctors that I see (and they are wonderful ID doctors by the way) have been amazed by my lab results and how I responded to the medication. My story can be found here:
You will need to sign in to read the posts. For more info on enterovirus do a google search for "John Chia enterovirus" You can also watch a presentation here:
Scroll down until you see the "enterovirus session."
Get tested for lots of things...treat what is most obviously wrong. If you have off the charts antibodies for viruses and only one or two lyme bands, treat the viruses first and see what happens. If lyme is most obvious, treat that first. Don't treat the maybes until you've tested for everything and treated what looks obviously wrong. Otherwise you could be barking up the wrong tree and you will never get well.
In my case we are addressing HHV-6, EBV, HSV1, VZV, Cpn and enteroviruses. Lyme may or may not have been part of my picture. Most of you, based on my lyme testing would say I had/have lyme. Maybe, maybe not. I do have a bacterial infection, that is for sure. Whether it's lyme or Cpn would be the question. Since I have off the charts antibodies for Cpn that's what we are treating.
Best, Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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I tested for Coxsackie virus recently and the results came back with hight titer on IgG only.
Results: Coxsackie Virus IgG Type B1 : 1:800, reference <1:100. Coxsackie Virus IgM Type B1 : <1:10, reference <1:10.
What exactly does these number mean? Does this mean that Coxsackie virus possible is a huge part of my problem too?
I've been diagnosed with Lyme, Rickettsia a year ago. Recent test showed positive Ehrlichia, Cpn and now possible Coxsackie Virus.
Posts: 39 | From Denmark | Registered: Mar 2009
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posted
Question for timaca regarding viral symptoms. Can they mimic Lyme, even as far as joint pain?
I've been thinking of asking my doc for full viral testing, as he tested some viruses (EBV, and one or two others I have forgotten), but not a full panel.
Diagnosed with Lyme with positive Igenex IGM, Rickettsia and Ehrlichia were IGG positive. My doc suspects Bart too, but testing is negative for that so far.
I've had some improvement from antibiotics, but not as much as I would like. I'm wondering if one or more viruses could be causing symptoms, but even if they are, would treating Lyme first be a better idea, and hope one's immune system can take care of the viruses?
How can you differentiate between a virus causing a symptom and Lyme?
Posts: 584 | From NY | Registered: Feb 2009
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
Hi Lemon-Lyme~ You cannot tell the difference by symptoms between a chronic viral and a chronic bacterial (eg lyme) infection. Unless it is a bulls eye rash, then of course that indicates lyme. Joint pain can be caused by a virus. I went over this in great detail with both a well respected LLMD and my current ID doctor (who is very open to infectious diseases causing chronic health problems). So, if you are having "lyme symptoms" they could really be caused by viruses. There is no way to tell the difference.
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