posted
I was about to make peace with the fact that I am simply getting old and sick, until a chance encounter with a neighbor who discovered she had Lyme disease for years. I read a little bit about the symptoms, and the more I read, the more I think I have the disease. I have been tested in the past, a few years ago, and the results were negative. I now want to be tested the right way, with a doctor who knows what he/she is doing. I live in the middle of the NJ woods, deer are part of our life over here. I have found ticks on me a few times, and removed them. The symptoms are getting worse, and greater in number. It started with general aching, especially on one side of the body. Now it is mostly localized on the hip and the forearm. Fatigue is my middle name. In the last year, my vision has decreased significantly, and I had an episode a while ago of total loss of vision for several minutes. It came back slowly, but it took much longer for both eyes to focus properly. In the last year, I am also experiencing hearing loss. Turning up the volume does not help, I have trouble understanding what is being said. More recently, I have been bothered by shortness of breath. I am a swimmer, and I exercise regularly. However, I do not improve, on the contrary, it seems harder and harder for me to keep my breath during practice. And last but not least: total brain fogginess and confusion. I forget more and more things, I have trouble providing simple answers. I underwent several tests to attempt to understand the reason for each symptom separately. All tests came back normal. I was told I might be exhausted, or stressed. I am 44, I lead a healthy lifestyle, do not smoke, exercise more than my share, drink very moderately, and I am NOT stressed. Why am I so sick. Could it be Lyme?
How can I find out for sure?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Posts: 3 | From Stanton, NJ | Registered: Sep 2008
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posted
Wow, I read your story. I suddenly feel I have been whining for very little compared to you. But you mentioned other symptoms that rang a bell for me too: Migraines, painful periods, palpitations, I have all that too. Could it be related? But most importantly, is it treatable? That would completely change my life.
Posts: 3 | From Stanton, NJ | Registered: Sep 2008
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
Collette, many of us here are unable to read large blocks of text.
It is much easier for us to read, and therefore respond, if you break your writing into short paragraphs and double space between paragraphs as I have done here.
Please don't just stop mid-sentence, though. For many of us that is just as difficult to be able to understand.
I am breaking your post up, so more are able to read it.
Collete said
quote: I was about to make peace with the fact that I am simply getting old and sick, until a chance encounter with a neighbor who discovered she had Lyme disease for years.
I read a little bit about the symptoms, and the more I read, the more I think I have the disease.
I have been tested in the past, a few years ago, and the results were negative. I now want to be tested the right way, with a doctor who knows what he/she is doing.
I live in the middle of the NJ woods, deer are part of our life over here. I have found ticks on me a few times, and removed them.
The symptoms are getting worse, and greater in number. It started with general aching, especially on one side of the body.
Now it is mostly localized on the hip and the forearm. Fatigue is my middle name.
In the last year, my vision has decreased significantly, and I had an episode a while ago of total loss of vision for several minutes.
It came back slowly, but it took much longer for both eyes to focus properly.
In the last year, I am also experiencing hearing loss. Turning up the volume does not help, I have trouble understanding what is being said.
More recently, I have been bothered by shortness of breath. I am a swimmer, and I exercise regularly. However, I do not improve, on the contrary, it seems harder and harder for me to keep my breath during practice.
And last but not least: total brain fogginess and confusion. I forget more and more things, I have trouble providing simple answers.
I underwent several tests to attempt to understand the reason for each symptom separately. All tests came back normal.
I was told I might be exhausted, or stressed. I am 44, I lead a healthy lifestyle, do not smoke, exercise more than my share, drink very moderately, and I am NOT stressed.
Why am I so sick. Could it be Lyme?
How can I find out for sure?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
| IP: Logged |
lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
I would say that Lyme is certainly a possibility. Unfortunately there is no perfect Lyme test.
However by using the best testing available, through Igenex labs in CA, and a good LLMD The possibility of a correct diagnosis is a lot more probable.
Lyme is usually a clinical diagnosis. That means the doctor takes your test results and along with a detailed history to make a diagnosis.
I would suggest that you add to the topic title: Need LLMD in (whatever part of the state you are in), New Jersey
Welcome to Lymenet, and good luck with this journey.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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adamm
Unregistered
posted
They say that half of the ticks out there are infected, so, unless you
were treated aggressively with antibiotics after each bite, the
chances that you have it are pretty decent.
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and good luck with this journey.
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