Introduction
I began treatment for late-stage LD this past January. My mom was diagnosed about a year earlier and has been going through treatment as well. She's struggled with health problems all her life and it was chalked up to fibro and chronic fatigue syndrome. Through a random series of events, she finally was referred to a LLMD who suggested the possibility of LD. She thought that was crazy and didn't think the test was necessary since she couldn't recall a tick bite. Sure enough, she had LD and she had it bad. Her MD thinks she's had it for at least 25 years!

Flash forward to me (not to sound ego-centric!); I'm a 23 years old. As far as energy goes, for the last 4 years or so I've felt about 40 years older than my age. (People assume that because I'm young that I must have tons of energy. I'm wondering when this energy that I'm supposed to have is going to show up!) As far as functionality goes, I feel like I'm a child because I struggle so much to survive as a self-sufficient adult.

I do not recall ever being bitten by a tick. The theory is that possibly this was passed to me ``in utero'' and that for a while the Bb was dormant. This ``in utero'' passage is not widely publicized yet, but preliminary research has shown that this is possible. My mom saw a lot of individuals going through treatment whose children also were infected. Of course, I could also just be one of those people who was bitten by a tick and don't recall it, however my symptoms have never had the extreme peaks that seem to characterize a direct tick bite. They've been of a more slow, progressive nature.

Primary Symptoms (in no particular order)
UNEXPLAINED DEPRESSION - This has been getting progressively worse for years. I had a really high stress job about a year ago that I thought may be causing some of it, but even when I switched positions to a job I can handle, I still was desperately sad for no reason most of the time. Very joyless. I would go through periods of extreme self-hatred. I think because I was frustrated about how exhausted I always am and how I can't seem to accomplish anything I set out to do, no matter how minuscule. However, since I started treatment, my moods seem to be stabilizing. Either that or I am too tired to experience many emotions right now.
SEVERE WEAKNESS & FATIGUE - I'm so used to this, I don't know what normal is, but I know I'm not getting done the basic things that most people do without even thinking about it. (Laundry, bill-paying, cleaning, etc.)
POOR MEMORY - I have ``senior moments'' all the time and ``space out'' mid-sentence. I struggle to remember a conversation I had just a few days earlier.
POOR WORD RETREIVAL - I have to use ``thingy'' or ``watchamacallit'' a lot. I was a high honor roll student in high school, where has my brain gone?!
POOR BALANCE (hence the screen name ``Stumble Bee'') - I can't tell you how many times I've walked into door jambs or lost my balance when turning a corner. It's almost comical. You'd think I was drunk for goodness sake!
MENSTRUAL IRREGULARITY - No steadiness, spotting all the time.
WEEPY - This also has decreased immensely since I started treatment, but I used to cry at the drop of a hat.
SKIN - I've never had a bulls-eye rash, but my feet and hands frequently become ``splotchy'' with white dot-like discolorations. It comes and goes. I can't seem to find any information on this, so if anyone reads this and knows what I'm talking about, please let me know! Also, I've gotten red stretch marks on and off since I was a kid.
DIZZINESS - I get dizzy upon standing a lot, even with a full stomach. I know that I have low blood pressure, so that might be why.
COLD/POOR TEMPERATURE REGULATION - I am always cold. My LLMD says this is due to poor adrenal function. Apparently my thyroid isn't the problem.

Symptoms when I was on the pill (I think everything got worse because I didn't realize that I have a genetic propensity to blood clotting when I used to be on the pill. Now I know that I do and I am off of it!!!)
ANXIETY ATTACKS - I would stress and worry about everything to the point where I was almost hyperventilating because I was so worked up. I think my personality is somewhat like this anyway, but it was ridiculously pronounced.
EXTREME IRRITABILITY & MOODINESS - Thank God I have a VERY patient boyfriend!
WEIGHT GAIN - I gained 30 pounds during the six months I was on the pill!!!

Treatment
My treatment consists of rounds of oral abx and lots of supplementation to boost my immune system. Those supplements add up! I cannot believe how much debt I'm in after just 4 months of treatment! It was even worse for my mom because she did IVs for 2 months. I have to work full-time in order to fund my treatment, so I drag myself through the work day and then crash at night and on the weekends. Which, of course, means nothing gets done around the house. What's scary, is that I'm really struggling to remember to do simple stuff. I've overdrawn on my checking account by mistake twice in the last six months, and the other day I realized that I had completely forgotten to pay one of my bills.

WANTED: Advice & Support
Anyway, I'm so happy that I found this forum! It's already helped with some of my questions. For instance, I recently started to have burning in my stomach and lower esophagus and saw a discussion on people who are experiencing those same issues. I'm on oral Flagyl right now and it is conking me out and doing a number on my GI system. I'm also craving sugar like crazy the last month or so and have been giving into the cravings, so I'm really scared that I'm undermining my treatment and putting myself at risk for Candida (if I don't already have it). If anyone can give me some dietary advice on how to baby my GI while I'm bombarding it with abx, please pass it along!

Well fellow Lymers, any encouragement, understanding or comments regarding the things I've discussed above would be very, very welcome. I am so incredibly blessed to have a great mom, a friend at work who is my age and has struggled with CFS (so she understands why I struggle so much with energy) and a boyfriend who is willing to give me B-12 shots three times a week! But, I struggle immensely with feelings of worthlessness, and, if I'm honest, self-pity, and could use some emotional and practical support from people who are in the trenches.

Take care,

Stumble Bee
Chicago, IL

I'm from WI. and I'm curious which doc you're seeing ? Don't post it here, but e-mail me please. I have so many people who need help from the Milwaukee, Madison area, and there's only one doc down there that knows anything about lyme.

You have classic symptoms of lyme. My son never had a rash either, only about half do.

You'll get a better response to your inquiry if you post in "Medical Questions". Folks here will be glad to help. Every symptom you've mentioned, someone here has them all plus a few more.

That's the thing with lymenet, no metter how bad you feel, there's always somebody worse !

Must take with a full glass of liguid to wash it all the way down thru esophagus or you'll burn your esophagus. I did. Took a week to stop hurting. Also, have food in your stomach. Also, take probiotics (get at health food store) at least 2 hrs away from antibiotics. Don't lie down for 30 minutes. Watch out for sunburn.

To avoid yeast problems-no sugar or high sugar foods. Drink lots of water.

I have a friend in Milwaukee who needs an LLMD. I'll email you.

Welcome! You're in the best Lyme discussion board ever.

I love this board. Everyone is great.

I'm tired too.