posted
So...I just figured I should introduce myself, since I might be around here for a while. I'm rather hoping I'm not (I'm sure you all realize I mean no offense to anyone here with that =P), but...just in case.
Anyway, I'm a 25 year old computer tech from RI. I had Lyme when I was in my elementary school years, which was treated promptly and I quickly recovered, as far as I could tell.
I'm hoping that more recent symptoms aren't indicative that it's been in my body that entire time, since I realize how much harder it's going to be to get rid of if it's been around that long.
Anyway, several weeks back, I started getting numbness and stiffness in my right hand. At first, I thought it might be Carpal Tunnel; not really a big surprise for someone who spends ten hours a day at a keyboard.
Shortly after, though, it spread up my arm and to my other hand, and I started noticing bouts of extreme fatigue and very obvious loss of stamina. I also notice that my extremities seem to "go to sleep" very easily; if I sleep with my head on my arm, or put any amount of pressure on the back of my legs, as would normally cause pins and needles after an extended amount of time, I get that affect almost immediately.
At that point, I was terrified it was MS. Within a week or two, though, I had the stiffness and pain all over my body, and started having joint pains as well. I also often have back pain and a stiff neck.
I know MS doesn't usually affect the entire body at once like that, and the joint pain is exactly the same as when I had Lyme as a kid. I started doing some research on Lyme then, and wasn't all that surprised when I found out it could imitate MS and cause the symptoms I'd been having.
Since then, I've also started feeling numbness in the tip of my tongue and occasional lightheadedness, along with an occasional very low fever (99.2 ish, my usual body temperature is about 97.9) and cold symptoms (which are quite possibly just a completely unrelated cold).
I saw my usual doctor last week, who while not really all that Lyme literate, is open-minded and tends to take my opinions and feelings seriously. He agreed that the symptoms I had could easily be Lyme, especially since I'm in a high risk area and do quite a bit of camping and such, and had me go for a blood test.
Fortunately, he didn't wait for the test results and started me on Doxyciclin (I probably mutilated the spelling; I'm sure you know what I mean) immediately. I'm still waiting on the results of the test, even though I know it's inaccurate; I'm hoping it comes back positive so it will be easier to get proper extended treatment if necessary.
Fortunately, I had one nice stroke of luck, in that the nurse who drew my blood for the test had recently had Lyme herself, and recommended a local LLMD to me. I'm waiting until the test results come in, then I'm going to book an appointment with her.
I've done some research on her as well, and unfortunately she's not all that highly rated (lots of complaints about her being arrogant, condescending, and being far too willing to over-prescribe expensive meds), but everyone does admit she seems to know Lyme very well.
I'm sure it's no surprise that I have quite a few questions floating around my head right now. One that's been bothering me is this. As I mentioned, I did have Lyme about 15 years ago.
Since then, I haven't noticed any symptoms. If anything, my general health has been well above average; I'm very rarely sick with anything more than a cold. If the Lyme had been in my body that entire time, I assume I would have had some symptoms.
Now, I have quite a few different ones that all came on at once. That would imply a new infection to me, except from what I've found in my research, some, like the numbness in my fingers and tongue, and the lightheadedness, imply a fairly advanced stage of the disease.
These were some of the first symptoms to show up, though, so I have to wonder if that's normal for a new infection. So...any opinions? Have I had this the entire time?
I'm definitely hoping for not; if it's a new infection and was caught early, I'm hoping I can get rid of it quickly. Unfortunately, although I'm trying not to be a pessimist, I can't help feeling like I might be fighting this for quite a long time.
I've been on the Doxy for 4 days with no effect whatsoever so far, and though I know it might be unreasonable to expect anything already, it's hard to keep that from worrying me.
The biggest problem is the pain, stiffness, and numbness in my right hand, which is causing difficulties for me in using computer keyboards and mice, and my career relies on being able to use them.
My girlfriend and I also have a fairly active life, and have a ton of plans for the coming summer; right now I really don't want to think about this damned disease interfering with them if I have to deal with it long-term.
Of course, this is all assuming that it's Lyme in the first place, but right now, there's little doubt in my mind of that.
[ 18. December 2007, 02:37 PM: Message edited by: Raiden Kitsune ]
Posts: 23 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Dec 2007
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
WELCOME*!)*)! !*)!*!!*)!*!
Lovely name you have-!!
We had a guy in our local support group who had acute Lyme at 5 years old and was undertreated and ended up years later very sick from it. It happens. RI definitely has major Lyme. I am glad you are here. Most people don't read Gen Support- the main forum is Medical, just fyi!!!
Everything Cavey said is accurate!!!
I would not wait for any test results to see an LLMD. Many people are truly seronegative and you don't want them to find out you WERE positive post-mortem as some unlucky folks families have done. Seriously!! Lyme CAN cause carpal tunnel AND MS and lots of other annoying to horrible htings-
Welcome*)! Best wsihes, Sarah
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
Yeah, I'm not planning on waiting, I'm going to try to book an appointment with the LLMD I have in mind this afternoon. Chances are, by time I can actually get one, I'll have the test results back anyway.
When I have Lyme as a kid, the test results did come back positive. I'm hoping that makes it likely they will this time too, to make things a little bit easier.
Anyway, I figured I'd start here instead of medical, since I don't really have any difficult medical questions right now, but if worst comes to worst and I do have LD and end up fighting it for a while, it seems like a good idea to get to know the people around here who've been fighting it for years, and this seemed like a better forum to start than Medical.
As far as the name...thanks. I remember seeing a "what's in a name" thread a bit further down, I guess I should post there, not that there's all that much to it.
-Adam
Posts: 23 | From Rhode Island | Registered: Dec 2007
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