I spoke to my Dr. this morning to get a little better understanding of my treatment and this is what he said
The diagnosis of lyme disease can be difficult there are sophistacted tests for a diagnosis which at time give incomplete information. Certainly arthritis is a component of lyme disease and you could have more than one illness such as lyme and arthritis at the same time. Lyme disease tends to be limited if one is treated correctly whereas arthritis is a chronic recurring problem. Dr. Rand was able to distinguish between the two and to treat in such a fashion that my arthritis went into remission. He explained to me that many of the medications taken for either Lyme disease or arthritis affect the immune system. Reducing and changing my medications was the most significant factor in having my illness go into remission. Bay Recovery has treated many Lyme disease patients in the same way with positive results.
Posts: 5 | From Oklahoma | Registered: Mar 2009
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
Hi Brooke,
I am glad you are doing well and that you talked to your Dr.
I agree that Lyme can be difficult to diagnose.
Your Dr says that lyme tends to be limited if one is treated correctly, whereas arthritis is a chronic recurring problem.
The very important part there is that 99% of Dr's do not really know how to diagnose lyme, therefore it is very often not diagnosed or treated correctly.
When lyme is not diagnosed and treated extensively very early on, it disseminates throughout the body causing chronic lyme.
Even if lyme is recognized early on, 99% of Dr's think that 3 weeks of doxycycline "cures" it. That is simply not the case.
There are thousands of people with chronic lyme because soooooo many Dr's THINK they know how to diagnose and treat it properly, but they do not.....we are living proof.
That is why we are all on this board! Lyme is a CHRONIC and RECURRING problem. There is no cure, just remission.
I wasn't sure from your message if maybe you had taken long term antibiotics as part of your arthritis treatment?
We all have chronic lyme here because Dr's often do not really know much at all about lyme...they just think they do.
Here is the link to a post I put on the Medical Questions board asking people to post their info re: how lyme causes joint deterioration...some of the same responses are on this post in General Support and some are new ones.
Please come back and keep posting. Feel free to start a new post here or in Medical Questions.
We really do care!!!
-------------------- 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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glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 16556
posted
Hi Brooke,
I am so glad to hear that you are in remission and not suffering. I hope this continues for the rest of your life and that you have a long happy, healthy life.
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Hi Brooke - yes, it is challenging to get a positive test result for Lyme, for many reasons, not the least being that the bacteria can go into hiding.
For example, the IgM and IgG antibody tests from the IGeneX lab catch about 60-70% of people who are actually positive.
That's why the illness is often treated clinically - based on history and symptoms.
When we do a challenge test with antibiotics, we get to see how we do. As I said above, I had a great response, personally.
As Dekrator said, it's not clear whether you were treated with antibiotics or not. Up to you if you want to let us know what the meds were that helped you.
Anyway, it's good that you are feeling better, if you are.
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
I haven't posted much lately (or at all, for that matter). But, my husband's opinion is if you go to see a LLMD with the possiblity having Lyme, that you automatically have it. And that every disease is caused by Lyme according to LLMDs. My western blot had a couple of questionable bands, but my symptoms made him (doctor) decide. I just don't know anymore.
I wonder how many friendships, relationships have been ruined over this hideous stuff. I know that I have lost quite a few. And family members that don't get it.
Still suffering and not on meds. Am going back to my LLMD next week. Best wishes to all of you.
Posts: 44 | From Oklahoma | Registered: Aug 2007
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Ocean
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3496
posted
Hey Kiwi,
I think some LLMD's will automatically say you have Lyme, but the 2 I have gone to have not said that. Even with my Igenex, the first one said he was 90-95% sure it was Lyme. The second one said he starts abx if you have symptoms, if you get better or herx, then you have it. If not, you don't and it's something else.
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