posted
I get at least four ticks on me each summer. On the 2.5 acres in my back yard, there can be up to 15 deer hanging out in the evening. Deer ticks, yep, I've had them. Bulls eye? No. Big red welling at site of bite, yep. Several years ago I tried the doc way to go (was having shaking of left hand) and didn't get a positive on the blood test. So Dr said.......maybe you are a bit too interested in your health. In other words...maybe you are a hypochondriac.
After a while the nervous tic did 95% disappear. Several weeks ago I started feeling very tired at times. The past ten days have brought an attack of joint / bone pain. It moves around. Sometimes it will feel like someone hit a bone with a hammer...ouch....Ouch....Ouch. Then it stops.
Then there is the pain that doesn't leave. It is in my right foot and hands/wrists. Not as bad as it once was but a general nagging pain.
When it started it my right knee, my right hip really really hard. Then my left knee. My right knee and hips have 95% cleared up.
When this started I went to my oregano oil and tea cleansing diet. Maybe it is why the bad hip/knee stuff died down. Last week I went to my health food store and picked up some Andrographis. Has anyone tired it?
I have made an appointment with a med doctor for this Wednesday. That will be interesting and I am hesitant to bring up the possible Lyme. So I am taking it in my hands to treat this with herbs, etc. If she (DR) wants to give antibiotics, I'll take them too. I know enough to know that the medical establishment doesn't seem to take Lymes as serious as they should and that the test have a terrible false positive result.
I'd like to find a lab that will draw blood and send it to my chosen lab. I think Igenex has some good testing going on.
Posts: 11 | From pennsylvania | Registered: Sep 2009
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Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
Please go see a lyme literate medical doctor -- PA is full of lyme and you will need to be tested for coinfections too.
Your symptoms sound like lyme, and only a lyme literate doctor will know how to evaluate and treat you properly.
Good luck, most doctors are very ignorant about lyme and other tick-borne diseases. So your best chance at getting rid of the pain and fatigue is through a lyme literate doctor.
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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Betty's suggested POSTING GUIDELINES . many of us have neuro lyme where we can NOT read long solid block text and be able to comprehend and read it as is.
please edit your post by CLICKING PAPER/PENCIL ICON to right of your name. that opens up BOTH subject line and body text.
now please break up your WORDY SENTENCES into one sentence paragraphs. Then hit ENTER KEY ``TWICE`` after each paragraph; we need that space for comprehension.
then go to left hand corner and mark box to receive ALL REPLIES, and click EDIT SEND
we thank you for helping us; otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. ----------------------------------------------------
I found Turn the Corner Foundation through the website for the Under Our Skin movie. Here is the link for their website. At the bottom of their webpage there is a link to click if you are interested in getting help finding and LLMD.
I emailed them for help and got a response with the names of over 10 LLMDS in two states in less than a days time. What an incredible blessing! Thought I'd pass it on. By member Aimee, 7.11.09 ------------------------------------------------------
People seeking doctors might be able to get help from their state online information and support group. Nearly 3,400 people belong to state groups. Some of the groups are small but more than 20 of them have 50 or more people and seven have over 100.
The groups are moderated and you have to apply. Most don't allow doctor names, but once on the group, you can ask for doctors in a certain area and ask people to email you privately. *******************************************
This explains the medical politics around lyme WHY you need an ILADS-educated or ILADS-member LLMD (and there are also some ILADS-member LL NDs (naturopathic doctors):
You should also be evaluated for coinfections. Not all tests are great in that regard, either, but a good LLMD can evaluate you and then guide you in testing. One of the top labs is:
"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both. Some antibodies against the borrelia are given more significance if they are IgG versus IgM, or vice versa.
Since this is a chronic persistent infection, this does not make a lot of sense to me. A newly formed Borrelia burgdorferi should have the same antigen parts as the previous bacteria that produced it.
But anyway, from my clinical experience, these borrelia associated bands usually predict a clinical change in symptoms with antibiotics, regardless of whether they are IgG or IgM." ===========
ILADS The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) provides a forum for health science professionals to share their wealth of knowledge regarding the management of Lyme and associated diseases.
UNDER OUR SKIN dvd LYME DISEASE documentary, www.lymediseasefilm.com go to this site to view trailer of UNDER OUR SKIN 5 min. Clip! Premiering 2008!! on big screen 09 in 10 LARGE CITIES ONLY!
* Please note: What you are about to read below is NOT meant to scare any of you from any lyme testings done; it's meant to be informed PRIOR to going into having various tests done and then be told what the costs will be! * Mine was sticker $$ shock on various testings done by my 2nd LLMD/new to me in 4=06. Those tests/results are found elsewhere in my links/advise.
* Igenex's charges for these below things cost $905, which I figured up the last 2 days for 2 other folks includes
* The below tests were done for ME; you MAY NOT NEED them all ok! :
* western blot IGM & IGG, this is MANDATORY for you which costs $200 total for 2 tests done; 6.09 same prices still. * * ******************************************************* * OPTIONAL ONES ARE:
* co-infection panel for YOUR AREA OF COUNTRY; * PCR WHOLE BLOOD...this is what my LLMD ordered!
It's PREPAY! unless you are on medicare; IGX will file the paperwork & it's FREE to you.
go to www.igenex.com and read over their info. Prices go up twice a year: MAY and NOVEMBER!!
* * have blood drawn MON. or TUES. only; you don't want your blood sitting in post office over the weekend; will ruin the results!
* Also, call 1-800.832.3200 for CURRENT PRICES! * They will also send you a ``test kit'' with their required form, all the test vials, & box to ship it in! OUT OF USA will take longer to receive!
* You need to DOWNLOAD IGENEX's required form.****************************************************** * * MD, DO ,ND, AC, DC are all fine** must sign, date, and show DIAGNOSIS CODE on there why he's ordering the test.
Make sure you show to FAX results and SNAIL MAIL PAPER COPY! My results were lost for 4-5 weeks! Bettyg * * When you get your results, please post them in MEDICAL; * Post ONLY the POSITIVE & IND ones .... not the negative ones!
GET COPIES OF ALL YOUR SPECIAL BLOOD TESTS: western blot igm/igg and/or co-infection tests always!!
OVERSEAS INSTRUCTIONS FOR SENDING TO IGENEX/FRY LABORATORY! 2-23-08
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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You say you will see your MD on Wed. but hestitate bringing up lyme.
Then why even go to this doctor if you can't ask about it? Find a doctor with whom you can discuss all matters that may be affecting you - a doctor who will give you the respect that you deserve.
As for treating yourself, I know many of us have to do that - but it is not a good idea. It is best to FIRST get a good work-up with a good LLMD who will consider the whole picture.
As for if Andrographis will be the end-all be-all. Don't count on any one thing. It is a good herb but can make you very tired and it is best in combination - better when you have a good doctor to do a good diagnostic work-up and guide treatment.
Don't waste time and money with any doctor who will not be thorough (i.e. knowledgeable about all tick-borne infections). Hire someone with good credentials and experience.
posted
Andrographis can also cause allergic reactions in some people, according to Stephen Buhner about 1 in 100 people can react to it and he is now stating it isn't as important a part of his protocol as originally thought.
Better to work with a knowledgeable Lyme practitioner, it is often difficult to differenciate die off from allergic reaction, it is also necessary to have someone familiar with various treatment methods as no one thing works for all.
Posts: 130 | From Central NY | Registered: Jul 2009
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