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22 yr old male Lymes?
Hello all,
Im going to make this a very short version and include links to other posts ive made if you wish to further your reading.
I am a 22 yr old caucasian male in the military. I have had quite alot of testing done lately for worsening symptoms and arrival of new symptoms. None of the symptoms seem to be consistent with anything I eat, drink, use on my skin, breath, how stressed, or how much sleep i get.
Here is a short symptoms list:
Hypersensitivity of skin
neck ache/pains
neck pops/cracks
upper back pain (feels like inflammation all the time sometimes worsens more than others)
lower back pain left side (low as in sacral area)
pain in left hip joint
"plantar fascitis" in right foot
temporary loss of sensation to pain (outsides of arms and legs)
permanent decrease in sensation in left foot in small area
Inflammation in white area of eyes (pic in profile)
eye redness all the time / watery eyes
constipation and diarreha (stool past few weeks: dark, tarry, thick but soft consistency, very foul smell)
randomized muscle spasms
Orthostatic Intolerance (hypertension throughout the day sitting and standing, hypotension when laying down and when sleeping)
"Erectile Dysfunction" or so they call it
Im going to stop there
testing my doc has done has mostly ranged around the basics.. mostly has tried seeing if i have an STD and HIV, checking glucose levels, checking for heart attacks lately because of "episodes" ive been having. Stress tests, 24 heart monitors, EKGs, injections in the back to numb pain nothing has worked. I asked him about testing for Lymes he did the ELISA test when alot of these problems started happening but it came up NEGATIVE.
the episodes started happening more and more frequently each week.
So I went ahead and made an appointment with a Lymes specialist.
Before testing after explaining all this. He says
"I believe I know whats happening here. You may have Lymes but with that have 2 possible co-infections causing a few of the other pains. 1 is called Bartonella the other is called Babesia. First I want to get 2 labs done first. (labs in album)
IGeneX Western Blot IgM, I hit 3 of 5 of the DOUBLE STARRED bands with IND (23-25, 39, 41) . So it still came out NEGATIVE.
the IgG, I hit very POSITIVE on 31, IND on 34, and POSTIVE on 41. So came out POSITIVE for IGeneX criteria but NEGATIVE for CDC criteria.
With this test he ordered a bartonella microscopy test. Which came back showing "Few coccobacilli adherent to erythrocytes" which says "suggestive of hemobartonella or hemoplasma".
My primary care doctor is arguing these labs, saying he still doesnt think its it, started talking about the labs references and how they dont mean anything.
I just had a cd57 test done today so Ill be waiting on those results as well.
anyone have any input or better test suggestions to have this ruled out?
The Lymes specialist also ordered Babesia test and put me on antibiotics and wants to run an IgeneX Western Blot IgM test again.
links to other posts for more reading
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Brain-Pituitary-Tumors/small-2mm-hyperintense/show/921546?personal_page_id=513007&post_id=post_4728586
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Gastroenterology/Stool-problems/show/1016766?personal_page_id=513007&post_id=post_4737616
im open for suggestions! thank you
Im going to make this a very short version and include links to other posts ive made if you wish to further your reading.
I am a 22 yr old caucasian male in the military. I have had quite alot of testing done lately for worsening symptoms and arrival of new symptoms. None of the symptoms seem to be consistent with anything I eat, drink, use on my skin, breath, how stressed, or how much sleep i get.
Here is a short symptoms list:
Hypersensitivity of skin
neck ache/pains
neck pops/cracks
upper back pain (feels like inflammation all the time sometimes worsens more than others)
lower back pain left side (low as in sacral area)
pain in left hip joint
"plantar fascitis" in right foot
temporary loss of sensation to pain (outsides of arms and legs)
permanent decrease in sensation in left foot in small area
Inflammation in white area of eyes (pic in profile)
eye redness all the time / watery eyes
constipation and diarreha (stool past few weeks: dark, tarry, thick but soft consistency, very foul smell)
randomized muscle spasms
Orthostatic Intolerance (hypertension throughout the day sitting and standing, hypotension when laying down and when sleeping)
"Erectile Dysfunction" or so they call it
Im going to stop there
testing my doc has done has mostly ranged around the basics.. mostly has tried seeing if i have an STD and HIV, checking glucose levels, checking for heart attacks lately because of "episodes" ive been having. Stress tests, 24 heart monitors, EKGs, injections in the back to numb pain nothing has worked. I asked him about testing for Lymes he did the ELISA test when alot of these problems started happening but it came up NEGATIVE.
the episodes started happening more and more frequently each week.
So I went ahead and made an appointment with a Lymes specialist.
Before testing after explaining all this. He says
"I believe I know whats happening here. You may have Lymes but with that have 2 possible co-infections causing a few of the other pains. 1 is called Bartonella the other is called Babesia. First I want to get 2 labs done first. (labs in album)
IGeneX Western Blot IgM, I hit 3 of 5 of the DOUBLE STARRED bands with IND (23-25, 39, 41) . So it still came out NEGATIVE.
the IgG, I hit very POSITIVE on 31, IND on 34, and POSTIVE on 41. So came out POSITIVE for IGeneX criteria but NEGATIVE for CDC criteria.
With this test he ordered a bartonella microscopy test. Which came back showing "Few coccobacilli adherent to erythrocytes" which says "suggestive of hemobartonella or hemoplasma".
My primary care doctor is arguing these labs, saying he still doesnt think its it, started talking about the labs references and how they dont mean anything.
I just had a cd57 test done today so Ill be waiting on those results as well.
anyone have any input or better test suggestions to have this ruled out?
The Lymes specialist also ordered Babesia test and put me on antibiotics and wants to run an IgeneX Western Blot IgM test again.
links to other posts for more reading
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Brain-Pituitary-Tumors/small-2mm-hyperintense/show/921546?personal_page_id=513007&post_id=post_4728586
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Gastroenterology/Stool-problems/show/1016766?personal_page_id=513007&post_id=post_4737616
im open for suggestions! thank you
The symptoms you posted certainly sound like lyme symptoms to me. It also seems that the lyme doctor you saw has done a good job of testing. I have seen very few people post that their regular doctors have any significant knowledge of lyme.
Does the lyme specialist think it is lyme?
Does the lyme specialist think it is lyme?
Greetings. You've gotten a lot more accomplished diagnostically than many of us did for a very long time after becoming ill -- that's good -- I suggest you follow up with the LLMD on all your test results, keep copies of EVERYTHING in your own personal file (tests, test results, notes of dr appointments, why you pursued X instead of Y), and be relentless in following up. It can take longer than any of us like to think to unravel these mysteries.
Your GP may never come around to believing in Lyme; many of us have that experience. Lyme drs often treat only Lyme aspects and you'll still need a 'regular' GP/internist for other medical issues that may arise. It's often hard to tell what is Lyme+ related and what is not. It is difficult to ferry between an MD who 'believes' in Lyme and one who doesn't, but that's what we are often required to do.
You sound strong-minded, and that is a very good thing. And thank you for serving our country! Let us know if we can provide any advice in your Lyme+ situation -- but it sounds for now like you're doing all that can be done: follow up relentlessly and keep plowing ahead.
Best wishes --
Your GP may never come around to believing in Lyme; many of us have that experience. Lyme drs often treat only Lyme aspects and you'll still need a 'regular' GP/internist for other medical issues that may arise. It's often hard to tell what is Lyme+ related and what is not. It is difficult to ferry between an MD who 'believes' in Lyme and one who doesn't, but that's what we are often required to do.
You sound strong-minded, and that is a very good thing. And thank you for serving our country! Let us know if we can provide any advice in your Lyme+ situation -- but it sounds for now like you're doing all that can be done: follow up relentlessly and keep plowing ahead.
Best wishes --
To answer your question Patsy.
The Lymes specialist after reviewing my symptoms the initial visit, the worsening symptoms and then the labs (western blot by Igenex) and bartonella actually show some clinical significance being in the double starred bands and those are the only I hit on. The Lymes specialist when I followed up said word for word. "Yes I am diagnosing you with Chronic lymes disease with Bartonella co infection". Then he went ahead on to ordering Babesia labs as well to test for those because he believe i have Lymes with 2 possible co infections.
The main problem I am running into is exactly that. Getting my Primary Doc to acknowledge its Lymes. Getting any doctor in the military to acknowledge it all seems to be a challenge. My doctor did 1 ELISA screen test which came up negative in the 10 bands they checked. Then when I show him the ones I paid for out of pocket he doesnt believe thats whats going on.
I know Lymes can immitate other diseases, illness, or syndromes. So things Im trying to get ruled out are mainly cancers, tumors, HIV, lupus, anything that would cause testing to show like another test if that makes sense.
so far just for Lymes. Ive done ELISA screening for Lyme bacteria, WesternBlot by IgeneX, Bartonella microscopy by Fry labs, and a CD57 which i have not received results on yet. Is there any other recommended testing I should probably consider getting done?
Another question, Ive had many labs done even just basics. Now around March when majority of these more seemingly severe symptoms have started occuring the first few labs showed nothing at all. Now the past few they have done since the symptoms have gotten alot worse and "episodes" happening down to almost twice a week. Things like my white blood cells have been slightly elevated, TSH levels LOW, Lymphocytes high.
Just labs seem to be showing a change
Thank you
The Lymes specialist after reviewing my symptoms the initial visit, the worsening symptoms and then the labs (western blot by Igenex) and bartonella actually show some clinical significance being in the double starred bands and those are the only I hit on. The Lymes specialist when I followed up said word for word. "Yes I am diagnosing you with Chronic lymes disease with Bartonella co infection". Then he went ahead on to ordering Babesia labs as well to test for those because he believe i have Lymes with 2 possible co infections.
The main problem I am running into is exactly that. Getting my Primary Doc to acknowledge its Lymes. Getting any doctor in the military to acknowledge it all seems to be a challenge. My doctor did 1 ELISA screen test which came up negative in the 10 bands they checked. Then when I show him the ones I paid for out of pocket he doesnt believe thats whats going on.
I know Lymes can immitate other diseases, illness, or syndromes. So things Im trying to get ruled out are mainly cancers, tumors, HIV, lupus, anything that would cause testing to show like another test if that makes sense.
so far just for Lymes. Ive done ELISA screening for Lyme bacteria, WesternBlot by IgeneX, Bartonella microscopy by Fry labs, and a CD57 which i have not received results on yet. Is there any other recommended testing I should probably consider getting done?
Another question, Ive had many labs done even just basics. Now around March when majority of these more seemingly severe symptoms have started occuring the first few labs showed nothing at all. Now the past few they have done since the symptoms have gotten alot worse and "episodes" happening down to almost twice a week. Things like my white blood cells have been slightly elevated, TSH levels LOW, Lymphocytes high.
Just labs seem to be showing a change
Thank you
Could you take treatment prescribed by the lyme doctor and just forget about the general practitioner?
As Patsy suggests, many of us have trouble getting our 'regular' (nonLLMD) doctors to acknowledge our illness and our diagnosis, so that we often end up going 'off the grid' and paying for treatment out of pocket, as you are.
Given that you're in the military, you've got two issues: (1) getting treated (the same issue the rest of us have), and (2) being fit for duty. On that point, if you can't convince the military dr that you are ill, you have a problem the rest of us don't. If you can educate him/her, good. So the question is how to do that.
I've dealt with the same split in medical authority that you are -- and the MDs who adhere to the CDC/IDSA standards are often rock solid in their belief that they are right, and they think the ILADS folks are selling snake oil.
My suggestion would be to print down from the ILADS [dot] org website the Burrascano treatment guidelines and try to get your regular dr to at least read them against your test results. (Have to say however, that many highly educated and experienced MDs here refuse(d) to believe that I have/had Lyme and a coinfection, so ignorance is not in short supply anywhere.)
You can also use those ILADS guidelines as your own checklist on what to look into, but you're clearly ahead of where many of us were early on in our illness. And btw, the earlier you treat, the more effective the treatment and the faster you can get well, generally speaking. So be relentless. You don't say if you're stateside or not, but Lyme in Europe is different in some respects from No. America -- different strains predominate, with some differences in manifestation and so on. ILADS focusses on No. America, as far as I know, but keep it in mind.
(We have members here who are in the UK, if you need guidance in that regard, but the awareness level there among MDs is not very high from what I understand. There has been a good bit of research in middle Europe, judging from the medical articles I read, so it's not unknown over there.)
You mention thyroid levels changing -- that is apparently not unusual. Check the ILADS site. It's quite good. Let us know how we can help here.
Given that you're in the military, you've got two issues: (1) getting treated (the same issue the rest of us have), and (2) being fit for duty. On that point, if you can't convince the military dr that you are ill, you have a problem the rest of us don't. If you can educate him/her, good. So the question is how to do that.
I've dealt with the same split in medical authority that you are -- and the MDs who adhere to the CDC/IDSA standards are often rock solid in their belief that they are right, and they think the ILADS folks are selling snake oil.
My suggestion would be to print down from the ILADS [dot] org website the Burrascano treatment guidelines and try to get your regular dr to at least read them against your test results. (Have to say however, that many highly educated and experienced MDs here refuse(d) to believe that I have/had Lyme and a coinfection, so ignorance is not in short supply anywhere.)
You can also use those ILADS guidelines as your own checklist on what to look into, but you're clearly ahead of where many of us were early on in our illness. And btw, the earlier you treat, the more effective the treatment and the faster you can get well, generally speaking. So be relentless. You don't say if you're stateside or not, but Lyme in Europe is different in some respects from No. America -- different strains predominate, with some differences in manifestation and so on. ILADS focusses on No. America, as far as I know, but keep it in mind.
(We have members here who are in the UK, if you need guidance in that regard, but the awareness level there among MDs is not very high from what I understand. There has been a good bit of research in middle Europe, judging from the medical articles I read, so it's not unknown over there.)
You mention thyroid levels changing -- that is apparently not unusual. Check the ILADS site. It's quite good. Let us know how we can help here.
Yeah and that is the other problem. I cant just not go see that doctor see he is the one making sure I get all this put into my medical record and all so all i really can do is try to make him believe. So i have to continue seeing both, one of them at my own expense for now. Him as well as many other doctors, Lymes is "uncharted waters" especially the diagnosis of chronic lymes. I will look at the ILAD guidelines appreciate the website info.
I am located in North America West coast. Not entirely too far from B.C.
I have definitely already started treatment for I read the same on that. "Faster you treat it the better"
Sad part like most, I dont remember being bitten by a tick. There are a few things I do remember being bitten by though. From what the Lymes specialist is saying. After being on antibiotics for a month or two. Retaking the Western Blot IgM test. It should come out more positive this time, because by that time the antibiotics will have killed alot of it off and your body will see the dead bacteria and still create more antibodies against it. Putting me most likely at a higher count, probably will make it for CDC standards which then would help with my doctor.
I will do some more research on the website you gave me and update you on what goes on between that time. Really appreciate your inputs from all of you, thank you!
I am located in North America West coast. Not entirely too far from B.C.
I have definitely already started treatment for I read the same on that. "Faster you treat it the better"
Sad part like most, I dont remember being bitten by a tick. There are a few things I do remember being bitten by though. From what the Lymes specialist is saying. After being on antibiotics for a month or two. Retaking the Western Blot IgM test. It should come out more positive this time, because by that time the antibiotics will have killed alot of it off and your body will see the dead bacteria and still create more antibodies against it. Putting me most likely at a higher count, probably will make it for CDC standards which then would help with my doctor.
I will do some more research on the website you gave me and update you on what goes on between that time. Really appreciate your inputs from all of you, thank you!
Sorry to hear you are feeling so rotton. I am a mililtary spouse and know how frustrating the military medical can be. Hang in there. Luckily after two on base dr's, I now have my GP diagnose me with Lyme. I'm also seeing a LLMD who is working with my GP on treatment. We are currently stationed in the UK. I've been sick since May of 07 with about a 18 month remission in symptoms.
Did you have any + on the IGM? Or were they only on IGG? I think your IgeneX results are kinda similar to mine. Mine was IGM 30+, 31+++, 34IND, 41IND, and 83-93IND
IGG was 30+, 31++++, and 41+.
I hope you find the help you need. Let me know if you need any help.
Did you have any + on the IGM? Or were they only on IGG? I think your IgeneX results are kinda similar to mine. Mine was IGM 30+, 31+++, 34IND, 41IND, and 83-93IND
IGG was 30+, 31++++, and 41+.
I hope you find the help you need. Let me know if you need any help.
I had no positives on my IGM just IND on 3 of the double starred bands. The bands specific to Borrelia. IGG was 31+++ 34IND and 41+
so the only one showing the positive was IgG but month or two of antibiotics we are going to redo the IgM again to see if it comes out more positive this time in those since the dead bacteria should be in the blood stream and body should of had plenty of time to produce the antibodies.
For MS I had a brain MRI done. 1 thing was noted. "tiny, punctate, 2mm focus of increased T2 signal at right frontal deep white matter. This is uncertain of clinical significance or etiology. There is no definite findings of multiple sclerosis.
for viruses im not sure what they check. what kind of viruses are you referring to?
they have done plenty of urine tests for h.pylori and stuff
so the only one showing the positive was IgG but month or two of antibiotics we are going to redo the IgM again to see if it comes out more positive this time in those since the dead bacteria should be in the blood stream and body should of had plenty of time to produce the antibodies.
For MS I had a brain MRI done. 1 thing was noted. "tiny, punctate, 2mm focus of increased T2 signal at right frontal deep white matter. This is uncertain of clinical significance or etiology. There is no definite findings of multiple sclerosis.
for viruses im not sure what they check. what kind of viruses are you referring to?
they have done plenty of urine tests for h.pylori and stuff
Well band 31 can cross react with other viruses. I'm not sure what types... but you may want to ask your doctor.
Do your blood tests show any mineral deficiencies? Lyme uses up magnesium (Mg) in its reproductive cycle, and that can make you feel tired and miserable, besides constipated.
Problem is, most Mg in the body is inside the cells, so if your bloodstream is carry Mg to the Lyme bugs to do their thing, the Mg levels inside the cells are getting lower and lower, but blood tests will often show normal levels of Mg IN YOUR BLOOD. There is no commonly accepted test for Mg levels inside your cells, tho a fellow in the Pacific NW has invented one that I haven't been able to get an MD to order for me.
I just had a bunch of blood work done by an MD who doesn't believe in Lyme as anything serious, and the only thing I was low in was: magnesium. Which means the Lyme has probl. been using up what's inside the cells and the cells are running out.
So I now take Mg malate daily. I've read that if you get diarrhea, back off on the dosage, but otherwise no serious side effects from Mg supplementation. I take about 20% more than the RDA of Mg, and so far, no problems. Helps with mood and well-being too. Just a thought. I'm not medically trained, this is just my personal experience.
Hang in there. The trickiest part of the dance you are doing is going back and forth between the two drs and trying to herd them along to getting you well -- sounds like you are doing a very good job being proactive.
Problem is, most Mg in the body is inside the cells, so if your bloodstream is carry Mg to the Lyme bugs to do their thing, the Mg levels inside the cells are getting lower and lower, but blood tests will often show normal levels of Mg IN YOUR BLOOD. There is no commonly accepted test for Mg levels inside your cells, tho a fellow in the Pacific NW has invented one that I haven't been able to get an MD to order for me.
I just had a bunch of blood work done by an MD who doesn't believe in Lyme as anything serious, and the only thing I was low in was: magnesium. Which means the Lyme has probl. been using up what's inside the cells and the cells are running out.
So I now take Mg malate daily. I've read that if you get diarrhea, back off on the dosage, but otherwise no serious side effects from Mg supplementation. I take about 20% more than the RDA of Mg, and so far, no problems. Helps with mood and well-being too. Just a thought. I'm not medically trained, this is just my personal experience.
Hang in there. The trickiest part of the dance you are doing is going back and forth between the two drs and trying to herd them along to getting you well -- sounds like you are doing a very good job being proactive.
I'm a military spouse as well. You will have difficulty in getting any doc, military or civilian, to believe in Lyme. Period. However, I'm told that the military is quite aware of Lyme disease and its prevalence, more than the civilian sector. There is apparently a published military study from the Southeast US re: cases of Lyme in soldiers. I haven't tried to look it up, but my Lyme support group spoke about it briefly in one meeting. I do know of some PAs that believe in Lyme on my base, but others staunchly believe chronic Lyme does not exist. See if you can find any "believers" at your base, they have to be there somewhere....
Yes and I definitely hit very POSITIVE in 31kDa on the IgG portion. That specialist believes I have co-infections of Bartonella and Babesia at the least. Bartonella test showed positive for a bacteria showing in the blood. Babesia test not done and Im not sure if they would be cross-reactive with 31kDa.
In April '09, my metabolic panel showed me LOW in Alanine and Asparate Aminotransferase. Also on that same panel was potassium and it came in at the borderline mark of 3.5 so inbetween LOW and Normal. Not sure what these test for Alanine and Asparate mean im just reading them off.
Since then Ive had more testing done but those came out normal, even on "bad" days where I would think something would show, nothing... Except on CBCs keep showing HIGH lymphs and last time had HIGH WBC.
Still trying to find a military doc that will ackknowledge or agree. I see an Endocinologist within the next week as well as doing a sleep study. Dont know if either of these may show something or not we will see.
*NOTE* Ive been on antibiotic treatment for over a week now. Going on 2 weeks tomorrow. Ive been "feeling" pretty good. Even with the feeling tired, back pains, abdominal pains. Hard to describe maybe like an increase of sense of well being. Feels like I have energy but at the same time my mind feels very fatigued. But I havent felt this "good" for awhile so I think they antibiotics might actually be doing something. or who knows maybe its a side effect? I do get an upset stomach from taking it as well though.
Ill keep yall posted, if any of you find any useful info. Let me know, preferrably .gov sites. Or well known and trusted sites that hold the info. Would be useful for my end
In April '09, my metabolic panel showed me LOW in Alanine and Asparate Aminotransferase. Also on that same panel was potassium and it came in at the borderline mark of 3.5 so inbetween LOW and Normal. Not sure what these test for Alanine and Asparate mean im just reading them off.
Since then Ive had more testing done but those came out normal, even on "bad" days where I would think something would show, nothing... Except on CBCs keep showing HIGH lymphs and last time had HIGH WBC.
Still trying to find a military doc that will ackknowledge or agree. I see an Endocinologist within the next week as well as doing a sleep study. Dont know if either of these may show something or not we will see.
*NOTE* Ive been on antibiotic treatment for over a week now. Going on 2 weeks tomorrow. Ive been "feeling" pretty good. Even with the feeling tired, back pains, abdominal pains. Hard to describe maybe like an increase of sense of well being. Feels like I have energy but at the same time my mind feels very fatigued. But I havent felt this "good" for awhile so I think they antibiotics might actually be doing something. or who knows maybe its a side effect? I do get an upset stomach from taking it as well though.
Ill keep yall posted, if any of you find any useful info. Let me know, preferrably .gov sites. Or well known and trusted sites that hold the info. Would be useful for my end
That's interesting, my only other lab that was off was alanine and aspartate. I just found it in my records this week. They didn't mention it as a problem at Johns Hopkins. hmmm off to do some research. keep us posted!
Ah, I am wrong. Those are AST and ALT levels. Mine were elevated b/c of the meds I am on: neurontin and Pamelor. They are showing liver function (usually). I had them retested after going off the larger dose of neurontin and they were back to normal.
What do they show if they come out LOW? Is it still possible liver problems or is it generalized in what it could be or more specific possibly showing something else?
When I was on Neurontin after the first week we upped the dose and it made ALL my symptoms much worse or so it seemed. so I stopped taking it.
When I was on Neurontin after the first week we upped the dose and it made ALL my symptoms much worse or so it seemed. so I stopped taking it.
I am uploading my Labcorp results just done recently. Go into albums to view.
It has a some borderlines, LOW, and HIGH.
Any input on this test would be great, thank you.
It has a some borderlines, LOW, and HIGH.
Any input on this test would be great, thank you.
So as you all know Ive been keeping an eye on my eyes.
This morning at work while in the bathroom after feeling "weird" sensations and at the same time smelling odd smells then they went away. I went to use the bathroom and while looking in the mirror was inspecting my eyes again. The inside of my RIGHT eye is yellowing. Its a light yellow and is only on the inside portion has not moved elsewhere.
The sensations I get are continuing. One of the sensation is a very COLD feeling underneath the lower side of my LEFT rib cage.
Question what are things that fit my symptoms that would cause this?
Also, I am on antibiotics would they cause it?
Thank you
This morning at work while in the bathroom after feeling "weird" sensations and at the same time smelling odd smells then they went away. I went to use the bathroom and while looking in the mirror was inspecting my eyes again. The inside of my RIGHT eye is yellowing. Its a light yellow and is only on the inside portion has not moved elsewhere.
The sensations I get are continuing. One of the sensation is a very COLD feeling underneath the lower side of my LEFT rib cage.
Question what are things that fit my symptoms that would cause this?
Also, I am on antibiotics would they cause it?
Thank you
I can't view your pictures from this computer to look at your labs, but I'll try later on another computer:)
My RPR test was nonreactive
I had my Basic Metabolic Panel was done at around 8am but 3am I was at the hospital for extreme lower back pain and was given corticosteroids and motrin to reduce inflammation. My glucose came out to 145 when it was done. Didnt eat anything for 13 hours besides taking those two meds 5 hours before getting it done.
I had my Basic Metabolic Panel was done at around 8am but 3am I was at the hospital for extreme lower back pain and was given corticosteroids and motrin to reduce inflammation. My glucose came out to 145 when it was done. Didnt eat anything for 13 hours besides taking those two meds 5 hours before getting it done.
I haven't been able to follow your data, so I'm not clear on what's going on, but if you have Lyme, taking steroids can be a problem because it suppresses your immune system when your immune system is supposed to be fighting the Lyme. Like standing down the troops in the middle of battle. It's uphill out of the trenches after that.
That has happened to some here, not to me, so I can't speak to it directly. But you gotta do what you gotta do, and if you didn't have any ill effects from the steroids, maybe your underlying ailment isn't Lyme? Just a thought.
*I'm not a doctor, and I don't even play one on TV.*
That has happened to some here, not to me, so I can't speak to it directly. But you gotta do what you gotta do, and if you didn't have any ill effects from the steroids, maybe your underlying ailment isn't Lyme? Just a thought.
*I'm not a doctor, and I don't even play one on TV.*
Hi Jackie,
My Lyme specialist diagnosed me with Chronic Lyme based on clinical symptoms as well as my Western Blot. I was not CDC positive. Though he also said it may not be a active infection but he believes I have Chronic Lyme with co-infections of Bartonella and Babesia at the least.
From what HAS been ruled out already and what they know so far is this.
Im 22 yrs old with some form of arthritis in my spine. Degeneration of joints. In my SI joints as well.
I have unknown cause for inguinal/testicular pain diagnosed as varicocele and erectile dysfunction but Levitra doesnt even help that problem out. Varicocele does not explain the pain they told me.
No to hernias, no tumors, no cancer, no diabetes, no HIV, no syphilis, no HLA-B27, no Rheumatoid factor, no high cholesterol, no family history of any medical problems.
Prior to 26MARCH2009 I had already complained of the following in order from last to recent up to that date.
"gastroenteritis"
back pain
"upper respitory infection"
ankle joint pain
pain in hip and knee
needle pains in feet in the morning, "plantar fascitis" was diag. right foot still problem
on and off flu symptoms occasional
constant fatigue
lightheadedness/vertigo
TMJ
sleep problems/broken up sleep in 3 hr increments/sleeping too much but still tired
Low left side back pain
esophagael reflux/gerd
abdominal pain lower left quadrant
Inguinal pain/testicular pain
Problems with short term memory
After 26MARCH2009 these "episodes" happen.
Temporary Loss of sensation in outside of arms, legs and back
High blood pressure
tremors
body wide spasms mostly in back
chest pain / chest "electric shock sensation"
feeling of going to pass out
paleness
weakness in legs
sudden burning in the eyes and throat.
sudden shortness of breath
ER docs cant tell me anything. Primary doc believes im having panic attacks, anxiety, or am just really stressed. They were months apart, started getting closer together between times they happened. Usually in the evening would happen when I was off work at home. On the phone with a friend, on the weekend in the movie theater in the middle of a movie, or just walking out to my car.
Blood pressure goes up to about 162/121 heartrate will jump as well at that reading was 122.
My blood pressure used to level out to normal at bed time around 110/70 , now it just drops down around 89/45 hr at about 49 and I wake up with headaches, chest pain, bad nausea on raising up out of bed. My doc says this blood pressure is in the normal range but ER doc says its low. With the low blood pressure when that started up around the same week I started having "sleep paralysis" where I would wake up before my body wakes up and cant move anything. I now have episcleritis in my eyes. Light sensitivity with it of course. Started getting yellow hue to my eyes they said wasnt my liver so it must be fatty build up in my eyes but I have low cholesterol.
Anyways, the episodes are not regular. I can try and get myself in panic mode where i feel anxious or I just sometimes feel like its about to happen and it doesnt. Other times like this last time. It was missing a few of the usual symptoms that were always present first like the "shock" in my chest but it happened when i least expected it.
I honestly dont know if it is Lyme, I have no history of anxiety nor do I feel anxious at all when these episodes begin. I do get anxiety or panic when the difficulty in breathing happens of course. who wouldnt?
Not saying its not anxiety, but in my personal opinion. Anxiety seems like a contributer but not something thats initially starting this.
Besides Lyme Ive been looking into things like Aorta problems since I have back problems as well.
My lower back pain has increased GREATLY since my last episode on the 29th of AUG. Starting yesterday Ive been having a "tingling" above my upper lip but below my nostrils. its just on and off, throughout the day. Its not numb and doesnt seem to be any loss of sensation just a funny feeling tingle.
My Lyme specialist diagnosed me with Chronic Lyme based on clinical symptoms as well as my Western Blot. I was not CDC positive. Though he also said it may not be a active infection but he believes I have Chronic Lyme with co-infections of Bartonella and Babesia at the least.
From what HAS been ruled out already and what they know so far is this.
Im 22 yrs old with some form of arthritis in my spine. Degeneration of joints. In my SI joints as well.
I have unknown cause for inguinal/testicular pain diagnosed as varicocele and erectile dysfunction but Levitra doesnt even help that problem out. Varicocele does not explain the pain they told me.
No to hernias, no tumors, no cancer, no diabetes, no HIV, no syphilis, no HLA-B27, no Rheumatoid factor, no high cholesterol, no family history of any medical problems.
Prior to 26MARCH2009 I had already complained of the following in order from last to recent up to that date.
"gastroenteritis"
back pain
"upper respitory infection"
ankle joint pain
pain in hip and knee
needle pains in feet in the morning, "plantar fascitis" was diag. right foot still problem
on and off flu symptoms occasional
constant fatigue
lightheadedness/vertigo
TMJ
sleep problems/broken up sleep in 3 hr increments/sleeping too much but still tired
Low left side back pain
esophagael reflux/gerd
abdominal pain lower left quadrant
Inguinal pain/testicular pain
Problems with short term memory
After 26MARCH2009 these "episodes" happen.
Temporary Loss of sensation in outside of arms, legs and back
High blood pressure
tremors
body wide spasms mostly in back
chest pain / chest "electric shock sensation"
feeling of going to pass out
paleness
weakness in legs
sudden burning in the eyes and throat.
sudden shortness of breath
ER docs cant tell me anything. Primary doc believes im having panic attacks, anxiety, or am just really stressed. They were months apart, started getting closer together between times they happened. Usually in the evening would happen when I was off work at home. On the phone with a friend, on the weekend in the movie theater in the middle of a movie, or just walking out to my car.
Blood pressure goes up to about 162/121 heartrate will jump as well at that reading was 122.
My blood pressure used to level out to normal at bed time around 110/70 , now it just drops down around 89/45 hr at about 49 and I wake up with headaches, chest pain, bad nausea on raising up out of bed. My doc says this blood pressure is in the normal range but ER doc says its low. With the low blood pressure when that started up around the same week I started having "sleep paralysis" where I would wake up before my body wakes up and cant move anything. I now have episcleritis in my eyes. Light sensitivity with it of course. Started getting yellow hue to my eyes they said wasnt my liver so it must be fatty build up in my eyes but I have low cholesterol.
Anyways, the episodes are not regular. I can try and get myself in panic mode where i feel anxious or I just sometimes feel like its about to happen and it doesnt. Other times like this last time. It was missing a few of the usual symptoms that were always present first like the "shock" in my chest but it happened when i least expected it.
I honestly dont know if it is Lyme, I have no history of anxiety nor do I feel anxious at all when these episodes begin. I do get anxiety or panic when the difficulty in breathing happens of course. who wouldnt?
Not saying its not anxiety, but in my personal opinion. Anxiety seems like a contributer but not something thats initially starting this.
Besides Lyme Ive been looking into things like Aorta problems since I have back problems as well.
My lower back pain has increased GREATLY since my last episode on the 29th of AUG. Starting yesterday Ive been having a "tingling" above my upper lip but below my nostrils. its just on and off, throughout the day. Its not numb and doesnt seem to be any loss of sensation just a funny feeling tingle.
Did/does your Lyme specialist know about the steroids? As JackieCalifornia notes, they are a big no-no for Lyme patients. My health was devastated by steroid treatment. Sure, the anti-inflammatory action made me feel cured...for about a week.
I've been in the "too many cooks in the kitchen" scenario before, where one doc contradicts the other and the patient is caught in the middle. That appears to be an issue in your case. Just my 2 cents.
I saw your Igenex results posted. You've got more bands than me. I was IgG 39+ 41+++, and IgM 41+. Always negative on ELISA (3 times, months between each). Spinal fluid was negative for Lyme. My Fry labs smear showed moderate Bart, but my other co-infection testing was negative. I've had an obvious response to long-term combination antibiotic treatment.
Anxiety can surely make any problem worse, and it goes hand-in-hand with Lyme. I have no history of anxiety, but have had small panic attacks and other anxiety symptoms in response to Lyme treatment. Thankfully this has improved a great deal, but was a very real problem for me. Treating the cause and not the symptom seems to be working.
Your symptoms sound very much like Lyme, and it seems you've been tested thoroughly for other conditions. Are you considering Lyme treatment?
I've been in the "too many cooks in the kitchen" scenario before, where one doc contradicts the other and the patient is caught in the middle. That appears to be an issue in your case. Just my 2 cents.
I saw your Igenex results posted. You've got more bands than me. I was IgG 39+ 41+++, and IgM 41+. Always negative on ELISA (3 times, months between each). Spinal fluid was negative for Lyme. My Fry labs smear showed moderate Bart, but my other co-infection testing was negative. I've had an obvious response to long-term combination antibiotic treatment.
Anxiety can surely make any problem worse, and it goes hand-in-hand with Lyme. I have no history of anxiety, but have had small panic attacks and other anxiety symptoms in response to Lyme treatment. Thankfully this has improved a great deal, but was a very real problem for me. Treating the cause and not the symptom seems to be working.
Your symptoms sound very much like Lyme, and it seems you've been tested thoroughly for other conditions. Are you considering Lyme treatment?
My Lyme specialist didnt know about the corticosteroids. It was an ER visit that they gave it to me on.
What do you mean your "health was devastated by steroid treatment"? After they gave them to me at the ER it seemed to help out at least with back pain.
The problem arises with this.
I am in the military. My primary doctor for military does not believe its Lyme. They did the ELISA test because I asked them to do a test for Lyme even though they didnt believe it was they based on the fact that I havent been to the East coast. After it came back negative he wont even consider Lyme what so ever. The other problem, Igenex and Fry Labs are not Labs military medicine uses so when you show them the results from those labs they just look at you funny and say "Im sorry I dont know what this is, its not a legitimate lab..etc." My Fry Lab showed a few bacteria around in my blood. Some outside the blood, some inside the blood cells. My doctor said the lab isnt FDA approved and the listed references are all zoonotic or research on animals not humans. Though the lab notes say "this is suggestive of hemobartonella"
The only thing my primary doctor believes is that im having muscle spasms and panic attacks. Believes I am completely healthy and to fix it I should take my Xanax when I have the "panic attack" episodes.
My Lyme specialist has me on Omnicef and Levaquin. Also he just put me on Minocycline but i have not started yet. I have to get some labs for military side done so I have to wait to start them.
So after being on antibiotics for a month or two if i were to redo my IgM Western Blot. would it or should it show more positive? I need something to show positive enough that the military would acknowledge. Positive enough to hit CDC standards should be enough to put up more of a fight with Tricare about this.
The other problem is.. I am paying for all the Lyme treatment and appointments myself. My insurance wont cover it because my primary doc wont refer me to the specialist.
what can you do? lol
What do you mean your "health was devastated by steroid treatment"? After they gave them to me at the ER it seemed to help out at least with back pain.
The problem arises with this.
I am in the military. My primary doctor for military does not believe its Lyme. They did the ELISA test because I asked them to do a test for Lyme even though they didnt believe it was they based on the fact that I havent been to the East coast. After it came back negative he wont even consider Lyme what so ever. The other problem, Igenex and Fry Labs are not Labs military medicine uses so when you show them the results from those labs they just look at you funny and say "Im sorry I dont know what this is, its not a legitimate lab..etc." My Fry Lab showed a few bacteria around in my blood. Some outside the blood, some inside the blood cells. My doctor said the lab isnt FDA approved and the listed references are all zoonotic or research on animals not humans. Though the lab notes say "this is suggestive of hemobartonella"
The only thing my primary doctor believes is that im having muscle spasms and panic attacks. Believes I am completely healthy and to fix it I should take my Xanax when I have the "panic attack" episodes.
My Lyme specialist has me on Omnicef and Levaquin. Also he just put me on Minocycline but i have not started yet. I have to get some labs for military side done so I have to wait to start them.
So after being on antibiotics for a month or two if i were to redo my IgM Western Blot. would it or should it show more positive? I need something to show positive enough that the military would acknowledge. Positive enough to hit CDC standards should be enough to put up more of a fight with Tricare about this.
The other problem is.. I am paying for all the Lyme treatment and appointments myself. My insurance wont cover it because my primary doc wont refer me to the specialist.
what can you do? lol
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