Chronic Lyme's and seizures

[Sweetpotatoe57]

Can Chronic Lyme's disease cause seizures?  I have so many symptoms that everyone has talked about, and waiting on the western blot to come back, and I have had Lyme's twice.  Had a , or so they think, a seizure.  Anyone heard of this symptom? sweetpotatoe57

[ashleya23fl]

Hi I have a question, Would you consider adding a few of my Lyme & Bartonella chronic symptoms? I would like to share incase you do.  1. Pain/ Pressure in hips & Spine. 2. Imitates butterfly rash. 3. sun sensitivity.    I don't think  these 3 were mentioned already. Hope this helps.

[JackieCalifornia]

Excellent explanation.  I hope you'll keep posting here.

[burningbrain]

http://www.canlyme.com/fibrocfslyme.html

Tests for Lyme disease, like tests for other infectious diseases, are often confusing and circumstantial, and their analysis and interpretation has often been flawed.  In infectious diseases you do a Western blot test to see if you have a specific reaction.  Western blot separates out proteins antigens of an organism you are looking for.  It tells you if a person has been exposed.  It is not a direct measurement of the organism.  It is a measurement of whether the person has antibodies to it.  Antibody tests are useful in the early stages of illness as with other acute infectious illnesses.  Once the illness is in a chronic phase, antibody tests are not useful.

Just as viruses change from year to year, we know the Lyme bacteria mutates.  There are a number of organisms that can shift their surface protein in a matter of hours and that is how they evade detection and patients test negative.  These organisms attach themselves to proteins and conceal themselves-- creating a cloaking mechanism that defies detection.  This allows them to get where they want to go-- the nervous system.  Once they are inside a cell, the immune system can't see them.

[Sweetpotatoe57]

Thanks so much.  I have 35 of the symptoms you posted.  You took so much time to write that all down, and I just thank you so much.  I am waiting on my Wester Blot to come back, and if it is negative, don't know what will be next.  I have had Lyme's 2 times, so I don't know what else it could be.  I said NO to the Fibro diagnosis, and said, this sounds like Lyme's to me.  The Elsa test showed antibodies, so they did do the Western Blot.  Hoping it comes back today, as Sat. night, had what appeared to be a seizure. Thanks, I need all the help and support I can get!  sweetpotatoe57

[Alidora]

Yes, seizures can be one the many Lyme symptoms

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Head & face

Headache, migraine
Pressure in the head
Tingling of nose, cheek, face
Flushing
Twitching of facial or other muscles (motor tics)
Jaw pain or stiffness (TMJ-like problems)
Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking
Facial paralysis (Bell's palsy)
Sore throat, swollen glands, phlegm
Runny nose
Sinusitis
Hoarseness or vocal cord problems
Increase in allergy symptoms
Change in smell, taste; smell or taste hallucinations
Unexplained hair loss


Eyes

Double or blurry vision
Oversensitivity to light
Floaters, spots, flashing lights
Phantom images in corner of eyes
Decreased perception of light or color
Vision changes incl. blindness, retinal damage, optic atrophy
Eye pain
Wandering or lazy eye
Drooping eyelid
Swelling around eyes
Red eyes
Conjunctivitis or "pink eye"


Ears

Decreased hearing
Plugged ears
Pain in ears
Ringing, buzzing, tinnitus
Oversensitivity to sounds


Digestive & excretory systems

Diarrhea or constipation
Upset stomach (nausea, vomiting, pain)
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease/acid reflux)
Irritable bladder (trouble starting or stopping)
Unexplained weight gain or loss
Loss of appetite


Musculoskeletal system

Bone pain, joint pain, joint swelling, or stiffness
Shifting joint pains
Carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow
Neck is stiff, painful, creaks or cracks
Muscle pain or cramps (fibromyalgia)
Burning sensation in feet
Shin splints
Plantar fasciitis
Drooping shoulders
Poor muscle coordination
Muscle weakness
Loss of muscle tone


Respiratory & circulatory systems

Shortness of breath, can't get full/satisfying breath
Cough
Bronchitis
Chest pain or rib soreness
Night sweats, unexplained chills
Heart palpitations, extra beats or pulse skips (arrhythmia)
Heart blockage, murmur, valve prolapsed, heart attack
Stroke
Swelling or enlargement of heart
Diminished exercise tolerance


Neurologic system

Burning or stabbing sensations in the body
Peripheral neuropathy or partial paralysis
Weakness or paralysis of limbs
Tremors or unexplained shaking
Loss of reflexes
Seizures
White matter lesions
Numbness, tingling, pinpricks
Poor balance, dizziness, difficulty walking
Light-headedness, wooziness, brain fog, fainting
Meningitis (inflammation of the protective membrane around the brain)
Encephalopathy (cognitive impairment from brain involvement)
Encephalomyelitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord)


Psychological well-being

Mood swings, irritability
Agitation
Anxiety, panic attacks
Depression
Overemotional reactions, crying easily
Disorientation: getting lost or going to the wrong place
Aggressive behaviour or impulse violence
Obsessive-compulsive behaviour
Bipolar disorder, manic episodes
Schizophrenic-like states
Personality changes
Depersonalization
Increased suspiciousness, paranoia
Hallucinations
Suicidal thoughts
Feeling as if you are losing your mind
Eating disorders, anorexia
Difficulty falling or staying asleep, too much sleep, or insomnia


Cognitive symptoms

Forgetfulness, memory loss (short or long term)
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration, reading, or spelling
Word retrieval problems (can't remember words, stop at mid-sentence)
Dyslexia-type reversals, difficulty with writing
Problems with numbers
Difficulty with speech (slowed, slurred or stammering)
Forgetting how to perform simple task
Attention deficit problems, distractibility
Difficulty with organization and planning
Difficulty with multitasking
Slowed speed of processing
Poor school or work performance


Reproduction & sexuality

Loss of sex drive
Sexual dysfunction
Unexplained menstrual pain, irregularity
Unexplained breast pain, discharge
Extreme PMS symptoms
Endometriosis
Miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, neonatal death, congenital Lyme disease (passes from mother to foetus)
Testicular or pelvic pain


General well-being

Extreme fatigue, tiredness, exhaustion, poor stamina (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
Unexplained fevers (high or low grade)
Low body temperature
Narcolepsy, sleep apnea
Swollen glands, swollen/painful lymph nodes
Continual infections (sinus, kidney, bladder, eye, ear, etc.)
Chemical sensitivities
Symptoms seem to change, come and go; pain migrates to different body parts
Early on, experienced a "flu-like" illness, possibly not feeling well since
Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol
Increased motion sickness
Decreased interest in play (children)


Skin problems

Livedo reticularis
Benign tumor-like nodules
Acrodermatitis Chronica Atrophicans
Erethyma Migrans (rash)


Other organ problems

Liver inflammation
Enlarged or tender spleen
Dysfunction of the thyroid (under or over active)
Bladder & kidney problems (including bed wetting)