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Could I possibly have Lyme Disease?
I'm 46 years old now, but since I was 22 years old, I've experienced brain fog every day of my life. I've also felt severe fatigue, joint pain, the feeling of skin irritation, and swollen glands, but the brain fog seems to be the worst because it's the one that has been there everyday day of my life since I was 22. The other symptoms come and go.
I've never had a day without brain fog, and I feel like it's getting worse. I was tested for Lyme Disease one time when I was in my twenties, but it was negative, however, I recently heard from a doctor that there can be false negative tests. I've been treated for depression since then, and even though the anti-depressants make my mood better, the brain fog has always remained.
Could I possibly have Lyme Disease, or are there other possibilities for chronic brain fog? Any answers are greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.
I've never had a day without brain fog, and I feel like it's getting worse. I was tested for Lyme Disease one time when I was in my twenties, but it was negative, however, I recently heard from a doctor that there can be false negative tests. I've been treated for depression since then, and even though the anti-depressants make my mood better, the brain fog has always remained.
Could I possibly have Lyme Disease, or are there other possibilities for chronic brain fog? Any answers are greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.
Not sure what is conveniently close to you -- I don't know your part of So. Calif., but I just googled "lyme temecula" and "lyme orange county ca" and got hits, you just have to look down the page a bit on that second one. I remember seeing mention of a group between Orange County and San Diego, but that might not be your area. 'High desert' makes me think of ... Palmdale? There was a Lyme dr in Malibu a while back, and in Thousand Oaks there is Trevor Marshall's office, the one who created the "Marshall Protocol", which is a specific approach to treating Lyme that I'm not sure I'm on board with.
It does sound like those rashes were 'bullseyes' - don't let people who say 'it's all in your head' - bother you - most of us here have been told this 'hypochondriacs !! ' - get yourself an LLMD.
I am sure someone here can point you in the right direction.
take care - we are here to help each other - feel free to post as much as you want/need to
gorbsx
I am sure someone here can point you in the right direction.
take care - we are here to help each other - feel free to post as much as you want/need to
gorbsx
I was tested for those other things, they were all negative. I did have a terrible burning rash that lasted for 2 weeks, but I never thought that it could be related to Lymes Disease because I thought the rash associated with Lymes Disease was just one big bite; my rash looked like a lot of big bulls eye rashes all over my body. I looked up rashes caused by Lymes Disease online, and I was several pictures that were exactly like mine. I got the rash after a day at the Santa Fe Dam which is at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern CA. That night I woke up and felt like my body was on fire. I am now seeking help from my family doctor, but I am so afraid that they are not going to take me seriously because for years I was told by so many doctors that it was "all in my head." I have learned to live with this for over twenty years but my brain fog seems to be getting worse. I live in the High Desert of Southern CA. Are there any experts here or near by that will take me seriously? I am desperatly hoping to live a day without brain fog someday, and also feeling no more fatigue and body aches. Please, is there anyone out here who could help me?
Welcome to MedHelp. Looks like you have gotten some good information already. The other condition(s) that cause these symptoms and brain fog are chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. These are not diseases but syndromes (group of symptoms). Lyme can cause these syndromes as well.
I think Wonko may have some web sites to get that info. You might be able to request the Igenex test through your GP doctor but you would need to pay for it in any case. It is about $400.
Yes thats me to a "T .thank you, I have spent the last hour googling for a Doctor to do a test in my area ....there is a naturopath but to start with I feel I need a regular Doc for the test. any ideas....
It affected me in the following ways:
Name recall
Focusing on a task
Very spacey
Can loss a thought in the middle of a sentence.
At first I thought it was the stress of dealing with other Lyme symptoms. It would come and go peaking at the times where my symptoms were at there worst (herxing). After months of treatment I can now see the difference.
Name recall
Focusing on a task
Very spacey
Can loss a thought in the middle of a sentence.
At first I thought it was the stress of dealing with other Lyme symptoms. It would come and go peaking at the times where my symptoms were at there worst (herxing). After months of treatment I can now see the difference.
Would you all explain what Brain Fog is exactly how do you feel, it is talked about a lot but I never hear the symptoms of it, although if its the non focused way I feel that could be it...
I'm sorry that you've been dealing with whatever it is for so long.
Have you had testing for other conditions? With Lyme, it's good to rule out other conditions first (MS, lupus, thyroid...).
The testing for Lyme is not very good, and if you have been infected for so long, your immune system may be compromised and thus it may be even harder to test you. (The tests don't look for Lyme directly, but for antibodies against the bacteria. If you've been sick for a long time, your body may not be making adequate antibodies anymore.)
I'm not sure what other conditions could cause daily brain fog for 20+ years, but I do think that Lyme could do this. Brain fog was my most worrisome symptom. I've been sick for at least 2 years, perhaps longer, and in treatment since Dec. 2008.
Gorbybelle is right, if you want to pursue Lyme disease, your best bet is to find a "Lyme Literate" physician, or "LLMD." This is a label that patients give to doctors who understand and treat Lyme differently than the narrow mainstream view.
Heavy brain fog makes it even more difficult to navigate the confusion involved in Lyme testing, diagnosis, and treatment. If you want, let us know what part of the country you are in, and we may be able to help you find local resources.
Also, there is a very helpful book called "Cure Unknown" by Pam Weintraub, and a documentary (set to be out in independent movie theaters this summer) called "Under Our Skin." Both have websites that are easy to find, and that have a lot of info for "newbies."
Good luck, and let us know if you have other questions.
Have you had testing for other conditions? With Lyme, it's good to rule out other conditions first (MS, lupus, thyroid...).
The testing for Lyme is not very good, and if you have been infected for so long, your immune system may be compromised and thus it may be even harder to test you. (The tests don't look for Lyme directly, but for antibodies against the bacteria. If you've been sick for a long time, your body may not be making adequate antibodies anymore.)
I'm not sure what other conditions could cause daily brain fog for 20+ years, but I do think that Lyme could do this. Brain fog was my most worrisome symptom. I've been sick for at least 2 years, perhaps longer, and in treatment since Dec. 2008.
Gorbybelle is right, if you want to pursue Lyme disease, your best bet is to find a "Lyme Literate" physician, or "LLMD." This is a label that patients give to doctors who understand and treat Lyme differently than the narrow mainstream view.
Heavy brain fog makes it even more difficult to navigate the confusion involved in Lyme testing, diagnosis, and treatment. If you want, let us know what part of the country you are in, and we may be able to help you find local resources.
Also, there is a very helpful book called "Cure Unknown" by Pam Weintraub, and a documentary (set to be out in independent movie theaters this summer) called "Under Our Skin." Both have websites that are easy to find, and that have a lot of info for "newbies."
Good luck, and let us know if you have other questions.
Lyme is always a possibility with your type of symptoms - some folks never have a positive lyme test - it can be a very 'difficult' illness to 'prove'
the best advice I can give you [I am no expert] - is to find a 'lyme literate medical doctor'- LLMD. - who would be the best doc. to help you in determining lyme or not.
of course anti-depressants can cause 'a foggy brain' as they are 'mood altering' drugs.
I personally don't know what other specific illness can cause 'brain fog'
do you recall any tick bites or circular 'bullseye' rashes ? not everyone with Lyme remembers a bite or rash - but it obviously points more towards Lyme if you do.
I live in U.K. so can't recommend any docs. but there are lots of people here who would be able to help you with that.
you could try a new post specifically asking for help in finding 'LLMD' near you.
good luck & best wishes
gorbs
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