Got bit by a tick

[flamepro2003]

Hi,Do you know what the symptoms of lyme disease are? I got bit by a black legged tick last June and I've been sick since september/october with fatigue,chills,nausea,body aches(flu like symptoms),and sweats. My right ribs are sore(side of bite). I can't hardly move and I've been getting headaches. I was tested back in june(about 12 days after the bite)and the first test was borderline and the second test was negative. It's about 7 months later and I still have a red looking bump. I don't like this feeling. The doctors don't know whats wrong with me,but I know there's something wrong. I just got another blood test done 2 days ago for lyme and waiting for the results. Any advice would be greatly appreciated,thank you! I posted on this website before regarding endometriosis because of the horrible pelvic pain and irregular periods.

[patsy10]

I also wanted to comment on something you posted on the 18th.  It was about pain on one side.  I have significant pain on my left side from my neck, down my back to my hip and cheek area and down to my foot.  I get numbness that runs along the same line.  It's literally like someone has drawn a line down that side of my body.  This all went away on antibiotics.  I have been off of them and it started creeping back slowly.  Now it's all back just like before.  I have started treatment again.  This isn't all I have but just commenting on the one-sided thing.  I think Dr. Crist mentions this as well.

[patsy10]

I have heard of a few people getting decent results from Quest.  The general labs do not specialize in testing for lyme.   I personally think the Igenex results are much better.  I tested completely negative by LabCorp.  Not one single band.  I had 30+, 39 and 41 IND by Igenex on IGM.   Llmd's consider IND to be a weak positive.  It would be interesting to see your results if done by Igenex.  Irregardless, the testing is not that accurate anyway.  I don't know if lyme is your problem or not but I think it takes a doctor who really knows this disease to tell you whether you have it or you don't.

[flamepro2003]

I just wanted to say thank you everyone!! You all have been soo helpful to me. I'm looking up LLMD's in Oregon,hopefully there is one that I could go see. My test just showed the 23 kd IgM on this one..last time(June)it was only the 41 kd IgM. But the first test that showed the 1.03 and the second one that showed the positive 23 IgM makes me think that I do have it. Oh yeah,they used Quest for the testing. Are they good about the testing(accurate)? And I was also thinking,if I didn't have it,wouldn't of my tests showed nothing(negative)all together? I just wanted to say thank you again!!!

-Tracie

[SOONERMOM]

Honestly, you sound very typical for a lyme (and babesia like kitty said) disease patient.  If you had both your bands show up at the same time (41 and 23) on the IgM western blot, you would be considered CDC positive.  

Please seek out a LLMD and make an appointment.  Do not waste any more time with doctors that are telling  you that it is a false positive.  I had a test run through IgeneX and it had 10 positive bands, CDC positive IgM and the doctors were still telling me that I didn't have lyme.

I am tired of reading stories about people obviously sick with a tick borne illness that are being stonewalled like this.  A good friend of mine can hardly walk now and she went through this "lab error" and "false positive" explanations herself last year.  They recently found a few bands in her spinal fluid and told her that it was "nothing to worry about"!!

Please don't wait around and allow yourself to get worse.  Lyme is everywhere and most doctors are completely ignorant of it.  Seek out the best LLMD closest to you and make an appointment and get evaluated!!  Dr. Crist says that 97% of people who have one specific band for lyme (and you do)  will see improvement with antibiotics .

best wishes and keep us updated!

Stacey

[patsy10]

Is your doctor lyme literate?  I might suggest you read about testing in the  health pages.  Dr. Crist has a very good explanation of the testing and symptoms.  Your test sounds positive to me.  Let me know what you think after you read it.

[flamepro2003]

ok,here I go again..last time I promise,lol. or=0.90 negative  0.91-1.09 equivocal  and or=1.10 positive