TIMELINE?

Does anyone else keep a record/journal of their sx?  I do somewhat.  I wanted to post it, for others to review.  After reading any suggestions would be great, and also if this really does sound "lymish" or something else.   I really appreciate the feedback.
  
   Okay this all started in May 2007 (two months after my daughter was born).  It started with mild numbness in my feet.  Then I kept getting shooting pains in my arms to my hands (felt like funny bone was being hit over and over), my hands were occassionaly achy, my eyes and ears were achy and I had pins and needles in my hands and feet. I also experienced weird neuro symptoms such as water running down legs, cold numb patches on face, occassional dizziness, and occasional weakness. I also experienced some anxiety (especially at night).  My symptoms seemed neurological so my GP referred me to a neuro.  I had a brain MRI w/wo contrast done that was normal (except showed sinus disease).  My neuro exam was also normal.  The neuro didn't know what was wrong and said I may want to see a Rheum and ENT.  
  Well I went to the ENT for the sinus disease and he suggested that I have sinus surgery.  
  Well my symptoms dissapeared in beg Sept (4-5 months after onset) so I never had surgery and I just left it at that.  I thought it was maybe just some weird virus or some weird fluke.

  Well time passed and I felt fine until around beg. of March 09 (about 1.5 years later).  
   This time I got sudden onset of the numb left toes.
    Had this for a few days and then started getting really dizzy (like I am swaying or in a boat), brain fog, memory problems,  extreme weakness when walking or especially going up or down the stairs my legs shaked and I feel like jello.  I don't really feel fatigued like sleepy, just body fatigue.  I also have all over body twitching, shooting pains in arms and hands, achy hands, ear and eye aches.  My neck hurts and feels really tight and tense. Occasinal widespread pain that would migrate everywhere in no specific pattern. Also feel like have UTI (test was neg), frequent urination and burning. Felt Horrible for about a week straight (symptoms did fluctuate though).  Felt like some kind of flu without fever, and congestion.  The weakness and dizziness was in comparison to flu like.  Disabling. I coudn't do anything.     During this time I saw the neuro as my GP was thinking something neuro again like MS.  But my neuro doesn't think it is neurological again.   I had another Brain MRI w/wo contrast, cspine mri w/wo contrast and both came back normal (except for the sinus disease again) .   My NCS was also normal.  The neuro didn't think it was necessary to run any other tests and sent me back in the care of my GP.
   About a week later... gradually started feeling slightly better.  Fatigue, weakness, and dizziness has subsided somewhat.  But now am having other weird sx such as cold water down legs when walking, cold numb patches on face and arms, still having brain fog, bladder issues, ear aches, occassinal numbness, anxiety, and moodiness.  Still randomly getting the body aches and pains too.   It's like a combo pain in joints and muscles.  But they are more shooting pain than dull constant.
      I must clarify that these symptoms aren't constantly continuous either.  One moment I'll feel half way normal with maybe just dizziness, and then a few hours later I'll have other symptoms.  It is very frustrating cause just when I think maybe I'm getting better, it comes back or something new arises.
I saw  a Rheum. last Friday who is testing me for Lymes and autoimmune disorders.  I haven't got any results back yet.

  
   So there is my story!!  Sorry so long!!  I know it is kinda confusing and there is no real pattern to my sx.  Does this sound familar to anyone elses story?   I've been told by several that it does sound like Lymes, but also been told it sounds like MS (although not from dr's).  What do you think???

  
THANKS FOR LISTENING!
  Karey

[patsy10]

Sounds just like my story.  Don't get stressed out over what others (non-physicians) say about MS....You will hear a lot of people say they had it and it didn't show up on testing etc....This is a very rare occurence.  The vast majority of people who have MS have objective abnormalities on testing whether it be MRI, spinal tap etc...There is usually something abnormal.  If not the most used test (MRI) then one of the others usually shows something.  Physicians also go by the physical exam.  They look for OBJECTIVE weakness etc....Remember, paresthesias....numb feelings ( but not true absence of feeling), tingling, hot, cold, splashes etc...are subjective only to the patient.  Doctors cannot objectively see these things so they seem to dismiss them even though they really stress us out.  It is true that what we are feeling seems neurological but it does not mean we have a neurological disease going on.  My friend had all these things going on too and she ended up having an autoimmune disorder (dermatomyositis).  She was convinced she had a neuro problem due to what she was feeling.

[JackieCalifornia]

Yeah, I keep a journal sometimes, when I'm trying to get perspective on how I am feeling.  It gets long and complicated and I have to go back and boil it down to the common threads so I can see the theme instead of the details.  It's hard to do, but can be helpful esp. when my memory is spotty.

[gorbybelle]

I was keeping a record of symptoms /treatments etc; all neat and tidy - now its a scribbled , jumbled mess.  I am seeing LLMD in a couple of weeks - I am planning on sorting out my records to take with me.  

Is there any other advice on preparation for the appointment??  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[patsy10]

You can keep a journal here.  There are also the trackers though there isn't a lyme tracker yet.

[jason80]

I started with a word document, but that was too difficult too track as my symptoms increased so I started using an Excel chart. Now I can easily cut and paste from day before for no changes, and I can color code to highlight things as well. This gives me the most flexibility.