Negative tests ,can I still have Lyme?

[Dandog53]

Hi I started having cronic pain in my joints after working in a building that had mice and birds in it it was also settled next to the woods , after working there for 6 months I started having irregular heart beat , then I got optic neuritis in my right eye I was told after an MRI that I had MS , shortly after all my joints started to hurt , they tested me for lyme with negative results , 1 year later they tested me again still negative , I dont present with normal MS symptoms , but I cant get a doctor to just treat me for lyme , I hear the tests almost always come back negative , and I am getting worse as time goes on , I have also tested negative for arthritis , they did find a tear in my right knee so now they are going after simple wear and tear What do you think  Dan

[tinkerbella*]

Hi Dan,

Never used this site before, but saw your question and thought I would help out.  The short answer is - YES - testing for Lyme is complicated and varies, and you could have Lyme and still test negative for it, depending on exactly the test that was run and the state of Lyme in your body.  My husband has had Lyme for 20 years (now chronic - walks with cane).  He was misdiagnosed for 15 years, including the MS diagnosis, ankylosing spondylitis, and others.  There is a fine line between MS and Lyme - and eventually with Lyme you run into having both classic MS and an old Lyme infection.  My husband also had optic neuritis and lost vision in that eye.  MRI's show MS plaques - although no way to really distinguish between MS and Lyme plaques on MRI - the white matter that shows is autoimmune in nature (MS-Like), but can result from a base Lyme infection and can even contain the Lyme bacteria at autopsy.  My husband finally tested positive on DNA PCR tests from IGenix Lab in Palo Alto, CA a few years back (actually to CDC standards).  He is now disabled with debilitating pain - I work and he has to stay home.  We also have been unable to have children.

Do not walk - but RUN to a top Lyme physician to get the proper testing, but even more important - treatment.  Lyme is misunderstood, political, and battle lines are drawn between physicians that do not understand the disease, and the few good ones in the US.  Short- or Long-term antibiotics are probably the way to go, along with some immune system strengthening measures including supplements, herbs, and lifestyle changes.  If you have Lyme, your symptoms could be improved or cured.  I hope this helps!