lyme disease and encephlitis

[justgettingstarted]

I almost died two years ago  after child birth and had to recieve 19 units of blood and within 1 1/2 months of this I developed the most severe case of bells palsy any doctor in my community has ever seen (just thought due to trama) A year and 1/2 later I again develop bells again and my doctors don't think anything of it. (don't know why but do a ct scan and everything is ok).  I have a Hx of migraines for 18 years 2 weeks ago developed worst migraine I have ever had in my life they thought I might have mengentis so sent to ED and did lumbar puncture and negative but threw in Lyme disease titer and it came back positive today.  for the last year I have been dealing with severe pain in neck muscle stiffness, I have had neurlogical exams and def. in left side of body. (I am only 32 years old).  Anyway I am so scared b/c they tell me that tomorrow now today I have to go back into the hospital for further testing for encephlitis. Is there anyway this could all of been related to the multiple blood transfusions?  and if I have encephiltis and Lymes disease what are the long term effects?

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Both encephalitis and Lyme disease cannot spread by blood transfusions. Encephalitis is caused by a virus or a bacteria if caused by a bacteria it is known as meningitis. Lyme disease on the other hand is caused by a tick. Encephalitis can be a complication of lyme disease.
Prompt treatment is curative in both these cases. Treatment includes oral or IV antibiotics. Most of the patients get cured by early treatment however in some patients fatigue, joint pain, muscle pain, neurological symptoms may persist for many years.
Do keep me posted and let me know if you need more information.

[justgettingstarted]

thank you for responding.  I am going to mayo clinic tomorrow.  I can't really get help in my area.  I am being told that I have borderline diagnosis of lyme's and infections disease doctor stated that encephalitis is out thank god but that in my case he was not going to treat me for lymes b/c in my CSF it only showed up in 4 bands? and not 5 and that out of  10 time pt does not have lyme disease in my case.  I don't understand but still have severe headaches and has been this way for 3 weeks now

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

In patients with lyme disease occasionally lyme meningitis develops. This is a very subtle form of meningitis and causes headache, neck stiffness and pain.
The exact diagnosis can be made only on clinical examination. It is good you will be going to Mayo clinic. Do keep us posted. Take care!

[Carol in PA]

Your doctor said that your cerebral spinal fluid had four positive bands in the Western Blot test for Lyme antibodies, but that he was not going to treat you for it.
See if you can get a copy of the test results, with the positive bands listed, for your personal medical file.
There are several articles online about interpreting the test results, written by doctors who specialize in tick borne infections.  

If you want more information about tick borne infections, see Wild Condor's Lyme Links.
http://www.wildcondor.com/lymelinks.html
(If the url is removed, you can do a search for the site name.)

Wishing you the best,
Carol