Wanted to share this news article w/my thyroid friends

[juliva]

As many of you know I have been recently dx'ed with Lyme disease.. it wasn't all hypo after all. Anyway, this is a really interesting news article that I think should be spread as Lyme is spreading at epidemic proportions apparently. I was surprised to read some of the famous persons who have been dx'ed with Lyme.  

http://www.aolnews.com/opinion/article/opinion-lyme-disease-is-a-terrifying-health-epidemic-thats-going-largely-unnoticed/19494569?icid=main|main|dl3|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2Fopinion%2Farticle%2Fopinion-lyme-disease-is-a-terrifying-health-epidemic-thats-going-largely-unnoticed%2F19494569

[juliva]

Thanks Deb!
I just feel gratitude because of ALL the help I have been given here to try and give a little back if and when I can! ((hugs back at cha))

[Smilerdeb]

You have been a great help here exposing Lyme Disease and a bundle of info too!
A lot of people would be tremendously grateful for it.
Thanks
(hugs)

[juliva]

Have you tired calling the International Lyme Association Disease Systems and asking them about a a LLMD in your area?

Here is their site http://ilads.org/

[juliva]

Have you tried going on the Medhelp lyme and asking if someone know's of a LLMD in your area? Have you called your local Lyme Disease ***. and ask them about a LLMD? That seems really steep for a LLMD seems his motive is clear.

Yes, your TSH, FT3 & FT4 can fluctuate with Hasti's. If you tested positive for Hasti's antibodies then I'm sure you have Hasti's. I'm not sure why you would test positive one time then another time not but maybe someone else on here could explain that better then I. But I have read whereas that can happen.

Yes, many Doctor's don't test the FT3 as nor does mine but I request it and he does it for me. I believe the FT3 is the most significant of the three tests to really know what is going on. Maybe you could request it?  Sounds like you know what is going on I think you just need to get into the right hands to get the proper treatment you need for both the lyme and Hasti's.

[Lori707]

Thanks for responding! I found only one LLMD in NYC but he doesn't take any insurance. The first visit would be $900, the second follow up is about $600 and there after is $450 per visit. I certainly don't have that kind of money so I couldn't use him. I'll go to a good LLMD in Pennsylvania, NJ and New York:(NYC,Long Island,Upstate,etc.) I just can't find anyone else.

I started Synthroid a couple months ago when my T4 was a bit low and was started on 75mcg of Synthroid. My TSH was okay but my endo doc doesn't seem to feel the T3 is relative. ?? She doesn't test for that. She tested for antibodies and I tested at 483 when the reference range is 0-40.

A couple months prior my internest tested for thyroid disfunction (not for antibodies) and it came out normal. Could it change in just 2 months? He took the tests because I was complaining that I gained a lot of weight and can't take it off. I eat very little (under 600-1,000 calories per day). No fats,red meats,dairy..only organic fruits and veggies,fish,white meat of chicken,etc.

I was also complaining that my skin was extremely dry and was actually flaking. I felt it was due to my age (59) and that's what happens when a women ages. But I would look at my mother who is just about 87 yrs. old and she has silky beautiful skin. My hair was falling out and it was so hard for me to get out of bed because I felt my limbs and my body were like sand bags. Once I started on the Synthroid my skin became very soft but my hair is still dry. That sand bag feeling went away only to return about 3 weeks ago. I'm due to see my endo the end of July. She already gave me repeat lab tests to take a couple weeks before my visit.



Is it possible that I've had Hashi's for awhile with my TSH,T3 & T4 having come out normal? I wonder how long I've been walking around with it.

I'm getting a lumbar puncture to check to see if I have Lymes in my brain. Neurologically I'm not better after my IV treatment and worry that I still have these nasty paracites in me.

My neurologist thinks my neurological problems may stem from inflammatory issues since my RA Factor went higher after my IV treatment(156) ref.0-13 and that I have Hashi's and some sort of inflammatory arthritis.

The doctors where I live really have no clue how to treat Lymes even though they think they do. I've been to two infectious disease doctors, one of which wouldn't give me a Lymes test.

My rhuematologist wants to start me on a drug called Plaquenil. It's a nasty drug that makes the hair fall out and does eye sight damage.

I did see "Under my skin". Scary to think those things are inside of you!

I have NO idea what's going on with me. As for now I have no Lyme Treatment plan. My rhuematologist says I have Chronic Lymes. Okay...now what? He wants to give me nasty medicine to make me feel better but no one is dealing with the Lymes issue.

I will see what the lumbar puncture shows.
Thanks!

[juliva]

Could Lymes cause the autoimmune disease??

Hi Lori, I don't think anyone knows for sure but many believe there is a connection. I'm sorry your having a hard time with relapse's. Are you seeing LLMD? I know mainstream can under treat the Lyme and if you are still symptomatic after this last treatment have you thought about a LLMD (Lyme Literate Doctor)?

I have a friend who got Lyme 22 years ago also and she has relapsed twice since initial treatment. She was serve in the beginning but recovers 99% almost Perfect she will say.. but she said it's important to keep with the treatment. She is head of our State Lyme Disease ***.

I think the combo of hypo and Lyme makes for worse arthritic pain. Hypo in itself can be very painful in the joints/muscles/tendons as for me it was where most of my pain was coming from. Are your thyroid levels regulated? Do you know your TSH, FT3 & FT4 levels? It's important your doctor is testing and adjusting you according to these labs and not old school T4 & T3 or TSH alone.
I'm sure you'll get to feeling better soon you just got to find the right treatment and answers concerning your care.  

I also recommend you see the movie Under Our Skin***** if you haven't already I found much powerful info and reassurance in my lyme treatment plan.

[Lori707]

I was first diagnosed with Lymes 22-23yrs ago with a bulls eye rash and a postive serum test. Then it reactivated a couple years later and I was treated with IV therapy. Flash forward about 20yrs and it was reactivate again with a vengence. Recently got off a PICC line for daily IV therapy for 28 days. I haven't felt better. But..I was just diagnosed with hypo and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (autoimmune disease of the thryoid). Now I have Chronic Lymes with inflammatory arthritis in all joints and neurological problems such as neuropathies and gait distrubance. Also all over muscle problems.  

Could Lymes cause the autoimmune disease??

[juliva]

In my case I've had thyroid disease for 11+ years. My Lyme infection is recent according to my IgeneX labs and LLDO. Yes! Symptoms can be the same.  

I was hit with a hypo spell in Jan. 2010 (b/c of a thyroid med change) which made my pain off the charts but as my meds were being adjusted I just didn't seem to "Get Over" or respond as well as others I was reading were here on this forum.

My symptoms were the WORSE for me from the hypo vs the Lyme but when i just couldn't get over the hump" I went for testing for the Lyme. In a way I'm grateful my thy levels went hypo (I'm normally stable) because I'm really not sure I would have gotten my Lyme Dx as quickly. In my case I feel it was a combination of both that made my symptoms so bad and for that I suppose the Big Guy upstairs was looking out for me as much as I didn't like it at the time.

I know everyone is different.. but this is my story with Lyme and thyroid disease.  

[Galsal59]

Please know that many, many with Lyme have thyroid problems additionally as well.  If your Lyme treatment makes things all better for you, that's wonderful.  If not though, don't disregard the thyroid as part of the entire package involved.

My two cents on this.  ;)

[juliva]

Your Welcome!

I just wanted to mention also there is a new movie out called~

Under Our Skin *****

If anyone gets the chance to see it I highly recommend it. It's a real EYE opener to say the VERY least.

[stella5349]

always appreciated.

next move on my part will be to start an article health page. See if you can fit this link in there somewhere to keep as reference.

[foreverlostmom]

Thanks :)