About possibly having been infected in PA before you moved to TX ... here's a thought I've had: reinfection, as in getting bitten once and the body being able to suppress the infection, then getting bitten again (and again), until the immune system is overwhelmed and bang, you're really really sick.
I think this happened in my family -- low level tiredness for a couple of years after a woodsy vacation in California, but nothing that we placed any emphasis on ... it really didn't even seem like an illness -- could be just overwork, not enough sleep, lots of reasons for it.
But then bang, after a vacation back East, suddenly I got very very ill, and it turned out the rest of us, when tested at my insistence, also had Lyme and babs, but with comparatively mild symptoms.
So yeah, what you say about PA/TX, maybe you got it in both places!
It was wonderful to hear that you are finally getting treatment. Jackie California mentioned that you got ill in Texas. We used to live in Abilene, TX and this is where we first started showing signs of the illness. We lived in PA prior to Texas. It is possible we contracted it before we moved. I hope you do well in your treatment. My husband is currently being treated for babesia. Our doc says it can take 3-4 months. Know that you will get better with time because you are finally in capable hands. Keep us posted.
Oh, and PS, my Herxes were never as bad as the illness itself.
It's different for everyone, but don't be afraid. If you feel much worse than you think seems reasonable or doable, then call the doc or do whatever he has told you to do in that situation, but fear not. You are on your way!
Thank you so much for posting your news! Not that it's wonderful to be sick, of course, but it is wonderful to find a good doc and have a road map out of h*ll.
I too had Lyme and babesiosis, and once the 'babs' was out of the way, I felt a lot better already. Babesia is a first cousin to malaria, so it's a nasty one, but the cure is relatively straightforward with the right meds.
It's going to take the governor or somebody else high up in the food chain in Texas to personally experience Lyme, and then the regs will start to change. Good for you for taking charge and doing what has to be done!
Keep us posted, take care, sleep, eat, be with your family, take your meds. All the rest is details.
Hurrah!
Thanks for the well wishes my appointment went great...He definately thinks it's Lyme as well as co infection babesiosis..so I will be getting treated for both...I'm going to be on antibotics and some other medicine for 6 months to start with...I will be also be doing B-12 shots for 6 months as well and he has me on two other medications..I'm so glad I made the drive ...
At the end of the appointment he gave me a high five and said we are going to start making you feel better that was music to my ears....
I'm very hopefully and cried in his office he gave me a hug and said that every thing is going to be ok...I finally felt relieved that someone was going to help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We both laughed when he said that you can't Lyme diease in Texas he said that last week he had another confirmed case from Texas...
It has been a journey and thanks for my family support and true determination I can see light at the end of the tunnel...
Also I wanted to thank yall for educating me about Lyme and about LLMD..
He said did you go to infectious diease dr I said after doing my research I felt that was not my best choice, he said good call you made the right decision.
He did talk about the "Hex" I will need to read about it that you might start feeling really bad but please ride it out so I guess I will wait and see
Thanks again,
Kelly
Sorry for any grammer errors....lol I'm extremely exhausted it was a long day and long drive my brain is in a fog and my body is EXHAUSTED
My lyme md has helped my husband, my son and myself out greatly. Keep in mind treatment will have its ups and downs. When you hit those downs it will feel like you are not getting anywhere. Don't give up. The battle of the downs will get less and less. I think this is the hardest part of treatment.
We have many more good days then bad. Every day used to be a bad day. We have all been in treatment for a year and still going. Lyme is not an easy fix especially if you have had it for a while. So, be prepared to fight the battle of your life. Try to keep a positive attitude and surround yourself with positive people. People that will support you no matter what you decide to do.
Good Luck!!! from a fellow lyme sufferer.
Just wanted to wish you good luck!! I wish ALL drs. had a mind like LLMD's!! They like to solve puzzles, not give you the run around :)
Depends on the doc, but yeah, more tests are likely. SO glad you taking your past tests with you. Some docs don't care, aren't interested, but because LLMDs understand how to look at things over time and see connections other doc may not, having those test results with you might just be an important chunk of data! The office there can make copies of anything the doc wants for your file, so you can (and should! imo) keep your own complete set.
It will be hard typing with cross fingers for the next few days, but I'll do it just to wish you luck and fair winds. I was always a little let down after an LLMD appointment, just because I was SO excited about going there ... but that was just me being silly. :) Keep us posted!
I'm not sure what all testing you've done, but mine took a lot of blood my first visit and ran a lot of testing (co-infections, liver, vit d etc etc)
My fiance and I also did about an 8 hour drive and made a 3 day trip out of it in December. It was well worth the drive for me.
I am crossing my fingers for you to get some answers one way or another.
It is worth the drive!