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Could I have Lyme Disease?
I am a 20 year old female, and here is my story:
About three weeks ago I started to feel very fatigued all the time, and I noticed the fatigue first in my running performance (I run xc). My performance was declining with no logical explanation, and since has continued to decline- this is very frustrating for me. Aside from my running getting worse, I was tired all the time and was sleeping more than normal. After a while, I started to feel not well mentally, ie paranoid, depressed, feeling apathetic about life, just an overall uneasy feeling, and stopped caring about running so much as just wanting to feel better/normal again. I am having trouble concentrating on my schoolwork and feel spacey sometimes, still feeling very fatigued and lethargic. I also had some persisting pain in my left ribs (not near my heart, but lower) and have had other "deep" aches and pains that feel like they are coming from around my bones in my legs and around my body. I also have been having aches and stiffness in my arms, legs, and back and neck in particular. I am very late for my period and my last period was early and light, and it is NEVER irregular like this, even with running. I took a pregnancy test in a clinic and it was negative. My symptoms have been coming and going and replacing one another with new symptoms since the whole onset, but they havent gone away. My appetite has ranged from raging to non existent, and in between. I also went to get my iron tested, it was 30 (whatever that means), they gave me some supplements, and they said I had a heart murmur, which I have never had before, but since taking some iron I think it's cleared up (I notice the whooshing they described in the drawn out first beat has become a solid beat again). I also am not anemic (regular red blood cell count) and my thyroid hormones were normal.
Another couple things to note: I worked at a summer camp for two months this summer and was outside for most of the day. Many of my coworkers found small ticks on their clothes but I never did. Could I have missed one? I also noticed a bump on the back of my neck in my hairline a while ago and it was a bit swollen with something on it like a scab, but it was small, and I picked at it but never looked at it. This dissapeared, but I never saw any rash or tick on my neck (or anywhere on my body) nor did I look for one. I don't know if this neck thing is related, it doesn't stand out to me as something I was concerned with at the time.
I was wondering if this all could mean I have Lyme Disease. I want to get tested, but I want to know if this is a likely cause for my misery. I desperately want a possible answer for why I've been feeling this way, my schoolwork and running are suffering because of my health right now. Also, does any hospital test for Lyme Disease or should I go somewhere specific? I know this isn't a place for a legit diagnosis, but I would appreciate an opinion.
Thank you for any help or advice you can give me!
About three weeks ago I started to feel very fatigued all the time, and I noticed the fatigue first in my running performance (I run xc). My performance was declining with no logical explanation, and since has continued to decline- this is very frustrating for me. Aside from my running getting worse, I was tired all the time and was sleeping more than normal. After a while, I started to feel not well mentally, ie paranoid, depressed, feeling apathetic about life, just an overall uneasy feeling, and stopped caring about running so much as just wanting to feel better/normal again. I am having trouble concentrating on my schoolwork and feel spacey sometimes, still feeling very fatigued and lethargic. I also had some persisting pain in my left ribs (not near my heart, but lower) and have had other "deep" aches and pains that feel like they are coming from around my bones in my legs and around my body. I also have been having aches and stiffness in my arms, legs, and back and neck in particular. I am very late for my period and my last period was early and light, and it is NEVER irregular like this, even with running. I took a pregnancy test in a clinic and it was negative. My symptoms have been coming and going and replacing one another with new symptoms since the whole onset, but they havent gone away. My appetite has ranged from raging to non existent, and in between. I also went to get my iron tested, it was 30 (whatever that means), they gave me some supplements, and they said I had a heart murmur, which I have never had before, but since taking some iron I think it's cleared up (I notice the whooshing they described in the drawn out first beat has become a solid beat again). I also am not anemic (regular red blood cell count) and my thyroid hormones were normal.
Another couple things to note: I worked at a summer camp for two months this summer and was outside for most of the day. Many of my coworkers found small ticks on their clothes but I never did. Could I have missed one? I also noticed a bump on the back of my neck in my hairline a while ago and it was a bit swollen with something on it like a scab, but it was small, and I picked at it but never looked at it. This dissapeared, but I never saw any rash or tick on my neck (or anywhere on my body) nor did I look for one. I don't know if this neck thing is related, it doesn't stand out to me as something I was concerned with at the time.
I was wondering if this all could mean I have Lyme Disease. I want to get tested, but I want to know if this is a likely cause for my misery. I desperately want a possible answer for why I've been feeling this way, my schoolwork and running are suffering because of my health right now. Also, does any hospital test for Lyme Disease or should I go somewhere specific? I know this isn't a place for a legit diagnosis, but I would appreciate an opinion.
Thank you for any help or advice you can give me!
Don't forget to (blood) test for all of the co-infections too. I have Lyme, Babesia, Bartanella and never had a rash. Think about it, if a tick can be the size of a period at the end of this sentence, you've got to admit that could be difficult to find on the body, especially if it's where the sun don't shine if you know what I mean!
Wow, thank you all for your advice. I am still taking the iron, but I will get tested for Lyme to see. I just want to feel normal again.
the longer you are infected, the longer you have to take antibiotics. I took two at a time for six years and was on them for another year to clear up an antibiotic resistant infection I got when i was being treated for lyme.
Lyme is in the same class of bacteria, spirochetes, as syphillis. Syphillis is referred to as the great imitator because it produces a wide range of symptoms.
Tests for lyme aren't like tests for HIV. They arent' reliable. If you test negative you can still have it. If you test positive, you most likely have it.
Yes, all you have described can be attributed to lyme. As my doc said. Not all people who think they have lyme, have it. It is often a diagnosis of exclusion. This means to get diagnosed, most people with lyme go to at least 10 doctors/specialists, have thousnands of dollars worth of tests done and areusually laughed at and told they are making it up, or for some reason don't have lyme. If you continue to be in ill health, my advice is to arm yourself with knowledge. Learn all you can from the reputable sites online. Participate in discussion boards on exclusively lyme sites. Know more about lyme disease than the average doctor.
Another doctor, clueless, but kind."I don't know what is wrong with you. but you know your body and I believe thereIs something wrong. We may never figureout what it is, but I believe you."
Online, most will not give out the name of a lyme doctor for fear of persecution of the doctor. Go to a local support group and network. Or meet with someone in your area , from a lyme site, and talk in person. I used to have a lyme web page and would answer phone calls or meet with desperate people. i also started a support group in my area.
Take the iron, do what the doc says. if you still have poor health, don't give up until you have an answer. it might ot be as simple or as nicely treatalbe al lyme.
Tests for lyme aren't like tests for HIV. They arent' reliable. If you test negative you can still have it. If you test positive, you most likely have it.
Yes, all you have described can be attributed to lyme. As my doc said. Not all people who think they have lyme, have it. It is often a diagnosis of exclusion. This means to get diagnosed, most people with lyme go to at least 10 doctors/specialists, have thousnands of dollars worth of tests done and areusually laughed at and told they are making it up, or for some reason don't have lyme. If you continue to be in ill health, my advice is to arm yourself with knowledge. Learn all you can from the reputable sites online. Participate in discussion boards on exclusively lyme sites. Know more about lyme disease than the average doctor.
Another doctor, clueless, but kind."I don't know what is wrong with you. but you know your body and I believe thereIs something wrong. We may never figureout what it is, but I believe you."
Online, most will not give out the name of a lyme doctor for fear of persecution of the doctor. Go to a local support group and network. Or meet with someone in your area , from a lyme site, and talk in person. I used to have a lyme web page and would answer phone calls or meet with desperate people. i also started a support group in my area.
Take the iron, do what the doc says. if you still have poor health, don't give up until you have an answer. it might ot be as simple or as nicely treatalbe al lyme.
my test for lyme came back inconclusive. they ruled it out and i got worse and worse. itb, tendonitis, tremors, twitches and spasms at night from deep down muscle pain, severe fatigue and confusion. my elbows locked up and wouldn't fully engage. it was awful. a smart doc said i DID have lyme as most of the diagnosis for that is clinical, and two years of abx later, i'm playing tennis and lifting weights again. i'm not all the way, may never be cause it got sooo far gone but thank god i had someone who was willing to hit me with abx good and hard. i now have my life back. i went thru a really ugly herx, but within 3 weeks, i was so obviously better it made it easier to hang in. i'd look into lyme a little more closely. maybe just get someone to let you take a heavy abx dose for a month. that ought to be enought to tell a difference, if it is lyme.
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