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Onset of symptoms
Was wondering how fast your symptoms progress. Starting from the first noticeable one to the point where you became overwhelmed. It seems that most develop symptoms which steadily worsen over months or more. Did anybody experience a more rapid onset? I started with passing out, then five days later developing ringing in my ears. After that my neck became very stiff, then my face became numb, my head began to twitch, followed by balance issues, had two incidents of a irregular heart beat with palps (went to ER). All these symptoms occurred within the first two months. I never had any symptoms that I was aware of before this time. It came on as sudden as the flu. In a couple of weeks I went from running and lifting weights every week to sitting in a chair. Did anybody experience this or did your symptoms come on more gradually?
Gobeybelle .. I expect thats why I was feeling okay after being prescibed antibiotics for the ear infection a few weeks after being bitten , and then again for a bladder infection a year or two later,,like everyone taking them for varying illnesss through the years , So if I have symptoms now I have to maybe take some antibiotics again again, it must lay dormant then re-introduce itself as you say its only my opinion from what the pattern is in my life. I was told of a natural anti biotic once I will google it to find out more .Thanks for the input its like a light coming on inyour head,
I looked in to 'adrenal fatigue' early on in my symptoms. Fibromyalgia was mentioned it was only whilst reading up on it that I came across a short paragraph on Lyme, - caused by tick bite - it hit me like a bolt of lightening - I had forgotten about the tick bite - it was over two years since it happened!! - around the time I started feeling ill.
I feel - this is only my opinion - that various antibiotics - prescribed for other illnessess - does help to some extent - thats my experience .
mad keyboard.. Cornwall England, Can it come and go like that and does having had varying anti biotics through the years help
wall England 1987 bitten by a tick (lived in Deer country0 husband removed with tweezers, no rash , few weeks later horrible headache, extremely painful ear thought I had an absess doc gave me anti biotics, palpitations, so tired I thought I was aneamic, Came to live in the US terrible pelvic pain, back pain, strange happenings to periods, then I heard about Lymes rememebered the tick bite had a test came back negative.. all these years I have had the same thing and all other symptoms mentioned here, however they caome and go I can have a remission for months or longer,recenlty I have been investigating if I had Adrenal Fatigue and taking supplements also Low Thyroid.Reading all these threads today I dont think I need to look further..
I don't have as clear a time line as some of you -- it's all a bit mysterious here.
We went to New England in summer 2004, and within two months of returning, I was suddenly tired and not up to my usual self, which just became my way of living day to day.
Then two years later, we went back to New England, in summer 2006, and within two weeks I was very VERY ill -- it turned out to be neuro-Lyme and babesiosis.
Never saw a tick, never had a bite or a rash. (Tho I note that someone, somewhere, in today's various postings said her husband had a red rash between the eyebrows on the low forehead. Me too! It went away while I was on abx, but it's back a bit now that I'm on drug holiday.)
My theory is that I got something in 2004, and then got (re)inected in 2006, which caused the whole thing to erupt at once in a really bad way. But it did finally lead to treatment, and someone else in the family got tested and treated also, which is good, because their symptoms were very low level and we might not have found out for a long time that it was festering.
We went to New England in summer 2004, and within two months of returning, I was suddenly tired and not up to my usual self, which just became my way of living day to day.
Then two years later, we went back to New England, in summer 2006, and within two weeks I was very VERY ill -- it turned out to be neuro-Lyme and babesiosis.
Never saw a tick, never had a bite or a rash. (Tho I note that someone, somewhere, in today's various postings said her husband had a red rash between the eyebrows on the low forehead. Me too! It went away while I was on abx, but it's back a bit now that I'm on drug holiday.)
My theory is that I got something in 2004, and then got (re)inected in 2006, which caused the whole thing to erupt at once in a really bad way. But it did finally lead to treatment, and someone else in the family got tested and treated also, which is good, because their symptoms were very low level and we might not have found out for a long time that it was festering.
Forgot to add:
June 06: very stiff neck and fatigue along with the dizziness.
And I am sure there is other stuff I left out...
June 06: very stiff neck and fatigue along with the dizziness.
And I am sure there is other stuff I left out...
Summer of 1994: Bulls Eye rash that went undiagnosed/treated
Fall 1994: Swollen, sore knees follwing bike ride
Late Fall 1994: severe vertigo attack, followed by 3-4 months of off balance/dizziness
Summer 1997: 2nd severe vertigo attack as above, diagnosed as Meneire's Disease, treatment no help, but symptoms again resolve over 4-6 months
May 2000: Paralyzed arms, legs, mouth- ER visit, low potassium, was told I was hyperventilating! I woke up paralyzed in a tub of cold water at 1 am after getting in a warm bath hours earlier. Not hyperventilation.
June 2006: 3rd severe vertigo attack, treated for Meneire's again, except this time, I was given a month of STEROIDS. Symptoms remain with off balance/dizziness and over time increase to include: muscle spasms, headaches, numb arms and feet (intermittenly)
August 2007: severe anxiety/insomnia. Lost my mind. Antidepressants, anti anxiety meds and sleep meds rx'd.
Dx'd with hypothyroidism.
Finally clinically diagnosed by my awesome endo, who referred me to my current doctor.
Borderline low CD57, very high TGF B1 and C4a- markers of inflammation.
Low Vitamin D
Possible Bartonella.
Had herx reaction after starting low dose mino in December. Unable to tolerate higher dose, so will be going back to the drawing board with my doctor.
Waiting to feel better after nearly 15 years of this!
Fall 1994: Swollen, sore knees follwing bike ride
Late Fall 1994: severe vertigo attack, followed by 3-4 months of off balance/dizziness
Summer 1997: 2nd severe vertigo attack as above, diagnosed as Meneire's Disease, treatment no help, but symptoms again resolve over 4-6 months
May 2000: Paralyzed arms, legs, mouth- ER visit, low potassium, was told I was hyperventilating! I woke up paralyzed in a tub of cold water at 1 am after getting in a warm bath hours earlier. Not hyperventilation.
June 2006: 3rd severe vertigo attack, treated for Meneire's again, except this time, I was given a month of STEROIDS. Symptoms remain with off balance/dizziness and over time increase to include: muscle spasms, headaches, numb arms and feet (intermittenly)
August 2007: severe anxiety/insomnia. Lost my mind. Antidepressants, anti anxiety meds and sleep meds rx'd.
Dx'd with hypothyroidism.
Finally clinically diagnosed by my awesome endo, who referred me to my current doctor.
Borderline low CD57, very high TGF B1 and C4a- markers of inflammation.
Low Vitamin D
Possible Bartonella.
Had herx reaction after starting low dose mino in December. Unable to tolerate higher dose, so will be going back to the drawing board with my doctor.
Waiting to feel better after nearly 15 years of this!
My first symptom was in July 07. I had a mild flu-like feeling and few days later developed a very stiff neck. I visited chiropractors for my stiff neck, but nothing really seemed to help and it got worse. I then developed stiffness and muscle spasms along my entire spine. I had some tingling in my fingers and toes. I also had severe burning sensations in my neck and shoulder area. Then a few months later, I developed muscle twitches. Knowing something is really wrong, I visited a rheumatologist in Jan. 08. He quickly diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia and gave me drugs. Then I got a virus in March 08 and things went extremely down hill. I developed insomnia, panic attacks, joint pain, nausea, gastric reflux, hormone problems, heart palpitations, nerve pain, ear ringing occasionally, irritable bowel, rashes, skin itching, swollen glands, low-grade fevers, sore throats and the list goes on. At first it seemed like the symptoms flared-up every 4 weeks, then it became more frequent until I was debilitated and so weak I couldn't work anymore. I was in the hospital in Oct. 08. Despite all of this, doctors still insisted this was Fibro and attached the diagnosis of CFS along with it. I went to several different doctors and one finally did a CD57 which was very low. Yesterday I went to a Lyme doc. who did the Igenex test.
I had the stiff, cracking neck too. It lasted for a very long time. I cracked all over. I sounded like walking on dry sticks in the woods in the fall.
It took seven months to get the diagnosed. Half of that time was spent waiting on the next doctor appointment. All that time it was getting worst. My Igenex test was positive by CDC standards. If you can I would suggest getting the Igenex test. It cost between $400 and $500. It may give you some answers. Your stiff, cracking neck is a common symptom. I believe its do to inflammation. It does break you down mentally and emotionally. How is your short term memory? You mentioned a tick bite. I read somewhere where it can take around 28 days before symptoms may begin. It's no fun spending all your waking hours wondering whats going on. Keep pursuing it.
I had a tick attatched to me for more than 24 hours. I knew nothing about Lyme, ticks were just horrible things that occasionally needed removing from my dogs. I had very stiff neck [had forgotten about tick so can't say how long after the stiff neck was-probably weeks], around this time I went to G.P. with very bad pain in breast bone and ribs - where the two meet, I thnk this is called 'chondritis' I was given a weeks worth of Amoxicillin G.P. suggested I had some kind of virus and that was that. Neck/shoulders/chest/diaphragm were painful more often than not so spent a fortune at 'chiropractor'. I did not know about 'flares' so presumed on good day's that treatment was working - mostly involved manipulating my neck. Still no better I decided to try massage - helped with anxiety a little. The lady doing massage suggested I could have 'fibromyalgia' - something else I had never heard of. By now it is a year or more down the line. Iv'e had day's in bed pain/anxiety/tears/fuzzy feelings in my head/cracking and grating in my neck etc; I started doing a lot of reading-up on fibromyalgia and there was a small paragraph fleetingly mentioning LYME from ticks.
Suggested to G.P. Lyme!! I could go on, I am not really answering your question so basically my symptoms started with-in weeks of bite, it is now three years later and after scans etc, I still don't know what is wrong with me. I have been putting my trust in pain doctors etc; I have now made appointment to see LLMD-if I don't have Lyme then I don't know where I will go from there.
I have had steroid injections which made a difference for a while but since understand steroids can be detrimental to Lyme patients.
So unlike others here I haven't been diagnosed, have you?
Suggested to G.P. Lyme!! I could go on, I am not really answering your question so basically my symptoms started with-in weeks of bite, it is now three years later and after scans etc, I still don't know what is wrong with me. I have been putting my trust in pain doctors etc; I have now made appointment to see LLMD-if I don't have Lyme then I don't know where I will go from there.
I have had steroid injections which made a difference for a while but since understand steroids can be detrimental to Lyme patients.
So unlike others here I haven't been diagnosed, have you?
Since I don't recall a bite ever, I don't know for sure when I was infected.
The onset of what I consider to be my acute illness was in spring '07. It was gradual at first, and proceeded a bought of other infections (bronchitis, sinus and ear infections). It began with neuro symptoms, mostly bizarre sensory issues that I could ignore if not explain.
In Jan. '08 my symptoms suddenly worsened/flared and began to overtly interfere with my everyday life. It still seemed like a neurological issue, I began to have clumsiness in my limbs and cognitive problems, etc.
For about a month in Feb-March, I had a near 100% remission. My symptoms suddenly and dramatically decreased, and I thought the whole thing might have been post-viral or some other self-resolving matter.
When my symptoms returned, it was again rather quickly (within days) and they were immediately worse and more widespread. From then on, I pretty much gradually got worse, slowly building up more issues.
By August, I was losing a lot of ground at work and had started to regularly use my sick/vacation leave to arrive late and depart early. Still undiagnosed, my PCP put me on course of oral steroids (which she actually first suggested in Jan, but I had initially declined). That temporarily relieved all of my symptoms, and for about a week I again thought my undiagnosed illness had either resolved or gone into remission. But in an additional week or so, I was back to where I was before the treatment.
Post-steroids, I developed a slew of new symptoms including painful/stiff joints, nausea/abdominal pain, and fatigue. The cognitive issues had also worsened. I realized by late October that I was losing ground every day with my health and my life. I felt disabled: In constant discomfort, often unable to be out of bed for more than a few hours and I needed help with very basic day to day tasks.
So I'd say I've experienced a range of symptom progressions: Slow and gradual, sudden flares, remission, sudden reappearance/worsening, and the after-effects of the steroids.
The onset of what I consider to be my acute illness was in spring '07. It was gradual at first, and proceeded a bought of other infections (bronchitis, sinus and ear infections). It began with neuro symptoms, mostly bizarre sensory issues that I could ignore if not explain.
In Jan. '08 my symptoms suddenly worsened/flared and began to overtly interfere with my everyday life. It still seemed like a neurological issue, I began to have clumsiness in my limbs and cognitive problems, etc.
For about a month in Feb-March, I had a near 100% remission. My symptoms suddenly and dramatically decreased, and I thought the whole thing might have been post-viral or some other self-resolving matter.
When my symptoms returned, it was again rather quickly (within days) and they were immediately worse and more widespread. From then on, I pretty much gradually got worse, slowly building up more issues.
By August, I was losing a lot of ground at work and had started to regularly use my sick/vacation leave to arrive late and depart early. Still undiagnosed, my PCP put me on course of oral steroids (which she actually first suggested in Jan, but I had initially declined). That temporarily relieved all of my symptoms, and for about a week I again thought my undiagnosed illness had either resolved or gone into remission. But in an additional week or so, I was back to where I was before the treatment.
Post-steroids, I developed a slew of new symptoms including painful/stiff joints, nausea/abdominal pain, and fatigue. The cognitive issues had also worsened. I realized by late October that I was losing ground every day with my health and my life. I felt disabled: In constant discomfort, often unable to be out of bed for more than a few hours and I needed help with very basic day to day tasks.
So I'd say I've experienced a range of symptom progressions: Slow and gradual, sudden flares, remission, sudden reappearance/worsening, and the after-effects of the steroids.
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