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OT- Lyme

iwananew10K

Diamond
Joined
Sep 12, 2010
Location
moscow,ohio
the root of my illness has finally been uncovered...I have been tested and dignosed with Lyme,and concurrent viral infections.

In hindsight it should have been obvious,all the signs were there..Bells Palsy,arm paralysis, and even had the rash...although I thought it was a spider bite, and dismissed it, at the time I had never even heard of Lyme.

That was around 2001...the Bells Palsy and arm paralysis freaked me out and I did go to family Dr...there was no pain associated and all my vitals were normal, he thought I just slept the wrong way and said it should clear up in a few days- and it did, I went on with life never suspecting anything.

In early 2013 I went to a dentist to get an implant to replace a broken tooth...he used cortisone( without telling me)
The Bells came partially back, strange aches and pains started popping up.

WTF?? i make an appt with a Dr, first time since 2001. He does some basic blood work and says I'm a touch diabetic, get the blood sugar under control and I should be fine.
Ok, I did that and things improved...for about 1 month... My calves started cramping and my back and jaw hurt a little.
Went back to Dr, he thought the calves and back were just related to my job since it involved walking a couple miles every day and wrestling 550lb drums.
For my jaw he thought maybe a bit of TMD...and gave me a shot of steroids in my shoulder...I thought my head was going to explode, the right side of my head,neck, and chest were on fire,my throat swelled up...a rare hypersensitive reaction they said, which it was I guess, but it was more than that too.
within a week or so my AC joint separated, and my supraspinatus tendon nearly ruptured(partial tear), muscle just melted away.


Been through a series of Drs and specialists since, none could find anything and everything they did or prescribed seemed to just make things worse, I was even sent for a psyche evaluation at one point.

Eventually an ER doctor that saw me became highly suspicious of Lyme and referred me to a Dr that dealt with it.

I went and a comprehensive series of tests combined with the clinical signs confirmed it.

Late stage dessimated Lyme.

the working theory is I contracted it in 2001, it went dormant only to be activated when the steroids suppressed my immune system.

It's not so uncommon as it once was and easy to misdiagnose, it mimics or exasperates other conditions,makes you vulnerable to common viruses,seeks out your weakest points,and slowly and insidiously picks you apart.

most of the time it can be wiped out with a 30 day course of antibiotics, so it's important to know the signs and get prompt treatment.

Bell's palsy in the absence of stroke is a HUGE red flag,as is a funny bullseye rash, so if those ever show up dont think you just slept funny and got bit by a spider,and especially watch your kids if you have any.

Take care.
 
I'm glad you finally got a diagnosis. I know it was -- probably still is -- pretty bleak.

FWIW, a friend's daughter had similar Lyme disease problems. For her, hyperbaric treatments provided some relief.

I'm pretty sure the forum would love to have a thread on design and manufacturing criteria for a home brew hyperbaric chamber! :)

Whatever it takes, sure hope you find a way to feel a bit better.
 
I got it in 1997 and was treated with the usual antibiotics, the last 2 weeks of the treatment was rough as most people get the shits from anything you eat or drink. I drove a 36 miles to work each day and had to be careful what I ate or dank before leaving.
 
Chad, I take this as good news? Will you be back to making lots of chips before long?

I hope so buddy, I really do, follow your heart!

Sounds like your on the mend finally, and I think that's good.

Alan
 
Brother,

I know what you've been through, I too was not diagnosed correctly for 22years.. ended up being aggressively treated with IV antibiotics for over a year.. Dr's I saw just did not correct the dots, in spite of the fact that I lived just 5 miles due north at the time, of where Lyme disease was discovered.. You will get better..

And the lesson here is the if you or a loved one, have unexplained periodic cardiac, neurological, sleep difficulties, tingling in your extremities, loss of sensitivity to touch in extremities, memory loss, and at later stages psychiatric symptoms, are always feeling exhausted among others, have your Dr. check you for lyme disease. The sad part is most Dr's do not do the proper test (Igenix labs in CA) and other local lab tests are not reliable.. 50% of the time they are wrong..

As you know, one would not wish the disease on anybody.. Good luck and start feeling better..

Ray
 
Yea, it's ridiculous.
When I was having the early cardiac symptoms,I was taken to the ER, my arms and legs were white and cold,way high blood pressure, very low heartbeat.
Blood work showed all normal with one glaring abnormality- WBC of 16000...was stabilized and sent home, told to follow up with Dr...he said it must have been a panic attack.:rolleyes5:

The arthritis is crushing,took out my neck,shoulders,and hips first then traveled out from there.
I have no sense of touch,but my hands hurt...go figure.

Feels like being eaten by fire ants from the inside out.

by the rules of the man code when in pain you must make a humorous comment.

I sat on my own nuts today.
By my estimation that is certainly better than if I sat on someone else's. :)
 
well fellas, treatment failed...stomach tore so I'm supposed to be in hospice but screw 'em...don't want any freakin tubes and IVs, had enough of that crap so I am home, had my my wife go get me a pack of smokes, non filter at that! no worries about cancer!..LOL..:smoking:

anyways, it's been fun...and today it's snowing and since I see two of everything it looks like a blizzard!

Thanks for putting up with me...or not...Carry on fellas!!:cheers:
 
Horrible news, and if this is it I wish you the best for your remaining time.

I have a welder friend with Lyme, and he went through a similar period of improper diagnosis. It's pretty surprising that it takes so long to get the underlying illness discovered, perhaps some of it is delay tactics from insurance companies not wanting to foot the bill for the work. If they can kill you off first there's less to pay out... :(
 
That sucks, truly.

You've been a friendly presence here for as long as I've been visiting.

Hope it all goes smoothly for you, my friend.
 
I'm supposed to be in hospice but screw 'em...don't want any freakin tubes and IVs, had enough of that crap so I am home,

Sorry to hear that Budd!

I completely understand the want to be home. I wish you might rethink the hospice thing because they can make you comfortable with medication. Can't they come to your home?

Brent
 
by the rules of the man code when in pain you must make a humorous comment.

I sat on my own nuts today.
By my estimation that is certainly better than if I sat on someone else's. :)

No fear.

If that helped YOU I'll claim I was DUE for a new keyboard!

Between PM'rs and my coffee habit, they only last about six months anyway..

:)

"Carry On". You ain't DONE for 'til YOU say so.
 
I have already had all the meds..IV morphine,fentanyl, you name it..,zero effect...that's why I came home...at least here I can have that smoke and watch the snow. :)

Bill, my nuts are now somewhere in the vicinity of my spleen, which makes for more excitement than I EVER thought possible...:D
 
I have already had all the meds..IV morphine,fentanyl, you name it..,zero effect...that's why I came home...at least here I can have that smoke and watch the snow. :)

Seen that attitude. STRONGLY respect it.

G'Dad asked to be driven over his favourite route in WBGVA as Mountain Laurel were coming into bloom.

They wouldn't ALLOW it. "You probably won't survive the trip!"

His response? "Wouldn't that be nice!"

Warm regards,

Bill
 
That sux..
I appreciate your input on this forum since I've been here- I do not recall any particulars, but I don't cringe when I see your name pop up, like some folks, so it must be good!
Prayers for you and your family!
I just want to know one thing- did you ever get your "new 10K"? :)
 
ah..the screen name...4AM and many libations...I should have changed it years ago but just never got around to it...well, almost..

hold on..
 
Bill, I KNOW you will appreciate THIS screen name..:)

LOL! Is that "our man in Moscow"?

For sure!

While there is still time to convey it... I happen to be one of a very few Americans who has had to take a personal Oath of Allegiance to her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

So at least I've come by the "Monarchist" title honestly, pair of decrepit 'round dial' 10EE quite aside.

Keep yer spirits up!

One of the few things you own that is b****y difficult to tax.. or steal.

Bill
 








 
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