After 9 years and everything we have been through - the answer - get medical advice from a MD with DECADES of Lyme's experience. I promise you if you have Lyme's and arent one of the lucky ones - who after one or two antibitic treatments are symptom free - you need a specialist with many.many years experience.

My one and only piece of advice.

Take care everyone!!!

Cindy

Your posts, even though you and your family have gone through very hard times, as it seems, with this disease, manage to bring hope and raise very optimistic thoughts.

What does your current doctor say about your son's chances to a full recovery? What do you mean by psychological effects? I've only recently been diagnosed, and my symptoms are merely physical, for now, although sometimes I feel depressed, hopeless and angry (but I don't think that's what you mean when you refer to your son's psychological distress).

The "spread to his brain" part is really terrifying. Could you please elaborate, a little? Does it always happen, with an improper treatment?

I feel like all the ordeal I've been through so far is just the beginning of it all .

Glad to have you here, and hope we can all benefit from your experience, knowledge and, above all, optimistic support.

All the best to you and your son, and hope to hear of better news.

A smile,

Another Cindy

Do not be scared - there is so much knowledge on Lymes then there was for my son - they were treating an 8 year old and it was 1997 in FLORIDA - " we don't get Lymes down here" even with a positve western blot

ANYWAY - Lymes can spread to the brain BUT there are many options now to prevent that - make sure you are with a lyme literate doctor! Trey had alot of physcological situations - google lymes encephalopathy - if you want details - I think he had them all. After 6 months of IV therapy - every symptom was gone!!!!!!!!! He was back. He continued to take oral meds for a year or so...was completely off for a year and had another "seizure" type incident this past fall. He was put on twice weekly shots of bacillin and back to normal................started school again this winter.......

Most people who are diagnosed receive one or two treatments and everything goes away - I pray you are one of those people ! Angry - depressed - etc is natural but you have to just get past it. I don't know if you are spiritual but if you are this is what I tell my son when he gets that way. It is normal to feel angry etc but there is a plan and you must have faith even when you dont' know how it is going to end. Trey was on IV antibiotics for 6 months and was able to keep the same PICC line - no infection. Because he was able to keep that same line for sooo long - the doc who put it in convinced a group of oncologists to stop using ports - which are very painful - for their chemo patients and use PICC lines instead..... Now I know that may be a crazy thing to "see the bright spot" but isn't that what life is about - caring for and helping others. I wish it was me instead of my 17 year old son but again ...have the faith........you just NEVER know whose life you will impact because of what is going on in your life. You will be one of those people who get a few treatments and are fine! You will be able to write in forums like this about how lucky you were and for those newly diagnosed - you will tell your short sweet story!There is hope.....

Just watch your symptoms and report everything to your MD - nothing is stupid. Trey is doing great. He is back in advanced classes and will graduate HS next year.

You are going to be just fine - I know it! Why because you are investigating on your own and taking accountability - take a deep breath and relax - we are here for you if you should have any questions. UNFORTUNATELY - I think I have been thru it all.............

but I am glad I can answer your questions with confidence.

Cindy