I was bit on my foot by a tick in 1981 in the forest in Big Sur, CA. I had the tick removed, and had zero symptoms at the time. So when symptoms started, with sore shoulder muscles, then stiff neck, and then head-to-toe muscle pain that was delared FM by a rheumatologist, I never connected it to a tick bite. I developed zillions of symptoms over the years. Finally I became extremely chemically sensitive and went online to find out what that was about. That's when a nurse back east told me she thought my symptoms were Lyme disease and asked if I had ever been bitten by a tick.

Everyone presents differently. Some remember a tick bite and some don't. Some may be infected by means other than a tick -- by sharing body fluids, possibly via another insect. Some have symptoms right away and some don't. It can affect anywhere in the body. A good symptom list is at www.anapsid.org -- scroll down to and click on Lyme Disease, then Diagnosis, then Master Symptoms. www.lymenet.org is an excellent discussion and informational site. A good article out now is at www.YankeeMagazine.com -- the current issue has a feature on Lyme disease, its history and politics.

For anyone who might be in San Francisco, a Lyme TV program that I participated in making in June along with two mothers and a sick kid is airing July 9, 10 pm on the Mark Hunter show on Channel 29. The producer has been on vacation so I haven't had a chance to ask how others who are not in San franciso might be able to access the program.

Thx all for reading this, and I look forward to some discussion about FM turning out to be Lyme disease for a lot of us.

Robin K

sfrobink@aol.com

Four years ago, I went to the Mayo Clinic because no one here could figure out what was wrong with me. Mayo diagnosed fibro. I asked for a Lyme test, remembering a bullseye rash around '97. It was negative (of course). When all of the neurological problems started showing up last year, I asked for another one. Again, it was negative.

I developed numerous health problems in the last 4 years since my fibro diagnosis, but when the neurological stuff started, I knew all of it was related and really started looking into Lyme. My problem was, after I started, I was almost sorry I went that route Everything I read was unbelievable...the controversy, the treatments...but I knew I had it and could not turn back.

Incidentally, the guai protocol did help some - I noticed a difference when I went off of it. So, even though it's Lyme and not fibro, getting the salicylates out of my system and taking guai did help with the aches just a bit.

The sad thing is that this disease is clinical, in that the tests do not always show up positve for antibodies. People should be treated if they are symptomatic, and many opt for antibiotic treatment after a tick bite even if they aren't symptomatic.

Question: do you know why the guaifenisin eases symptoms?

My CD57 of 20 indicates an active Lyme bacterial load. My LLMD and I have no doubt that I have Lyme - I had a red ring on the inside of my right arm, up high. It was there for a long time, because my skin is so sensitive, if I get a little cut, it turns into a permanent scar. I showed it to a bunch of people at the time. My medical history even follows a typical path for many (fibro, Raynaud's, seizure, gallbladder, neuropathies & neurological issues).

The fact that my WB was inconclusive means this to me: (1) That I am going to have to spend another $190 in the future for another WB, (2) That I can't get IV antibiotics, and (3) that I shouldn't get tested for coinfections until the WB is positive because the coinfections tests might not be accurate, either - and they cost too much to mess with.

Guaifenisin - The reason I mentioned it because my support group was based on it and I thought I referred to it as a guai support group in the first paragraph (but I guess I didn't). It was the only support group for fibro in my area.

I read the book and gave it a shot. It isn't like there's anything else out there for fibromyalgia. I never got mapped - I figured that if it was going to work, then I would feel better.

I was on it for a year and felt no different but I liked my group. When my neurological issues showed up and I was certain I had Lyme, I went off the protocol. My pain got worse, quickly (I don't remember if it was one day or three days...it was fast). I was surprised because I really thought that the protocol was a bunch of hoo haa.

So now I have to consider whether my condition now can be attributed to Lyme disease. I find it hard to believe with all of the connections that there isn't a medical one.

How do you know it was a tick from the Christmas tree? And how do you know you were infected then, that particular winter?

Some people never know, never find out.