Carrying a full laundry basket is difficult and my fiance usually brings them up from the basement for me and I throw the dirty clothes down the stairs to avoid carrying them.

And now because of the arthritis in my hands it is very difficult to grasp things and I am constantly dropping things and making messes and even more work for myself.

Point...yes, I believe you can lose muscle mass...and at least in my case, I know it is NOT from lack of activity. I lift weights, my 25 lbs. daughter LOL, all day everyday!

Post edited by: Claire05, at: 12/05/2008 08:54

I have also seen muscle weakness listed as a symptom of Lyme.

It is difficult for me to exercise as I have a fractured arm (recovering) and everywhere around me is steep hills or very rough dirt roads, so walking is limited unless I drive to somewhere. Has anyone got a suggestion on exercising if you are basically limited?

Yoga and pilates are excellent ways to exercise with Lyme, from what I understand. They are pretty much no impact, and my understand is they can really help you tone muscle and maybe even regain it. I bought a book called the K.I.S.S. Yoga book (Keep It Simple Stupid Yoga) LOL, and I've been reading it, it's very interesting. I'm about halfway through it. I'm really interested int doing it, but I want to get through the book before I really start. I also have 3 DVD's--a set of them, actually--that I want to try to use. IDK how hard the DVD's will be, but the book looks really promising, and it tells you positions you CAN'T do if you have certain conditions, and gives you alternatives instead. I think that's a great way to consider going for us Lymies.

Ok, for me, I'm much weaker than I was 14 years ago. I have always fought my weight since childhood. But when I was more active, I had muscle tone and was much stronger. Now, I have to be careful not to drop a freakin cup! I have to go shopping with my hubby, or I may not make it through the trip. I'll forget stuff, or I just won't make it through. I can't pick up a carton of bottled water, and don't get on me over it, I don't want to hear it, the tap water in our house isn't fit to drink, PERIOD! No discussions, there's no way to filter it either... Not gonna happen.

I also don't do much driving, tho, cuz it's hard to know if I'm gonna have an episode of vertigo. I mean, things are improving now for me. I had a great lunch date in Atlanta and drove, even at night. And that's something I haven't done in at least 9 months. But still, I just never know, so I have to be so very careful.

I can't tell you the number of restaurants I've spilled drinks in cuz I can't balance the drink. I look for cups that have either lids and straws (which I used to hate! LOL) or cups with handles. But inevitably, they give you these massive glasses so they can justify charging you an arm and a leg for a drink! I only order water cuz I am too cheap to pay for a soda! Crazy!

Anyway, I can totally relate to this stuff, TOTALLY!! *hugs*

Jen

one explanation is it is bartonella in the spleen

there is a lot of info on it if you want it-let me know

i had a full abd ct scan w/contrast yesterday because of it but don't really expect to have a pos result on it-my llmd is pretty sure it is the bart-he's had others patiens get better w/tx