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ca24
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Hi, I'm a new poster here. Well, actually this is my first post on any forum. I think that its great that people can share their problems and support each other so easily with forums like these. Anyway, my question is about symptoms that I have been suffering from since I was 15 yrs old. I grew up in Eastern NC, spending almost every day outside either on the farm or hunting or doing something where I was exposed to ticks. I remember pulling many ticks off of me at one time, multiple times per day sometimes. When I had just turned 16 I started to experience major fatigue and sleep disturbances that continued for several months. I had no other memorable symptoms. I was athletic, played football, more energy than I knew what to do with. One day, several months after experiencing this fatigue and sleep problems I went completely crazy. I did not know what was going on. I had out of body experiences, things smelled and tasted different, sensitivity to light, this went on for weeks. A doctor put me on Prozac, which seemed to help. I am now 24 and I am still experiencing the fatigue, sleepiness, although I'm not on prozac anymore. Ive tried to keep myself in good physical shape, but sometimes its all I can do to exercise for a few minutes. Ive had two IGG and IGM lyme tests and both were negative. Sorry for the long post, just looking for answers, thanks so much! |
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jaime1978
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Hi there, and welcome  Glad you found us. It def. sounds like lyme....but I try not to have the "lyme glasses" on....but the fact that you have pulled so many off you, red flags! I grew up with horses, and same thing here... I even remember what I believe to be "the" bite, or bites, my dad burned two engorged ticks off my back, fyi worst thing you can do is burn them off! Were your tests done thru IGENIX? although NO testing is great, igenix is one of the top. LD is usually treated clinically, meaning, treated by symptoms, not tests. If you need help finding a lyme friendly doc, pm me, and I can get you one. Feel free to nose around, read our profiles, and ask questions. I think you'll like it here, very low drama and MUCH support! If you have any concerns you can pm Julie or myself, we're group leaders/moderators here. Jaime Please do not take anything I say as medical advice. I am not a doctor.
~lyme disease support group leader~
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ca24
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Thanks very much jaime, if it is lyme I am certainly blessed to not have some of the more debilitating symptoms of it. The main symptom is the fatigue, and my concentration sometimes is non-existent. I'm trying to get through engineering school right now and some days I can barely get any work at all done. I'll have to consider getting testing done through Igenix. My test were done locally here in North Carolina, and I'm positive that they were not very accurate based on you guys reactions. Do Igenix tests have to be done through certain doctors? I appreciate the information. |
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jaime1978
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any doc can do it, if they are willing, you just have to call IGENIX and get a test kit. If you'd rather see a lyme friendly doc, I can help you to find one in your area, just pm me. Seeing as how long you've had this, you're lucky your symptoms are minimal.... BUT, please, please, please, DO NOT do any corticosteroids for pain or inflamation. Read my story. IT's similar to many. Especially shots near the spine (I did 12 into my spine...bad idea) but I was desperate for pain relief, and it was before I knew about LD. It supresses your immune system and it can reactivate dormant viruses... many lymies have high EBV titers anyhow, for some reason. (mine are double normal high) as well as several others. If you ever had chicken pox, you know you at least have one virus hanging around. valtrex is a good choice if they become active. pm me if you want to see a lyme doc. I know what it's like to feel this way. my bomb really dropped when I was in school for massage. I managed to get my license, but can't practice of course. bummer. as far as brain not working, lol, yeah, we actually joke about that here....I can watch the same movie over and over and not know it! funny, but not. Since starting treatment I have gotten mild amnesia. Speaking of which I should warn you about the herx reaction during treatment. When the spirocetes die off it creates toxins, which create a herx.... which means...no fun. worsening of symptoms, sometimes new symptoms appear... mild detoxing helps with that sometimes...bath with epsom salt and persoxide and fresh grated ginger is nice. Please do not take anything I say as medical advice. I am not a doctor.
~lyme disease support group leader~
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Clayton72
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I'm with Jaime - I'm so thankful for Igenex. I have been misdiagnosed for 22 years - if the testing isn't done at one of the top labs, it won't really be worthwhile. Get a Lyme Literate Doc --- and RESEARCH, RESEARCH RESEARCH! My best advice is to explore all treatments, conventional and alternative. Choose what is right for you. Always be a step ahead of your doctor. Many don't understand Lyme. Don't forget that doctors work for you --- Good luck! I went the alternative route and am doing much better - PM me if you have questions. |
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JavaMom
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Thank God for Igenex!!!! They finally diagosed me with Lyme after 7 years of being sick. I've been sick for almost 15 now. Still struggling. Check out www.igenex.com. IGENEX SAVED MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brenda PS: I AM NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR. Post edited by: JavaMom, at: 04/08/2008 22:31 Post edited by: JavaMom, at: 04/08/2008 22:31 Post edited by: JavaMom, at: 04/08/2008 22:32 |
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jaime1978
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Great advice Clayton...well said! YOU CAN get well with this disease, people do it all the time. So have faith and KNOW in your heart you will be well .... many of my awesome friends here have gotten well on alternative medicine, Clayton here has made amazing strides in the past month on alternative. I don't have a good alternative doc near me or I would do that, so I combine , I see a lyme doc and take the pills, but I also compliment them with supplements. Garlic is a great natural antibiotic, antifungal, antivirul, etc., cats claw, magnesium, olive leaf extract is another amazing one. A good place to buy stuff like this of good quality is www.iherb.com Please do not take anything I say as medical advice. I am not a doctor.
~lyme disease support group leader~
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ca24
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Thank you guys for the info. I appreciate all of your help. A lot of the symptoms that I have are sleep related. I certainly do not have to deal with some of the things that you all have to deal with. I will continue to research and listen to what you all have to say before I take this thing any furthur to make sure I'm going down the right path. One thing is great to see is that you all are getting better! Thanks for the help. |
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Julie4848
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You can and you WILL get better. This might take time. But you will get better.. J Lyme will not win, we will and we WILL… |
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jaime1978
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Just want to let you know of a great informative site, www.truthaboutlymedisease.com if you look under resources you will find a TON of info, and there is a forum there too, if you go there and look under the heading "everything you need to know about tick borne disease" you will find 3 pages of things to read...all worthwile, and will help you make a decision as to if you're on the right path and want to pursue it. you have a lot of choices actually when treating lyme, you can go conventional (antibiotics), or natural (herbal, and other modalities), or combination.... since you're not sure what you want to do at this point, I would certainly recomend you start taking a GOOD garlic supplement (something from a healthfood store), cats claw (does not have to be TOA free, Buhner swears it's just a big cost difference), maybe some olive leaf extract, things to build your immune system, magnesium, vit. C, b complex, and a good multi with minerals Please do not take anything I say as medical advice. I am not a doctor.
~lyme disease support group leader~
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