Hi, I am 54 and female...just joined the group and have spent a great deal of time researching past posts with all the questions I had accumulated in recent months, as well as participating in a few posts myself.
It has just been so helpful to read about other people's experiences!
My symptoms began in a subtle manner in August of 2010 with tingling and numbness from my waist down, then progressed to an achy neck, headache, ear aches, jaw aches and pain behind my right eye, ringing in my ears, etc.
My cognitive ability had been deteriorating for nearly a year before my physical symptoms began. Then I awoke one morning in December having great difficulty in moving my legs.
I had an MRI which showed 2 lesions in my cervical spinal cord and one white matter lacune in my brain. I tested negative for Neuromyletis Optica and was negative for the ELISA, and all other relevant auto-immune diseases such as Lupus and Rocky Mountain Spotted fever.
I was first diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis and given 5 days of IV infusions with steroids (had a really bad reaction.
Then I was diagnosed with the 'beginnings' of RR Multiple Sclerosis and advised to give it until December 2011 to determine if there was any further progression in symptoms or new lesions.
If so, I was to begin the drug therapy for MS (later finding out that this would be a real no-no for a lyme person).
A neighbor told me that she knew someone who had been misdiagnosed with MS for 7 years until she discovered she had Lyme Disease.
So I began to research the disease/symptoms and then watched "Under Our Skin", as suggested by the other lymie I know. I remembered having a 'ringworm-like' rash on my right bicep a couple of years ago.
I also remember a flu-like illness that seemed out of season, one with GI involvement as well as aches, pains and fever. I live on a farm with exposure to animals and to tick habitat daily and have seen the deer ticks on my dogs.
I had a strong feeling that I had been infected with Bb after reading countless symptoms lists and testimonials.
Parts of my state are considered by the CDC as low risk, but not necessarily my county.
(But do the deer and ticks and other possible carriers of Bb know anything about state and county lines?? Of course, I also know that most of the confirmed cases go unreported).
When I asked my new Neurolgist, an MS specialist, about looking further at Lyme disease, he told me that if any one was treating Lyme disease in NC, then that physician was a quack.
I personally know of several people who have contracted the disease here. And knew of the "quack" he was referring to. NOW he really had my feathers ruffled!
When I discovered the controversy surrounding diagnosis and treatment, I elected to ask my PCP to order a Complete Lyme Panel through Igenex, knowing full-well that if all was negative, I may still be infected with Bb.
But if positive, I could rest-assured that treatment may help slow the progression of MS. Results: IGG -39 IND, 41, 58. IGM - 31, 41. I believed that this was overall 'positive enough', so I set an appt with a well-known LLMD (coming up January 2012).
In the meantime, I visited Dr. Z in a major NE city and and was clinically diagnosed with Bb, Babesia and secondary MS. I have started a natural protocol for Lyme and Babesia.
I herxed on Days 10-13 with low-grade fever and worsening existing symptoms and 2 new ones..twisted muscles in my lower leg and periodic low blood pressure readings.
But now in week 5, I am feeling better each day. Just hope it continues, with only short, further herxes!
This forum holds a wealth of information and has helped me continue to make decisions regarding my pursuit to defeat Bb and Babesia and subsequently MS.
I can't reverse the damage to my CNS that is done but bringing further damage to a halt gives me alot to look forward to! Sometimes I can't wait to sit in front of the computer again to be further enlightened!!
Thank you,
peppermini
(Cathy)
Post edited by: peppermini, at: 11/07/2011 11:45 AM
"The one word that works for MDJunction is "Togetherness". I have Borderline Personality Disorder plus I am a Self-Injury addict. The groups have helped me because everyone with the same problems come together to hold each other up through the hard times. Much gratitude to MDJunction." (WantDignity)
