After many months of research- and feeling less than 100%, I'm ready for some answers!
In the summer of '07, I developed a rash on my arm - not a typical lyme rash, just red, itchy spots. I visited my ND & she suggested a lyme test, just to be on the safe side. To our suprise, the test came back positive - I started on a 10 day course of abx. Prior to the rash, I had been hospitalized for dehydration (resulting from what seemed to be the flu) - while there, they thought I had a UTI and started me on a broad spectrum abx. After being released, I was readmitted two days later because I was having trouble getting a deep breath and felt incredibly weak (dh had to carry me to the bathroom). It was determined that I was probably coming down with pnemonia. The UTI culture indicated that I did not have a UTI, so my abx was switched to one to fight the pnemonia. Two weeks later, the rash showed up. *I have to write that this was all incredibly suprising to me, as I am usually very healthy - this was my first ever hospital stay, etc.*
Anyhow, the midwifery practice wanted to run my case by the Head of Infectious Disease Dr, because of the multiple abx I was on (and they were covering their bases, too, I suppose, as I was planning to give birth in their birth center in 2 months). My meeting with the DR was interesting - in short, he felt that because I had a non-typical rash and (assuminng I had "the flu") did not have lyme syptoms, I did not have lyme. He was concerned about exposing me to too many abx while pregnant, and advised me to discontinue to prescription ( I was 6 or so days into it), which I did. He did, however, say "If you ever present with lyme symptoms in the coming year, be sure to follow it up with your DR." Oh how that phrase has haunted (and perhaps will help) me!
Fast fwd to two years later. I came down with what I believe was the flu last October - started with chills, went to body aches, congestion, headache, etc. It took me awile to feel better. My ND gave me a nettle-based tincture which helped a good deal. However, it seemed to take a long time to get my energy back - weeks. I had bloodwork done - my D was low, so I started a supplement and felt better. The winter progressed - I felt better, but was going through a lot of stuff...
my DH is self-employed and his business was really suffering - we had to go to our savings to pay bills, and really cut back. My close friend and I parted ways after a sad misunderstanding - our friendship was a real rock in my life, and it was a hard loss. Our Pastor retired and I was chairing the new search committee - lots of stress! - while grieving his departure. Another close friend's DH lost his job, and they moved in with family members across the country. Finally, in March, our house was hit by the hard rain in New England - we were evacuated and moved in with our IL's for 10 days.
Not suprisingly, perhaps, I started to feel not-so-great in the midst of all this. It started with a back-ache, and progressed to fatigue, and depression. I had what seems to be "brain fog" that settled in. I had two massages, but no relief. I met with my ND, who spoke of many possibilities - stress and lyme included. At some point, I noticed my right side would be sore, and I began seeing floaties in my right eye. My face began tingling off and on. I saw a holistic health practioner who did some energy work - I felt better after a month of sessions, but not 100%. It feels hard to breathe sometimes, like I can't get a full, satisfying breath.
Overall, I have continued on an upward trajectory, but still do not feel really great. I have days where I am randomly tired, and still see floaties. I often have trouble finding the right word, but do not have that brain fog that accompanied teh depression. I have been seeing a chiropractor, and have pretty much eliminated the back pain (we were in an accident last summer - deer hit the car, I was in the passenger seat and likely got whiplash, though I felt "fine" then and did not seek treatment). My face tingles and feels numb sometimes, as do my fingers and parts of my legs. The breathign "thing" comes and goes. I just don't feel great, and want to - no depression since April-ish, and no constant fatigue, just random. My ND and I continue to meet every month, and I have a homeopathic remedy for stress, though I am really beginning to question the "stress" diagnosis we seem to have settled on - things have evened out - DH has a lot of work, my friend moved back to the area, etc. I'm just not sure if all of the remaining "symptoms" are just that - remainders of a hard time, or are actually little spirochetes (sp) trying to give me a message!!
Thank you for reading this novel (!) - I have combed through the chronic lyme thread and am wondering - is this it? I recently came across "Healing Lyme Naturally" at the library - it is truly an inspiring book. At this piont, I'm wondering if I should just do a teasel treatment, or push for an Igenix test, or simply support my body and give it more time to heal. I currently take 4000 IU of Vit D, a Vit B complex, and recently started Bioplasma. When this all started, my research here led me to a more TF kind of lifestyle (though I do occassionally have grains and sugar
). Just wondering what to do and thought I'd see if y'all have any ideas. Thanks so much!!
In the summer of '07, I developed a rash on my arm - not a typical lyme rash, just red, itchy spots. I visited my ND & she suggested a lyme test, just to be on the safe side. To our suprise, the test came back positive - I started on a 10 day course of abx. Prior to the rash, I had been hospitalized for dehydration (resulting from what seemed to be the flu) - while there, they thought I had a UTI and started me on a broad spectrum abx. After being released, I was readmitted two days later because I was having trouble getting a deep breath and felt incredibly weak (dh had to carry me to the bathroom). It was determined that I was probably coming down with pnemonia. The UTI culture indicated that I did not have a UTI, so my abx was switched to one to fight the pnemonia. Two weeks later, the rash showed up. *I have to write that this was all incredibly suprising to me, as I am usually very healthy - this was my first ever hospital stay, etc.*
Anyhow, the midwifery practice wanted to run my case by the Head of Infectious Disease Dr, because of the multiple abx I was on (and they were covering their bases, too, I suppose, as I was planning to give birth in their birth center in 2 months). My meeting with the DR was interesting - in short, he felt that because I had a non-typical rash and (assuminng I had "the flu") did not have lyme syptoms, I did not have lyme. He was concerned about exposing me to too many abx while pregnant, and advised me to discontinue to prescription ( I was 6 or so days into it), which I did. He did, however, say "If you ever present with lyme symptoms in the coming year, be sure to follow it up with your DR." Oh how that phrase has haunted (and perhaps will help) me!
Fast fwd to two years later. I came down with what I believe was the flu last October - started with chills, went to body aches, congestion, headache, etc. It took me awile to feel better. My ND gave me a nettle-based tincture which helped a good deal. However, it seemed to take a long time to get my energy back - weeks. I had bloodwork done - my D was low, so I started a supplement and felt better. The winter progressed - I felt better, but was going through a lot of stuff...
my DH is self-employed and his business was really suffering - we had to go to our savings to pay bills, and really cut back. My close friend and I parted ways after a sad misunderstanding - our friendship was a real rock in my life, and it was a hard loss. Our Pastor retired and I was chairing the new search committee - lots of stress! - while grieving his departure. Another close friend's DH lost his job, and they moved in with family members across the country. Finally, in March, our house was hit by the hard rain in New England - we were evacuated and moved in with our IL's for 10 days.
Not suprisingly, perhaps, I started to feel not-so-great in the midst of all this. It started with a back-ache, and progressed to fatigue, and depression. I had what seems to be "brain fog" that settled in. I had two massages, but no relief. I met with my ND, who spoke of many possibilities - stress and lyme included. At some point, I noticed my right side would be sore, and I began seeing floaties in my right eye. My face began tingling off and on. I saw a holistic health practioner who did some energy work - I felt better after a month of sessions, but not 100%. It feels hard to breathe sometimes, like I can't get a full, satisfying breath.
Overall, I have continued on an upward trajectory, but still do not feel really great. I have days where I am randomly tired, and still see floaties. I often have trouble finding the right word, but do not have that brain fog that accompanied teh depression. I have been seeing a chiropractor, and have pretty much eliminated the back pain (we were in an accident last summer - deer hit the car, I was in the passenger seat and likely got whiplash, though I felt "fine" then and did not seek treatment). My face tingles and feels numb sometimes, as do my fingers and parts of my legs. The breathign "thing" comes and goes. I just don't feel great, and want to - no depression since April-ish, and no constant fatigue, just random. My ND and I continue to meet every month, and I have a homeopathic remedy for stress, though I am really beginning to question the "stress" diagnosis we seem to have settled on - things have evened out - DH has a lot of work, my friend moved back to the area, etc. I'm just not sure if all of the remaining "symptoms" are just that - remainders of a hard time, or are actually little spirochetes (sp) trying to give me a message!!
Thank you for reading this novel (!) - I have combed through the chronic lyme thread and am wondering - is this it? I recently came across "Healing Lyme Naturally" at the library - it is truly an inspiring book. At this piont, I'm wondering if I should just do a teasel treatment, or push for an Igenix test, or simply support my body and give it more time to heal. I currently take 4000 IU of Vit D, a Vit B complex, and recently started Bioplasma. When this all started, my research here led me to a more TF kind of lifestyle (though I do occassionally have grains and sugar
). Just wondering what to do and thought I'd see if y'all have any ideas. Thanks so much!!
