Have been diagnosed with borreliosis (lyme disease)

[Kirsten]

A couple of months ago, must have been June or July, I was bitten by a tick, found it between my toes. The toe was itching and swollen, but I did not see any red circles around that area, so I didn't pay much attention to it. However, every couple of weeks, the toe started itching and swelling again, so I showed it to my doctor last week. She said from what I've described, she wouldn't believe it was anything serious, but checked my blood to be on the safe side... well, and as it turned out, I'm positive for lyme disease now.

Since I've been tested negative for it in the past, I think I got infected by that particular tick bite earlier this summer, so I'm still an early state. My doctor is positive that the disease can be treated with antibiotics. So far, so good.

But now I'm feeling ill, without being able to tell what's really wrong, I have some stomach problems, and I'm feeling absolutely tired and exhausted. Went home from work earlier yesterday because I couldn't keep my eyes open, and called in sick today; will be on sick leave for the rest of the week... First I thought it was Hashimoto-related (the autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland I'm dealing with), but now I read that during the first weeks after a borrelia infection, you'll develop flu-like symptoms every couple of weeks, and gastro-intestinal problems... Thinking back, I dealt with these things all summer, more or less. I thought it was stress, or Hashimoto, but now I wonder if these were the first symptoms of the lyme disease.

Now that I know what's going on, I can feel some pain in my joints, arms and legs, and tonight I notice a weird feeling, some kind of numbness in one of my toes (not the one that has been bitten, but on the other foot). And it's not the kind of numbness that you have from a herniated disc (dealt with that in the past, and it felt different), it's more like an odd feeling that something is wrapped around my toe. So I figure it's the virus making its way through my body, it's kind of eerie. I really hope the antibiotics will kick in, and prevent this disease from becoming chronical.

Kirsten

[pomtzu]

Kirsten - I'm so sorry to hear this, but it appears that it has been detected rather early and hopefully you'll make a full recovery on antibiotics. And yes - all the symptoms you have are definitely Lyme's.

I always thought Lyme's was only found in parts of the U.S., but I see now that it is also a problem in parts of Europe. Not all of the U.S. is at risk. I live in a very high risk area, so we have to be super vigilant about ticks. Pet's are vaccinated against it even if they are indoor pets, and even then, the vaccine is only 80% effective. One of my dogs was showing symptoms of it and was tested, but thankfully it came back negative.

A friend of mine was diagnosed with Lyme's many years ago, but had it for a long time before it was ever detected. Unfortunately, the delay caused many neurological problems that had to be dealt with for many years, and he was no longer able to work and had to retire on disability. If it had been detected early, this would have been avoided.

You'll be in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy and complete recovery.

[DJFyrewolf36]

You are in my thoughts and prayers. I never even thought about lyme disease until I moved up north. In the desert where I used to live, ticks only survived in the mountains and even then not too many months out of the year.
*Gentle hugs* get well soon! I'm glad it got caught early.

[cassiesmom]

You are in my thoughts and prayers. *Gentle hugs* get well soon!

And mine, too! More *gentle hugs*!

[Catty1]

I hope the drugs kick in soon and you feel better! You have wonderful fur nurses, and I hope they cheer you up.

[Pinot's Mom]

Kirsten, report ALL YOUR SYMPTOMS to your doctor - every one! A good friend of mine was finally diagnosed with Lyme's after she'd had it for 15 years (without a diagnosis); she had a lot of the symptoms you're describing when first starting medications. They have to adjust and/or change your meds with so many of the symptoms. The only way they can get that balance is if you describe all your symptoms and your prior illnesses so they can figure out how to medicate you properly.

Good luck with this; early diagnosis is key. I've had MANY friends with the diagnosis that was an early one, and they're now basically symptom free. It takes a while, but you get there.

[Karen]

I am glad they caught it early, and hope the antibiotics can clear it up for good. It is such a strange disease that some people go years before a diagnosis, so I am glad you got it caught quickly.

You'll be in our prayers.