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DELAWARE
DJ Houston -
My life with lyme disease! I contracted lyme disease 4 yrs ago, when
I moved to southern DE. It was out in my own yard. Cleaning it up
and planting flowers for my new home! I was one of the lucky
ones though, ( if you want to call it lucky) I had no bull's eye
rash, but it wasn't long after I found the darling critter on me, I
started experiencing symptoms of lyme disease. Which were ungodly
pain and muscle spasms, (which I called muscle freezes, cause that
is what my muscles did) headaches, joint pain, feet hurt so bad I
couldn't wall on them, left arm I couldn't move it hurt so bad too,
developed a hive like rash all over my body, depression, few other
symptoms. I some what knew about lyme disease, due to a friend
having it. BUT! It took me 3 months to get state insurance, ( didn't
have any other kind) and a doctor to take me! ( was new in the area
also!) Doctor #1 gave me a lyme test, after I argued with him about
it. He insisted I didn't have it! But I wouldn't back down about it.
My first test for lyme came out a strong positive right off! ( that
was luck too, I guess) He gave me 28 days of antibiotics. That
helped me for a month, went back to him, he said I was cured and I
needed to go to a rheumatologist (spell wrong?) I had arthritis.
Doctor #2 tested me again and lyme test came back high positive on
the western blot, went through another 28 days of antibiotics.
Helped for a month, symptoms came back. Doctor # 3 said it was all
in my head, even though he tested me and it came back positive, but
he said it was a false positive! (never heard of that one?) Needless
to say I told him what I thought along with the other doctors I
seen. Doctor #4 he tested me again and another high positive, he
treated me with antibiotics for 28 days. Than some kind of sulphur
drug. Helped for about 2 months, than he said I was cured that I had
arthritis, not lyme disease, hmmm, yep another doctor #5 She was CDC
and she did a lyme test which yep high positive on western blot. She
gave me oral antibiotics again. Didn't help, she put me on IV
antibiotics for 28 days, It helped for about 2 month, but back to
the pain, depression and all the other goodies of lyme disease. 6
months later I went back to her, back on IV, which she didn't want
to do, but only did cause I came out with a high positive on western
blot! She was scared for her job, but could justify with the test
she did! duh. In mean time I was still going to doctor #4, he was
treating my depression and my "arthritis" The second IV treatment
ended in 2 weeks, because I had a herx reaction which she said I was
allergic to the antibiotics in the iv, but I have had them, sent me
to a allergist, on his "educated" guess, (no test done) I was told I
was allergic to the antibiotic. I tried to explain the herx to them,
but wouldn't listen to me. So she put me on oral antibiotic for 2
months, helped while I was on them and a month after. I still
have a lot of pain and memory problems. My joints and legs hurt
along with my feet, which makes it very hard for me to walk most of
the times. Doctor # 7 told me she suspects co-infections cause of
the unexplained rashes and ear aches and the my glands in my neck
are swollen. My neck gets so stiff I can't move it along with my
left arm (which has been effected by the lyme since the beginning),
I have nerve problems in that arm along with not being able to use
it that much. So I feel due to the uneducated doctors in my area, I
have chronic lyme disease, which a lot of doctors and the medical
field, feel that it doesn't exist! OH YES IT DOES!
Oh I almost forgot, (lyme brain, forgive me). In all this mess, I
lost my job and my home and everything I had! If it wasn't for my
knight in shinning armor, I would be living on the streets here with
lyme disease and no one to help me! I am blessed because I now have
an excellent LLMD and a very very good supportive boyfriend and son!
They do all they can for me! God does answer prays, just not when
we want him too! In his time he does! He did mine! Thoughts and
prays to all that have this nasty disease and the best of luck to
you all!
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