Has AnnMarie ever been tested for Lyme Disease? Some of the symptoms that she describes remind me of the symptoms of one of our church friends who didn't discover they had Lyme Disease for twenty years. The symptoms are similar to AnnMarie's. Just a thought.
Mel
I don't know. I'll ask her tommorrow. I just found out that Lyme Disease can also be an autoimmune disease. I didn't know that. Love, Mom
Lyme disease
Borreliosis; Bannwarth syndrome
Lyme disease is an inflammatory disease spread through a tick bite. Lyme disease is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi). Certain ticks carry these bacteria. The ticks pick up the bacteria when they bite mice or deer that are infected with Lyme disease. You can get the disease if you are bitten by an infected tick.
Lyme disease was first reported in the United States in the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut, in 1975. Cases have now been reported in most parts of the United States. Lyme disease is usually seen during the late spring, summer, and early fall.
There are 3 stages of Lyme disease.
Stage 1 is called primary Lyme disease.
Stage 2 is called secondary Lyme disease and early disseminated Lyme disease.
Stage 3 is called tertiary Lyme disease and chronic persistent Lyme disease.
In most cases, a tick must be on your body for 48 hours to spread the bacteria to your blood.
Symptoms of early Lyme disease are similiar to the flu and may include: Body-wide itching, Chills, Fever, General ill-feeling, Headache, Light-headedness or fainting, Muscle pain, Stiff neck. There may be a "bulls eye" rash, a flat or slightly raised red spot at the site of the tick bite. Often there is a clear area in the center. It can be larger than 1 - 3 inches wide.
Symptoms may come and go. Untreated, Lyme disease can spread to the brain, hearts, and joints. Symptoms of late-stage Lyme disease may include:
Abnormal muscle movement, Joint swelling in the knees and other areas, Muscle weakness, Numbness and tingling, Skipped heartbeats (palpitations), Speech problems, Unusual or strange behavior.
Note: Deer ticks can be so small that they are almost impossible to see. Many people with Lyme disease never even saw a tick on their body.
A blood test can be done to check for antibodies to the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The most commonly used is theELISA for Lyme disease test. A western blot test is done to confirm ELISA results.
A physical exam may show joint, heart, or brain problems in people with late-stage Lyme disease. Other tests that may be done include: Electrocardiogram, Echocardiogram to look at the heart, Spinal tap (lumbar puncture to examine spinal fluid, MRI of the brain.
Anyone who has been bitten by a tick should be watched closely for at least 30 days. A single dose of antibiotics may be offered to someone soon after being bitten by a tick. A full course of antibiotics is used to treat people who are proven to have Lyme disease. If diagnosed in the early stages, Lyme disease can be cured with antibiotics. Without treatment, complications involving the joints, heart, and nervous system can occur.
Rarely, a person will continue having symptoms that can interfere with daily life. Some people call this post-Lyme disease syndrome.
Advanced stages of Lyme disease can cause long-term joint inflammation (Lyme arthritis) and heart rhythm problems. Brain and nervous system problems are also possible, and may include: Decreased concentration, Memory disorders, Nerve damage, Numbness, Pain, Paralysis of the face muscles, Sleep disorders, Vision problems.
