Don’t Ignore Lyme Symptoms

I was chatting with a client who had real concerns that her son might have Lyme disease.  He is an adult and has brushed off her suggestions to get tested. She is deeply concerned that her son is ignoring early signs of Lyme that will only escalate over time without treatment. Her concern may be justified. I said to her, I would tell him don’t ignore Lyme symptoms that persistent or cycle.  Actively manage and protect your health. 

A second person called this week asking for help for her granddaughter to get tested.  The doctor, not seeing a bullseye said he couldn’t justify the expense of the test. Often parents need to advocate for their kids who aren’t in a position to advocate for themselves to get the help they need. 

Commonly, the people who have struggled with tick-borne illness in general and Lyme disease, in particular, want to make sure that no else gets sick. Prevention through tick bite protection strategies and early diagnosis are my focus. Lyme is a great imitator, so understanding the various symptoms can really help.

Helping prevent Lyme became a mission for me.  God knows I never want anyone to get as ill as I did because of a lack of diagnosis and treatment.  This desire to help others has pushed me to write, speak and educate on tick-borne illness to prevent more suffering.

Don’t Ignore Lyme Symptoms Get Tested

So who should get tested?  I believe more people than currently do.  The early diagnosis of Lyme disease is still falling through the cracks.  Without critical first treatment, these people’s disease progresses, and they get sicker. The cost of a test versus the cost of long term antibiotic treatment as well as loss of work and quality of life seems a simple choice.

• Anyone who gets a bullseye infection
• Tick bite no bullseye, but the tick was tested and came back positive for Borrelia or other infectious agents.
• Flue like symptoms after time in a Lyme endemic area
• Tick bite followed by obvious symptoms of fatigue or aches and pains.
• Symptoms of unknown origin that no one can figure out, especially if you live in a Lyme endemic area.
• Doctors are using terms like Fibromyalgia, Lupus, MS, or RA, but you don’t fit a traditional profile, and your symptoms are more cyclical or diverse.
• In-depth Exposure in a Lyme endemic Area
• If you think you need to have the test done.

Testing Can Open The Door To Prompt Treatment

Meeting with two friends for tea and one of my friends mentioned she had a tick bite she found in the morning.  A bullseye was forming.  She mentioned it casually and said she would call the doctor later in the week.  We, me and my other friend who had death directly with Lyme told her, “No way, call the doctor right now and get tested and on treatment.  She hemmed and hawed a little, so my friend said give me your phone I am calling the doctor this moment.  Because of our persistence, she was seen the same day tested and given treatment right away.

Ignoring symptoms too long, caused a lot of damage and hurt my recovery. I had to have someone push me to get tested and seek treatment. I regret my lack of action and have learned from it.

If you ignore Lyme symptoms no good will come of it. Prompt intervention optimizes results for most illnesses. Tick-borne illnesses benefit from early treatment, as well. Early means as soon as you know you need treatment.

You need to start as soon as possible after positive test results or diagnosis after an evaluation of symptoms by a Lyme literate member of your health care team.  Some doctors will start treatment based on the evidence and continue it or alter it based on test results.  It can be better to be safe than sorry.

The purpose of this website and its contents is to share and educate on  Lyme disease recovery strategies. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional medical care, treatment, or advice. All the material here is for information purposes only. Always share strategy and work with your health care team.