Mistake your Lyme Disease Symptoms?

Lyme Disease is called the great imitator in some circles, because of the huge disparity and severity of symptoms.  People report that Lyme disease symptoms effect their mental clarity, emotional stability, soft tissue, joints organs and systems.  Many Lyme disease symptoms occur one at a time or cycle in a way that can confuse patient and health care practitioner alike.

The symptoms of Lyme disease are different in different people.  Lyme exploits the vulnerable spots in each of us.  How do I know this?

In 2008 I had a bug bite and cellulitis in my left arm.  No one including me recognized a classic  Lyme bulls eye.  It took 6 weeks to clear up.  I was on 3 different antibiotics before I could fully use my arm again.   Over time my symptoms  escalated with mood and joint based problems.  I  blamed my age weight and overworking and accidents.

In isolation this was an easy answer.  I believed it. Over the next couple of years, more severe allergies, unexplained itchiness, detached retina, torn hip labrum, knee, Hip, and shoulder pain, neuropathy, sound sensitivity, vibration sensitivity, light sensitivity and dizziness  and bone crunching fatigue  were just some of the problems I had no answer for.  I knew I didn’t feel good, was exhausted and worn, I didn’t know why.

For all this list of problems my treatment was symptom specific with no further investigation.   I lived on Non steroidal anti-inflammatory medication until the side effects got bad enough that my doctor said no more for the rest of your life.  Symptom based treatment missed the bigger picture in my case.  As a result it took many years for me to figure out that there might be an umbrella agent triggering all these problems.

Finally my symptoms escalated during peri-menopause until no one could ignore them.   I woke up one morning and couldn’t walk ten feet without holding onto the wall because of dizziness and pain. My hands were so swollen and ached constantly, something as simple as holding the phone was impossible.  I would wake up in pain with a dislocated knuckle in my hand or foot.  Was it a a crazy allergy?   It was really scary.  I made a bucket list and started checking things off because I thought I was going to die soon.

My body was attacking itself in a very aggressive way.  The doctor began to talk about autoimmunity and sent me to an eye specialist, a rheumatologist and a neurologist.   I had to be driven to all these appointments.  There was still not talk about the cause or the inflammation and no mention of Lyme disease.

The rheumatologist suggested that I try to live as healthy a life as I could.  Then my meditation teacher and friend demanded that I get tested for Lyme and told me how to push for accurate information.   She probably saved my life or at least my vision and mobility.

It took months for me to get a Western Blot for Lyme test, I had to go to an independent lab and self pay.  I sent the results to my doctor.  They came back positive.  I also tested positive for several co-infections.  Now I could get help for my infections and Lyme disease symptoms.

When I first went to a Lyme specialist and answered the screening questions, I checked off almost all the symptoms. Click this link for an easy checklist.  It was shockingly clear, that what I looked at as isolated symptoms were instead part of a pattern of inflammation and body wide attack.  Even with all this information the journey has not been easy or linear.

Key learning from missing my Lyme disease symptoms.

These seem obvious, but they weren’t to me…..

• Never dismiss reoccurring or severe symptoms or write them off as just as hormones or age.
• Pain  and Fatigue every day is not normal. Take action to address it and to identify the cause.
• Do not pop nsaids and other pain medication like candy(above the recommended dose).  Chronic Inflammation and pain generally indicates a deeper problem.  Get some help from your health care practitioner.
• Obesity does not cause all illness and pain.  Don’t blame everything on being overweight.
• An active health history can help identify patterns and symptoms as part of the whole picture of you and your health.   Here is an article with some ideas.  Create a simple health history for yourself.
• You are not your illness or symptoms. Build health and balance in an active way in your life.

If you or someone you know is ignoring or writing off  problems and symptoms tell yourself or them to go get some help.  Be a friend and  advocate to find out what is going on.  With Lyme Disease information is power, get tested get treated and get better.

The information provided on this website and blog 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.