My Dysfunctions

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month 2012

(Back in February 2012)
I had blood work done to determine the causes of my migraines. The blood work came back that I had Lupus_anticoagulant and lyme igm p23 ab. present band aka Lyme Disease. I never had a bulls eye rash (Erythema Migrans rash.)

I was given a 60 day dose of doxycycline twice a day. Along with the antibiotic I also was taking a multi-vitamin and acidophilus once a day. Below is the list of symptoms that I have. During the 60 day period that I was on doxycycline almost all of my symptoms got better. I did have a HERX response. But I felt 75-80% better. I have not felt that good since I was in my early 20's.
Around 25 to 30 days after I finished my doxycycline my symptoms started returning. My biggest fear is that my symptoms will return and return with a vengeance... Possibly worse then they were before.

from my personal journal

So today I went to see the new infectious disease specialist. Dr. Daniella Stokes. I meet some really cool Lymeys' in the waiting room. They where suffering from the same afflictions that I suffer from. There were people from all walks of life. I meet three people with picc iv antibiotics. There was a mother, grandfather and teenage boy; the mother talked about how her child who loved to be outside got to a point where he could not get out of bed. This is a really bad thing that is effecting people every where. To see strangers in a waiting room talking about being there for the same things and have the same symptoms... was odd to me. I have felt so alone with my symptoms. Misunderstood. One of the ladies joked that we should meet at the doctors once a week for a support group. I will probably be talking more about that as we go.

Dr. Stokes was very knowledgeable with Lyme disease and co-infections. For the first time in years I finally felt validated by my doctor. I even cried (teared up) in the office as we discussed my symptoms and she validated that what I was feeling was caused by Lyme and other possible co-infections. She sent me to the lab for some more blood work. They are testing for Borrielia, Babesia, Bartonella and Ehrlichia. I am very anxious to get the results. Hope this doesn't bruise to bad.

She reviewed my MRI scans that were done on December 20, 2011. She stated that there was white matter on my brain. I am going to need to go for more MRI's, spinal tap and much more blood work. Dr Stokes said that the white matter on my brain was caused by lymes disease and co-infections.