Wow Greta! I have read about families having MS so it's not unheard of. I hope the conversation with your brother goes well.

The good thing is you are all not symptomatic. I guess that's a blessing in disguise. (you know me, ever the optomist! You can smack me now!)

Let's hope you all stay that way. Maybe if you do decide to have a kid, Jim's genes will be stronger than yours! Ok ok, I will stop now!

It's the drugs...honest! You know I love you Gretata!

Other published examples of familial infection-
HERE is the Morrissey family- the Mom was MS type symptoms, daughter was movement disorder & seizures- 5 of 6 of the family infected-
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/...ersonal23.html

HERE is the Parrish family- 4 of 5 infected-
http://www.lymeneteurope.org/forum/v...php?f=10&t=144

HERE is the Frazier family- 4 of 5 members infected-
and the Mom would have been diagnosed MS had she not persevered-

EXCERPT:
My illness began with numbness and an array of other sensory disturbances. The numbness spread from my foot to most of my body including my face. Lyme ELISA titers were negative so, at this point, it was ruled out.

I was sent to a neurologist who did an MRI, ANA, and a lumbar puncture. The MRI was abnormal with diffuse periventricular white matter, my ANA was slightly positive for Lupus, and my spinal was positive for oliogoclonal banding and an elevated Igg synthesis rate suggestive of multiple sclerosis.

I was again told I did not have Lyme disease because the spinal tap would have been positive. My health continued to deteriorate. I cried uncontrollably for months. It was very hard on my entire family. I became nearly bed ridden with fatigue, it was difficult to walk, and I was unable to work.

I began doing extensive research into the field of Lyme disease and learned that all of my symptoms and lab results could be consistent with Neurologic Lyme. My family physician supported me in my belief, despite the fact that three neurologists felt it was probably MS.

http://www.lyme.org/faces/faces.html

just realized I forgot this which really shows the intergenerational aspect of familial Lyme disease- http://www.lyme.org/faces/ciasullo1.html

Marie Ciasullo, Fairfield County, Connecticut
She and her 3 kids all have Lyme and QUOTE:

Number of family members with LD: 4 immediate, 16 extended

My parents both have Lyme; two of my sisters have Lyme; one brother, one sister-in-law and one brother-in-law also have Lyme. Oh, and five nieces and nephews. We have all been diagnosed at different places, in different labs. This is so strange and so scary and oh-so sad.

Hi Sarah -
Wow! that was a lot of info, thanks for putting it all together for me! Unfortunately, I'm fairly sure that I can't blame this on lyme. My mom was dx'd 36 years ago, long before the advent of lyme disease. She had lesions and a positive LP. She definitely has MS.

I actually grew up in CT (birthplace of Lyme disease!). Had it at age 18. Was treated with abx within 3 weeks of the bite and had a full recovery. At 31 I had a positive MRI and a positive LP with plenty of O-bands to indicate demylination.

My brother may have had lyme disease as well. I'm not sure. He also showed lesions and had a positive LP.

The fact that we have 3 positive LPs as well as lesions leads me to believe that this is not a lyme disease issue.

Luckily for now, my brother and I are both infraclinical/subclinical since we haven't had exacerbations yet. Lucky us that our lesions are all silent, but it doesn't say much for the amount of brain we use