Isnt Lyme one of the mimickers of MS? Could you have had Lyme instead of MS all this time?

Jules, I'm glad to hear you are feeling a bit better, and got a second opinion! Take it easy and get a lot of R&R!

It definitely is and I am glad that I was treated before any Lyme related neuro stuff started happening!

As much as I would love to give it back I'm pretty confident I have MS. Both my earlier Lyme tests were strongly negative and my MS seems to be as close to text book RRMS as there is with eye issues that have resolved and some paresthesia but none of the joint problems that I think are pretty common with Lyme.

I had Lyme tests (the ELISA and the Western Blot) that both showed a couple of the Lyme specific bacterias, but not enough of the bacterias for my problems to be diagnosed as Lyme and not MS. I think on one of the tests, I had 2 of the 3 bacterias needed for a positive Lyme test, on the other test I had 3 of the 5 needed. Irritated me that they never investigated that earlier, since I'm guessing that if I had a few of the bacterias show up on a test, that maybe I've at least been exposed to a Lyme infected tick.

I'm still assuming that the neuros were right and that I have MS, but I still have the suspicion that it may be Lyme. But I guess once you get the neurological symptoms, they cant do a whole lot for it after that. Lyme is still not understood very well, similar to how they still dont know a whole lot about MS.

besides the fact that I've had so many antibiotics in the last two years for various infections that my body's supply of natural flora is all screwed up and now I've apparently got overgrowth of the bad bacterias. I dont want to go near any antibiotics any more.

At least now that I've gotten some of my teeth worked on and gotten most of the low grade dental infections dealt with (two more visits to go!) I'm feeling a lot better neurologically now. I think most of my neurological stuff has been related to the dental issues I've had.

Thanks for the update, Jules. That's pretty sucky, glad you're on the mend. I agree, we really should get a free pass from other junk; mods? Can you arrange that for us?

Jules
Happy you are recovering nicely. Keep feeling better. Good job standing up for yourself too!

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Jules, I am so glad you caught this!! Big kudos to you for being so proactive and big s to you for a speedy and complete recovery! It sounds like you caught it early -- for how long are they recommending antibiotics and what kind?

"If medical treatment is delayed, lyme disease can cause arthritis, heart, neurological, and visual problems, often, many years after the infection."

http://www.msha.gov/illness_preventi...ymedisease.htm

- Lyme can be disseminated in Time and Space
- Lyme can cause signal abnormalities on MRI scan of the brain.
- CSF will show positive PCR (Polymerase chain reaction)http://www.neurology.wisc.edu/public...bs/Neuro_2.pdf
- Lyme (Borrelia burgdorferi) can show O-bands
http://www.diseasesdatabase.com/resu...ClassSort=True

About testing for Lyme:

http://www.canlyme.com/labtests.html

Any idea when/where you picked up the Lyme?

Cherie

I'm one of those people who definitely believes there are some MS patients walking around who've been misdxed. I'm under the impression though that high fevers are associated with the primary stages which is why I didn't go the conspiracy route here.

Re-infection is a whole 'nother story though. It's very possible and I've seen people to whom this has happened.

Thank you for being a lady Miss Cherie, I have had a couple of my crude friends ask if I was rolling around in the bushes! I've been bitten by two tics in the last few of months while walking my pooch in the woods.

I didn't think the Lyme type neuro issues remitted but were more constant, is that wrong?

Bearygood, I've been on oral Doxycycline for 14 days and will be seeing an infectious disease specialist for a follow up.

Cindy I'm writing the proposal today to ensure that only 1 stinking disease per person will be allowed in the future.

Thanks again to everyone who replied. The moral support and insight from this group is incredible!