Suri, I came down with what I still feel is Lyme Disease. Because of late testing the results showed negative. BUT I STILL HAD ALL THE SYMPTOMS!! (Started in July of last year) Anyway I went to every doctor and dept. in my hospital system in Albuquerque. All they wanted to do were run more tests that really wern't necessay, but they tried to validate them in some way. THEY FOUND NOTHING EXCEPT WHAT HAPPENS TO OLD PEOPLE!
One of my hundred blood test showed a high point in my Rheumatoid Factor. If nothing else it led me to a Rheumatologist who was more open about talking about Fibromyagia and Lyme Disease. He was matter of fact about both. He felt a small chance of the Lyme but was convienced it was Fibro. There is no cure for either at this point and they all seem to fall into a catagory that includes Lupus, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease and such.
He recomended excersise and overcoming stress and other factors. He also got me into a study that deals with the joint, muscel problems, fatique, head and neck aches. I start the study next week.I I just want to let you know it is not an easy road! And as I have said before YOU HAVE TO BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE!
My generation were taught not to question a doctor. Those rules have changed!! If they perscribe more meds YOU SAY WHY! YOU ASK THE SIDE EFFECTS! But don't believe what they say about the side effects, listen to your body!
I have been working on this for almost a year now. Although I don't have the answers for you or anyone else I am starting to have control of my body!
The BIGGEST HELP OF ALL IS REST!! I still run my own business. I still travel. But I find a time to stop and take an hour nap! It has done more good than anything. (Remember the Old Poster "Stop and Smell the Roses"! How true that still is")
Next is excersie and staying busy! WHICH WHEN YOUR HEAD HURTS SO BAD YOU CAN HARDLY STAND IT CAN BE HARD.
My PCD is very old school! He and I work together to manage my pain. Other doctors lecture me about how we do this! BUT THEY DON'T KNOW THE PAIN YOU ARE IN AND HOW IT CAN RULE YOUR LIFE!
My last suggestion is to go on to the Lyme Disease web sites. They describe Best what your symptoms are and how to deal with them! I have a note book of copies of different articles dealing with the effects of Lyme and the other illneses that are similar!
Good Luck. Keep diging! Learning about what is happening to you is the best way to understand the process.
Thanks,
Sundance, aka RB