I am a 32 year old male who has had fatigued and joint pain for over a year. This started last February(2000) when I had to go for a stress test for a volunteer fire department physical. I had a positive stress test. I had to wait to go for 2nd stress test which also came back positive. During this time, I had been tired and had pain but I figured it was just the usual for me. Then last July I got really sick with flu like symptoms and after my echocardiogram was normal, my physician put me on Ceftin which made me sick. Then was switched to Doxycycline fot 2-3 weeks and was tested for Erlichiosis which came back positive. I felt fine on the antibiotics. When I went off the antibiotics I was back to square one. I went to an infectious disease physician and tested again for erlichiosis and it was one of the highest she has ever seen. I was back on Doxycycline for a month. I was fine on the antibiotics, once I went off I felt lousy again. I have been to a rheumatologist who was no help, a neurologist who says now after a spinal tap which came back normal and a MRI of the brain that is normal, that I have post viral syndrome. He has me on medication for the pain and fatigue which is not helping very much. I was a very active person until this erlichiosis has gotten into my system. I have pain in my knees, lower back and neck and I am exhausted all the time. By the way, the lyme test came back negative. I work in a State Park which is near the water and has plenty of areas with ticks. Can anyone relate to my situation, if so please email me or post a note on this bulletin board. The physicians don't want to listen that maybe I need antibiotics for an extended time.