Do you have or think you may have Lyme disease? Below is a Lyme symptom list. You can have any combination of symptoms.
Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing
Unexplained weight change--loss or gain
Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina
Unexplained hair loss
Swollen glands
Sore throat
Testicular pain/pelvic pain
Unexplained menstrual irregularity
Unexplained milk production: breast pain
Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido
Upset stomach
Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea
Chest pain or rib soreness
Shortness of breath, cough
Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block
Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse?
Joint pain or swelling
Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back
Muscle pain or cramps
Twitching of the face or other muscles
Headache
Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain
Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity
Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity
lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Tremor
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration, reading
Forgetfulness, poor short term memory
Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places
Difficulty with speech or writing
Mood swings, irritability, depression
Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening
Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol
It is very important to see a kowledgeable doctor. Many doctors do not understand Lyme and treat with outdated protocols. No test is completely reliable, and results can vary by lab.
Besides Lyme, ticks can also transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, two types of Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. It is estimated that 60% of people who have Lyme are co-infected. It may affect treatment choice and progress. It is important to be tested for these by a Lyme reputable lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA.
Yes, you can order a test kit from IgeneX Lab. It can be sent to you, but from what I understand you have to have a doctor draw the blood and send it in and the results will only be reported to a doctor.
If you need a doctor recommendation, let us know.
It is also important to learn as much as possible. I recommend reading Dr. Joseph Burrascano's 2005 Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines For Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses (on-line). He is one of the top Lyme doctors in the country, and many Lyme doctors follow his protocols. I also recommend the book "Everything You Need To Know about Lyme Disease (2nd edition)" by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner.
Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing
Unexplained weight change--loss or gain
Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina
Swollen glands
Sore throat
Unexplained menstrual irregularity
Unexplained milk production: breast pain
Sexual dysfunction or loss of libi
Chest pain or rib soreness
Shortness of breath, cough
Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block
Joint pain or swelling
Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back
Muscle pain or cramps
Twitching of the face or other muscles
Headache
Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain
Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains
Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity
Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity
lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Forgetfulness, poor short term memory
Mood swings, irritability, depression
Ticker, these are the symptoms i have been having for about 2 years. Lately i have been having the most problems with joint pain, headaches and fatigue. Originally I was told it was my thryoid but i had that tested and although it is on the low end of normal, it is still in range. My hormones were tested and it showed elevated prolactin, which would cause breast milk
Do you know what the approximate cost is and which test I should ask for when I call?
Hi ymar. Regarding your thyroid, do you copies of your tests? Normal results are not always optimal for everyone. Some people have Lyme disease and a thyroid disorder.
I recommend having the Free T3, Free T4 (besides the T3 and T4), and thyroid antibodies tested if you have not had these done. They are blood tests. They are not usually run but are necessary for a comprehenisve view. If you need help interpreting your results, I can help or you can post them on the thyroid board at this site. The people are very helpful.
At the minimum you should have the Western Blot test done at IgeneX. If you think Lyme is a possibility, it is also important to be tested for all the co-infections. I am not sure of the costs, but you can call and ask. A doctor will have to take the blood and the results will be reported to a doctor.
Thanks so much for your help! Here are my test results:
Free T4- 1.5 (.7-2.5)
Free T3 2.5 (2.5-6.5)
Tsh- 1.3 (.5-3.0)
Tpo- 46 (0-150)
My husband and I are outdoor people and do alot of fishing and camping. I live in AZ which I know is not a high lyme area, but I feel I have alot of the symptoms ...
