how to get a diagnosis? - Lyme Disease Message Board

ktinbk · 10-25-2007, 01:48 AM

hi guys - i am at my wit's end here. i have been having lyme disease symptoms for almost two months now, and each day i get worse. it started with a bite, very red itchy infection around it, then stomache upset, muscle and joint aches and pains, and finally neurological symptoms. i have a weakened immune system, so it seems like this is taking over my body very quickly. for the past week, i've even had convulsions several times. tonight i was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance because i had some weird episode - i was sitting at the table and i felt like i just stuck my finger in an electric socket. my body flew across the table, and i felt like my heart lept out of my throat. then i lost feeling and movement in my limbs for almost a full 15 minutes. this is the icing on the cake to a week of progressively worse symptoms. the ER doctor drew my blood but then refused to test me for lyme or anything else because "it didn't seem like an emergency", and i found out that the W. Blot test i had yesterday was contaminated because they mislabeled my blood and aren't even sure where it is. i'm becoming very frustrated and scared for my own health. i've already missed a week's worth of work, had my blood drawn 3 times in one week, and don't show any signs of getting better.
please guys - any advice in the interim while i try to find someone, anyone to give me a lyme test and to send to Igenex to test for co-infection too? my nervous system is seriously hurt right now, i'm having major heart palpatations, and i don't want to push this for much longer. i am getting very scared that i've been looking for answers and getting closed doors everywhere i go.

ticker · 10-25-2007, 08:32 PM

hi ktinbk. In my opinion, the most important thing someone who has or may have Lyme can do is see a knowledgeable doctor. The sooner the better. Not doing so is like seeing a podiatrist for a cardiac problem.

Have you tried contacting any of the NY Lyme doctors?

Kelly5907 · 10-26-2007, 09:15 AM

You need to call a lyme doctor in your area....

AquaticChic · 10-26-2007, 03:51 PM

Go to a LLMD.

ktinbk · 10-26-2007, 04:57 PM

i finally got an appointment with an infectious disease/lyme dr. after weeks of calling around and being told i need to have a referral from my pcp first (who didn't see the need for it even though he knew i'd been bitten and had all the symptoms). i'm going to be seeing a specialist at mt. sinai next week. i'm still in a lot of pain, and i think my boss is frustrated with me, but i'm hoping seeing this dr. is the first step in getting some kind of relief.