Visit to Lyme Country

So we, meaning my husband, son and father-in-law, wanted to see some raw nature one day.  We decided to go to Indian Island state park.  Once there, we got out of the car and walked about 4 feet through some mild brush to the water.  Before we new it we had 4-5 deer ticks on each of us, including the baby.  We checked each other carefully and removed the ones we found, then we left.  I never would have thought of that incident again, but I was diagnosed with Lyme disease in June 2010.  


I had been feeling really sick, flu-like.  My joints were inflamed and very painful, spine and knees bothering me the most.  Yet I never considered that it could be Lyme disease.  I have a particularly thorough doctor who did the test to rule it out. Unfortunately it came back positive.  First I was shocked, but then I thought,  "at least it's something that can be cured, think of the alternatives".  I was actually relieved it wasn't anything worse.  They started the first course of antibiotics, twenty-one days of Doxycycline.   So I ordered the medicine and began the treatment.  At first it was good, the swelling in my joints started to dissipate, and I had very little trouble with the medicine.  After about four days my stomach began to become very upset and painful after I would take the antibiotic.  So I tried to eat more substantial meals before taking it, as the pharmacy recommended. This did help to a small degree, but as the days wore on, the side effects became more pronounced, Mostly gastro-intestinal.  I started acidophillus as per the Nurse Practitioner in my doctors' office suggested.  Again it helped to some degree but the side effects still persisted until the end of therapy.  I managed to complete this treatment despite the side effects only to wake up to swollen joints, aching head, burning in my spine the very next day after treatment ended.


Back to the doctor I went, round two of Doxycycline is ordered.  Very distressed is how I would explain my thoughts about going through this again.  But trying to be a positive person I told myself at least something could be done.  Well, OMG, I had a terrible time with the second round.  I vomited an hour or so after taking every dose and have unbelievable diarrhea.  I could barely leave the house.  Back to the doctor I went.  They took me off the Doxycycline, but due to my Penicillin allergy there wasn't any replacement antibiotic.  So now I received a referral to the Infectious disease Doctor for the next day.  


This doctor ordered blood work and said we would see what route we would go after the blood work came back, that was a week or so ago.  I still have not heard from him, I have called his office for the last three days.  The pain in my joints became so bad that I re-started that second course of antibiotics that I never finished.  And I am in agony from the gastro-intestinal symptoms, but honestly the joint swelling and pain can be unbearable when it goes completely untreated.


So now I wait, and research how to eradicate this illness.  The one thing that keeps amazing me is how such a small animal as a deer tick could harm a human to this degree.  Life really is a mystery.  Will keep you all updated.  Just a side note I am also trying Spirokete (natural herb) that helps eliminate Lyme at the base of your spine.  That and acidophillus are good additives to this treatment, but they are not FDA approved so you will need to check with your doctor before taking them.  Good luck and be careful out there!