Lyme Disease - Really?
By Janet Streight

Much to my amazement, I have tested positive for Lyme disease. I have lived in a small town outside of Springfield, Missouri for the past twenty-three years. I do my own yard work, but I am seldom in the woods. I vaguely recall removing a small tick near my belly button two or three summers ago. The only reason it comes to mind is because I remember the spot felt feverish. The bite did not give me any more trouble - no rash of any kind. Of course, there is no way to know if this was the culprit. Perhaps I have had this disease for many years.

It is difficult for me to describe my symptoms leading up to the Bell's palsy in April of 1997. For all I knew, I was going through two horrendous years of menopause with constant hot flashes, night sweats, memory loss, and inability to concentrate. Also during this time, I had many catches and cricks in my neck and frequent back trouble. I developed constant sinus drainage down the left side of my throat and some arthritis in my knees. My immune system seemed to go on an extended vacation during these two years and I was seldom completely well. I had been amazingly healthy up to this time; so, I began to think that this getting old was definitely not for 'sissies'. The ironic part in all this is that I was determined to tough it out and make it through menopause without any medications.

The first week in April, 1997, I had my first bout of Bell's palsy. The left side of my face was paralyzed with the numbness extending to the left side of my tongue and down my throat. Also, my left side felt weaker andmy left lung felt somehow affected - cold and heavy.

I went to a local doctor, who diagnosed Bell's palsy and put me on a rather aggressive steroid treatment. After a week on the steroids, I ended up in the emergency room with a severe reaction to the steroids. The admitting doctor told me that the Bell's palsy should only affect the face and not the left side of my body.

He called in the PPO on duty, who examined me and ordered chest x-rays, blood work, CT head routine, and an ultrasound of my carotid arteries. The next morning, my regular PPO doctor told me that all the tests looked good - that my problem was just the palsy and to go home and wait it out - which I did. It took over two months for my face to begin to work.

On October 9, 1997, the left side of my face began to go numb again. Since I could not take steroids (four doctors had told me that this was the only treatment for Bell's palsy) I began to look for a doctor who could offer some alternative treatment. My daughter in Springfield, Missouri, heard of a doctor there who had helped someone with Bell's palsy with bio-electrical treatments to the face. I made an appointment immediately.

After three of these treatments, most of the feeling in my face returned; but more important, I had found a doctor who seemed to be listening closely to my symptoms. He told me that from his research on Lyme disease, he considered every patient with Bell's palsy a  Lyme patient. I thought this was rather a "far reach"' - however, I did not have much in the way of alternatives.

 He prescribed tetracycline, which unfortunately my system could not tolerate. He then put me on 4000 mg of Trimox a day and nystatin to control the yeast. He also advised me to take acidolphilus bifidus FOS and to eat plain yogurt every day. After a few weeks on this regimen. My face started to go numb again (I know now that this was a Herxheimer reaction). The doctor told me to go off the medication for a few weeks and he would send my blood off to IGeneX laboratory in California that he trusted to do a Western Blot. When the test came back positive, I began to search the Internet for any information that I could find on this disease. Much of the medical information is somewhat beyond my comprehension, but I found the personal histories very informative.

I know that many of you with this disease (and much worse symptoms than mine) do not test positive for Lyme. Evidently, this bacteria has an uncanny ability to play "hide and seek". Also, the Bb can hide from the immune system and the medications which makes this disease extremely effective and thoroughly frightening.

Since I do have the benefit of testing positive for Lyme disease,  I intend to inform every doctor with whom I came into contact with my Bell's palsy of my outcome. Perhaps I will give them this history.

I have learned that this club all of us "Lymies" are in is not nearly as exclusive as the statistics would lead us to believe. My doctor has recommended that I install a sauna, since this bacteria does not like heat. I would be very interested to know if anyone out there with this disease has tried a sauna. Also, does anyone out there know about the new shower saunas on the market?

I have been on medication again for three months. I am almost afraid to say "I am doing better" out loud, because as most of you with this disease know, you wake up to a new world every morning with new symptoms. At present, my sinuses and face are back to normal and I have no neck or back trouble. Also, the arthritis in my knees has improved. I have decided (along with my doctor) to try a month off the antibiotics since I have been free of most symptoms for over a month.

The doctor tells me that when I get this disease under control, I will feel a lot younger. I think that he's right!

I would love to hear from any of you with this disease. We are all in this together.

You can reach Janet through her e-mail address: Laelow@aol.com

For more information on Lyme disease see: Lots Of Links On Lyme Disease

Last updated on 29 December 2000 by
Art Doherty
Lompoc, California
doherty@utech.net

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page