Last Monday I went to see a doctor who specialises in Lyme disease. I was there almost two hours, he took a full medical history and examined me and I have to say I was not at my best. I still have the costochondritis I had in December which prevented me from travelling to Denmark, I had muscle spasms in my back from coughing, I have still have the dregs of Bronchitis from Christmas and I was exhausted from the last ten days after my Mother died. I wondered if he would be able to see the wood from the trees. He suggested I may have Lyme disease and I ought to get some blood taken and sent to IgeneX in California which I did the next day. The results will take about 6 weeks to come back to me.
On Thursday by first class post I received the copy of the letter the Lyme Doctor had sent to my GP. In it he stated his opinion that my symptoms were "consistent with Chronic Lyme disease" and that I had had it "possibly since 1992". I should start treatment straight away. I cried, I was gob smacked, even though I had gone to see him on a hunch, albeit one which my GP agreed with, it was a shot in the dark. I know now that I probably don't have ME or CFS or Fibro or any other of those basket conditions which the medics don't want to know about. I probably have Lyme Disease, though I accept the medics are not too keen on that either.
Proving the little whatsits are in my system is another matter, this bug is notorious for hiding and giving false negative results. But the big thing for me is that the clinical signs are there that I have probably had this for 15 years.
Mentally I am on a high. I know that a cure is unlikely, I know that it will be a long hard trial to get any sort of treatment and that it will most likely get worse before it gets better but I'm giving it a go.
After all I haven't got much to lose. As the lovely man said "You don't have much quality of life right now do you?"
I just wish my Mother were here to tell. I haven't made it up after all and it certainly isn't all in my mind.
On Thursday by first class post I received the copy of the letter the Lyme Doctor had sent to my GP. In it he stated his opinion that my symptoms were "consistent with Chronic Lyme disease" and that I had had it "possibly since 1992". I should start treatment straight away. I cried, I was gob smacked, even though I had gone to see him on a hunch, albeit one which my GP agreed with, it was a shot in the dark. I know now that I probably don't have ME or CFS or Fibro or any other of those basket conditions which the medics don't want to know about. I probably have Lyme Disease, though I accept the medics are not too keen on that either.
Proving the little whatsits are in my system is another matter, this bug is notorious for hiding and giving false negative results. But the big thing for me is that the clinical signs are there that I have probably had this for 15 years.
Mentally I am on a high. I know that a cure is unlikely, I know that it will be a long hard trial to get any sort of treatment and that it will most likely get worse before it gets better but I'm giving it a go.
After all I haven't got much to lose. As the lovely man said "You don't have much quality of life right now do you?"
I just wish my Mother were here to tell. I haven't made it up after all and it certainly isn't all in my mind.
3 comments:
I cannot imagine the relief you feel at having your ongoing illness named. I hope this is the start of a better quality of life!
Dear Jas
I am happy that there is a possible light on the horizon. Having been through years of wondering myself I surely hope that the treatment brings some improvements for you. Many hugs.
Terri.
Thank you both for your kind comments.
xx
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