Any Lyme literate medical doctor (LLMD) Goes by more than just test results alone. They also go by symptoms. As 90 percent of all Lyme testing is inaccurate this is a necessity. Keep in mind healthy people DO NOT have borellia, so even if not a technical positive result (which requires two double starred bands in the USA) Lyme can still be present. Dr. Harvey had a negative Lyme test. He did a more controversial urine test on himself as well which did pick up the presence of borrelia. With symptoms present, a negative lab result means very little as they are very unreliable. Read here. The diagnosis, with today's limitations in the lab, must be clinical. Here are some Chronic Lyme Disease Symptoms: PRINT AND CIRCLE ALL YES ANSWERS ( 20 yes represents a serious potential and Lyme should be included in diagnostic workup ) Symptoms of Lyme Disease - The Tick Bite (fewer than 50% recall a tick bite or get/see the rash)
- Rash at site of bite
- Rashes on other parts of your body
- Rash basically circular, oval and spreading out (more generalized)
- Raised rash, disappearing and recurring
- Unexplained hair loss
- Headache, mild or severe, Seizures
- Pressure in head, white matter lesions in brain (MRI)
- Twitching of facial or other muscles
- Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy, Horner's syndrome)
- Tingling of nose, (tip of) tongue, cheek or facial flushing
- Stiff or painful neck
- Jaw pain or stiffness
- Dental problems (unexplained)
- Sore throat, clearing throat a lot, phlegm ( flem ), hoarseness, runny nose
- Double or blurry vision
- Increased floating spots
- Pain in eyes, or swelling around eyes
- Oversensitivity to light
- Flashing lights/Peripheral waves/phantom images in corner of eyes
- Decreased hearing in one or both ears, plugged ears
- Buzzing in ears
- Pain in ears, oversensitivity to sounds
- Ringing in one or both ears
- Digestive and Excretory Systems
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Irritable bladder (trouble starting, stopping) or Interstitial cystitis
- Upset stomach (nausea or pain) or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
- Bone pain, joint pain or swelling, carpal tunnel syndrome
- Stiffness of joints, back, neck, tennis elbow
- Muscle pain or cramps, (Fibromyalgia)
- Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
- Shortness of breath, can't get full/satisfying breath, cough
- Chest pain or rib soreness
- Night sweats or unexplained chills
- Heart palpitations or extra beats
- Endocarditis, Heart blockage
- Tremors or unexplained shaking
- Burning or stabbing sensations in the body
- Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Weakness, peripheral neuropathy or partial paralysis
- Pressure in the head
- Numbness in body, tingling, pinpricks
- Poor balance, dizziness, difficulty walking
- Increased motion sickness
- Lightheadedness, wooziness
- Mood swings, irritability, bi-polar disorder
- Unusual depression
- Disorientation (getting or feeling lost)
- Feeling as if you are losing your mind
- Over-emotional reactions, crying easily
- Too much sleep, or insomnia
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Narcolepsy, sleep apnea
- Panic attacks, anxiety
- Memory loss (short or long term)
- Confusion, difficulty in thinking
- Difficulty with concentration or reading
- Going to the wrong place
- Speech difficulty (slurred or slow)
- Stammering speech
- Forgetting how to perform simple tasks
- Reproduction and Sexuality
- Loss of sex drive
- Sexual dysfunction
- Unexplained menstral pain, irregularity
- Unexplained breast pain, discharge
- Testicular or pelvic pain
- Phantom smells
- Unexplained weight gain, loss
- Extreme fatigue
- Swollen glands/lymph nodes
- Unexplained fevers (high or low grade)
- Continual infections (sinus, kidney, eye, etc.)
- Symptoms seem to change, come and go
- Pain migrates (moves) to different body parts
- Early on, experienced a "flu-like" illness, after which you have not since felt well.
- Low body temperature
- Allergies/Chemical sensitivities
- Increased effect from alcohol and possible worse hangover
(LC)
Last edited by ladycolorado; March 11th, 2009 at 05:54 AM.
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