Lyme Disease

[livingwith]

I am a 52 yr old mother of five. I contracted Lyme disease along the shore of Conn. in the 1960’s. Diagnosis did not come until the age of 47 when we discovered I’d passed it to all five children through the placenta and/or breast milk. We were all treated (except one son in denial) for two years on antiobiotics. More treatment was recommended but antibiotics are not fun or easy to endure for long periods of time. Two of us are much improved (although told not cured), and thre...Read the full article

[jlk]

Thanks for sharing your story. I don't feel so alone now. My family and friends either think I am faking this whole thing or they tell me to start taking anti depressiants and I'll get better. I really wish more people would reconize this disease as well.

[theartofB]

Your mention of those who have CFS or FMS or both being instead Lyme Disease could be right.
I have been diagnosed with both of the former conditions and yet I recall it getting worse after I was bit by a Pacific northwest deer tick. I do recall having a bullseye style ring in red on the back of my shoulder afterwards. The details of anything else are mixed in with the FM. I didn't know one could pass this down to children. For this, I feel concerned because my daughter was bit by a tick when she was 5. She is a mom now and she herself wonders if she has FM CFS because she has similars symptoms to mine only they don't completely keep her down except she gets sick with flu like symptoms frequently.
I would be interested to know what you have done to get back to an active lifestyle? I was a juggler of fam, work and volunteer ministry when I was in my 20'a until 40's. At 47 I was diagnosed with FM but didn't get the tick bite until the following year. Perhaps it's coincidental. What do you think?

[jlk]

Unfortunately I really haven't been able to get back to a full active lifestyle. I have my good days but they are rare. The only thing I have found to manage pain is a depression medication called cymbalta. My doctors did have me on oxycontin but that really didn't work. The fatigue has been hard to control.
The best thing I have found for that is vitamins. I take a complete multi vitamin, 1000mg of vitamin C, super b complex, 400 iu vitamin E, 1 mg folic acid " the 1 mg of that can only be prescribed by a doctor because they don't sell a dosage that high over the counter ", and also I take 500 mg of magnesium. I wish I could help you out more but I'm still researching for answers myself. I wish you the best of luck.

[theartofB]

Thank you.