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Lyme Disease

Posted , 6 users are following.

mary_24931
mary_24931

Hi guys,

I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia several years ago and suffer from all the associated symptoms that go with this. However I'm starting to wonder about Lyme Disease as many years ago I had a nasty bite on my leg, which was surrounded by a bright red ring. I've since discovered that this is what a tick bite can look like and I'm now wondering whether I might have Lyme Disease?  Can anyone tell me what tests are available on the NHS to test for this and could it be in my body after so long (the bite was approx 20 years ago though it may be less - I can't completely remember.) Any help would be greatly appreciated! Mary 

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • frank68910
    frank68910 mary_24931

    Posted

    are you in the United States.  If you had a bullseye around the tick bite you might very well have contracted the disease and a test is certainly in order.  It is or can be a nasty illness with all sorts of symptioms that can mimic CFS
    • frank68910
      frank68910 mary_24931

      Posted

      you are certainly welcome.  I didn't know lymes disease was in the UK also!  Ticks certaily get around!  ugh.  I used to hunt and I had a bout of this.  We didn't think of ticks back when I was a young man as being anything but a nuisance and some years later I suffered-maybe 10 or 15 ears later.  A round of antibiotics of sevral kinds took care of it and I was right as rain again but I was so tired all the time and just felt off for a good while and then it would go away.  Come back again and go away and on and on. 
    • mary_24931
      mary_24931 frank68910

      Posted

      Thanks Frank.I wonder if this what I have. It would be wonderful it if could be treated and I could get my life back. My energy levels are pathetic, with so many days spent being able to do pretty much nothing! Are you mostly well now?
  • frank68910
    frank68910 mary_24931

    Posted

    oh-and yes-you can carry the virus for 20 years or more.  our health can keep it at bay so to speak and then as we age our immune system weakens.  Sometimes a viral infection can wake the virus up.  Sometimes treatment can cause CFS-have you been treated for an infection in recent years? 
  • jackie00198
    jackie00198 mary_24931

    Posted

    Mary--Incidents of Lyme disease can vary hugely depending on what part of the world you're in. Here in the U.S., for instance, some states have extremely low incidents of Lyme, while other states are high. So by checking this information, which I'm sure is readily available on the Internet, you can start to see how likely you are to have Lyme.  Google "incidents of Lyme in U.K." and you'll see a link to a U.K. government website with information on Lyme. The Internet is a pretty amazing place to get information.
  • Beverley_01
    Beverley_01 mary_24931

    Posted

    Hi Mary,

    Am also In the UK and a friend told me recently that Lymes disease can lay dormant for years then get symptoms? I like alot of people didn't even think we had It in UK before there was lot of public advertising, bus stands etc, last year on Lymes. Don't know if you saw it? Had a huge picture of a tick on it!

    I'm guessing gp though just like cfs/me think you may have to go through series of tests etc. Good luck and keep us all posted.

    Beverley

    • mary_24931
      mary_24931 Beverley_01

      Posted

      Thanks Beverley. I am curious now because I so clearly remember having this bite with a ring around it, just like pictures I have seen from tick bites. I am definitely going to pursue this and hopefully my GP will take me seriously and carry out a blood test, though I have read that the bood test for Lyme Disease in the UK isn't very good!
    • Beverley_01
      Beverley_01 mary_24931

      Posted

      Hopefully with your recall ofthe bite and ring aswell as the cfs/me symptoms, you shouldn't have any problems getting tested. If you meet with a negative response just say you want it as a process of elimination.

      Good luck

      Beverley

    • mary_24931
      mary_24931 Beverley_01

      Posted

      Yes I definitely will pursue this. Wish I'd taken a photo of my bite at the time! Hindsight is a wonderful  thing? I'll take an image with me and some info from the NHS UK website. Thanks for your encouragement Beverley. Mary 
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