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Lyme Disease

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 12:58 pm
by hoocli
I first want to say that this thread is intended to help all outdoor enthusiasts to be better informed and aware of the dangers of Lyme Disease. It is not intended to give medical advice other than recommend folks get checked out by a qualified Lyme Physician if they have any reason to suspect an infection.

In the interest of accuracy and space, I will post various links so those that want to learn more can do so. Much of it can be technical, but overall you will come away with a much different perspective of a disease that is all too often swept under the carpet and very misunderstood.

Lyme Disease is commonly referred to as "the great imitator" and for good reason. It can and does imitate countless other ailments and diseases which makes it extremely difficult to diagnose. Lyme and it's co-infections should be ruled out if you have ever been thought to have any of the diseases in the below links. Some diseases beginning to be linked to Lyme are Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, depression, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's Disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), Bell's palsy. Deer Ticks are not the only carriers of the Lyme bacteria. Just about any tick, mosquito or biting fly can carry bacterias. Who hasn't been bitten by a tick? Scary isn't it. Being informed is the best defense.

Below, answering 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 or on other parts of your body
Rash basically circular, oval and spreading out (more generalized)
Raised rash, disappearing and recurring Head, Face, Neck
Unexplained hair loss
Headache, mild or severe, Seizures
Pressure in head, white matter lesions in brain
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
Eyes/Vision
[*]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


Ears/Hearing
[*]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)


Musculoskeletal System
[*]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


Neurologic System
[*]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


Psychological well-being
[*]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


Mental Capability
[*]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


General Well-being
[*]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.


There is not a test currently available that diagnoses Lyme with 100% accuracy. The simple blood test that most all General Practitioners order is HIGHLY unreliable. It produces both false positive and negative results which really is a waste of time and money. It also gives a false sense of security or cause for concern. There are a few other tests out there but the Western Blot and ELISA tests are typically the most common depending upon your doctor's Lyme knowledge. The results, while not definitive on diagnosing a current ongoing infection, show exposure to the bacteria and is used with symptoms/ailments to produce a clinical diagnosis.


Anyone with knowledge of or stories about Lyme is highly encouraged to post in this thread. The more people know, the better off they will be.

Lyme Disease: The Great Imitator | Psychology Today
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles ... t-imitator

Richards Family Health Center | archives | Lyme Disease. The Great Imitator
http://www.richardsfamilyhealth.com/arc ... sease.html

Re: Lyme Disease

Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 12:19 am
by Xbolt7mm
Wow,,,large post full of info thx

Re: Lyme Disease

Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 5:13 pm
by 6tmile
Great info!! Thanks.

Lyme Disease

Posted: Sat Oct 12, 2019 10:31 am
by Emilecog
What are your thoughts on Lyme Disease vaccination? I lived in central SD for a few years and did not get one. I now live near Minneapolis and spend a lot of time in Northern Minnesota in the summer months. Ticks are everywhere here. Ive heard that it is a must have shot living around here but want to see what somebody with a hunting dog has to say about it.

Thanks