Newly Diagnosed

Hello, I've been a frequenter of the chrons/colits boards here, as well as the panic disorder section. 

I decided to get tested for lymes last week because I've been bitten by ticks and I live on a farm.  Also every one of my dogs have had lymes in the past.  Most of this stuff started last june.  Got the panic disorder and then progressed into a nasty general sickness which included a flare up of the colitis and then a bout with salmonella.  So I haven't felt well even after being treated for those things..and generally feel sick, tired, joint pain, bad depression, etc.

I got the results back today and apparently it was positive.  This test was done by my GI doctor and he forwarded my results over to my primary who I am going to see tomorrow at 9 am.   I am not sure which test it was, but i am sure it was some anti-body test and I will find out tomorrow.

I haven't had much time to read all the resources on lymes, and I do see alot of conflicting information.

What I am looking for, and excuse my ignorance, is a general course or pattern that lymes follows from the tick bite until the resolution of symptoms.  What medicines are normally used(we treat my dog with doxycycline or amoxyciline), and how effective are they.  What are common side effects of medicines?  I'd guess they are all hard on the GI tract, which will not be good in my situation.     

I am sure specifics might be hard which is also the case with my chrons/colitis, but i am also sure theres a general trend. 

Is there some specific questions I should ask the doctor tomorrow?  I wish I would have had more time to prepare myself with questions as I am usually a researchaholic.. but I just wasn't able to get to it.   

Thanks,

Vin

---

History: UC/Chrons since age 22, now 27.  Several huge flares since then.  Entire colon diseased at some point from cecum to rectum.  Also had previous inflammation in terminal ileum.

Currently:

Coming out of flare -9/19/08 - now

Salmonella - 11/15/08 - 11-29-08

Panic Disorder - 6/25/08 - now

Lyme Disease - 12/09/08 - now

Drugs:

prednisone 5 mg (tapering) 

6mp 50 mg 

lialda 4.8 mg

Paxil 50 mg

Klonopin .275 mg (tapering through water titration)

Trazodone 50 mg

 

Hi Vin,
I think it's too late now (after 9, where I am anyway!), but let us know how your appointment went.

---

Lyme and co-infections since approximately 2002. Diagnosed in 2005. Treated for two years solid. Diagnosed with Lymphomatoid Papulosis in October 2007. Currently back on abx.

Moderator for Lyme Disease forum

Vin - Believe it or not, it sounds like your set of doctors are on the ball. They've read your results correctly, they're doing a Western Blot (which I thought was kind of mandatory after you test positive on the first "tier" - but who knows). They BELIEVE you and your test results and haven't referred you to a pshrink! And, the first line of treatment for Lyme disease (according to the IDSA guidelines - ugh!) is 200 mg Doxy for 2 to 4 weeks.

Keep in mind the test (Western Blot) is often wrong. So even if it's negative, you could be Lyme disease positive based on your history with ticks, your clinical symptoms, and your first tier positive result. It's murky waters your getting ready to enter, but at least your doctors are doing something... and not calling you "crazy" or "depressed". Anyway, this site is a great place for LD information.

All the best.

---

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.  - Margaret Meade

^{06/00- The beginning, 08/01-LD positive, 10/01- Igenex and CDC LD positive, 10/02-LD positive, 11/03-LD positive, 10/07-Bartonella positive, CD57=3 Current Rx's 11/12/08: Wellbutrin 300mg, Paxil 60mg, Xanax 5mg, Rozerem 8mg, Darvocet, Acidophilus, Rifampin 600mg, Levaquin 500mg, Lyrica 150 to 300mg, Skelexa, Restoril}

^{Medicare/SSDI theme song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd2B6SjMh_w} 

^{"How much more can I take?", song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gHiR1xeOSs}