Friday, May 11, 2012

Lyme Relapse?

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My daughter was diagnosed with Lymes a year ago and was treated.  Now she is having symptoms again.  Low temp, bad headaches, dizziness, fatigue.  She is just seeing her regular doctor who has her  on doxycycline for 2 weeks, and the symptoms are not getting better.  In fact she feels worse like she is in a fog?, and now she has a swollen lymp node under her chin.  I think she should go to a specialist, as from what I am reading she needs someone with more knowledge about lymes.  Her doctor says to wait a few more days and if she's not feeling better they are going to do an mri?

The remaining info completed is about my daughter as best as I know
Gender: Female
How tall are you (feet and inches)?: 5 feet
What is your weight in pounds?: 140
How old are you?: 31
How long has this been going on?: More than a month
Check all symptoms you are currently experiencing: Nausea
Check all conditions present in your immediate family... : Diabetes
Please list any medication allergies that you have : : allergic to penicllin
When was your last menstrual cycle?: Now
Are you currently using or do you have a history of tobacco use?: No
Are you currently using or do you have a history of illegal drug use?: No
Please describe your alcohol consumption :: Rarely

HOW QUICKLY DO YOU NEED THIS TO BE ANSWERED?: As soon as possible

whether or not my daughter should see a specialist, or continue with her doctor
 
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This may surprise you to hear but I do not think your daughter needs a specialist in Lyme disease. The reason is that it is not at all clear to me that this is Lyme at all. Much has been made of 'chronic Lyme disease', but the best evidence we have is that there really is not such thing and that, if the organism that causes Lyme disease is not demonstrated by positive lab testing, that further treatment with antibiotics is unlikely to do anything but cloud the picture. And this is not just me talking, I am merely quoting the New England Journal of Medicine.

Here is a good quote from the linked article above....
 
" 
Conclusions
Chronic Lyme disease is the latest in a series of syndromes that have been postulated in an attempt to attribute medically unexplained symptoms to particular infections. Other examples that have now lost credibility are “chronic candida syndrome” and “chronic Epstein–Barr virus infection.” The assumption that chronic, subjective symptoms are caused by persistent infection with B. burgdorferi is not supported by carefully conducted laboratory studies or by controlled treatment trials. Chronic Lyme disease, which is equated with chronic B. burgdorferi infection, is a misnomer, and the use of prolonged, dangerous, and expensive antibiotic treatments for it is not warranted.
"




Stick with her current doctor. Look for other explanations. Print the New England Journal article out and take it with you. One thing is sure, the PUBLIC believes in chronic Lyme or recurrent Lyme. It is certainly possible to be infected with Borrelia burgodorferi more than one time, but if the tests for acute infection are negative and there is no telltale rash then I might kindly suggest that the diagnosis of Lyme is likely to be incorrect and that other possible causes need to be sought. I will stand by for my colleagues to weigh in. Thanks for your question.

1 comment:

space doc said...

I agree with MDSTAT-ER-DOC-1 that this does not represent a chronic Lyme dis.

If your daughter has not responded to the doxycycline (and it can be associated with nausea) and the symptoms persist, she could get a repeat blood test to look for Babesiosis --a similar tick-borne infection that is usually associated with fever (I'm not sure whether by "low temp" you meant low grade fever or subnormal temperature.) It is also associated with headaches, dizziness, fatigue, muscle aches, and sometimes anemia.

The diagnosis is made by looking at the blood cells under the microscope rather than the Elisa and Western Blot tests down for Lyme disease.

With the swollen lymph node under the chin she certainly could have some local infection. (mononucleosis can be associated with swollen glands and a lot of similar, aches, headache, etc.)

Her symptoms could also go along with fibromyalgia. The sensation of being "in a fog" is a frequent complaint along with fatigue, dizziness etc

I think just following up with your family doctor would be the way to go for the present.

Good Luck!! Would love to hear how this all turns out.

Space Doc