I have Lyme Disease. It is clearly a life changing disease!!
MOST tests are very unreliable. I have never tested positive per CDC protocol. Thankfully, my doctor had a brain and was willing to use it.
Bulls Eye rash ONLY OCCURS with Lyme infection. (I had the bulls eye) However, only 40% of cases develop this rash.
Early detection and treatment with HIGH dose antibiotic for a month or more MAY eliminate the infection.
Lyme Disease has been identified by researchers, not CDC, in all US states except Hawaii.
Because no minority groups with political power suffer from Lyme, CDC does not take Lyme seriously, nor do most doctors.
MY STORY
Tick bite in 1987.
Did not get sick until 1992. In March, changed oil in both mowers, mowed yard, trimmed yard. I was worn out, but done. In June, my son cut most of the grass with the rider. I tried to keep up with the trimming. In August, if my son did not cut it, it did not get done. In December, I was sleeping 16 hours a day, and trying to work the other 8. By the end of the year, I simply could no longer answer the bell, and my DW was making mental funeral arrangements.
January 1993, my DW found a Lyme literate Dr out of state and took me there. I was too sick to drive, and too sick to care. With time, I did get a little better. By August, I was working about 15 hours a week (all I could handle). Next came the Road Runner cartoon, where the coyote runs off the edge of the cliff, looks around, waves bye bye, then plummets to the bottom. My last day of work was October 14, 1993.
I have been on SS Disability ever since. I have made significant improvements since. For a few years, I was volunteering at the hospital about 20 hours a week.
In February 2012, I had a major intestinal surgery, which really stirred up the Lyme bacteria. I nosedived, had to change Dr to another out of state Dr, and have just started getting a LITTLE better in the last 6 months.
THE LIST OF SYMPTOMS goes on for at least 80 items, and for a given person, only part of the list exhibit symptoms
ANY ONE WANTING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LYME ARE WELCOME TO E MAIL OR PM ME. As a Lymie, I understand your struggles. I will do whatever I can to advise and support you.
For clarification, by Profession, I am an Analytical Chemist, and was employed as such until October, 1993. I am a Preacher by avocation. It has never been my primary source of income. Lyme took away the chemist, but only death can take away the (physical) Preacher in me.