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Equipping People To Make Sense Of What They Are Told

Symptoms of Lyme Disease may show up fast, with a bang, or very slowly and innocuously.

There may be:   

• Initial flu-like symptoms with fever.
• Headache.
• Nausea.
• Jaw pain.
• Light sensitivity.
• Red eyes.
• Muscle ache.
• Stiff neck.

Many write these symptoms off as a flu, and because the nymph stage of the tick is so tiny many do not recall a tick bite.  The classic rash may only occur or have been seen in as few as 30% of cases (many rashes in body hair and indiscreet areas go undetected).

Management in this early stage is critical. If left untreated or treated insufficiently symptoms can creep into ones life over weeks, months or even years. They wax and wane and may even go into remission only to come out at a later date...even years later.

With symptoms present, a negative lab result means very little as they are very unreliable.The diagnosis, with today's limitations in the lab, must be clinical.

The one common thread with Lyme Disease is the number of systems affected:

• Brain
• Central nervous system
• Autonomic nervous system
• Cardiovascular system
• Digestive system
• Respiratory system
• Musco-skeletal system  
• As well as sometimes the hourly - daily - weekly - monthly changing of symptoms.

No individual will present with all of the symptoms but if many are present serious consideration must be given that Lyme disease may be the culprit. The infection rate with Lyme in the tick population is exploding in North America and is endemic in Canada and as the earth's temperature warms this trend is expected to continue.

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The Tick Bite

• Fewer than 50% of those affected recall a tick bite or notice a rash.
• Raised rash, disappearing and recurring.
• Rash at site of bite.
• Rashes on other parts of your body.
• Rash basically circular and spreading out (or generalised).

Head - Face - Neck areas

• Cheek or facial flushing.
• Clearing throat a lot, phlegm.
• Dental problems (unexplained).
• Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy).
• Headache - mild or severe.
• Hoarseness.
• Jaw pain or stiffness.
• Pressure in Head.
• Runny nose.
• Seizures.
• Sore throat.
• Stiff or painful neck.     
• Twitching of facial or other muscles.  
• Tingling of nose, (tip of) tongue.
• Unexplained hair loss.
• White Matter Lesions in Head (MRI).  

Eyes - Vision          

• Double or blurry vision.
• Flashing lights - Peripheral waves - Phantom images in corner of eyes.
• Increased floating spots.
• Over sensitivity to light.
• Pain in eyes, or swelling around eyes.

Ears - Hearing             

• Buzzing in ears.  
• Decreased hearing in one or both ears - Plugged ears.
• Over sensitivity to sounds.
• Pain in ears.
• Ringing in one or both ears.

Digestive and Excretory Systems

• Constipation.
• Diarrhoea.
• GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease.)  
• Irritable bladder (trouble starting, stopping) or Interstitial cystitis.
• Upset stomach (nausea or pain).

 

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Musculoskeletal System

• Bone pain.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Joint pain or swelling.
• Muscle pain or cramps, (Fibromyalgia).
• Stiffness of joints.
• Stiffness of back.
• Stiffness of neck.
• Tennis elbow.

Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

• Chest pain.
• Cough.
• Endocarditis.
• Heart blockage.  
• Heart palpitations or extra beats.
• Night sweats.
• Rib soreness.
• Shortness of breath.
• Unable to get full - satisfying breath.
• Unexplained chills.

Neurologic System

• Burning or stabbing sensations in the body
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Fatigue
• Increased motion sickness
• Lightheadedness, wooziness
• Numbness in body, tingling, pinpricks
• Partial paralysis   
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Poor balance - dizziness - difficulty walking
• Pressure in the head
• Tremors or unexplained shaking
• Weakness

Psychological well-being

• Anxiety
• Bi-polar disorder
• Difficulty falling
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Disorientation - getting or feeling lost
• Feeling as if you are losing your mind   
• Irritability.
• Mood swings.
• Narcolepsy.
• Over-emotional reactions - crying easily
• Panic attacks.
• Sleep apnoea
• Too much sleep or insomnia
• Unusual depression

Mental Capability

• Confusion, difficulty in thinking
• Difficulty with concentration or reading
• Forgetting how to perform simple tasks  
• Going to the wrong place
• Memory loss - short or long term
• Speech difficulty - slurred or slow
• Stammering speech

Reproduction and Sexuality

Loss of sex drive

Sexual dysfunction

Testicular or pelvic pain  

Unexplained menstrual pain - irregularity

Unexplained breast pain - discharge

General Well-being

• Allergies - chemical sensitivities
• Continual infections - sinus, kidney, eye, etc.
• Early on - experienced a "flu-like" illness, after which you have not since felt well
• Extreme fatigue
• Increased effect from alcohol
• Low body temperature
• Pain migrates to different body parts
• Possible worse hangover
• Swollen glands - lymph nodes
• Symptoms seem to change, come and go  
• Unexplained fevers - high or low grade
• Unexplained weight gain - loss.

 

PRINT AND CIRCLE ALL YES ANSWERS.

20 + yes answers presents an indication that Lyme disease should be considered to be included in diagnostic work-up

 

Inflammation - Site Page

Lyme Disease - Site Page

Evidence For Change - Site Page

Under Our Skin - Site Page

Spirochettes May Love Our Brain To Death - Site Page

Therapy - Site Page

Ticks Don’t Come Out In The Wash - Site Page

 

 

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Lyme Disease Symptoms