I first contracted Lyme Disease from an adult Lone Star Tick in the Spring
of '97. Due to misinformation on all of the Web sites where I researched LD
after the initial bite, I did not seek immediate medical advice. It was not
until Fall that I started treatment and of course, by then, I was in the late
stages of the disease.
My advice for everyone:
1) LD can be contracted by ticks other than the deer tick - no tick bite is a safe bite.
2) LD can set in within hours - my tick was only attached for a maximum of 6-8 hours, not the 24 hour minimum suggested by information available at the
time.
3) All of the info. that I found claimed LD symptoms took a minimum of 3 - 4
days and sometimes up to 30 days to occur - my EM rash occurred within 12
hours of the tick's removal.
4) Don't believe what the CDC or other sites tell you - if you have a
reaction to a tick bite, get it treated immediately and DO NOT let it get
into late stages....otherwise, life will suck!
In January of 1999, I thought I was over the LD but in less than two weeks
without medications, I relapsed hard with severe headaches, tremors, and
fevers. So I went back on the antibiotics. Then, in the Spring of 1999, I
started taking the Lymerix injections on the advice of my doctor. He said it
was not expected to cure the existing infection but it would prevent any
future reinfections. The injections were taken in Feb., March, and the last
in June of 1999.
Since last June, my health has steadily deteriorated. After the last shot, I
started to notice the reoccurrence of typical LD symptoms such as fatigue,
mental fogginess, tremors, short temper, dizziness and headaches. It was not
an immediate reaction but rather a steadily worsening condition. Throughout
the fall and winter, my symptoms continued to get worse, most especially the
growing pain in my knees and back.
After changing my antibiotics to a
combination of flagyl and doxycycline in the early winter, much of the
dizziness and mental confusion abated. However, the arthritic pains in my
knees and back have continued to grow steadily worse. 12 day steroid packs
provided short term relief but not long term relief. The pain just keeps
coming back.
I've been trying to get back to work these past few weeks but it has proven
to be very painful. The physical demands have pushed me to the point of
physical exhaustion with severe knee and back pain. That is after a short
6 - 8 hour day. Not my previously normal 10 - 14 hour days. I'm only 35 and
I don't see how I should be feeling this exhausted at such an early age.
My
knees are limiting my mobility and my quality of life. Until the LD, I've
always worked many long, hard days. My health was actually quite good this
time(March - June) last year as I was working 12 hour days for a week at a
time out on the road. But once I finished the Lymerix series, everything
started going back downhill.
During my last office visit with my LD physician, he told me there were some
reports of others having bad reactions to the injections. So I've started
researching the Web for info. on this subject and to my dismay, many others
have complained of the arthritic reactions. I would be glad to hear from any
others that have had the same experiences from the injections. I know of the
class action lawsuit in Pa., but are there any others going on? I'm starting
to consider going the same route if things don't improve.
All of my recent
problems, especially the arthritic pain, have dramatically worsened after
the series of Lymerix injections. Why was information not provided by the
manufacturer regarding the possible arthritic reactions to everyone
considering taking the vaccination? Why was my physician not instructed not
to give the injections to anyone with a current LD infection?
While I don't agree with many of the typical frivolous lawsuits filed in our
country each year, I would like to see something done for anyone who has had
problems resulting from complications resulting from this Lymerix
vaccination.
Randy Collins
The Lyme Disease Quilt Page
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