Is There A Doctor In The House?

Is there any improvement at all?

Dick Stodghill wrote:

Is there any improvement at all?

Unfortunately no there isn't. I did call the neurologists, 1 wants $250
upfront and 1 $310 upfront just for a consultation, if they want any
tests I'd have to pay for them too and with a limited amount of money
I'm not sure if I can afford to be treated at all, but I appreciate
your asking Sir Dick

Abe, I did try a couple of those web md sites, unfortunately there was
nowhere to fully describe my symptoms and for what I put in, like limb
weakness they came up with answer, 'Go see your doctor!

It seems that you did find an answer though Rainbow...back to the doctor. Take a notebook with you and you could probably write a whole story while you wait...and that way maybe you'll get two things done at once.

Pam wrote:

It seems that you did find an answer though Rainbow...back
to the doctor. Take a notebook with you and you could probably write a
whole story while you wait...and that way maybe you'll get two things
done at once.

Yes it was an answer allright, so much for the web MD's, I'm writing a
letter to the Centre For Disease Control maybe they'll answer me

I read a story in the AARP bulletin last evening that was about upfront payments. It suggested checking state agencies because they frequently offer help. It might be worth a try.

Quote :

Overview of Lyme Disease



Lyme disease is an inflammatory disorder characterized by a skin rash. Following the skin rash, there are symptoms in the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and joints. It is usually a self-limiting illness, that goes away on its own. The majority of those who develop this disorder do not become seriously ill. Lyme disease is uncommon. It is named for Lyme, Connecticut, where it was first described. It is often misdiagnosed in children as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Causes of Lyme Disease



Cause is due to a deer tick bite which spreads the spirochete (germ), Borrelia burgdorferi. A tick bite at the site of the lesion 3 days to 4 weeks prior to the rash is typical.

Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease



The disease is transmitted by a tick bite, which might be obvious on the skin. Following that, a red papule, or raised bump, is seen on the skin of the thighs, buttocks or armpits. This papule may enlarge reaching as large as 50 cm. in diameter. As the lesion enlarges, the central area heals and may appear normal. There may be more than one lesion. As the disease progresses over days, week and months, other symptoms develop. This include headache, stiff neck, back ache and muscle aches. There may be fever and chills. Sore throat, nausea and vomiting may occur. Lumps may develop in the neck, groin or armpit and be tender or painful. There may be pain and tenderness in the left upper abdomen, if the spleen become affected. Joint pain commonly occurs, associated with redness and warmth of the joint. The symptoms tend to migrate from one joint to another. Involvement of the heart is signified by irregular heart beats or shortness of breath.

http://www.myelectronicmd.com/get_reference.php?Id=406&condition=lyme%20disease&typ=&symname=Weakness&pcid=213&box_num=25
You may not have Lyme disease but something similar. The good news is that, similar to Lyme disease, it is probably a self-limiting illness that will go away on its own.

By the time you have researched all the information out there about bite-related illnesses, you will most likely be on the mend! Hope so!

It's funny that you bring up Lyme Disease Shelagh; it crossed my mind yesterday while listening to a radio program. Lyme disease, although often correctly diagnosed in dogs (!) is often not diagnosed in humans unless you actually see the tick attached to yourself.

The screening test for Lyme disease costs about $8 here; there is a second more detailed test (similar to the test they use for dogs, but a human variety of it) that costs about $22 but is rarely done because of the cost. Caught early, Lyne disease is usually very responsive to antibiotics. Caught late and chronic joint problems including arthritis can result.

One thing that I do like about the American system...you do seem to be able to tell the docs what to test for, and this might be a good idea Rainbow. Keep us posted!

Hope you get better soon Rainbow

Dick Stodghill wrote:

I read a story in the AARP bulletin last
evening that was about upfront payments. It suggested checking state
agencies because they frequently offer help. It might be worth a
try.

Thanks Dick any idea which State Agencies I might try? Never having
much to do with beaurocracy except the Immigration Trolls I haven't the
faintest idea

Shelagh wrote:

Quote :

Overview of Lyme Disease



Lyme
disease is an inflammatory disorder characterized by a skin rash.
Following the skin rash, there are symptoms in the central nervous
system, cardiovascular system and joints. It is usually a self-limiting
illness, that goes away on its own. The majority of those who develop
this disorder do not become seriously ill. Lyme disease is uncommon. It
is named for Lyme, Connecticut, where it was first described. It is
often misdiagnosed in children as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Causes of Lyme Disease



Cause
is due to a deer tick bite which spreads the spirochete (germ),
Borrelia burgdorferi. A tick bite at the site of the lesion 3 days to 4
weeks prior to the rash is typical.

Signs and Symptoms of Lyme Disease



The
disease is transmitted by a tick bite, which might be obvious on the
skin. Following that, a red papule, or raised bump, is seen on the skin
of the thighs, buttocks or armpits. This papule may enlarge reaching as
large as 50 cm. in diameter. As the lesion enlarges, the central area
heals and may appear normal. There may be more than one lesion. As the
disease progresses over days, week and months, other symptoms develop.
This include headache, stiff neck, back ache and muscle aches. There
may be fever and chills. Sore throat, nausea and vomiting may occur.
Lumps may develop in the neck, groin or armpit and be tender or
painful. There may be pain and tenderness in the left upper abdomen, if
the spleen become affected. Joint pain commonly occurs, associated with
redness and warmth of the joint. The symptoms tend to migrate from one
joint to another. Involvement of the heart is signified by irregular
heart beats or shortness of breath.

http://www.myelectronicmd.com/get_reference.php?Id=406&condition=lyme%20disease&typ=&symname=Weakness&pcid=213&box_num=25
You
may not have Lyme disease but something similar. The good news is that,
similar to Lyme disease, it is probably a self-limiting illness that
will go away on its own.

By the time you have researched all
the information out there about bite-related illnesses, you will most
likely be on the mend! Hope so!

Thanks for the link, that's the second $15 dollars to ask a question
the other one was MedHelp.org, I just got their answer....consult your
personal physician!!!!! I did check out Lyme and tick bites,
unfortunately my symptoms don't match, but again thank you for trying

thehairymob wrote:

Hope you get better soon Rainbow

Thanks Hairy Pam ooops methinks I missed a comma somewhere, or an
ampersand but thank you both very much and everyone who is trying to
help it's very much appreciated

If you think it was a spider that bit you, you may want to try: http://www.badspiderbites.com/

Forest Elf wrote:

If you think it was a spider that bit you, you may want to try: http://www.badspiderbites.com/

Thanks for the link

I agree. I think Rainbow you got some sort of tick bites. One time some seemed to have embedded themselves in parts of my hair, although I shampooed a lot. I'd feel the tick in my scalp and it would be creepy.

I hope you recover soon.

Carol

Carol Troestler wrote:

I agree. I think Rainbow you got some sort of
tick bites. One time some seemed to have embedded themselves in parts
of my hair, although I shampooed a lot. I'd feel the tick in my scalp
and it would be creepy.

I hope you recover soon.

Carol

It was certainly something, but there are no ticks in my hair, or anywhere that I can feel

So sorry you’re having such a terrible time, rainbow.

We’ve had reports about the spread of imported fire ants in southern CA, and your symptoms sound similar to what some victims have experienced. I couldn’t find the article, but I checked a couple of sites that may be interesting:

http://www.ci.long-beach.ca.us/health/organization/eh/vector/ants.asp

http://nofireants.com/

I’m not far from the Loma Linda Medical Center where victims of toxic stings and bites are treated. Not long ago the Animal Planet channel had an interesting program called Venom ER, and one evening it featured a man who’d lost consciousness after a snake bite. The camera followed his treatment inside the hospital at Loma Linda, and before the anti-venom took effect, the man’s skin actually pulsated. While that was, of course, a terrible thing, it alerted the doctors to the certain snake that bit him and they were able to successful treat him. I believe it was a Mojave Green rattler with a neurotoxin venom that acts on the central nervous system.

Not sure the symptoms apply to your limb weakness, but it may be an avenue worth exploring.

Funny mentioning the Lyme Disease. It was on the t.v. here and I read it in an article. Both times I thought of you, Rainbow. I figure 3 affirmations and it is worth checking into.

Sending positive, healing energy and prayers your way.

Sue Sunshine wrote:

Funny mentioning the Lyme Disease. It was on the
t.v. here and I read it in an article. Both times I thought of you,
Rainbow. I figure 3 affirmations and it is worth checking into.

Sending positive, healing energy and prayers your way.

Much appreciated Sue

Not sure whose link it was, but I got to http://medical.justanswers.com which is a good site as when you ask a question you get a reply pretty quickly and can keep replying and getting answers until you're satisfied. It costs $15 per question

Anyhoo Dr Mark a neurological surgeon came up with what he said was only a single possibility of

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis/detail_amyotrophiclateralsclerosis.htm

And of course go see a neurologist, but at least I can add that possibility to the others.

I followed up Sir Dick's suggestion and called the AARP and they gave me the Texas state agency who offer absolutely no help whatsoever! But it was worth checking. She was taken aback when I said, 'So in america it's true, no insurance? Have a nice death!' She came back a moment, or two later with, 'You have to buy insurance to use it!' Yeh right!

So another possibility gets added to the list all pointing to go see a neuorologist, which with not being able to work and what they wan't upfront let alone whatever tests, maybe I should buy a lottery ticket!



I know roughly how it feels!

You can be bitten by a tick and not know it. That's why people can have it an not know. Still worth checking imo.

I clicked on the NINDS link and read about ALS and found this: "Lyme disease can in some cases cause ALS-like symptoms"

ALS is not caused by insect bite but Lyme disease is. One of the sympoms of ALS is difficulty swallowing and slurred speech. These are not present with Lyme disease. I think it is more likely that you have an infection caused by insect bite that will mend with time rather than the onset of a fatal disease such as ALS.

Look on the bright side: you will get better. Time is a great healer.

Shelagh wrote:

I clicked on the NINDS link and read about ALS and
found this: "Lyme disease can in some cases cause ALS-like symptoms"

ALS
is not caused by insect bite but Lyme disease is. One of the sympoms of
ALS is difficulty swallowing and slurred speech. These are not present
with Lyme disease. I think it is more likely that you have an infection
caused by insect bite that will mend with time rather than the onset of
a fatal disease such as ALS.

Look on the bright side: you will get better. Time is a great healer.

I don't have difficulty in swallowing or slurred speech and admittedly
the med help Dr did say it was only a single possibilty and as
mentioned per se I feel fine apart from the problems with my limbs, I
think I'm coming to feel that I should go see a neurologist as like
this I can't work and I'd really like to get a handle on whatever is
causing these symptoms

A neurologist is expensive, granted, but it would probably be worth the cost to find out what is going on. Especially if it rules out the more dire possibilities.

zadaconnaway wrote:

A neurologist is expensive, granted, but it would
probably be worth the cost to find out what is going on. Especially if
it rules out the more dire possibilities.

That's pretty much what I've come to, what's the good of money if you
don't have the health to enjoy it and without trying to get this sorted
I've got no source in income, so we are in accord