Any one with Fibromyalgia or Lyme Disease?

Question

My husband , whom I believe contacted lyme
disease last year, has had a heck of a time getting diagnosed. Tests for lyme are very bed and only test positive for around 5% of patients who are actually positive for the disease. His Lyme tests were neg. and the Dr.'s just want to say that he didn't have it . I have studied probably 100 hours trying to figure out what was going on with him. I believe he has Lyme. The only other condition that resembles his is Fibromyalgia.He was almost paralyzed at first. He did get the Dr.s to go ahead and treat with antibiotics. He is much improved but not 100%.The question he has is to those who have experienced Fibromyalgia or Lyme disease... Did your muscles feel like they were swelling in lumps and stinging, stinging, stinging? I put it that way because that's how he described it. Not like a constant sting but sting,stop,sting,stop,sting, stop?

He once said that it felt as if something were eating his muscles. He lost so much muscle mass, and lost about 35 pounds. At it's peak I thought he was dying. His Dr. doesn't want to give him another round of antibiotics and if it's Lyme you are supposed to take a round a year after.

Thanks Amy for the prayers and hugs. You're sweet!

His pain started in his shoulders and around the muscles in his elbows, and moved to various parts of his body. He would say he could almost feel it moving around his body.It was always worse in his arms and shoulders. He would sling his arms to get up momentum if he had to reach up at all.

During onset (close to a year ago) he slept about 10 min. at a time then woke up crying out in pain. This went on all night long. We didn't sleep for 2 or 3 mos. He sleeps better now but not great.

Answer 1

His symptoms sound familiar, but my pain moved from a single joint/muscle group to another area. I went to numerous doctors before I found my neurologist. A spinal tap was the test my neurologist performed to give a conclusive answer.

I was treated with CV infusion for six months. But de-stressing my life is the #1 non-medical procedure that has allowed me to live in remission.

Good luck, keep up your research and trust your instincts!

Answer 2

Lyme Disease can masquerade as more than 40 different illnesses - it is known as the great pretender. I was diagnosed at Mayo Clinic in MN with Fibromyalgia before finding out I had Lyme.
My legs were lumpy and swollen and it went away after I stopped working full time. When it comes back when I overdo, I know I need to rest. Stress feeds this condition. Your husband needs to see a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor -get tested and on treatment as soon as possible. He may not only have Lyme Disease but co-infections that can be as hard on you as Lyme Disease itself.

Answer 3

Lyme disease, from a deer tick, resembles Lupus, not Fibromyalgia. This would be sleepy, lethargic and not responsive. Lyme's is easy to test, It's been around for a while and a doctor can give large amounts of Anti-biotics to quell the disease. Fibromyalgia on the other hand has several aspects to tame it down and a good doctor should be able to find this quite simply.
If you go to a large teaching hospital I can almost guarantee you they'd find out what's wrong quickly. Don't just trust this to your local doctor and his small staff.
My daughter is taking small amounts of a nerve pill to quell the fibromyalgia. While another was on anti-biotics for some time for Lymes until I told her to tell the doctor about flushing her with them, she found out this was the procedure for Lyme's.

Answer 4

Sounds just like fibromyalgia to me. My question is how is his sleep? Sleep is a major component of fibromyalgia's problems.

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2000.

http://fibromyalgiasupport.com/

http://360.yahoo.com/profile-u92l7DQ6crVz0iK_V6UhmESvJZsU

If he doesn't have diabetes or a uric acid problem please make sure he tries DRibose. I found out about it over a year ago and it made huge changes in my pain level, increased my energy and improved the quality of my sleep. It works for about 69% of the fibro/cfs patients who try it. If you wade through my 360 page you will find articles about it, and some links where to buy it from. Its worth a six week trial. I tell everyone about it because its helped so many people .

Answer 5

Please, find another doctor! You need to find out the reason so that it can be taken care of. If the current doc won't find someone who will. I know people with Fibromyalgia and that doesn't sound like what they say. For fibromyalgia, there are 9 tender points/ trigger points where, when pressed, causes abnormal discomfort. Look at:
http://www.holistic-online.com/Remedies/cfs/fib_symp_pain.htm
Try to press these on him and see what his response is. Then you may be able to rule one out/in. I wish you the best and commend you for taking the initiative for making sure someone finds answers for him. I hope that everything turns out well for him. Take care.

Answer 6

I have had fibromyalgia for about 7 years now and have never experienced anything like that. He should get a 2nd opinion immediately.

Answer 7

You are both in my prayers! HUGS : )