Private MD News

Lyme disease diagnosis offers answers for sick woman

People who suspect that they have Lyme disease shouldn't hesitate to get blood tests to confirm it, since properly diagnosing this condition has provided many individuals with the answers they've been waiting for regarding their health problems. Many people spend years experiencing a number of strange and debilitating health problems before they realize that they are the signs of Lyme disease and finally receive proper treatment.

For example, the Union Leader, a New Hampshire news source, recently published an article profiling one young woman who had experienced many serious diseases and medical crises through elementary, middle and high school. For years, the cause of these health problems eluded her - until doctors finally discovered that Lyme disease was the culprit.

Difficult to tell
According to the news source, McMahon experienced bronchitis, asthma, migraines, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, vomiting and heart problems, yet the doctors were unable to identify all of these issues as signs of Lyme disease, since many other conditions also come with these symptoms, or they could have been unconnected.

"She was sent to specialist after specialist with negative test results," the woman's mother told the Union Leader. "Of course, she was then told to see a psychiatrist, which she has for several years, and he now supports the Lyme diagnosis."

Furthermore, because it look so long for doctors to make the Lyme disease diagnosis, she now faces a number of chronic symptoms that don't seem to go away.

"Because she has been sick for so long and has such gastric problems, she can't tolerate antibiotics and we must find alternative herbal remedies to fight this. Unfortunately, these are expensive and not covered by insurance," added the woman.

This is another reason why it is so important for people to get blood tests to determine if they have Lyme disease early on, so that the symptoms will be easier to handle. The first sign of Lyme disease is a rash that looks similar to a bull's eye. The woman's mother told the news source that at age 4, she had that type of rash on her leg, but it cleared up quickly so they never thought anything of it. In retrospect, they should have sent for a Lyme disease test a>the moment that the rash appeared, and they may have discovered that she had the condition and potentially saved her from experiencing secondary health problems

More common in certain areas
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 96 percent of Lyme disease cases can be found in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin. People who live in these areas should take special precaution when walking in wooded areas or where there is tall grass. This means people should wear long socks that cover any skin on the ankles that a tick could latch on to, and regularly check their bodies after hiking to see if there are any ticks or rashes present.

There are many signs of Lyme disease, such as severe headaches and neck stiffness and shooting pains throughout the body. However, it's important to note that 60 percent of people with Lyme disease experience pain and swelling in the large joints that is often associated with arthritis. Individuals who experience arthritis-like symptoms - particularly those who are young and have less of a risk for arthritis than older people - should be tested for Lyme disease as soon as possible so they can receive treatment if necessary.