Lyme Disease

mastermind2005

Hi all,

Have been have lyme disease symptoms for approx 5 years now.

Got worse recently with heart arrhythmia and had test for lymes few weeks ago

First test came back positive and waiting on second test results now.

Anyone been here before or even better know of a (LLMD) lyme literate doctor in Dublin ?

OUTDOORLASS

Good Morning,
There was a lady interviewed recently I think of Joe Duffy, and also I think on the show after that
(not on the same day) She was trying to raise awareness of the disease in Ireland. She was trying to gather
names to get a idea of exactly how many people had it in Ireland. She was recently back from the US after receiving
treatment. I think there is a Lyme Disease association in Ireland. She had set up a Face Book page, so maybe
do a bit of research there. She had also released a song which sounded like a love song but if you know the history of the song, it actually related to Lyme and the symptoms. Sorry I could.nt be of more help and best of luck.

bpmurray

A few seconds on Facebook uncovered the Tick Talk page.

Ticks are quite common in Ireland, but I didn't think it was possible to catch Lyme's Disease here. If I remember rightly, it's the deer tick in the US that's the culprit, and that's not often found here.

Tabnabs

Ticks in Ireland do carry the disease and early treatment is best when you know what the signs are.

http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/az/L/Lyme-disease/

and

http://www.ticktalkireland.org/

have a lot of useful information.

locum-motion

bpmurray wrote: »

... I didn't think it was possible to catch Lyme's Disease here...

It's possible, but rare.

_Whimsical_

locum-motion wrote: »

It's possible, but rare.

It's more common than is generally thought though,possibly more common than is diagnosed. It's most prevalent in the west. Some evidence suggests that Ireland has one of the highest rates in the EU. In 2006 19 patients were diagnosed with Lyme in the Connemara area alone and prompted neurologists in UCHG to undertake a study on the subject. It's published here http://www.imj.ie//ViewArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleID=4785

It probably deserves awareness among medical professionals so they might be mindful to look out for it in patients living in and visiting high risk areas like the west of Ireland. It destroys lives when it goes undiagnosed long term.

Good luck OP.

Splendour

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

It's more common than is generally thought though,possibly more common than is diagnosed. It's most prevalent in the west. Some evidence suggests that Ireland has one of the highest rates in the EU. In 2006 19 patients were diagnosed with Lyme in the Connemara area alone and prompted neurologists in UCHG to undertake a study on the subject. It's published here http://www.imj.ie//ViewArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleID=4785

It probably deserves awareness among medical professionals so they might be mindful to look out for it in patients living in and visiting high risk areas like the west of Ireland. It destroys lives when it goes undiagnosed long term.

Good luck OP.

I agree that it is probably more prevalent that Doctors realise due to false negatives in testing.
I was tested for Lyme and it came back negative but I'm not convinced I don't have Lyme; I have been sick for over ten years and recently told by a Neurologist that I may have MS but seeing how I don't have the typical clinical signs of MS he is slightly stumped. The reason for his vague diagnoses of MS is due to lesions and a positive oligoclonal band found in my spinal fluid which can indicate MS but which,from what I've been reading, can also be due to Lyme.
There is more intensive testing which can be done abroad but it is expensive and given that I can't work at the moment due to my illness this is sadly beyond my reach.

Great link Whimsical, thanks.

emo72

My son is in hospital at the moment and being treated for Lyme's disease. He started to show symptoms a few days after being camping with his school in Wicklow mountains. It seems the doctors aren't to keen to diagnose it. It is hard to get answers from them.

I'm quite worried, and confused about why they won't or can't say what it is.

Splendour

emo72 wrote: »

My son is in hospital at the moment and being treated for Lyme's disease. He started to show symptoms a few days after being camping with his school in Wicklow mountains. It seems the doctors aren't to keen to diagnose it. It is hard to get answers from them.

I'm quite worried, and confused about why they won't or can't say what it is.

I hope your son gets cured from this-as far as I know if caught early it is treatable. Though am a bit confused by your saying he is being treated for it and then you say they won't say what it is?

emo72

Splendour wrote: »

I hope your son gets cured from this-as far as I know if caught early it is treatable. Though am a bit confused by your saying he is being treated for it and then you say they won't say what it is?

I don't think it's possible to get a diagnosis in the first few days. All the blood tests come back inconclusive. It only shows up after a few months apparently. This is how it does the damage, if you don't get symptoms early. We were lucky he got bad instantly.

Splendour

emo72 wrote: »

I don't think it's possible to get a diagnosis in the first few days. All the blood tests come back inconclusive. It only shows up after a few months apparently. This is how it does the damage, if you don't get symptoms early. We were lucky he got bad instantly.

I thought it was easier to get a diagnoses within the first few days though I think the problem lies with the testing available in this country is not the best. I think that's why a lot of Doctors don't believe it exists as most tests come back negative.
I really hope your son gets completely better soon.

goat2

locum-motion wrote: »

It's possible, but rare.

Yes my daughter did get lymes here in this country, i know alot of people who got it and it has ruined their lives, Thank God i had been aware of lymes when my daughter got bit by a tick and developed a rash at site of bite, she was seen after immediatly, but alas she still has it, at least she had the bite about 9 weeks when she came to me and i begged her to see doctor right away, reluctantly she went, and had the tests, was put on heavy antibiotics and was a ble to avert the worst,
But i feel sorry for those who have it yrs and they were not povoided a blood test to rule this out, They suffer terribly, seeing every professional length and breadth of country, while just a blood test by locum could save them all this,

It is just a blood test and it could save people the severe symptoms and allow a near normal life,
It broke my heart to know that my child contracted it while out for a walk with friends,
anyone who loves outdoors, animals, camping could end up with this, so we are all open to contracting this disease,
It feels like artherites, with tiredness, headaches, and slowly going down hill

goat2

Splendour wrote: »

I thought it was easier to get a diagnoses within the first few days though I think the problem lies with the testing available in this country is not the best. I think that's why a lot of Doctors don't believe it exists as most tests come back negative.
I really hope your son gets completely better soon.

from what i remember, it is hard to diagnose in the first days, but once the rash is present, then is when you know you have it, and a blood test is so important,
You are right about doctors thinking it is not there, but keep up your fight and on top of it, it is your life,

goat2

emo72 wrote: »

My son is in hospital at the moment and being treated for Lyme's disease. He started to show symptoms a few days after being camping with his school in Wicklow mountains. It seems the doctors aren't to keen to diagnose it. It is hard to get answers from them.

I'm quite worried, and confused about why they won't or can't say what it is.

I am glad to see someone who knows how i feel, it is a devistation to think that our lovely healthy child has got this just from a bite from an insect so small, but at least we averted a lifelong of seeing specialists and not being able to go to work due to the illness, it ruins lives, when not diagnosed for yrs