Scott's Story
I was a 33 year old healthy male,who was an avid weight lifter and
sports nut. I started feeling sick 2 weeks after being in the woods with
my son. First I had flu symptoms,then swollen glands and very stiff
and sore neck. I went to my general practioner who ran tests for everything but Lyme and
all were negative. Than I noticed a red ring around a bite mark and went
to my "gp" and asked him to take a Lyme test, which was negative. So now I'm
getting worse everyday and I'm losing feeling in my legs, so I go to the
ER and they tell me that I probably have MS.
So now I can barely walk or take care of my
one and three year olds. I keep getting tingling throughout my body and
lights are bothering me more and more. The neurologist takes a Western blot
that comes back with three bands positive, so he sends me to a total of three
infectious diease doc's who all say that I don't have Lyme. But one puts me
on doxy anyway and admits me to the hospital for a spinal tap that was
negative. Now the neurologist starts me on IV steroids and I just totally get worse
with depression, so now I go to a new neurologist who puts me on three
different types of antidepressants. He says that I have a virus that is
infecting my brain and that I should get better. Next I go to a
psychiatrist who says I'm not crazy but sick from something.
My symptoms
just keep getting worse so I go back to my "gp" and ask for another
Western blot which came back with the same 3 bands positive. I finally find
help through a Lyme support group which got me to a doctor who started
treating me with oral antibiotics, and I seem to be getting better,
although not anywhere close to where I used to be.
But I'm just happy to
be able to take care of my kids and go back to work again. This disease
almost ruined my life, and I'm sure it has ruined other's lives; but the thing
that makes me really pissed off is that doctors think that people who
rarely were sick in the past all of a sudden become depressed for no
reason, and are faking there symptoms when all they need to do is a little
research..
I would not let them tell me that I was crazy or faking it but
there are some people who are not as bold or stubborn as I am, and who are
afraid to question their doctor. I hope they find the courage to it,
because if I didn't I'm sure I would just be getting worse. My prayers
are with all who suffer from this disease and definetly with those who
have not tested positive, because of the standards for Lyme disease testing which are set by the Center for Disease Control. I was in your
shoes...good luck..
Scott Dever
The Lyme Disease Quilt Page
Please click on the mailbox to send me your comments
Lyme Quilt main page
Lyme Disease related links
Copyright ©1998-2001 The Lyme Disease Quilt Page
