Beware of ticks and Lyme Disease
In July of 2006 I went to the doctor with a spider bite and also what looked like a round red ring on my left arm. I explained to him that I work at the local state park and I am outside in the woods most of the time.
The doctor says that the spider bite was from a brown recluse and gave me antibiotics for it. The spot on my arm was diagnosed as ring worm, and a salve was given for this.
In about two weeks I started to get sharp pains in my groin and abdominal area. Back to the doctor and he says my prostrate was inlarged and put me on Cipro. In a weeks time things started to get worse with pains shooting all over my body. I could not sleep well, sweating at night, tired all the time. 

In the mean time the doctor  had me go through all of this, a scan of the prostate, a MRI scan, CAT scan, , and all came back ok. The salve for the ring worm seems to be doing nothing at all.
In September I had my wife take me into the ER for pains in abdominal area and testicles. After three hours and all kinds of blood tests they found nothing. Gave me Ibuprofen 800 and sent me home.
Next few days things starting to get worse, I am depressed and only look forward to bed time as things seem to quiet down when I am asleep. 
Now my left side of my face goes numb as if it had needles in it and this seemed to travel all over my body. So back to the doctors and he schedules a scan for a stroke, it comes back normal.  

But since I work out doors I started to read about Ticks and Lyme  Disease on the Internet and this time I asked the doctor, what about Lyme disease as I have checked off 23 symptoms on a chart I found on the Internet. 

He says, yeah, lets try Doxycycline for 15 days. (November 16) 
Well I started to feel better in about a week , but still have a burning sensation in left side or some time the right side of my head and I have a flushing of the face like I had a sun burn off and on.  Also the pins and needle feeling seems to travel all around my body at different spots. This is how I am today and am off to the doctors again in a few days. 

(12/4/06) Saw doctor today, told him about the head problems and I am very tired most of the day. He put me on Carbamzepine used for seizures and told me to come back in a month.

This medicine makes me dizzy and confused so I quit taking it.

December 5, I called a Lyme literate doctor today and have appointment on Dec. 14th.  It was confermed that I do have Lyme disease and was put on Doxycycline for 30 days and other medications. I am taking 12 pills a day at this time. 

1/3/07- I seem back to normal again after months of agony. 

Dave

Update: On April 12, 2008 all the symptoms of Lyme came back and was told by the Lyme doctor that this is chronic Lyme and I will have it the rest of my life. I will be on a scheduled medication of three weeks on and two off. Then three weeks on and three off the rest of my life. You never cure Lyme, just keep it a bay with the medications.

I have spent weeks reading about horror stories about this disease and found that most doctors won't even acknowledge or want to treat this disease. Some insurance companies won't even pay for coverage of your doctor bills.
Please if you think you have been bitten by a tick get to your doctors right away and tell him. In most cases 50 percent of all people do not have the red rash, the number one symptom of Lyme Disease.
 
Click here for a chart on Lyme Disease symptoms, please take a look at what this monster can cause. David L. Woolstrm
Links to Lyme Disease web sites
CanLyme Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation

The Lyme Disease Foundation

Lyme Disease Association, Inc. (LDA)

American Lyme Disease Foundation

Lyme Disease Patient Stories

Lyme Alliance, Inc. Website!

Lots Of Links On Lyme Disease