Five: Diagnosis

This is part five of a series. If you are a new reader, you may want to start here and read from the beginning.

Two weeks can be a long time when you are waiting for test results.

I spent a lot of that time on the internet, researching Lyme Disease. I began with studies and recommended treatments from research institutions like Mayo Clinic, then worked my way through page after page of personal stories.

Lyme was controversial. Most medical sources maintained that it could be successfully treated and cured if diagnosed early, but there were huge differences in the meaning of the word “early.” There was even debate about the accuracy of the test (some said less than 50%) as well as the efficacy of various antibiotics and the length of time they should be administered. All the medical researchers agreed on one thing: 14 to 21 days was the minimum length of treatment. Some believed 30 days was best.

I had received eleven days of Doxycycline — four intravenous and seven orally. I had questions about that if the results were positive.

The day arrived and I met with the Infectious Disease expert. A surprise — I was positive for five illnesses: Lyme (Borrelia sp.), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Rickettsia), HGE (Anaplasma phagocytophilum), HME (Ehrlichia chaffeensis) and Micro Pneumonia (M. pneumoniae).

The doctor said that he suspected Lyme all along, but that the high fever and brain swelling I had experienced was more consistent with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

“That one is potentially fatal. Glad we caught it early.”

My thoughts, kept to myself:

Glad we caught it early? I lay ignored in your hospital for 24 hours with a high fever and did not get so much as Tylenol. If my son had not found me, I might have been dead.

You gave me a broad-spectrum antibiotic and ran some inconclusive tests. If the Redhead had not told you that about the tick, we would not be having this conversation. I would be just a patient you treated for a “fever of unknown origin.” 

I told him what I had read. I was concerned that my antibiotic treatment had not been long enough to kill the Lyme bacteria.

“Oh no. You had the standard treatment. I am quite sure we got it. I have treated Lyme before.”

I reminded him that I was a forester with a history of tick bites. Was it possible that I already had Lyme and the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever only brought it to our attention?

“No, I do not think so. No worries. You should have no more issues.”

I would, however, experience a condition called “post viral fatigue syndrome.” I should expect to feel tired and just generally lousy for up to six months before I felt “normal” again. No cause for concern. I had been terribly ill, and my immune system had taken quite a shock. I should gradually begin to feel better if I rested and took care of myself.

Six months passed. I did not feel better. Some days I just wanted to stay in bed, but I waited.

After all, he was the expert.