Hi - I'm a 51 yr old, mother of two teens, who has done very physical work all my life.
I've now been a dog groomer/trainer for over 20 years and thought I had always been very careful where ticks were concerned. Of course, after living in country settings, spending my childhood outside, on horseback, and with dogs and cats, I've come into contact with ticks, just had not ever found a rash, or 'bullseye' reaction.
About 5 yrs ago, after moving to Oregon from California, I started experiencing moderate to severe swelling, stiffness and joint pain in my hands. I assumed it was an understandable result of 20-30 yrs of very hard use of my hands, and possibly arthritis. The whole first year I self-treated my pain with Arthritis Strength Tylenol (about 6-10/day). When that quit relieving my pain, I found a local Naturopath (I've never been a conventional / Western medicine fan) who helped me explore therapies and diet changes for my joint pain, gastrointestinal issues, and other problems I saw as minor.
Blood work in 2007 turned up serious issues with my liver function, a thyroid problem, but a low (4) result for Rheumatoid Arthritis, which was becoming a suspected problem after my older sister called in 2007 to tell me she had been diagnosed with RA. Changes in diet (Anti-Inflammatory Diet)and adding specific supplements gave me very good results and relief from alot of my pain for almost a year, though as time has gone by I have gone deeper and deeper into depression, mood swings, fatigue, increase arthritis-like pain throughout my WHOLE body, and especially in my neck, lower back, legs and feet.
A regular eye exam in 2009 found unecplained bleeding in one retina, and the 'floaters' in my field of vision have increased monthly.
The last two months have brought even more new symptoms: tinnitus (ringing in ears), pain 'in' my eyes, sharp pains in and behind my ears, unexplained sore throats, and enlarged lymph glands, recurring/unexplained stomach pains, leg cramping, increased foot pain, mental confusion....ugh, the list seems endless and I feel like I am going nuts! as every part of my body feels like it is failing!!!
Last week, after what I thought was an RA flare,( a whole day of 102 degree temp, and immobilizing pain...I now realize this was the third such episode - put off as oncoming flu in past) my Naturopath has suggested that everything points to Lyme Disease. (Something he probably would have suggested earlier, had I gone to him with my increasing number of symptoms, and occurrences). I just kept feeling like a whiner, like I was lazy, etc, etc., and was so tired of complaining all the time...
Our last conversation just took place this past week, and I have been researching everywhere I can on the internet this weekend, trying to learn all I can, so I can make more educated decisions regarding testing (which is a money issue) and treatment.(ok, it's ALL a money issue...)
Has anyone here pursued a 'Natural', Naturopathic, or Homeopathic treatment? My Dr. is NOT against using anti-biotics, and will suggest them if he thinks they are indicated in a case. I just wondered what other treatments might have been tried and what success was achieved.
Thank you for plowing through all this, and for any information anyone can give.