Question: Do I have Lyme Disease based on these facts:
I lived in a county in N. VA that is 30th in the nation for confirmed Lyme Disease cases. My dog tests positive for Lyme Disease. I regularly pick ticks off my body, but have no memory of either the bull's eye rash or any rash for that matter. However, over the last 9 months I have developed a myriad number of serious symptoms.

They became so debilitating that I spent 2 1/2 weeks at the Mayo Clinic (and most my savings). Their diagnosis, possible fibromyalgia, possible costochondritis, possible rheumatoid arthritis. Best suggestion: a course of Methotrexate - an extremely powerful and dangerous drug, used primarily to treat cancer. Another local Rheumatologist, doesn't think it was RA so never went on the Methotrexate.

Local Neurologist, Gastroenterologists, and Cardiologists could not explain all the symptoms, though neurologist did confirm nerve damage in hands and feet.

BTW... all this while I've been paying a local Concierge Doctor to oversee my case.

Frustration and failure from the best the medical community seems to have to offer, forced me to turn to the internet in a desperate attempt to find a disease/condition that fit my extensive list of symptoms. Very quickly, online diagnostic programs started pointing to Lyme Disease, that coupled with my obvious exposure risk had me hopeful that it might be Lyme and that there might actually be a treatment.

In fact, of the 34 major common symptoms I was able to glean from Lyme websites, I had 24 of them, in addition to a couple more that seem specific to me.

Symptoms (In order of Importance/Relevance)

(24 of 34 Major Symptoms of Advanced Untreated Lyme’s Disease)

1.     Chest Pain/Sore Ribs (Severe pain in center of chest around sternum , particularly on underside of ribs where they attach. 6 on the pain scale out of 10 without gabapentin and other pain drugs)
2.     Fever (Daily Cyclical)(Peak MOST Days at 6:00 at 99.5-100.5
3.     Chills (Usually alternating with fever)
4.     Numbness and Tingling in Hands and Feet (burning in left) Confirmed damage by Neurologist.
5.     Bell’s Palsy (No Facial Drupe but Tingling in Ear and Face on Left Side)
6.     Fatigue (Sleep longer than ever before and forced to take naps)
7.     Heart Palpitations (PVC….. Heart Block or Atrioventricular Block)
8.     Panic Anxiety Attacks 9Never had these before onset of symptoms)
9.     Muscle and Joint Aches (Lyme Arthritis)9Occassional
10.     Headache (Occasional but severe and far more common)
11.     Swollen Glands (not in neck, but various places on chest, painful to the touch).
12.     Ringing in Ear/Hearing Loss (Ringing far more pronounced - Hearing loss confirmed by tests)
13.     Short Term Memory Loss
14.     Concentration Problems
15.     Light Headedness
16.     Eye Pain/Sensitivity/Floaters (later observed by Ophthalmologist)
17.     Irritability
18.     Depression
19.     Loss of Libido
20.     Abdominal Pain
21.     Jaw Pain (TMJ)
22.     Sleep Disturbance
23.     Weight Change
24.     Borrelial Lymphocytoma (at least two observed)

Symptoms I DON’T SEEM TO HAVE

25.     No Bull’s eye Rash
26.     No Secondary Rash
27.     No Swelling of Neck Glands
28.     No Neck Stiffness or “Neck Cracking”
29.     No Unusual Back Pain (except 2 spots in back between clavicles)
30.     No Swelling of Knees (though maybe hip)
31.     No Shooting Pains that Disturb Sleep
32.     No UNUSUAL Gastronomical (ulcer type pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, Difficulty eating Bowel Change)
33.     Balance Issues
34.     ACA