Can I still work while I treat?

Hello everyone,

 

I am not sure how to move forward at this point. My IgeneX test says I am positive for Lyme. Of course based on the CDC standards I am negative. The LLMD who signed off on the IgeneX tests thinks I have MS not Lyme. I have already had two MS specialists at the Cleveland Clininc tell me I don’t have MS based on my lumbar puncture and other tests/symptoms. I have ordered what I need for Buhner’s herbal protocol but I don’t think I’ll be able to work while I heal based on what I’ve read about herxing. My job does offer 6 months of short term disability but of course I need a doc to sign off on that. LLMDs are in short supply in my area. If I could only find a doc to help me and sign off on the papers, my life would be so much easier and I wouldn’t have to worry about losing my job of 8 years. Does anyone have any suggestions?

So sorry for all that you are going through.

I don't understand... you said your IgeneX came back positive but your LLMD still thinks it's MS? If that is true, I say run fast and far away from that LLMD and find a new one. That just doesn't make sense to me.

I guess it also depends on what kind of work you do. I work full time as an accountant so I just sit at a desk all day. I have missed 1 day of work because of this since last June. I never really herxed.. .my symptoms just resolve or stay. There are days that are worse than others but since I can just sit all day, I suffer through them. My worse symptom is dizziness and that has never gone away so I suffer with that every day at work.

I sit at a desk all day too. Unfortunately This has been causing vision issues in my one good eye. I am already legally blind in my other eye. I guesss I'll just muscle through it.

I agree about the LLMD. I would like to find anothe rone but it's almost impossible and very expensive to just see one. I have to wait for another few paychecks. I'm completley broke from the last 7 months of doctors and tests. :-(

Hi Akkami, I took one month off (this was before I was diagnosed...I was so sick from Nov-Dec 2012). But during that month while we waited for my results to come back I started on supplements, detoxed (colonics, infrared, etc). I went back to work...still sick and just got through each day with prayer...tons of it. I wasn't able to work a full 40 hours a week between needing to rest and appointments. Fast forward...August 2013 I started working 40 hours a week again and was fine. I now take a couple of hours off a week for physical therapy and other appts I do over my lunch break.

It is a process...because between end of Dec 2012 through March 2013 I was very ill and working. I had no choice. But I did it...do what you can and if your body just can't handle it look into other options. If you do decide to stay and work get covered under FMLA so you are legally protected and so is your job I hope this helps.

Hi Akkami,

I have been enduring treatment since Nov 2013. I too have a desk job, and thus far have only missed a Friday due to severe herxing. Not to say that herxing isn't horrible, but the one other time it happened, I managed to push through. Detoxing is extremely important, and definitely helps.

Good luck with your treatment! And I hope that you don't have any episodes or herxes bad enough to have to take a long period of time off of work.

Just curious why your original LLMD thought you had MS vs Lyme?