Had to go to the ER...

My God Jen! Poor you. I just want to give you a big hug! If I were your mom, I'd probably be freaking out. Gosh:(

I think those tests you're running are a great start. It's good to rule out all of those. Your heavy metal test was probably accurate from your hair analysis but it doesn't hurt to get it done again. Make sure you bring those results to your LLMD when you go.

CG,

The weird thing about all of this is - remember when I told you my mom was really sick before she had me? She lost a baby boy 14 months before she had me because she was infected with Toxoplasmosis, Toxic Shock Syndrome, Legionnaire's Disease, and a Staph Infection. I've read about everything and am not too concerned...but the only thing sticking out to me is this: most infants born with Toxoplasmosis do not show symptoms until they are in their teens and then it is neurological stuff - eye problems, mental retardation, etc. And a couple of the other diseases (I think Porphuria) mention neuro stuff too.

If I was born with that infection from my mom...I wonder if they can do anything about it now...she was supposed to wait to get pregnant and oops she didn't.

Yes, Cat Scratch is Bart and HGE/HME is Erlichiosis

this disease is so complicated.. why couldn't it be easy.. Like removing a cancerous mole or something..

it has us second and third guessing ourselves.. It resembles every single disease on the market.. the only thing to do is rule out EVERYTHING!

i'm still waiting for IGENEX and it was 1500 dollars.. I can't believe it! but when it comes back and its neg i will flip my lid, but if it comes back positive, i will be relieved. I have a feeling its coming back Negative.. But i really think I have Bart like crazy.. i have every symptom plus BABS..

I think that's how I got Bart....from a cat scratch. I used to rescue stray cats and kittens and adopt them out. I was holding a kitten that got scared and jumped down off of my shoulder while scratching me on it's way down. I remember feeling achy and flu-like the next day but never put two and two together until now.

CG- how can I IM you or are you on your phone?

It wasn't a panic attack...I was just laying down and it hit me...I know what a panic attack is trust me - I've had them before out of nowhere. I will say my anxiety did not help what was happening, but it wasn't a panic attack.

Now I am concerned because I'm reading all of this stuff about congenital toxoplasmosis and how infants may not show symptoms until later in life (early adulthood) but that most people with latent toxoplasmosis have AIDS! I haven't had an HIV test in three years and I'm scared out of my mind now that maybe I did get it from this guy right before I got sick and now ..... I'm even sicker!

James, I sound just like you! I'm a wreck thinking about this. I was fine to believe that maybe I just had congenital toxoplasmosis from my mom but what if it's more that that...you almost can't find a website about latent toxoplasmosis that doesn't have HIV being the main cause of the infection.

CALLING DR TOMORROW..........!

i'll tell you what, its scary about the hiv thing.. it was always on my mind for 4 years, i just blocked it out, i got sick, and it came full frontal on me.. I had to take the test.. it was horrible and after my results i felt better. i knew i was still sick, but that monster was out of the way..

Jen--just take the test to get it out of the way, ARS is complicated, but you would show symptoms of hiv acute infection 3-4 weeks after exposure.. and even if the guy was hiv positive, there is still like a 1/1000 chance you got it..

I got tested for both 3 years ago but geez that means nothing to me now!

I'm glad your ok Jen let us know what results u get.

Jen,

When I was first sick I went through the same thing as you. I had these "episodes" that weren't panic attacks, but I just thought I was going to die and something really bad was happening. I couldn't explain it, but I would run to the ER to be told to "relax" and given an ativan and sent home with all my tests coming back normal. It went on for a long time and I knew in my heart something was really wrong. Well, it was and it was lyme. I too thought I had HIV, I thought I had a disease no one had ever heard of that they would name after me when I was gone. It was bad and I was obsessed with thinking it was something other than lyme for a long long time. Well, that was 14 years ago and the only think I had was lyme. And believe me, that was enough. I spent so many nights with my heart racing out of control. With sever anxiety and panic and fears. With the mental issues and physical issues, fingers tingling, head tingling. You name it, I had it. There were nights I didn't know if I would make it through the morning. One night I even had my mother stay in bed with me because I didn't want to die alone and I knew I would not make it. Well, of course, I did. It is the lyme that makes you feel this way and think this way. I eventually stopped going to the ER because I knew they wouldn't find anything and couldn't treat what I had. I just had to stay on the abx and somehow find a way to get through each day, sometimes minute by minute. But, after some time, things got better and eventually I did get well. I went on to live a normal life again. I relapsed years later, but here I am with a beautiful 16 month old girl. Granted, I still have some issues with lyme, but nothing like I went through all those years ago. I have my bad days here and there, but for the most part, I am ok and you will be too. I was 23 when I was diagnosed. I got sick at 20 and it took 2 1/2 years on abx along with exercise to get well. It was a long road, but it will happen for you. Try to focus on the lyme and beating it. I don't think you have something else, but ruling things out is good for peace of mind.

I got the rapid blood test done...and it was negative thank GOD. She did it right in front of me and talked to me (asked me sexual health questions) the whole time.

She asked if I wanted a Syphilis test and I said absolutely...so today I was a pin cushion! I've gotten poked 5 times since yesterday!

I am relieved though.