Posted 9/1/2017 1:11 PM (GMT -5)
Several years ago, I was very ill for someone in their mid-30's. This followed a particularly active time when I was doing a lot of off-road races (mud races, obstacle course races). I'm also a mountain biker. At that time, I didn't want to use any chemicals, so unfortunately I didn't big spray. I did once find ticks on my shoe, but never on me. Later I developed a thyroid and adrenal problem, plus lots of pain. I thought the pain was from getting hurt doing Crossfit, but it never went away. I was treated for the thyroid problem, but the meds made me worse. I completely changed my lifestyle and tried to mostly rest to recover the adrenals.
It was suggested that I should pursue Lyme. My first WB test was inconclusive, but positive for one or two strains exclusive to Lyme, so my doc put me on antibiotics. I stayed on them for roughly 6 months and didn't feel I was getting better, so I stopped them. A few months later, I picked up the flu despite the flu shot and I was knocked down for the better part of 2 months. I asked the doc to go back to the antibiotics, thinking I made a mistake and should have stayed on them. Maybe it was time or maybe it was the antibiotic, but I slowly recovered, however my thyroid was way off again. Doc sent me to both an endo and a ID doc. The endo couldn't find any problems with my endocrine system. The ID doc agreed that I displayed all the symptoms of Lyme, gave me another WB test which was inconclusive but showed a different strain this time. She switched up my antibiotics and also put me on midodrine for orthostatic intolerance, plus encouraged me to get back into exercising to help raise my blood pressure. I still felt the antibiotics did nothing, but the midodrine helped me get back into exercise. I have only improved since and am even off the midodrine now.
BUT, I am not 100%. Besides symptoms of still having some pain on and off, esp in the neck and shoulders and the inability to sleep without a cocktail of drugs, supplements, earplugs and hubby in another bed, my sensitivity to odors continues to gradually worsen. No one can figure out why. I've seen neurologists and ENT's and no one has an answer or a "cure". I'm thinking that this is possibly a leftover symptom from having possible Lyme. It started at the same time I started having other Lyme symptoms.
Does the smell/odor/chemical sensitivity ever go away? It makes me so miserable.
TIA for any helpful answers and I wish you all the best in your Lyme journey!