Inside Lyme Podcast with Dr. Daniel Cameron
You are listening to a show dedicated to discussing actual cases. Dr. Cameron has been treating adolescents and adults with Lyme disease and related tick-borne infections for more than 30 years. The advice given is general and not intended as specific advice as to any particular patient. If you require specific advice, you will need to seek that advice from an experienced professional.
Inside Lyme Podcast with Dr. Daniel Cameron
Top ten Lyme disease symptoms in my practice
Welcome! Today, we'll explore the top ten symptoms of Lyme disease that I've encountered in my practice, highlighting the case of a patient who experienced them.
Case Study: A 34-Year-Old Man's Journey
He was a 34-year-old man who had been chronically ill for 14 months. He had seen his primary care physician and various specialists, but multiple conditions were ruled out. Despite some improvement with symptomatic treatments, he couldn't work and struggled to care for his family. He didn’t realize his symptoms were consistent with Lyme disease and a tick-borne co-infection.
Top Ten Lyme Disease Symptoms
Here are the top ten Lyme disease symptoms I've seen in my practice:
1. Exhaustion: Severe fatigue that doesn't improve with rest.
2. Poor Sleep: Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or feeling rested.
3. Impaired Concentration: Difficulty focusing and memory problems.
4. Headaches: Persistent and severe headaches.
5. Mood Disturbance: Irritability, anxiety, depression, and mood swings.
6. Neck Pain: Stiffness and pain in the neck.
7. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): Lightheadedness, rapid heartbeat upon standing.
8. Nausea and Constipation: Gastrointestinal issues.
9. Sensitivity to Light, Sound, Heat, and Cold: Heightened sensitivity to environmental stimuli.
10. Joint Pain and Numbness: Migratory joint pain and tingling or numbness in the hands and feet.
Additional Symptoms
He also experienced:
- Distorted vision and pain behind his eyes
- Chest and back pain
- Ringing in his ears (tinnitus)
- Night sweats and air hunger
- Testicle pain
He thought his head pressure was related to sinusitis, but ENT evaluations and a CT scan were negative. He attributed his exhaustion to chronic fatigue syndrome and poor concentration to fatigue and poor sleep. He didn’t connect his sensitivity to light, sound, heat, and cold to his illness.
He couldn't understand the cause of his irritability, sadness, anxiety, and despair. He didn’t know that his lightheadedness, nausea, and constipation could be linked to an autonomic immune response to Lyme disease. He also didn't realize that the burning in his hands and feet and migratory joint pain were related to his illness.
Treatment and Recovery
His chronic illness resolved with a combination of Malarone and Zithromax after failing a course of doxycycline. This case highlights the importance of recognizing the diverse and often unexpected symptoms of Lyme disease.
Conclusion
Understanding these symptoms can help in the early diagnosis and effective treatment of Lyme disease. If you or someone you know has unexplained symptoms, consider consulting a Lyme-literate doctor. Thank you for watching, and stay tuned for more insights on Lyme disease.