April 2, 2008 I was experiencing yet another alarming health issue. Severe chest pain came back to haunt me as it did in 2005 sending me back to the Emergency Room. Along with my piercing chest pain, I was also having dizzy spells. Several days prior to this incident, I found myself struggling with what I thought was major indigestion. However, on this evening, my throat was spasming. I could not swallow my saliva. It felt as if I had something stuck in my throat that would not dislodge. The pain in my chest was a squeezing, piercing pain. Again, as in 2005, the thought of a heart attack crossed my mind. Alarmed, I woke my husband up and off to the ER we went.
Upon entering the Emergency Room, they skipped the Triage step and immediately set me up in a room. They quickly hooked me up to various machines with tubes, alarms, and wires. Technicians racing in and out of the room with looks of concern on their faces, all the while trying to keep me calm. The doctor’s first thought was ‘a heart attack’ and an EKG was performed. Vials of blood were taken for testing. They also performed some other type of stress test, that I can not recall what they referred to it as. (Unfortunately I did not write it down in my notebook!)
Once again I heard the words, “Your EKG does not show ‘anything life threatening’.” ”Your blood work is normal EXCEPT for some deficiencies in Potassium, Magnesium, B 12 and you are very anemic.” So… they considered my blood work to be normal? ”Here we go again,” I said to myself. I explained the other symptoms I was experiencing; the spasm feeling in my throat, not being able to swallow, indigestion and heartburn and dizziness upon standing. I did not fail to mention my Lyme Disease treatment in 2004, along with my concern that there have been multiple health issues since the onset on my Lyme Disease and treatment. My valuable information about Lyme Disease went in one ear and out the other of the medical team treating me. Fortunately, they decided to admit me into the hospital for observation.
The following morning, I underwent an Upper GI (gastrointestinal) Endoscopy. The results showed that I had ulcers of various sizes in my esophagus and stomach. The spasms were known as Esophageal Spasms.
In the recovery room, while I was coming out of anesthesia, I could hear the Gastrointestinal doctor talking to my husband. ”Your wife has ulcers in her esophagus and stomach, due to taking too much ibuprofen.” Hearing that, I tried to speak, but still heavily sedated, I couldn’t. I felt my frustration increase in my numb body. My husband spoke for me. ”My wife does NOT take ibuprofen. Her father has renal failure. She refuses to take anything that will/can harm her kidneys.” The doctor INSISTED my ulcers were “PILL INDUCED from over use of IBUPROFEN!” He quickly suggested I set up a colonoscopy. He never once suggested other tests prior to a colonoscopy such as a stool sample, etc. He simply wanted to perform a colonoscopy ASAP. Before leaving the hospital, I set up an appointment for a colonoscopy to appease the GI doctor. However, my husband and I wanted to discuss the issue further before I followed through with the procedure.
I was sent home from the hospital on April 4, 2008 with thoughts whirling through my mind. ”What in Heaven’s name is going on with me?” ”I have always been a healthy, active person prior to Lyme Disease.” Then the thought of the GI doctor’s ‘quick’ suggestion for a colonoscopy without ordering any other tests was puzzling to me. Once again, my ‘gut’ was telling me something just wasn’t right. I called the GI doctor’s office and canceled my colonoscopy appointment.
Upon further personal research I found that gastrological problems are VERY common in patients afflicted with Lyme Disease and continue to get worse the longer you are infected. My research also produced some other very important information. People infected with Lyme Disease have very low potassium levels, low magnesium levels, low B12 and are often anemic. Ok, so WHY didn’t that raise a RED flag in the Emergency Room? I had unsatisfactory blood test results and had provided important information about my previous Lyme Disease diagnosis and treatment, yet no one put two and two together.
WHY does this happen? I will tell you why. The average medical doctor and the majority of the medical community have not taken the time to learn more about Lyme Disease, Chronic Lyme Disease and Co-Infections. Lyme Disease is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing epidemics. It is a “TICKing” Time Bomb. MY question is, ”WHY are they NOT taking the time to learn about Lyme Disease, Chronic Lyme Disease and Co-Infections?” WHY?
If EVERYONE, not only the medical community, but EVERYONE would take the time to educate themselves about Lyme Disease, there would be fewer misdiagnosed cases. Therefore, treatment could be started immediately, with less chance of it becoming Chronic Lyme Disease. There would be fewer frustrated people afflicted with this debilitating disease committing suicide. There would be less people dying because the lyme infection has taken over all of their vital organs. There would be more people protecting themselves from contracting Lyme Disease. There would be more Lyme Disease AWARENESS!
It is time that Lyme Disease is FULLY recognized as a LIFE THREATENING DISEASE……. just as Cancer, AIDS, Lupus, MS and others are.
http://www.cafepress.com/DontTICKmeOff1
It is time to educate ourselves and others.
It is time to step up and be heard.
It is TYME to Find a CURE for LYME.