We are home - update in 153: DS Admitted into Hospital

[Melbel]

Signed!

Thanks!!!

Here is some information on prevention for anyone interested:

Avoiding a tick bite remains the first step in preventing chronic Lyme disease. One needn’t have been “hiking in the woods” in order to be bitten by a tick. There can be ticks wherever there is grass of vegetation, and tick bites can happen any time of the year.

Avoid tick-infested areas, such as leaf litter under trees. Avoid brushing against long grasses and brush on edges of paths. Don’t sit on stumps or fallen logs.

Wear light-colored long pants and long sleeves so you can easily see any ticks.
Tuck shirt into pants and tuck pants into socks.

Use DEET on skin and treat clothing with spray containing permethrin.

Do a thorough tick check upon returning inside and for several days following exposure. Be sure to check between fingers and toes, in the hair, and other cracks/crevices.

Check bedding for several days following exposure for ticks that drop off.

Ticks, especially nymphal ticks, are tiny (the size of a poppy seed). Find and remove them before they bite.

Putting your clothing in a clothes dryer at high heat will kill ticks in about 30 minutes.

There are products that can be used outdoors to kill ticks. For example, Damminix consists of cotton balls soaked in permethrin insecticide inside cardboard tubes that are placed around property where mice may live (wood piles, stone walls, etc.). The cotton will be used by mice building their nests. The permethrin in the cotton kills the ticks on the mice with minimal danger to people, pets, or wildlife. Some communities are experimenting with deer feeders that apply insecticide to the deer as they eat. Tick traps are also commercially available. Some lawn care companies can spray your yard with an EPA-approved insecticide.

Even if you rarely go outside, you can still become infected if your pets bring ticks into the house, and they crawl unknowingly onto you from them. Veterinarians recommend a product like Preventic collars, Frontline, and Top Spot to minimize the risk.

If you or the kids ever develop a bullseye type rash, start treatment immediately (not present in many Lyme cases, but it is highly indicative if it is; Lyme can present with a variety of rashes or none at all).

If you are bit by a tick, be sure to properly remove the tick (see: http://www.lymedisease.org/lyme101/p...revention.html), and save the tick for testing at a lab such as iGenex.

Considering that Lyme tests given to those who were recently bitten are extremely inaccurate and that the infection can become disseminated within a matter of days, I personally believe you are better treating with antibiotics on a prophylactic basis if bitten by a deer tick. Each family will need to weigh the risks/benefits.

[MamaMolly]

Signed!

[Gena]

So sorry your DS is having such a rough time. I hope he's feeling better soon.

Hugs & prayers for your family.

[mom2one]

Signed also.

Keeping the prayers coming for your family.

[Melbel]

We remain very thankful for all of the support, thoughts and prayers. DS has remained stable throughout the day and we expect for him to be discharged sometime this evening after the mitochondrial specialist makes his rounds about 5 PM or so. He is able to walk and talk, but remains very fatigued and dizzy. When I spoke to the specialist on the phone, he confirmed that DS's blood tests indicate two separate mitochondrial disorders (acidosis and fatty oxidation disorder), in all likelihood, triggered by his Lyme infection. We will know much more once we get the results from some of his tests from last night. We are very grateful to have a skilled specialist on his case to diagnose and treat these conditions. Many of the symptoms of these disorders overlap with Lyme Disease, but will need to be treated differently to allow him to recover.

[crl]

I am glad you are getting good medical care. Continued prayers for your son and family.

Catherine

[hellokitty]

Melbel, I'm glad he is going home. This may sound weird, but due to your vast knowledge and experience about Lyme disease, I think that you should write a book. I would buy a copy, and I know others here would too. I find your posts so informative, I found myself wondering how to get all of this info in one easy to access source.

[sarahsthreads]

Melbel, I'm glad he is going home. This may sound weird, but due to your vast knowledge and experience about Lyme disease, I think that you should write a book. I would buy a copy, and I know others here would too. I find your posts so informative, I found myself wondering how to get all of this info in one easy to access source.

I agree with this! I am so glad your DS is on the upswing, and I am so impressed with how much knowledge you've gathered to help your son, yourself and your whole family!

Sarah

[cntrymoon2]

If anyone is willing to sign a petition seeking to have the Lyme Disease testing/treatment guidelines updated by a panel that includes doctors who treat chronic Lyme disease and eliminates conflicts of interest (the panel that wrote the current guidelines has been shown to have significant conflicts of interest based upon ties to insurance industry, patents, and big pharma), we would greatly appreciate it! http://www.lymedisease.org/petitionscript/index.php

Melbel, please, please start a new thread asking people to sign the petition! I almost missed the request and I know so many of us here are happy to help in this small way. It's just so important. Your story about your tireless crusading for answers in your son's health crisis has touched many of us.
Please keep us updated. Lots of prayers for you and your family.

[GvilleGirl]

Melbel, please, please start a new thread asking people to sign the petition! I almost missed the request and I know so many of us here are happy to help in this small way. It's just so important. Your story about your tireless crusading for answers in your son's health crisis has touched many of us.
Please keep us updated. Lots of prayers for you and your family.

Signed for you.