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Can you have a stroke from lyme disease?
About an hour after I woke up on the 4th of July I lost all movement in my left hand and wrist Still had all feeling and no numbness in my face either. The next day I went to the hospital were they ran no tests and diagnosed me with radial palsy, put a splint on and sent me home. Family Doctor agreed, sent me to a Neurologist, had me get a brain scan and told me I did have a stroke. He's on vacation till the 31st, meanwhile my family doctor tells me heart & throat MRI's are good, blood tests came back positive for lyme disease. He told me the Neurologist is more qualified but reading my brain scan he still doesn't think I had a stroke. Anybody ever heard of anything like that? It's going to be a long 10 days. I have gotten a lot of the movement back in my hand. Yesterday even the pinky started moving.
Yes, I'd say you sure could have a stroke from Lyme. One reason I say this is because Lyme often affects the heart - its rhythms and contractility (strength of contraction). Lyme can cause arrhythmias (heart rhythm abnormalities) which can result in increased clotting - as can happen in atrial fibrillation where blood pools in the atria causing clots to form which could go to the brain and cause stroke.
Also, did you know that Lyme often brings about hypercoagulation (thick blood) which causes your blood to clot more quickly than normal and also slows down blood flow, especially in the smaller blood vessels. Anytime you have increased clot formation risk you have a greater risk of stroke. Many I know who have Lyme disease are on blood thinners - prescription or otherwise.
We who have Chronic Lyme Disease know that Lyme often takes refuge in our brains - colonizing them and causing us all kinds of mental dysfunction - as well as possible physical damage of the brain which might also predispose us to stroke.
Finally, Lyme (and antibiotics used to treat it) can damage the kidneys - causing decreased concentration of urine and a build-up of potassium and other electrolytes in the blood which can adversely affect the heart's rhythms and function which can, in turn, affect the brain.
There may be additional ways that Lyme predisposes to stroke. It seems many with Lyme have had strokes or, at least, have had stroke-like symptoms.
I'm not a doctor, but you don't have to be a doctor to be able to read and to know what is happening to others who have Chronic Lyme disease. Having had Chronic Lyme Disease, myself, for many years, stroke is one of my biggest concerns since I, too, often have stroke-like symptoms - especially at night when my pulse and blood pressure drop quite low.
You might consider having an ISAC (Immune System Activation of Coagulation) test done to assess your hypercoagulation status. Most strokes are caused by emboli (clots) but some are caused by hemorrhage (result of too much blood-thinning). I know that Hemex Labs do ISAC.
Good luck to you matthaines1369! Keep on researching!
Borrelian
Also, did you know that Lyme often brings about hypercoagulation (thick blood) which causes your blood to clot more quickly than normal and also slows down blood flow, especially in the smaller blood vessels. Anytime you have increased clot formation risk you have a greater risk of stroke. Many I know who have Lyme disease are on blood thinners - prescription or otherwise.
We who have Chronic Lyme Disease know that Lyme often takes refuge in our brains - colonizing them and causing us all kinds of mental dysfunction - as well as possible physical damage of the brain which might also predispose us to stroke.
Finally, Lyme (and antibiotics used to treat it) can damage the kidneys - causing decreased concentration of urine and a build-up of potassium and other electrolytes in the blood which can adversely affect the heart's rhythms and function which can, in turn, affect the brain.
There may be additional ways that Lyme predisposes to stroke. It seems many with Lyme have had strokes or, at least, have had stroke-like symptoms.
I'm not a doctor, but you don't have to be a doctor to be able to read and to know what is happening to others who have Chronic Lyme disease. Having had Chronic Lyme Disease, myself, for many years, stroke is one of my biggest concerns since I, too, often have stroke-like symptoms - especially at night when my pulse and blood pressure drop quite low.
You might consider having an ISAC (Immune System Activation of Coagulation) test done to assess your hypercoagulation status. Most strokes are caused by emboli (clots) but some are caused by hemorrhage (result of too much blood-thinning). I know that Hemex Labs do ISAC.
Good luck to you matthaines1369! Keep on researching!
Borrelian
I had a mini stroke I was told, when I first got really sick with Lyme and Bart's. I lost strength in my arms and legs. I do know of people now that have them a lot. Mine were due to Bartonella lesions on my brain but in my case I was told I had MS too. Nobody recognized Lyme.
It's good that the neurologist asked about Lyme! I would also want to know more about the possible stroke aspect.
It is possible that you have found a rare neurologist who thinks broad thoughts about Lyme disease, so do keep an open mind as things progress. He may be all you need.
But because you are still in the 'information gathering' phase about your situation, I would not wait to look for a Lyme doctor, so that as the Lyme doc's data comes in, it can be used in making your decisions and deciding directions.
I see your profile puts you in Michigan. I just searched online for
--- michigan lyme disease association ---
and found some promising links, including
--- mlda [dot] org / Resources / SupportGroups [dot] aspx ---
MLDA is short for Michigan Lyme Disease Association, so you might start there looking for advice, support, and referrals to Lyme docs.
=================================================
As mentioned above, pursuing the neurology angle and the infectious disease angle at the same time may be quite worthwhile, rather than pursue one and then the other -- the sooner a diagnosis is confirmed, the better -- and treatment can begin. If that can be done by the same MD, that's better, but if you have to pursue a diagnosis on two tracks (Lyme and other tickborne infections), you may at the same time identify an MD who could treat all of the multiple infections you may have.
This sounds squirrely, I know, but the time to have a Lyme doc and a not-Lyme doc is (imo) before you begin treatment, since taking meds from two different docs at the same time is probably not a good idea. Also, it may be better to treat infection A and then infection B (rather than B and then A), so you need to know the whole universe of what you've got. My doc treated me first for babesiosis and then for Lyme, since 'babs' treatment is a straighter shot than Lyme, and there may be other considerations only the docs would know.
Hope this makes sense. No one here that I know of is medically trained, but we've all been through Lyme and one or more co-infections the tick often carry, so we've been through a lot of variations on the 'Lyme' theme.
Take care -- let us know how we can help.
It is possible that you have found a rare neurologist who thinks broad thoughts about Lyme disease, so do keep an open mind as things progress. He may be all you need.
But because you are still in the 'information gathering' phase about your situation, I would not wait to look for a Lyme doctor, so that as the Lyme doc's data comes in, it can be used in making your decisions and deciding directions.
I see your profile puts you in Michigan. I just searched online for
--- michigan lyme disease association ---
and found some promising links, including
--- mlda [dot] org / Resources / SupportGroups [dot] aspx ---
MLDA is short for Michigan Lyme Disease Association, so you might start there looking for advice, support, and referrals to Lyme docs.
=================================================
As mentioned above, pursuing the neurology angle and the infectious disease angle at the same time may be quite worthwhile, rather than pursue one and then the other -- the sooner a diagnosis is confirmed, the better -- and treatment can begin. If that can be done by the same MD, that's better, but if you have to pursue a diagnosis on two tracks (Lyme and other tickborne infections), you may at the same time identify an MD who could treat all of the multiple infections you may have.
This sounds squirrely, I know, but the time to have a Lyme doc and a not-Lyme doc is (imo) before you begin treatment, since taking meds from two different docs at the same time is probably not a good idea. Also, it may be better to treat infection A and then infection B (rather than B and then A), so you need to know the whole universe of what you've got. My doc treated me first for babesiosis and then for Lyme, since 'babs' treatment is a straighter shot than Lyme, and there may be other considerations only the docs would know.
Hope this makes sense. No one here that I know of is medically trained, but we've all been through Lyme and one or more co-infections the tick often carry, so we've been through a lot of variations on the 'Lyme' theme.
Take care -- let us know how we can help.
thnx Jackiecalifornia and I look into that. and actually the first questions the neurologist asked me were lyme disease related. I guess my biggest concern is did I have a stroke or not? he seems to be the only one that thinks so. wait it out is my only option but I could go see a lyme specialist in the meantime, ur right
Welcome to MedHelp --
-- but so sorry to hear what you have been going through. I have not heard of anyone with the specific symptoms you have had, but when Lyme is involved, it can have many unexpected manifestations. That you are getting movement back is excellent!
The best advice I could give you is to find a Lyme specialist to cover that side of things for you. Neurologists, even well-meaning ones, are unfortunately known for dismissing Lyme disease as irrelevant. I hope your neuro has a more open mind, but in your situation, I would find a Lyme specialist for another, separate workup.
In the meantime, in your situation I personally would not take any steroid-type medication. It is a common action that some docs take when they misinterpret an ailment as something other than Lyme, but steroids are not good for someone with Lyme, because steroids suppress the immune system. That is bad in Lyme, because Lyme is a bacterial infection that needs the immune system up and running.
I am not medically trained and usually am not quite so blunt here about what I would do and not do, but want to alert you that there is a split in the medical community, and neurologists simply don't have Lyme on their radar in a serious fashion, and the patients are stuck in the middle.
You do not give any indication of what area you live in or near, but if you would like to share that with us ("near Des Moines"), we can perhaps give you some ideas of Lyme specialists you might be able to find near you for a consultation.
If it were I, I would pursue both tracks: see the neuro, *and* find a Lyme doc. Then decide what course of action to take, but if it were I, I would try to avoid immune-suppressing medications like steroids until Lyme is ruled out.
Take care, sending you all good wishes --
-- but so sorry to hear what you have been going through. I have not heard of anyone with the specific symptoms you have had, but when Lyme is involved, it can have many unexpected manifestations. That you are getting movement back is excellent!
The best advice I could give you is to find a Lyme specialist to cover that side of things for you. Neurologists, even well-meaning ones, are unfortunately known for dismissing Lyme disease as irrelevant. I hope your neuro has a more open mind, but in your situation, I would find a Lyme specialist for another, separate workup.
In the meantime, in your situation I personally would not take any steroid-type medication. It is a common action that some docs take when they misinterpret an ailment as something other than Lyme, but steroids are not good for someone with Lyme, because steroids suppress the immune system. That is bad in Lyme, because Lyme is a bacterial infection that needs the immune system up and running.
I am not medically trained and usually am not quite so blunt here about what I would do and not do, but want to alert you that there is a split in the medical community, and neurologists simply don't have Lyme on their radar in a serious fashion, and the patients are stuck in the middle.
You do not give any indication of what area you live in or near, but if you would like to share that with us ("near Des Moines"), we can perhaps give you some ideas of Lyme specialists you might be able to find near you for a consultation.
If it were I, I would pursue both tracks: see the neuro, *and* find a Lyme doc. Then decide what course of action to take, but if it were I, I would try to avoid immune-suppressing medications like steroids until Lyme is ruled out.
Take care, sending you all good wishes --
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