Has anyone had these neurological side effects?

[megantea]

I already know that I have lyme disease, I was diagnosed about a year ago but have had no side effects other than the initial sickness from it.
Recently (for the past week or so) I've been having the sensation of bugs crawling on me. When I feel it, I'm always 100% positive that there's something on me. I look down to swat it away and there is never anything there. I've also been having the sensation of being bit by bugs or pricked by a tiny needle but there is never any evidence (bug or bug bite) of it happening. I was starting to feel crazy about it until I was doing some research and found that these may be side effects from lyme disease. Has anyone else experienced these?

[helyanna]

I'd like to call my crawling symptom on the chin as "paresthesia" or numbness. The area of the symptom has enlarged to the same side of the neck. I found by Google "numb chin syndrome". And there is also Lyme in the list of possible causes:

http://amarillo.com/stories/2004/09/14/fea_drgott.shtml
"Dear Reader: I thank you for writing. As described in the medical journal Archives of Internal Medicine (June 28, 2004), numb chin syndrome - which was first reported 170 years ago - is an accurate marker of dental problems, oral tumors, jaw bone infection, metastatic breast cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, melanoma, multiple myeloma, Lyme disease, syphilis, sarcomas or cancer of the prostate, lung or kidney, and a host of other diseases.
In short, it must not be ignored. Patients with numb chin syndrome need aggressive medical intervention."

I have also had tickle on the same (right) side of my neck. In the left side of the neck I have pressure sensation early in the mornings. It may result  from the chronic tonsillitis and possile trapping of material within or behind in the left tonsil. Nobody knows. I have not yet started the prescribed Kefexin.

[helyanna]

I have had crawling sensations a couple of times. Previously I had them in my throat. On last week I had them on the right side of my chin for a few days. I had to sweep my chin for several times, but nothing was there. My lyme is not sure.

[Ricobord]

I wouldn't call your crawling sensations "side effects" of Lyme.  I'd call them symptoms.  Those particular neuro symptoms (and skin lesions) can also be symptoms of Bartonella.  There's a lot of overlap in symptoms between the two diseases.  They need different medications, so it's possible that undertreated Lyme or Morgellon's is flaring up, or that the Doxy was insufficient to kill off the Bartonella, and it's flaring up.

Morgellon's is a particular flavor of Lyme that isn't well understood or studied, because the medical establishment and CDC still call it "delusional parasitosis," telling its sufferers that they need psychiatric care and anti-depressants.  Dr. Rafael Stricker and some of his colleagues have discovered the Lyme Disease bacteria in the skin lesions, though, proving it's caused by either Lyme alone, or Lyme in conjunction with another still unknown bug.  Experienced LLMDs usually treat Morgellon's aggressively as if it were Lyme.

I also recommend you find yourself a good LLMD and get checked out for Lyme, Morgellon's, and Bartonella.

[JackieCalifornia]

Good catch, mojo!!!

And to megantea, doxycycline is the first line of treatment given to someone with Lyme, but unless it is given within a short time (days) of the infection, it may not be effective.  In addition, if you have other disease(s) the 'Lyme' ticks brought along, doxy may not work against it/them at all.  

All the bonus infections Lyme can drag along with it are called 'co-infections' as a group, for easy reference, but they often need separate testing and medication from Lyme and from each other.  A Lyme doc will know all that.  (For example, I had Lyme and babesiosis, which is like malaria.  I was treated with two completely different sets of meds, and am fine now.)

You might want to check back with the doc who treated you with doxy and see what s/he proposes about your possible additional infection, but if s/he blows you off, then I'd go to another doc, and one that is clearly a Lyme specialist.  We can give you some leads on how to do that if you need the help (because being ill isn't enough, huh).

Being in beautiful Asheville, you must also have lots of amazing bugs.  Bitter with the sweet.  Stay in touch!  Let us know how you do.

Let us know how we can help.

   ===>>> And Mojo wins the most excellent Lyme prize today!!! <<<===

[megantea]

I just looked up the symptoms of Morgellons and I have experienced almost every single one of them. I've had a couple red marks/bites that came out of no where, with no memory of ever being bit there as well. I will look more into it, thank you so much!

[megantea]

I was on doxycycline for treatment. I did have a recent bite that I don't remember getting and I just ignored it, as it didn't seem infected or anything to worry about. But I will get it checked out. Thanks!

[mojogal]

Hi, your symptoms sound like Morgellons a co-infection of Lyme. I would google it and look at the symptoms. You will need to see a LLMD, Lyme literate Dr and start treatment.

[JackieCalifornia]

Welcome to MedHelp Lyme --

Everyone's symptoms are a bit (or a lot) different, depending on what co-infections the Lyme brought with it, on the state of one's immune system (strong or weak), what treatments/meds you've had already, etc.

Were you diagnosed for any other infections that might have come from the same tick that gave you Lyme?  

And it's also possible (hate to say it) but you could have gotten another bite again recently and gotten something new.  It is that time of year.

Definitely don't assume you're crazy.  

.... but a bigger question is whether you were treated for the Lyme you were diagnosed with last year:  "have had no side effects other than the initial sickness from it." -- ?