underactive thyroid problems can they mimick lyme disease

I meant to give you the link to read about lyme disease and thyroid problems. The link I am giving you is the one that I read earlier this evening. http://www.well-women.com/Lyme.html

Also here is a link so that you can see the symptoms of lyme disease.
http://www.canlyme.com/patsymptoms.html

I have been having a lot of problems lately. My ankles and feet tend to swell up a lot, trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, tingling feeling in different parts of my body, rapid heart beat, a lot of congestion in my throat, the feeling of a lump in my throat on and off, depression, anixety attacks, feeling like my nerves are on edge most of the time, ringing in my ears, and more. After a few months of treating what was to seem like arthritis in my knees my doctor has sent me for various blood tests. The tests include both thyroid and lyme disease. So far the ones that have come back show an abnormal liver function and high triglycerides which from what I have read can come from both lyme disease and hypothyroidism. Also from what I have read they have found that it is not only ticks that carry lyme disease. You can get it from a flea or fly(green head) bite as well. As lyme disease can cause you to develope thyroid problems down the line. Lyme disease can be transmitted from one person to another through sexual contact. Since my doctor sent me for these tests last week I have been doing a lot of reading about it. Earlier this evening I found this site that help me to understand a lot about lyme disease and how so many things are misdiagnosed by doctors. I would suggest that you get tested for lyme disease to be on the safe side.

Sorry to hear what you are going through. I think you should probably try to find a doctor in your area from this organization www.acam.org these doctors are trained to think outside the box and have very successful practices with patients like you who could not find answers via the traditional route. Also if you like to read here is what I believe to be the best book written on thyroid health and its connection to mind-body and nutrition. Promise me you will read it! The book is written by Ridha Arem, M.D. a well-known endocrinologist, the title of the book is The Thyroid Revolution.

I also wanted to mention the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) that may offer some help regarding information on Lyme disease testing. Dr Martz from Colorado has developed very effective testing protocols. He himself got ALS-like symptoms due to lyme disease and healed using a special treatment. http://www.ilads.org/

Good luck!

Can you share with us how long have you had your symptoms? Have you been diagnosed Hashimoto's disease already? If so, it would make sense your intolerance for cold temperatures as Hashimoto will end up showing hypothyroidism symptoms, intolerance to cold being one of them. Your description of symptoms you are experiencing are consistent with what you called underactive thyroid. Are you taking any medications? Have you had lab work done to check your thyroid functions lately? Are you under a care of an endocrinologist?

In regards to lyme disease, due to the variety of symptoms, a diagnosis of lyme disease cannot always be made quickly and accurately. Do you know of a recent (or past) tick bite? Did you get a rash around the bite? If you cannot remember then it will be hard to pin point as lyme disease. I know that lyme disease mimics motor-neuron diseases such as ALS. My husband has ALS and he underwent several tests to rule out Lyme disease but we had to find an expert in this area.

The symptom that caught my attention was "brain fog". I do not know the line of work you are in or environmental exposures in your life, but you may want to consider heavy metal toxicity, especially mercury. I was diagnosed mercury poisoning several years ago and had almost every symptom you listed. Heavy metals cause the whole body to collapse. It would not hurt to have heavy metals levels by a trained provider who understands this. Mainstream medicine is not too tune to ordering this type of test so go to www.acam.org to find a doctor near your area if you choose to.

Hi Ana,
I'm so sorry to hear that you are having so many difficulties with your thyroid. I have not experienced this, but hope that you will hear from others soon.

I''m wondering why you said you have a thyroid problem, but that it is untreated? Is this by choice?