Mo's thoughts on misdiagnosis and testing in the wrong direction where Lyme Disease is involved

Here's a perfect example of how hard it is to diagnose Lyme Disease based solely on the testing (which is what most MD's do, CDC guidelines stating contrary or no). Below is the list of all the things I've been tested for or diagnosed with since August 1994:

Anemia, Leukemia (Tested 4x - Negative)
Asthma (POSITIVE - but brought on by the lyme)
Babesia Microti (Tested 2x Negative)
However, had been displaying symptoms heavily prior to kidney infection. After almost a year on Doxycylcine, Babesia symptoms also faded down to infrequent. Doxy is commonly used to treat Babesia, so it's likely I had this but it's under control atm or (I hope) gone.
Bartonella (Tested 1x Negative)
However, I have had this, 5 years prior to the testing! My source wasn't a tick bite, but a bite from an injured feral kitten. GP at the time agreed antibiotics were a good precautionary measure, prescribed a week. Two weeks later I was back to see her with a classic bartonella infected bump at the bite site on my finger. This time we did ABX for a month and it went away.
Cholesterol (Tested 2x - Normal)
Chronic Cystitis, UTIs (POSITIVE)
Urologist has NO idea why we can't get rid of it, until I'm finally diagnosed with lyme)
Diabetes Mellitis (Tested 4x - Negative)
Epstein-Barr (Tested 3x - Negative)
Hepatitis A (Tested 1x - Negative)
Hepatitis B (Tested 1x - Negative)
Hormonal Imbalances (Misdiagnosed As Having This)
Clinical, not blood test, based on symptoms - incorrectly, as it turns out)
Hyperthyroidism (Tested 5x - Negative)
Hypoglycemia, Reactive (POSITIVE )
However, some of the symptoms are the same as Lyme, helping to mask it for a long time
HypoThyroid (Tested 5x - Negative)
Iron-deficiency anemia and Iron Overload (Tested 1x - Negative)
Kidney Stones (Tested 1x - POSITIVE, very tiny stones)
Liver Disease (Tested 1x - Negative)
Lyme Disease AB (Tested 5x - Negative))
6th time, received CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS, based on the positive and indeterminate bands, plus my symptoms.
Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms (Tested 1x - Negative)
Ruled out by the lack of accompanying specific nerve damage - there is however, family history
Peripheral Neuropathy (POSITIVE)
Confirmed pain/burning with accompanying loss of sensation in areas of the skin - Neurologist CANNOT find cause, until I'm diagnosed with Lyme
Pyelonephritis (Tested 1x - Negative)
Syphilis (Tested 1x - Negative)
"Not that I think you have it," he says beforehand. "It's just precautionary due to the symptoms."" Gee...thanks doc...that makes me feel EVER so much better! Grrr
Systemic Lupus (Tested 2x - Negative)
Toxoplasmosis (Tested 1x - Negative)

Some of these above totally freaked me out when I started reading up on them! Syphilis, Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis are terrifying. Not that Lyme Disease is a good thing....it's just....it could get much, much worse.

Ask around....

.........how many people do you know that have, or know someone who has Lyme Disease in it's chronic, recurring form?

Personally I know of or have met least 7 that have chronic lyme.
My brother and his wife.
Our friend Hank M.
My LLMD, both her children and at least one member of her staff.
Not even going to try and count the number of patients that I've met there who have it.
Talking to folks at the bait shop, I've had several reply: "Yes, so and so in my family has it."

Some of the folks I talk to are the lucky ones. They caught it early enough that treatment cleared it away and they have not had any lingering problems from it. I tell them that I'm so glad for them. They don't want to go through years of pain and suffering without knowing what's wrong with them.