Common Symptoms

Jaw: Pain Difficulty Chewing Symptoms Of TMJ Bladder: Frequent And Painful Urination Lung: Respiratory Infection Cough Chest Pain Rib Soreness Ear: Pain Hearing Loss Ringing Sensitivity To Noise Eyes: Pain Inflammation Sensitivity To Light Drooping Eyelid Conjunctivitis Blurred/Double Vision Skin: Bullseye Rash Atypical Rashes/Hives

Identifying the symptoms of Lyme Disease is the first step to a successful diagnosis. The table below contains a list of possible symptoms or complications, and we've also prepared a questionnaire that you can print out and take to your physician to help better diagnose your illness. Lyme Disease affects each host differently, therefore you may have one or several symptoms and not everyone will experience every symptom. Also, having one or more of these symptoms does not ensure that you have Lyme Disease! A physician must make the diagnosis as it is a clinical one and other illnesses need to be ruled out when possible. False negative serological tests do occur. The diagnosis of Lyme Disease is based principally on clinical findings. Results of serologic testing are supportive.

Several days, weeks, or months after an infected tick bites, a person usually experiences "flu like" symptoms such as aches and pains in their muscles and joints, a low-grade fever, and/or fatigue. Many will notice a rash form around the location of the bite, however Lyme may still be present even if no rash forms. If a rash does form, it will usually appear within the first week, however it can take up to a month to appear. The rash is circular in shape and will often continue to grow, taking on the appearance of a "bulls-eye" (see photo right). It is important to note that atypical rashes or no rash may be a more common presentation than appearance of the bullseye rash.

As Lyme Disease progresses, a person may experience unrelenting fatigue, fibromyalgia-like symptoms, facial paralysis(Bell's Palsy), liver and/or spleen enlargement, severe headaches (migraines) and abnormalities in heart rate and rhythm. In the latest stages of Lyme Disease severe cognitive impairment can occur with continued fatigue (chronic fatigue), joint pain or swelling, stabbing and/or burning sensations, persistent backache, stiff neck, degenerative muscle and nerve disease as well as permanent disability. In rare cases, death can occur. It is important for those patients that experience late stage lyme to seek the care of a lyme-literate physician as long term treatment may be necessary to prevent permanent disability and further damage to bodily systems.