I have often wondered if I have lyme disease and that is what causes my
symptoms atleast in part. I have had couple lyme test that were
negitive, so I have not really know where else to look for it or what
else to do.

I think I read somewher that if they tap right into your joint fluid
and pull out a sample that there is a better chance of the lyme disease
showing up, espically if it has moved to your joints.

Accourding to mayo clinic:

“Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose. Its variable symptoms mimic
other conditions, including viral infection, various joint disorders,
muscle pain (fibromyalgia) and chronic fatigue syndrome. What’s more,
the ticks that transmit Lyme disease can spread other, similar diseases
at the same time.”

“If you don’t have the characteristic Lyme disease rash, your doctor
will take a detailed medical history and perform a physical
examination. Laboratory tests to identify antibodies to the bacteria
also are likely to be used to help confirm the diagnosis. These tests
are most reliable a few weeks after an infection because it takes your
body some time to develop antibodies. Even then, however, the tests
aren’t entirely foolproof.

They include:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The test used most
often to check for Lyme disease, ELISA detects antibodies to B.
burgdorferi. But because it can sometimes provide false-positive
results, it’s not used as the sole basis for diagnosis.

Western blot test. If the ELISA test is positive, another test, the
Western blot, is usually performed to confirm the diagnosis. The
Western blot detects antibodies to several proteins of B. burgdorferi.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This test is used for people who may
have chronic Lyme arthritis. The test helps detect bacterial DNA in
fluid drawn from an infected joint. The test may also be used to detect
persistent infection in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with
nervous system symptoms.”

The late stage complications accourding to mayo clinic include:

Chronic joint inflammation (Lyme arthritis), particularly of your knee
Neurological symptoms, such as facial palsy and neuropathy
Cognitive defects, such as impaired memory
Sometimes, heart rhythm irregularities
Memory loss
Difficulty concentrating
Changes in mood or sleep habits

Overall the signs and symptoms, accourding again to mayo are:

Flu-like symptoms. A fever, chills, fatigue, body aches and a headache
may accompany the rash.

Flu-like symptoms. A fever, chills, fatigue, body aches and a headache
may accompany the rash.
Migratory joint pain. If the infection remains untreated, you may
develop bouts of severe joint pain and swelling several weeks to months
after you’re infected. Your knees are especially likely to be affected,
but the pain can shift from one joint to another.
Neurological problems. In some cases, inflammation of the membranes
surrounding your brain (meningitis), temporary paralysis of one side of
your face (Bell’s palsy), numbness or weakness in your limbs, and poor
muscle movement may occur weeks, months or even years after an
untreated infection. Memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and changes
in mood or sleep habits also can be symptoms of late-stage Lyme
disease.

Less common signs and symptoms. Some people may experience heart
problems, such as an irregular heartbeat, several weeks after
infection, but this rarely lasts more than a few days or weeks. Other
less common manifestations of the disease include eye inflammation,
hepatitis and severe fatigue.

Skin problems. In Europe, people with advanced Lyme disease may develop
skin nodules and patches of thinning skin on their hands, elbows or
knees.

I dont know about you wenz, but I really seem to fit this picture, I
have even had severe joint invlovent, that at times lets up, then get
to the point where it is debilitating.

I will deffinatly share any information that I discover with you, and
if you find out anything, please let me know and or post here on the
board.

Do anyone have any comments / thoughts on this they can share?

Have you investigated this website: http://www.aldf.com/
American Lyme Disease Foundation, Inc.

It does a great job of explaining Lyme Disease.

In my understanding the only way you can get Lyme Disease is through
deer ticks.

Basically, the test for lyme disease is wrong a certin percentage of
the time, espically in later stages of the disease. I live in a area
with a lot of deer ticks that are well known for caring lyme disease.
I belive I was bit by one a number of years ago and I had a bad
reaction and a rash from it.

When I read about lyme disease, I find that many people talk about the
symptoms being very simular to that of fms. But there seems to be no
agreeded upon aproch to treatment if you can not get a definitive
answer from the tests.

If I have lyme disease, instead of fms or in addition to fms, I would
like to properly treat it. I just don’t know how I can know if I have
it if the tests are not accurate.