"I'm Not Depressed I Have Lyme Disease"

About four years ago my daughter was having vague symptoms of headaches, dizziness, and feeling tired all the time she was twelve at the time. I had taken her to the pediatrician whom in turn did some lab work, then told me all was normal. The pediatrician stated that sometimes with puberty these vague symptoms may occur, understandably I accepted this diagnosis.

As months proceeded she became more tired, and sleeping most of the time. Then I noticed she was getting sick more often, not anything serious just more sore throats, general aches and colds so again I took her back to the pediatrician, lab work was repeated all came back normal again. Now I was told to give her vitamins and to get her involved in more activities because she may possibly be developing depression.

I tried to take the advice of her doctor but the more that I would insist in getting her involved in activities the angrier she became with me insisting that no one believed her symptoms. Instead it became a rivalry between us, I was becoming upset seeing her waste her life away on a couch and she was upset that everyone degraded her symptoms.

Almost two years later her symptoms worsened and at the age of fourteen, it became more difficult to address her symptoms of these vague daily complaints especially her feeling exhausted all day. I felt that she didn't contribute enough with chores, her siblings were becoming resentful as well. Another visit to a different pediatrician and we started over, lab work was normal third go around. Now we were told that her symptoms were due to depression. And he wanted to start her on medications, I was torn I really did not want my fourteen year old on medications for depression. After all I did not see what the reason was for her depression. And she did not want to take them either so we didn't pursue it. However, the household was not holding up well with this especially the siblings that felt that she was getting away with way too much.

Finally, she came to me one day and said that her body was aching terribly, she couldn't sleep and she felt very anxious especially at night. So I had enough and I went to a third physician whom then asked me if she ever had Lyme disease. One would think having a degree in medicine being a Physician Assistant I would have asked the previous physician's to do a Lyme titer (blood test), but I didn't. Honestly, I trusted the physicians enough not to question it.

Alas, a doctor that did the Lyme titer which came back positive for Lyme disease, he immediately started her on the proper medication. And now two years later she is in good health, good spirits and active. No more missing activities or rivalry in the home.

My point is that my daughter kept saying all along, "I'm not depressed something is wrong with me." And yet I took the advice from the physician's and developed "tunnel vision" and did not seek a more aggressive approach. My suggestion is to make sure to always ask many questions about other possibilities for symptoms. I have taken a different approach with both myself as a person and as well as a medical provider. I always ask questions as well give other's the opportunities to ask questions of me.

By the way my daughter forgives me.