Chronic Lyme Disease

WHAT IS LYME DISEASE

Lyme Disease is a spiral-shaped bacteria (spirochete) called Borrelia Burgdorferi that is very similar in appearance to the spirochete bacteria found in the disease Syphilis.  People become infected with the disease through a tic bite, usually a deer tic that is about the size of a poppy seed.  Only 50% of people who contract the disease recall having a tic bite.  Additionally, approximately 50% of Lyme patients have a rash known as Erythema Migrans or EM, which is typically shaped like a bulls eye. 

PREVALANCE IN THE US

Lyme Disease is reportedly the top vector-born illness in the US, however only about 10% cases are actually reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  Lyme Disease has been reported throughout the US, however is most prevalent in parts of New England, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and California.  It is considered to be one of the most dangerous and deadly infections, often more dangerous than West Nile Virus and other vector-born illnesses.

LYME CO-INFECTIONS

Patients with Lyme Disease often have other co-infections, which could include diseases such as Ehrlichia, Babesia, and Bartonella.  These co-infections can complicate symptoms and treatment.  Practitioners will sometimes test and treat other co-infections along with Lyme.

DIAGNOSIS

Currently, most doctors test for Lyme Disease through a Western Blot, looking for specific antibodies to Borrelia Burgdorferi in strips or bands.  There needs to be a certain number of positive bands in order for the test to be considered as positive for Lyme Disease.  This test is reported to be unreliable because the Borrelia is able to change its outer protein cast and hide from blood tests.  Frequently, patients have false negative tests.  Practitioners will sometimes make a clinical diagnosis based on multiple factors.

With early detection, Lyme Disease is easily treated with a 21-day round of antibiotic therapy.  Unfortunately, many people are unaware that they have the disease.  This is probably partially due to the fact that symptoms of Lyme can be mild at first and mimic other conditions.  The symptoms increase in severity over time as the spirochetes burrow deep into tissue, organs, joints, and the central nervous system.  The longer an individual has the disease, the more difficult it is to diagnose and treat, progressing into a condition known as Chronic Lyme Disease.

LYME SYMPTOMS

Lyme Disease can imitate or mimic other diseases and conditions.  Often people with Lyme Disease are misdiagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Parkinson’s, MS, ALS, Mental Illness, and other similar conditions. 

The disease manifests differently in patients ranging in the acuity of symptoms and the length of time before symptoms become more severe.  Many people have the disease for months or years before realizing they have it.  Symptoms vary from person to person, however may include headache, stiff neck, difficulty sleeping, weakness, fatigue, severe muscular and/or joint pain, numbness/tingling, muscle twitching, sensitivity to light and/or sound, dizziness, vertigo, loss of balance, ringing ears, hearing loss, paralysis in the face, difficulty with memory/concentration, depression, and anxiety.  As the disease progresses it can affect all the systems of the body, attacking the heart, central nervous system, and brain.  With Chronic Lyme Disease, the symptoms become more severe and debilitating.  Some patients experience neurological problems.

TREATMENT FOR LYME DISEASE

Chronic Lyme patients have often expressed frustration and loss of hope in seeking answers and treatment for such a devastating disease.  Many doctors have reportedly been uneducated about this complex disease, leading to a misdiagnosis or inability to give the patient proper treatment.  Patients may be referred to numerous doctors unable to get definite answers as to what their diagnosis is or finding a treatment for the disease.  Some doctors may refuse to admit that there is such a condition as Chronic Lyme Disease.  Doctors may also claim that standard 2-3 week antibiotic therapy is sufficient to treat all Lyme Disease cases.  As the spirochetes burrow deep into tissues and organs of the body, Borrelia is able to hide from antibiotics, needing a more aggressive approach to kill the disease.  Currently, the reportedly most effective medical treatment for Chronic Lyme Disease is long-term use of both oral and IV antibiotics for months at a time.  Many doctors are unable to provide this aggressive antibiotic therapy due to the scrutiny of this type of treatment in the medical community.  When undergoing treatment for Lyme, patients sometimes report a severe and acute reaction called Jarisch-Herxheimer. This is an adverse reaction to the toxins released into the body as large amounts of spirochetes are dying off. 

A Chronic Lyme patient that is interested in long-term antibiotic therapy would have the most success in seeking out a Lyme Literate Doctor to provide this type of treatment.  Lyme Literate Doctors are difficult to find due to the controversy associated with this type of treatment.  Lyme Literate Doctors are often unable to bill insurance for services.  Some lab tests may be coverable, however it can become very expensive for the patient.  To find a Lyme Literate Doctor closest to your region, you can go to this link:

https://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277&Itemid=74

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS

Because of the difficulty in treating the disease, potential mounting medical expenses involved, and the reported “Lyme Wars” going on in the medical community, Lyme patients are often seeking out holistic medicine and holistic practitioners to treat Lyme Disease.  Cats Claw and Samento are two of the more common type of Lyme-killing herbs, however there are numerous options available.  Nutrition and diet are very important factors in treating the disease holistically.  You can purchase books and guides for treating yourself with Lyme disease, however I recommend seeking the help of a holistic doctor or practitioner as these herbs are potent and you do not know how your body will react to them.  Practitioners are often able to identify the presence of the disease through using forms of kinesiology and bioresonance testing.  This type of testing is useful in identifying other co-infections, toxins, and health problems that are affecting the Lyme patient.  Bioresonance testing is also very beneficial for testing the individual’s ability to tolerate specific herbal remedies.  Field Control Therapy is a safe and effective alternative to treating Lyme Disease, and the option that I chose for myself. 

For more information on using Field Control Therapy to treat Lyme you can read my blog:  http://dzehm.blogspot.com/2013/11/health-wellness-and-beauty-of_4739.html

Whether you are using antibiotics, holistic medicine, or combination therapies, there usually is no fast or easy approach in treating Chronic Lyme Disease.  You may find that your symptoms worsen for a time before you start to see an improvement.  Treatments can last for months and sometimes years depending on the severity of the disease and other factors and health problems involved. 

For my personal experience with Lyme disease:  http://dzehm.blogspot.com/2012/11/enduring-winter-my-battle-with-lyme.html

LYME RESOURCES

The information in this blog post is based on my own personal experience with having Lyme Disease along with the research I’ve done through reading books, looking at web-sites, and watching documentaries/videos.  I am not an expert on Lyme disease, medicine, or holistic health.  For further information about the disease see the following links.  I will provide further links and information regarding holistic health in future posts.

International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society:

http://www.ilads.org/

Lyme Disease Association:

http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/

Website for Author and Lyme Disease Survivor, Brandilyn Collins:

http://brandilyncollins.com/lymedisease

Lyme Disease Blog:

http://www.lymediseaseblog.com/

Award Winning Documentary, Under Our Skin:

http://underourskin.com/film/

http://underourskin.com/sequel/#sequel-home

Clip about Lyme Disease on the TV show, Dr. Phil:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reqyYSAFb9I