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:
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
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:
Lyme Disease Association:
Lyme Disease Blog:
Award Winning Documentary, Under Our Skin:
http://underourskin.com/film/
Clip about Lyme Disease on the TV show, Dr. Phil:
