Lyme Disease

Last updated: Nov 17, 2009

	Lyme Disease

 

	Please see Lyme Disease for information on this subject.

Signs, symptoms & indicators of Lyme Disease:

	Symptoms - Cardiovascular   Heart racing/palpitations Symptoms - Environment   Poor temperature regulation   Poor tolerance of cold   Poor tolerance of heat Symptoms - Food - General   Weak appetite Symptoms - Gas-Int - General   (Severe) abdominal discomfort Symptoms - General   Constant fatigue   Poor bodily coordination Counter-indicators:   (Not having) constant fatigue   (No) history of fatigability Symptoms - Head - Eyes/Ocular   Vision disturbances   In patients with neuroborreliosis (chronic Lyme disease with CNS involvement), the chronic inflammatory lesions can be located in any part of the visual pathway, causing a deficit in retinal processing (due to damaged retinal cells and/or conduction block of the retinal nerve fibers), in ocular nerve fiber processing (due to chronic ocular neuritis), and in cortical visual processing (due to impaired neuron interaction in the brain). All of these damages result in various clinical symptoms: blurred vision, progressive visual deterioration, changes in visual fields, increased light sensitivity, etc., and can be assessed using the Visual Contrast Test. [Svetlana Ivanova, M.D., Ph.D. Focus (ARG Newsletter) Oct 2003]   (High) sensitivity to bright light   Bulging eyes or eyes bulge not from hyperthyroidism Symptoms - Head - Mouth/Oral   Being an incoherent/being a slow speaker Symptoms - Head - Nose   Reduced sense of taste or smell Symptoms - Metabolic   Unexplained high fevers or unexplained fevers that hit hard   Having a slight/having a high/having a moderate fever   Frequent/occassional 'chills' or having chills from an illness Symptoms - Mind - Emotional   Emotional instability Symptoms - Mind - General   Periods of confusion/disorientation   A 'foggy' mind   Trouble concentrating Symptoms - Muscular   Poor muscle tone   Tender muscles Symptoms - Nervous   Numb/tingling/burning extremities Symptoms - Respiratory   Air hunger or sudden shortness of breath   Chronic/recent productive cough   Recent/chronic nonproductive cough Symptoms - Skeletal   Migrating arthritis   Prolonged morning stiffness

Conditions that suggest Lyme Disease:

	Aging   Senile Dementia Allergy   Allergy / Intolerance to Foods (Hidden)   Allergies Indoor   Allergic Rhinitis / Hay Fever Autoimmune   Autoimmune Tendency   Ankylosing Spondylitis   Hyperthyroidism Circulation   Enlarged Lymph Nodes   Cardiomyopathy   Vasculitis   Arrhythmias/Dysrhythmias Digestion   Nausea, Vomiting   IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) Immunity   Weakened Immune System Infections   Pharyngitis Mental   Poor Memory   Panic Attacks   Depression   Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Metabolic   Headaches, Migraine/Tension   Tinnitus   Insomnia   Anorexia / Starvation Tendency   Narcolepsy Musculo-Skeletal   Joint Pain, General   Polymyalgia Rheumatica   Muscle Cramps / Twitching   TMJ Problems Nervous System   Neuritis/Neuropathy   Tremors   Bell's Palsy   Bell's Palsy has been known to be both an early and late symptom of Lyme Disease.   Fainting / Syncope Skin-Hair-Nails   Rashes   Male Hair Loss   Female Hair Loss Symptoms - Immune System Counter-indicators:   Absence of Lyme disease Uro-Genital   Metrorrhagia

Risk factors for Lyme Disease:

	Circulation   Hypercoagulation (Thickened Blood) Symptoms - Aging   Having VBATD or carotic occlusion or having had mini-strokes Symptoms - Head - Eyes/Ocular   (Occasional/frequent) diplopia Symptoms - Immune System   Possible Lyme exposure Counter-indicators:   Absence of Lyme exposure Symptoms - Metabolic   Recent unexplained weight loss   Recent unexplained weight gain

Lyme Disease suggests the following may be present:

	Circulation   Hypercoagulation (Thickened Blood) Hormones   Low Adrenal Function / Adrenal Insufficiency   Hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal axis dysfunction is frequently associated with Lyme disease, and many Lyme patients have (at least temporarily) both thyroid and adrenal insufficiency.   Hypothyroidism   Hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal axis dysfunction is frequently associated with Lyme disease, and many Lyme patients have (at least temporarily) both thyroid and adrenal insufficiency. Immunity Counter-indicators:   Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome   Lyme disease should be a differential diagnosis for all fibromyalgia patients who could have been exposed to a tick bite. Despite antibiotic treatment, a sequel of Lyme disease may be a post-Lyme disease syndrome (PLS), which is characterized by persistent arthralgia, fatigue, and neurocognitive impairment. [Journal of Rheumatology 23(8): pp.1392-1397, 1996] Although patients with CFS and PLS share many features, including symptoms of severe fatigue and cognitive impairment, patients with PLS show greater cognitive deficits than patients with CFS compared with healthy controls. This is particularly apparent among patients with PLS without premorbid psychiatric illness. According to an informal study conducted by the American Lyme Disease Alliance (ALDA), most patients diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) are actually suffering from Lyme disease. In a study of 31 patients diagnosed with CFS, 28 patients, or 90.3%, were found to be ill as a result of Lyme disease.

Lyme Disease can lead to:

	Allergy   Allergies Indoor   Allergic Rhinitis / Hay Fever Autoimmune   Scleroderma   Laboratory tests showed an infection with B. burgdorferi sensu lato that was successfully treated with intravenous ceftriaxone, an antibiotic recommended for Lyme borreliosis. This case suggests that Lyme disease should be considered in atypical cases of skin sclerosis in patients predisposed to the development of systemic scleroderma. [PubMed. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2005 Jan;19(1):93-6] Infections   Meningitis Mental   Depression   Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD / ADHD) Musculo-Skeletal   Joint Pain, General Skin-Hair-Nails   Rashes

Lyme Disease could instead be:

	Aging   Alzheimer's Disease   Spirochetes, such as those found in Lyme disease, may be one of the causes of Alzheimer's disease and may also be the source of beta amyloid deposited in the brains of such infected patients.   Parkinson's Disease / Risk   Differentiating neuropsychiatric Lyme disease from a primary psychiatric disorder can be a daunting task. Functional brain imaging and neuropsychological testing can be particularly valuable in helping to make diagnostic distinctions. Autoimmune   Multiple Sclerosis / Risk   Lyme Disease has been called "The New Great Imitator", a replacement for that old "great imitator" neurosyphilis. The two diseases share so many symptoms that Lyme disease should be ruled out if multiple sclerosis diagnosis is in question.   Lupus, SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythromatosis)   Lyme arthritis is often mistaken clinically for systemic lupus erythematosus.   Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)   Many different neurological conditions may be seen in the later stages of Lyme's Disease, such as blindness, epileptic crises, CVA, extrapyramidal disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and dementia. Immunity   Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome   Lyme disease should be a differential diagnosis for all fibromyalgia patients who could have been exposed to a tick bite. Despite antibiotic treatment, a sequel of Lyme disease may be a post-Lyme disease syndrome (PLS), which is characterized by persistent arthralgia, fatigue, and neurocognitive impairment. [Journal of Rheumatology 23(8): pp.1392-1397, 1996] Although patients with CFS and PLS share many features, including symptoms of severe fatigue and cognitive impairment, patients with PLS show greater cognitive deficits than patients with CFS compared with healthy controls. This is particularly apparent among patients with PLS without premorbid psychiatric illness. According to an informal study conducted by the American Lyme Disease Alliance (ALDA), most patients diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) are actually suffering from Lyme disease. In a study of 31 patients diagnosed with CFS, 28 patients, or 90.3%, were found to be ill as a result of Lyme disease. Mental   Anxiety Musculo-Skeletal   Rheumatoid Arthritis   The symptoms of Lyme disease have frequently been misdiagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis and subsequently mistreated.   Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis   Lyme disease was "discovered" in Lyme, Connecticut in 1975 because of the perseverance of Polly Murray, a homemaker who thought that too much Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) was being diagnosed in her community. Putting aside the issue of whether Lyme disease does or does not cause some cases of JRA, the two diseases share so many symptoms that Lyme disease is often mistaken for JRA.   Gout / Hyperuricemia   Lyme disease is similar to gout and is sometimes misdiagnosed as such. Nervous System   Guillain-Barre Syndrome   Putting aside the issue of whether Lyme disease does or does not cause some cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, the two diseases share so many symptoms that Lyme disease can be mistaken for Guillain-Barre syndrome.   Trigeminal Neuralgia / Facial Pain   The rheumatoid-related condition, Lyme disease, can cause head and neck pain which could be mistaken for trigeminal neuralgia.

Recommendations for Lyme Disease:

	Action   Prevention   When in tick-infested areas (i.e., tall grass, overgrown brush, etc.), special precautions should be taken. Wear light-colored clothing, tuck pants legs into socks, and wear closed toe shoes. Use commercial insect repellents (particularly those containing DEET) sparingly and with care, as they may cause side effects, especially in young children. Avoid application to damaged skin. When returning from outdoors it is important to check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks. Look for ticks in all joint areas, the navel, behind ears, in the hairline, and in other skin folds. Wash all skin treated with insect repellent thoroughly. Keep your lawn mowed and cut overgrown brush. Some doctors will give a single dose of oral doxycycline within 3 days of any tick bite received in a tick-infested area in order to prevent Lyme disease. A tick must be attached to its host for 36 to 48 hours before an infectious dose of Borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted. This is fortunate, because most folks who are bitten by a tick will find it prior to the infectious event and thus prevent a possible case of Lyme's disease. Also, to help prevent tick bites, include garlic in your diet. In a study of Marines it reduced tick bites by 21%. [JAMA August 16, 2000; 284] Animal-based   Probiotics / Fermented Foods   If taking antibiotics for Lyme disease, remember that they will kill both good and bad microorganisms. Replacing the friendly intestinal organisms killed with antibiotics by eating live culture yogurt or taking probiotic capsules regularly for at least six months is recommended. The aim of this treatment is to recolonize the intestine both during and after antibiotic use. Botanical   Cat's Claw (Urticaria tomentosa)   While the use of Cat's Claw looks very promising, there is a POA TOA controversy that seems to be as yet unresolved. If you wish to look into this controversy further, the following articles may be helpful. An article by Leslie Taylor, ND discusses it at some length, suggesting that any quality Cat's Claw product should be equally effective. This pilot study attempts to show that a TOA-free Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is effective in treating chronic Lyme disease (Lyme Borreliosis). There have been many testimonials regarding a particular Cat's Claw product called Samento.   Medicinal Mushrooms   Because of many mushroom's ability to build energy, stamina and endurance it has been recommended for use by those who suffer from Lyme disease.   Silymarin/Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)   Garlic   Garlic is a natural antibiotic and immune-booster.   Evening Primrose Oil / GLA   This may help combat the pain and inflammation. 1000mg 2-3 times daily.   Dandelion Root (Taraxicum officinale)   Black Walnut   Coneflower (Echinacea purpura)   Echinacea boosts the immune system and fights viral and bacterial infections.   Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)   Red clover cleanses the bloodstream and is a good tonic.   Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha)   Wormwood   Some physicians have reported good results from treating Lyme disease with artemisinin. These are experimental or untested applications of the product.   Ginseng, American (Panax quinquefolium)   Kelp / Seaweed   Helps in the treatment of the disorder by strengthening the immune system. It also contains essential vitamins and minerals and aids in detoxifying the body.   Marshmallow root (Althea officinallis)   Horsetail Grass (Equisetum arvense)   Spilanthes acmella Diet   Artificial Sweetener Avoidance Drug   Antibiotics   Current medical therapy involves the use of antibiotics, such as doxycycline or amoxicillin. Some clinics are suggesting and offering IV antibiotic use daily over a 50 to 60 day period. Although very expensive ($20,000.00+), they feel that this is what is required in some cases. In some cases, oral antibiotics have been used continuously for as many as two years, if necessary. A positive Lyme blood test, even including a Western blot, does not mean that there is active disease that requires treatment. This is because blood tests can remain positive for years, even after Lyme disease has been treated or has become inactive. Occasionally, to aid in the diagnosis of Lyme disease, a sample of fluid must be aspirated (withdrawn with a sterile needle) from an affected joint. Cerebrospinal fluid may also be withdrawn from around the spinal cord through a spinal tap (lumbar puncture), so that it can be tested for the presence of Lyme-disease antibodies and inflammation, as well as to rule out other diseases. Doxycycline has been used widely to treat all phases of Lyme disease, including erythema migrans. Doxycycline is active against Borrelia burgdorferi (the spirochete that causes Lyme disease), and it penetrates, in concentrations sufficient for eradication, virtually all body tissues that the organism may reach via hematogenous dissemination. Oral doxycycline has been shown to be as effective as parenteral ceftriaxone sodium (Rocephin) in treatment of central nervous system (CNS) Lyme disease (ie, neuroborreliosis) (1). This has tremendous cost-saving implications. In the New York area, a 3-week course of parenteral ceftriaxone for CNS Lyme disease, including administration by home care, costs between $5,000 and $7,000. In comparison, a 3-week course of oral doxycycline treatment costs only a few hundred dollars. In addition, treatment failure in Lyme disease is seldom, if ever, seen with properly administered doxycycline regimens, whereas failures are common with erythromycin therapy.   Conventional Drugs / Information   Please see the link between Lyme Disease and Antibiotics. Electrical   Electrical Devices   Here are a couple testimonies on the use of Beck's Electrifier and Magnetic Pulser in the treatment of Lyme disease. Lab Tests/Rule-Outs   Test for Lyme Disease Mineral   Colloidal Silver   Many people report that the use of MSP (mild silver protein) helps to control the late-stage symptoms of Lyme disease. Doing a search on the Internet should produce many testimonies regarding it's usefulness.   Germanium Miscellaneous   Reading List   Beating Lyme Disease: Using Alternative Medicine and God-Designed Living by David A. and Sara Koch Jernigan (January 2004) is a book that takes you far beyond its title. It is written in such understandable language that even beginners can grasp its dynamics quickly and easily. Doctors should also consider this book a must read. If you are searching for alternative methods to treating physical illness, of cleansing your body of toxins and damaging bacteria, then "Beating Lyme Disease" is a book you will treasure. Nutrient   Essential Fatty Acids   The use of omega 3 fatty acids may reduce inflammation and joint stiffness. Vitamins   Vitamin A   Vitamin A deficiency appears to be both a consequence of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi infection) and a factor in the resulting arthritis susceptibility. Although not known definitively, taking vitamin A may improve joint symptoms. Vitamin A-deficient mice were found to be more susceptible to arthritis following infection by the spirochete that produces Lyme disease in humans. [J Infect Dis 1996 Oct;174(4): pp.747-51]

KEY

		Weak or unproven link
		Strong or generally accepted link
		Proven definite or direct link
		Strongly counter-indicative
		Very strongly or absolutely counter-indicative
		May do some good
		Likely to help
		Highly recommended