Archive for December, 2020

COVID-19: What We Already Knew From Lyme Disease

https://www.ilads.org/ilads-conference/ilads-annual-conference-2020/abstract/#specific-pcr

COVID-19 Confirmed What We Already Knew from Lyme Disease

Robert Bransfield, MD

Although Lyme disease and COVID-19 are caused by different pathogens with different transmission, the approach to COVID was a repetition of experiences with Lyme disease. We saw the following:

  • healthcare policies often fail with emerging diseases
  • CDC disease statistics, antibody testing, and case definitions can be misleading
  • many disease diagnostic and treatment guidelines are flawed
  • peer reviewed articles in prestigious journals can be fraudulent
  • flawed randomized controlled trials can create a fool’s gold standard
  • politicians make catastrophic, fatal, errors with healthcare policies
  • money and politics corrupt science and medicine
  • treating patients cannot be delayed waiting for a vaccine

Emerging diseases can best be overcome by recognizing we can learn the most from our patients, community doctors who treat patients know more than bureaucrats, we need to give significant consideration to the clinical judgment of front line physicians, and chronic and relapsing infection occurs and must be recognized.

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**Comment**

Bingo!

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/07/30/how-the-cdc-uses-their-own-guidelines-to-rig-the-system/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/04/26/cdc-playbook-learning-from-lyme/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/09/25/why-should-we-care-about-lyme-disease-a-colorful-tale-of-government-conflicts-of-interest-probable-bioweaponization-and-pathogen-complexity/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/02/22/why-mainstream-lyme-msids-research-remains-in-the-dark-ages/

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Viruses

Lyme Disease: Acute and Chronic-Defined & “It Ain’t Just One Thing”

https://www.ilads.org/ilads-conference/ilads-annual-conference-2020/abstract/#specific-pcr

Lyme Disease: Acute and Chronic-Defined

Samuel M Shor, MD

Objective: Chronic Lyme disease has been a poorly defined term and often dismissed as a fictitious entity. In this paper, the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) provides its evidence-based definition of chronic Lyme disease.

Definition: ILADS defines chronic Lyme disease (CLD) as a multisystem illness with a wide range of symptoms and/or signs that are either continuously or intermittently present for a minimum of six months. The illness is the result of an active and ongoing infection by any of several pathogenic members of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex (Bbsl). The infection has variable latency periods and signs and symptoms may wax, wane and migrate. CLD has two subcategories,

  • CLD, untreated (CLD-U)
  • CLD, previously treated (CLD-PT)

The latter requires that CLD manifestations persist or recur following treatment and are present continuously or in a relapsing/remitting pattern for a duration of six months or more.

Methods: Systematic review of over 250 peer reviewed papers in the international literature to characterize the clinical spectrum of CLD-U and CLD-PT.

Conclusion: This evidence-based definition of chronic Lyme disease clarifies the term’s meaning and the literature review validates that chronic and ongoing Bbsl infections can result in chronic disease.

Use of this CLD definition will promote a better understanding of the infection and facilitate future research of this infection.

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**Comment**

Words matter.

This, right here, is a main difference between what mainstream medicine ascribes to and what a Lyme literate doctor ascribes to.  The difference is life-changing to say the least.  Those in the former camp will treat patients with the woefully inadequate 21 days of doxycycline while the latter camp realizes this illness can wax, wane, and linger – and this isn’t even taking into account the many coinfections that can also wax, wane, and linger.  

If patients have numerous persisting infections they have more severe cases for a longer duration of time, requiring numerous medications for far longer than the unscientific CDC Lyme guidelines.

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/11/25/what-makes-a-doctor-lyme-literate/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/category/lyme-disease-treatment/

http://  Approx. 42 Min.

Sept. 30, 2020

It Ain’t Just One Thing

David Kaufman, MD; Ilene Ruhoy, MD, PhD

Chronic Lyme Disease (CLD) is a complex chronic illness. Controversy exists regarding whether it represents persistent Lyme infection or a post-infectious, possibly autoimmune syndrome, or a combination of both. This is an important topic as a greater understanding of CLD can help guide treatment options for these patients who suffer sometimes for decades and are often turned away from healthcare providers. Effective treatment has been notoriously difficult. Importantly, patients with CLD generally meet all the criteria for a diagnosis of ME/CFS. Interestingly as discussed below, these same patients very often present with similar signs, symptoms, and diagnoses that are seen in a large majority of ME/CFS patients regardless of any history of CLD.

We will discuss the diagnostic concept of a Septad which includes:

  • Autoimmune disease
  • Mast Cell Activation Syndrome
  • Dysautonomia including small and large fiber neuropathy
  • Dysmotility/Dysbiosis/SIBO
  • hypermobility Ehler Danlos Syndrome (hEDS)
  • Cranial Cervical Instability (CCI)/Tethered Cord (TC)
  • Infection including especially tick borne diseases, viral reactivation, and mycoplasma

The Septad concept provides a guide for both physician and patient regarding both the work up and the treatment plans. The identification of these particular entities can be made with objective data and can assist physicians in implementing management options. This presentation will briefly discuss each of these disorders including symptoms, evaluation, and possible treatment suggestions.

Category:

Lyme, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), research

Coinfections in Pediatric Populations

https://soundcloud.com/lyme-ninja-radio/275-somer-delsignore-pediatric-np-co-infections  Go here for Podcast

#275: Somer DelSignore, Pediatric NP – Co-infections

Lyme Ninja Radio

Somer is a veteran board certified pediatric nurse practitioner and member of ILADS. She currently practices as a Pediatric Lyme Specialist utilizing ILADS methodologies. Somer trained in some of the top pediatric hospitals in the country including Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Children’s of Dallas, Texas, Penn State Children’s in Hershey, PA and most recently Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, NC. Her passion is within Integrative pediatrics combining Eastern and Western medicine modalities. She completed a lyme disease internship with Richard Horowitz of Hyde Park, NY. She currently works with Ken Bock, an expert in Autism and PANS/PANDAS. Somer specializes in the treatment of autoimmune, neuroinflammatory conditions, lyme and other tick-borne illnesses and mycotoxicosis/ mold exposures. She has served as a clinical preceptor to numerous PA and NP programs. Somer currently is a medical writer/blogger for bockintegrative.com and has served as an editorial board member for professional publications. Somer also provides clinical consultation to other providers regarding integrative medicine and difficult Lyme or other tick-borne disease cases.

Category:

Activism

Fauci Moves Goal Posts Once Again

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/24/health/herd-immunity-covid-coronavirus.html

Scientists initially estimated that 60 to 70 percent of the population needed to acquire resistance to the coronavirus to banish it. Now Dr. Anthony Fauci and others are quietly shifting that number upward.
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci in March. “We really don’t know what the real number is,” he said recently.
Credit…Doug Mills/The New York Times

By Donald G. McNeil Jr.

Excerpt:

In a telephone interview the next day, Dr. Fauci acknowledged that he had slowly but deliberately been moving the goal posts. He is doing so, he said, partly based on new science, and partly on his gut feeling that the country is finally ready to hear what he really thinks.

Hard as it may be to hear, he said, he believes that it may take close to 90 percent immunity to bring the virus to a halt — almost as much as is needed to stop a measles outbreak.

Dr. Fauci said that weeks ago, he had hesitated to publicly raise his estimate because many Americans seemed hesitant about vaccines, which they would need to accept almost universally in order for the country to achieve herd immunity.

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**Comment**

And right here, we learn Dr. Fauci’s MO. His goal is for everyone to obtain a fast-tracked, experimental vaccine no matter the cost, that is proving to be riddled with problems and people know it, therefore he needs to “adapt” his message “for the greater good,” or so he believes.

Veritas News Feed (@veritasnewsfeed) Tweeted: Dr. Fraudci Gets Vaxxed In His Left Arm, Feels Pain In His Right Arm.. https://t.co/5wlLxn2SoB

This man does not have ONE shred of credibility left. The CDC/NIH/NIAID has been moving goal-posts for years. They downplay what they want and they hype up what they want – and decisions are based on how much money is in if for them. These people are not scientists, they are ruthless businessmen with a political agenda, and should not be entrusted with public health.

**Update**

The University of Miami is investigating the possible effects of the coronavirus vaccine on male fertility.

Lead researchers Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy, a reproductive urologist with U Health, initiated an earlier study which found the virus was present in the testicles for up to six months following infection.

That spurred his team to question the virus’ effect on sperm and reproduction.

His team is now looking at the potential impact of the vaccine as well.

“We’re evaluating the sperm parameters and quality before the vaccine and after the vaccine. From the biology of the COVID vaccine we believe it shouldn’t affect fertility but we want to do the study to make sure that man who want to have kids in the future to assure them it’s safe to go ahead and get the vaccine,” Ramasamy said.

Study participants must have a fertility evaluation before receiving the vaccine.

To protect fertility, some men may want to consider freezing their sperm prior to vaccination. (Source.)

Some whistleblowers have already come forward stating it causes sterility:

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/08/24/gsk-whistleblower-covid-vaccine-caused-sterility-in-97-of-women/

Recently, I also posted an excellent article explaining the difference between vaccination and immunization:

https://healthimpactnews.com/2013/dr-kurt-why-i-will-never-choose-to-vaccinate-my-own-son-and-any-future-kids-my-wife-and-i-have/

Unfortunately, our public health ‘authorities’, who have over 50 patents on vaccines and make huge profits off of them, have equated vaccination with immunization.  It is sickening that the public now believes in order to be immune, they need vaccinations.  The human body is an amazing machine that comes fully equipped with everything it needs to fight off most disease all on its own – and does so every single day of the year.

If you are just waking up to the world of vaccination and truly want to learn more, I highly recommend Dr. Suzanne Humphries book, “Dissolving Illusions.” Article about the book here:

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2015/06/19/a-word-on-vaccines/

Lastly, please see: https://www.bitchute.com/video/as1rvnNFNaQQ/, (Approx 10 min) made by Sergeant Major.

TIFFANY PONTES DOVER FAINTS IN 17 MINS, DEAD IN 10 HOURS [2020-12-24] 

There is a media black-out on this nurse who lost her life due to the COVID-19 vaccine in mainstream media because it doesn’t fit the narrative and goal – worldwide vaccination no matter the cost.  What’s truly sad is there are people who believe a death from a vaccine isn’t as important as a COVID death (which may or may not even be caused by COVID).  

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/12/24/covid-vaccine-injuries-sent-program-rejects-most-claims/  Even USA Today admits the vaccine injury program rejects most claims (90%) and rarely sides with those damaged by vaccines.

Important excerpt:

The program that will be used for the COVID-19 vaccine, however, limits claims to one year after a person gets a vaccine, doesn’t pay attorneys’ fees and does not conduct hearings. 

Unlike vaccine court, the countermeasures program doesn’t pay for pain, suffering and rehabilitation, and it offers only partial compensation for lost income, attorneys say.

People denied compensation by the countermeasures program have virtually no legal recourse. If they were to sue in civil court, they’d need to prove drugmakers acted with “willful misconduct” — an extremely high legal standard meant to protect those who manufacture, distribute and administer vaccines and treatments to counter a deadly public health threat such as COVID-19.

Category:

Activism, vaccines, Viruses

4 Distinct Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndromes?

https://danielcameronmd.com/4-distinct-post-treatment-lyme-disease-syndromes/

4 DISTINCT POST-TREATMENT LYME DISEASE SYNDROMES?

Man holding head, looking tired from post treatment lyme disease

In a recent editorial, Dr. Allen Steere describes the clinical features and proposed mechanisms triggering what he believes are 4 distinct post-treatment Lyme disease syndromes (PTLDS) in patients who fail antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease. [1]

By

Individuals who suffer from persistent symptoms may be diagnosed with post-treatment Lyme disease or ‘chronic Lyme disease.’  Studies estimate that between 34% and 62% of patients continue to have ongoing, chronic symptoms even after standard antibiotic therapy. Many remain ill for months to years. In fact, according to one study, 34% of a population-based, retrospective cohort were still ill an average of 6.2 years after antibiotic treatment.

Additionally, four clinical trials, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), demonstrated the potential seriousness of Lyme disease. According to the findings, the quality of life for chronically ill patients “was equivalent to that of patients with congestive heart failure; pain levels were similar to those of post-surgical patients and fatigue was on par with that seen in multiple sclerosis.”

In his editorial, “Post-treatment Lyme disease syndromes: distinct pathogenesis caused by maladaptive host responses,” Steere concedes that patients can remain seriously ill. “These patients may have severe pain around joints (tender points), headache, brain fog, sleep disorder, and incapacitating fatigue, which have a major impact on the quality of life.”

“Physicians are often in a quandary regarding whether these patients still have active infection or postinfectious phenomena,” he writes.

Unfortunately, Steere dismisses the hypothesis that a persistent and active infection could be causing ongoing illness in patients with ‘chronic Lyme disease’ or post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, as he claims, there is a “current lack of evidence of persistent infection or antibiotic efficacy in human patients with PTLDS.” (A statement which I dispute.)

Instead, he has developed and proposes that patients suffer from various post-infectious syndromes, which include:

Post-infectious Lyme arthritis

“Massive inflammatory, synovial proliferation usually affecting a knee, emerging from Lyme arthritis.”

  • Pathogenesis: Excessive pro-inflammatory immune response with high IFN-γ levels persistent in the post-infectious period, blocking appropriate wound repair processes.

Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome

“Pain, neurocognitive, and fatigue symptoms emerging after any LD [Lyme disease] manifestation.”

Autoimmune joint disease

“Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or peripheral spondyloarthropathy emerging after any LD [Lyme disease] manifestation.”

  • Pathogenesis: Adjuvant effect of infection activating latent autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune neurologic disease

“Chronic idiopathic demyelinating polyneuropathy emerging from Lyme radiculoneuropathy.”

  • Pathogenesis: Unknown.

Steere points out, that individuals with systemic autoimmune diseases following Lyme disease may benefit from immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory therapy.

He concludes, “disabling posttreatment syndromes may still develop, which appear to result primarily from disadvantageous or maladaptive host responses to the infection that persist after spirochetal killing with antibiotics.”

Editor’s note: I do not agree with Dr. Steere’s position. And for transparency purposes, I’m an author of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) guidelines, which does not dismiss the persistent infection hypothesis but supports ongoing antimicrobial treatment until Lyme disease symptoms resolve.
Related Articles:

Case report: Persistent pain and fatigue following treatment for Lyme disease

Borrelia spirochete are masters at evading the immune system

Will late stage Lyme disease treatment include azlocillin?

References:
  1. Steere AC. Posttreatment Lyme disease syndromes: distinct pathogenesis caused by maladaptive host responses. J Clin Invest. 2020;130(5):2148-2151.

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**Comment**

This would almost be humorous if it wasn’t so serious.  

Having just read Polly Murray’s “The Widing Circle,” and revisiting the beginning of it all from the woman who contacted health authorities to report on a mysterious illness afflicting her entire household and a majority of her neighbors, I realize that very little has changed.

40 years ago, Murray was frustrated with Steere’s stubborn refusal to acknowledge the persistent infection that seemed to affect so many patients.

I was also shocked anew at these authorities who often preferred sitting back to observe suffering patients – rather than treat them.  Nearly all responded that were able to receive continuing treatment.  I wrote about our experience here:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/11/06/the-proof-is-in-the-pudding-my-letter-to-the-tbdwg/

I hesitate to think where we would be now without this life-saving treatment that took over 5 years.

For more:  

I highly recommend bypassing mainstream medicine completely and heading directly to a Lyme literate doctor:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/11/25/what-makes-a-doctor-lyme-literate/

The Lyme War continues unabated.

Category:

Lyme, research, Treatment