10 Top Causes of Symptoms in Chronic Lyme Disease
https://www.prohealth.com/library/ten-common-causes-of-symptoms-in-chronic-lyme-disease-8558
10 Top Causes Of Symptoms In Chronic Lyme Disease
(Please see link above for full article. Excerpts below)
1) Mold toxicity
Real Time labs is among the most accurate of labs for mold testing. Effective mold toxin binders include the medication cholestyramine and activated charcoal.
2) Parasitic Infections
Parasitic infections are often not detectable on conventional lab tests, and may not even show up in sophisticated stool tests; therefore, using multiple forms of testing to detect parasites, such as electrodermal screening tools such as the Zyto or muscle testing, is important, along with lab testing with reputable labs such as Doctors’ Data.
3) Hormone and Neurotransmitter Imbalances
Replenishing the body’s stores of these chemicals can therefore profoundly support the healing process and Lyme doctors will commonly prescribe bio-identical hormones such as pregnenolone, DHEA and thyroid hormone to their patients, along with amino acids such as L-tyrosine, GABA and 5-HTP, which the body uses to make neurotransmitters. To make these amino acids work in the body, supplemental co-factors such as P5P, SAMe, and methyl B-12 are also sometimes important.
4) Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
Common deficiencies include magnesium, Vitamins D, C and B-vitamins; zinc and iron—among others. Supplementation with these nutrients can help to support the body during healing. (For more information on common nutritional deficiencies in Lyme disease and supplements that support the body, I encourage you to check out my 2012 book Beyond Lyme Disease).
5) Inflammation
Reducing inflammation involves mitigating all of its causes, such as removing pathogens and toxins from the body, and downregulating the immune response with nutrients and tools such as low-dose immunotherapy. High-quality, natural anti-inflammatory substances such as curcumin may also be helpful for supporting the body’s inflammatory response.
6) Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Supporting the mitochondria with supplements such as L-carnitine and CO Q-10 can help to mitigate fatigue and other symptoms related to mitochondrial dysfunction.
7) Emotional Trauma
Many studies have proven that trauma suppresses immune function and when prolonged, can open the door to chronic health challenges.
8) A Poor Diet
Removing allergenic foods and consuming fresh, organic “real” food, such as non-GMO, antibiotic, pesticide, and hormone-free meats, poultry, eggs, and other proteins; non-starchy veggies and low-glycemic fruits, along with healthy fats such as olive and coconut oil, can help to alleviate symptoms caused by food.
9) Poor Gastrointestinal Function
Supplementing with GI nutrients such as hydrochloric acid, digestive enzymes and probiotics may help to support gastrointestinal function in those with Lyme.
10) Environmental Toxicity
Sauna therapy, rebounding, coffee enemas, liver cleanses, and taking toxin binders such as zeolite, chlorella, EDTA, activated charcoal—among others, are just a few ways to remove toxins from the body. Ideally, you’ll want to work with a practitioner who can test your body for toxins and prescribe a regimen in conjunction with Lyme disease treatment based on your needs. The same holds for the other causes of symptoms described here.
This article was first published on ProHealth.com on April 26, 2016 and was updated on September 22, 2020.
Connie Strasheim is the author of multiple wellness books, including three on Lyme disease. She is also a medical copywriter, editor and healing prayer minister. Her passion is to help people with complex chronic illnesses find freedom from disease and soul-spirit sickness using whole body medicine and prayer, and she collaborates with some of the world’s best integrative doctors to do this. In addition to Lyme disease, Connie’s books focus on cancer, nutrition, detoxification and spiritual healing. You can learn more about her work at: ConnieStrasheim.
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**Comment**
Not mentioned is Lyme itself, and the many other potential players. While parasites apart from Lyme is mentioned, dealing with the infections is paramount. Of course these infections are indirectly affected by the things listed in the helpful article, but never underestimate the infection(s) themselves. Good, effective, savvy treatment is required.
For more:
- https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/02/13/lyme-disease-treatment/
- https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/01/16/babesia-treatment/
- https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/01/03/bartonella-treatment/
- https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/02/07/mycoplasma-treatment/
- https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/03/08/anaplasmosis/
- https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2021/01/12/alpha-gal-syndrome-symptoms-diagnosis-treatment/
- https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/category/ehrlichiosis-treatment/
- https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/06/30/rocky-mountain-spotted-fever-can-be-deadly-how-to-prevent-diagnose-treat-it/
Rapid Response:
Re: Tick bite
Dear Editor
Razai et al, in their consultation on tick bite, missed an important message to learners (1).
The most common infectious agents transmitted by Ixodes species ticks in North America that have the potential for co-infection with B burgdorferi are Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia species, deer tick (Powassan) virus, Borrelia miyamotoi, and the Ehrlichia muris–like agent (2).
A phagocytophilum is transmitted by the same Ixodes ticks as B burgdorferi in the United States and causes fever, chills, headache, myalgia, and fatigue arising 1 to 3 weeks following tick exposure. Most cases are mild and self-limited. However, severe manifestations may include respiratory failure, adult respiratory distress syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure, pancreatitis, and coagulopathies.
It has been found that in Wisconsin, approximately 3% of I scapularis ticks examined were co-infected with B burgdorferi and A phagocytophilum (3). A similar study in 11,000 ticks in public parks of New York State’s Hudson Valley Region found that co-infection rates of nymphs and adults were 0.5% and 6.3%, respectively (4).
The frequency of humans with Lyme disease simultaneously co-infected with A phagocytophilum from various studies ranges from 2% to 10% (5,6). Similirly, Babesiosis is transmitted through the bite of infected I scapularis and I pacificus ticks. Most patients are asymptomatic or have mild, self-limited disease but may be complicated by renal failure, acute respiratory distress, and shock.
In a study of patients with Lyme disease from southern New England, approximately 10% were co-infected with babesiosis (7).
Unlike Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis, doxycycline is not an effective treatment of babesiosis and requires atovaquone and azithromycin or combination of clindamycin with quinine, making it imperitive to consider this diagnosis in mind in patients with tick bite.
Of the 3 species of Ehrlichia in United States, only E muris–like (EML) agent is transmitted by I scapularis is the vector of this emerging pathogen(8).
Possible co-infections should be considered in any patients who are diagnosed with tick bite or Lyme disease, especially those who have unexplained leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or anemia, or who fail to respond to treatment for Lyme’s disease.
References:
1- Razai MS, Doerholt K, Galiza E, Oakeshott P. Tick bite. BMJ 2020;370:m3029
2- Caulfield AJ, Pritt BS. Lyme disease Coinfections in the United States. Clin Lab Med 2015;35:827–846.
3- Lee, X, Coyle DR, Johnson DK, et al. Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs collected in managed red pine forests in Wisconsin. J Med Entomol 2014;51:694-701.
4- Prusinski MA, Kokas JE, Hukey KT, et al. Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi (Spoirochets: Spirochaetaceae), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae), and Babesia microti (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae) in Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from recreational lands in the Hudson Valley Region, New York State. J Med Entomol 2014;51:226-36.
5- Horowitz HW, Aguero-Rosenfeld ME, Holmgren D, et al. Lyme disease and human granulocytic anaplasmosis coinfection: impact of case definition on coinfection rates and illness severity. Clin Infect Dis 2013;56;93-9.
6- Steere AC, McHugh G, Suarez C, et al. Prospective study of coinfection in patients with erythema migrans. Clin Infect Dis 2003;36:1078-81.
7- Krause PJ, Telford SR, Spielman A, et al. Concurrent Lyme disease and babesiosis – evidence for increased severity and duration of illness. JAMA 1996;275:1657-60.
8- Pritt BS, McFadden JD, Stromdah E, et al. Emergence of a novel Ehrlichia sp. agent
pathogenic for humans in the Midwestern United States. 6th International Meeting
on Rickettsiae and Rickettsial Diseases. Heraklion (Greece), June 5–7, 2011.
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**Comment**
This important letter to the editor highlights many contentious issues Lyme/MSIDS patients have to muddle through. From where I sit, I disagree with the author’s statements that these infections are ‘mild and self-limited’, but I deal with sick people – not healthy. If there’s one thing I DO know, it’s that these infections have been downplayed for far too long, and it’s been a real problem. Patients haven’t been taken seriously for over 40 years!
The consideration of coinfections; unfortunately, is not common in mainstream medicine regarding Lyme/MSIDS. They still treat this as a one germ disease with doxycycline curing it, when nothing could be further from the truth: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/30/study-shows-lyme-msids-patients-infected-with-many-pathogens-and-explains-why-we-are-so-sick/