Archive for the ‘Lyme’ Category

Living Well When You Don’t Feel Well: Overcoming Lyme Disease & Illness

http://  Approx. 18 Min

Living Well When You Don’t Feel Well

Overcoming Lyme Disease & Illness

Joe Trunzo PhD Professor of Psychology

Dr. Trunzo highlights a different way of thinking and coping with diseases (and life), specifically Lyme disease. 

He earned his undergraduate degree in 1993 from Marywood University in Scranton PA and completed his graduate work in 2000 at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. He completed his pre-doctoral internship at the University of Vermont and his post-doctoral fellowship at the Centers for Behavioral & Preventive Medicine at Brown University Medical School in Providence, RI. He is a Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Department of Applied Psychology at Bryant University. He is also a licensed, practicing clinical psychologist with expertise in the psychological management of chronic medical illnesses such as cancer and Lyme disease, as well as the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, especially obsessive compulsive disorder. He serves on several professional committees and belongs to a number of professional organizations. In his spare time, he enjoys being with his family, live music, running, and mountain climbing.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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**Comment**

A very sane and logical talk on the Lyme/MSIDS controversy involving three camps of thought, which then moves on into how to develop a mindset that focuses on living the best life you can while sick.  Dr. Trunzo utilizes the mindfulness based, values-oriented behavioral therapy called ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) to help patients.

He states that by not accepting what patients are feeling and going through, they can trap themselves and create more problems.  I must throw in a personal note here: one of the most helpful things I was ever told early on by another patient who reached the other side was:

“Don’t be depressed about feeling depressed.”

This may be laughingly simple; however, I found that I needed to give myself permission to feel depressed.  Knowing, understanding and accepting the fact I was going to feel miserable and have some really rotten days (or months!) helped me tremendously.  Being chronically/persistently infected with multiple pathogens that work symbiotically and that are in your brain and virtually every organ of your body wreaking havoc, not only affects you physically but emotionally and spiritually.  Add in the fact that mainstream medicine denies this fact entirely and that your friends and family may choose to believe you are a hypochondriac rather than an extremely ill person who needs help, because after-all you “look fine” – and you can become very depressed and isolated indeed, which doesn’t help the healing process at all!

Obviously, the goal here is not to remain sick, but to achieve wellness and health; however, with Lyme/MSIDS that may take years to accomplish, and even then there is a very real potential that facets of your health may never return to the way they were before you became infected.  As with all things in Lymeland, everyone’s journey is unique to them and no two cases look alike.

For more:

Category:

Lyme, Psychological Aspects, Treatment

First Case Report of Pancreatitis in Lyme Disease

https://researchopenworld.com/first-case-report-of-pancreatitis-in-lyme-disease/

First Case Report of Pancreatitis in Lyme Disease

Publication history

Received: November 14, 2019
Accepted: November 21, 2019
Published: November 25, 2019

Citation

A Baisse, S Parreau, A Abdeh, N Pichon (2019) First Case Report of Pancreatitis in Lyme disease. Internal Med Res Open J Volume 4 (2): 1–2. DOI: 10.31038/IMROJ.2019423

Short Abstract

We report a case of Lyme disease, revealed by pancreatic damage in a 49-year-old man without any medical history. The Lyme disease was revealed by repeated abdominal pain for 4 weeks, a skin lesion of quadricipital region, biological and radiological results showing pancreatic abnormalities.

Case Report

A 49-year-old man, non-alcoholic forest worker, with no past medical history, consulted to the Emergency Department for fever and persistent abdominal pain for a week. The biological results including, C – reactive protein (CRP), lipase, hepatic assessment were normal as well as contrast-enhanced abdominal Computed Tomography (CT). On the day after, the evolution was favorable under symptomatic treatment including nefopam and paracetamol and the patient was discharged from the hospital. One week later, the patient was admitted to the Emergency Department with an identical symptomatology. A posterior quadricipital peeling skin lesion, appeared two weeks earlier according to the patient, was observed (Figure 1a.) A gastroscopy, a colonoscopy, other abdominal CT and biological tests were performed. An inflammation biomarker elevation was observed (CRP: 180 mg/L and hyperleukocytosis: 13.3 G/L) without other biological abnormalities (lipase: 48 UI/L, ALAT: 48 UI/L). The endoscopic examinations and abdominal CT were normal. The patient was discharged from the hospital without any treatment. Half a month later, the patient was admitted to the Emergency Department for the third time and recurrence of the abdominal pain. The clinical examination found a hemodynamic stability, an abdominal pain of the left hypochondrium associated with a cutaneous ulcerative and non-progressive skin lesion in the same region as previously mentioned (Figure 1b.). The biological assessment found a very mild inflammatory syndrome (CRP 86 mg/L, Procalcitonin < 0.2 ng/mL, leukocytes 9.5 G/L), a high lipase level at 1714 IU/L without hepatocellular abnormalities. The third abdominal CT revealed an aspect of pancreatic necrosis with a pseudocyst (6 cm) at the tail of the pancreas, in contact with the splenic hile and the posterior wall of the stomach (Figure 1c.). The patient was hospitalized in Intensive Care Department with the diagnosis of pancreatitis.

On admission, the work-ups looking for the usual causes of pancreatitis (alcohol, gallstones, medications induced, hypercalcemia, traumatic, chemical exposures, hereditary diseases, infections) were negative. Regarding the skin patient’s lesion and anamnesis, the diagnosis of Lyme disease was evoked. His Lyme serology was strongly IgM positive and confirmed by Western Blot. He was treated with ceftriaxone associated with effective analgesic therapy. The clinical and biological course was uneventful and the patient was discharged from the hospital after 3 weeks. The relationship between Lyme disease and acute pancreatitis was strongly suspected.

Discussion

Lyme disease is an endemic zoonosis, transmitted to humans by a tick bite causing a multisystemic impairment due to a Gram-negative bacillus, Borrellia burgdorferi [1]. The disease schematically includes two phases and a polymorphism in clinical manifestations: a primary phase with chronical migrans erythema and articular signs (80% of cases), a secondary phase of heterogeneous and lymphatic dissemination, inaugurated by flu-like symptoms and associating neurological, cardiac or articular signs that could become chronic [2]. Each of these attacks could be inaugural or/and isolated [3]. Concerning the anamnesis, only 30% of patients remember a tick bite [4].

The heterogeneity of presentation in Lyme disease includes the serodiagnosis as a central investigation for confirmation [5]. Hepatic impairment due to Lyme disease, including hepatitis and hepatomegaly, is inconsistent, commonly found in early stage but often asymptomatic and with plasmatic manifestations [6]. A moderate hypertransaminasemia (2 to 3 N) could be noted, predominating on the ALAT. This hepatic biologic involvement is present in 27 to 66% of cases [7]. This can be explained by a systemic, lymphatic migration of the incriminated bacteria and a secondary hepatic sequestration [8]. To our knowledge, this physiopathological evolution to explain liver disorders has never been described for pancreas but is probably similar.

Regarding the treatment of Lyme disease, the cycline are recommended for the uncomplicated forms. An antibiotic treatment with cephalosporins could be considered for cardiac, neurological or complicated cases [2]. The evolution is favorable in 85% of patients, including hepatic acute injuries [9].

In our case, the skin lesion associated with a supposed tick bite, the anamnesis, the absence of other cause of pancreatitis, the favorable evolution under antibiotic treatment and especially the strong positivity of the serology are in favor of a Borrelia burgdoferi infection.

Conclusion

The authors report the first case of pancreatitis revealing a Lyme disease. Clinical, biological and evolutionary findings support the responsibility of Lyme disease in the pathogenesis of our pancreatitis case.  (See link for article and pictures)

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**Comment**

How many patients have had this or similar issues but didn’t have the rash, had negative serology and didn’t fit the other arbitrary standards that mainstream medicine has imposed that thousands of other patients don’t fit?  God only knows.

Category:

Lyme, research, Testing, Treatment

Research Suggests Cancer Medication Could Help Fight Lyme Disease

https://www.wamc.org/news/2023-08-08/research-suggests-cancer-medication-could-help-fight-lyme-disease

Research suggests cancer medication could help fight Lyme Disease

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Jim Levulis
Published August 8, 2023
U.S. Dept. Of Agriculture

Research out of UMass Amherst suggests medication used to stop the spread of cancer may help fight tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme Disease. WAMC’s Jim Levulis spoke with Stephen Rich, the executive director of the New England Regional Center of Vector-borne Diseases, about the study and how it relates to existing Lyme treatments.

Rich: Generally that’s antibiotic treatments, most often doxycycline. A reasonable course of doxycycline takes care of most early detected Lyme disease cases. There other antibiotics where doxycycline is contraindicated, there are other antibiotics that work as well. Things like amoxicillin, but basically antibiotics.

(See link for article and interview)

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SUMMARY:

  • Lyme spirochetes have a dependency upon a particular pathway called glycolysis which is dependent upon lactate dehydrogenase or LDH.
  • Certain cancer cells are similarly constrained in their metabolic profiles.
  • Inhibitors of the LDH molecule have been used to treat cancerous tumors.
  • The inhibitors, when tested in the test tube against Lyme spirochetes didn’t eliminate the borrelia, but they stopped it from growing (bacteriostatic).
  • They are now going to test this in lab animals and then companion animals or people.
  • Despite it being a wet, warm July in Massachusetts, there were lots of ticks at work.

For more on Lyme treatments utilized by experienced Lyme literate doctors (LLMDs) go here.

I must add that this proves ticks are ecoadaptive and tick and disease proliferation has nothing to do with the weather or supposed ‘climate change,’ which is simply a propaganda narrative touted by climate scientists who are on a “gravy train” to secure funding via government grants.

Expert after expert has stated “there is no climate emergency.”

Further, ‘the powers that be’ are using the climate agenda to desperately push a much bigger diabolical plan:  UN’s  Our Common Agenda platform, the WHO’s Pandemic Treaty, and the WEF’s depopulation, massive surveillance, and censorship designs which will give unelected officials unlimited power with ZERO oversight.

Do not fall for the unscientific clap-trap of ‘climate change.’  It’s part of an evil dystopian plan.

Category:

Cancer, Lyme, research, Treatment

Kris Kristofferson “…As Sharp As He’s Been in the Past 20 Years Because of His Treatments”

https://www.survivornet.com/articles/country-singer-songwriter-kris-kristofferson-lyme-disease-alzeimers/

Country Singer-Songwriter Kris Kristofferson, 87, Had Symptoms Misdiagnosed As Alzheimer’s But It Turned Out To Be Lyme Disease

Danielle Cinone
8/2/23
Excerpts:
  • Singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson, known for writing the hit song “Me and Bobby McGee,” had been falsely diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Instead, the country star was actually suffering from a tick-borne illness known as lyme disease.
  • “But we suspect he’s been infected with Lyme anywhere from fourteen to thirty years because he used to have these chronic muscle spasms, which is a common symptom. We were in LA at the time, in Malibu, and I just don’t think doctors were looking for it or aware of it there then. But now we know it’s everywhere. There are signs on my local playground that say beware of ticks.”
  • Kristofferson’s wife added, “He had painful knees and annual knee shots, a pacemaker for arrhythmias– which we now know could be from Lyme- so much Advil for headaches that he got anemic. After a year of iron supplements and seeing a hematologist, he just wasn’t healthy-looking so I took him to an integrative doctor, Mark Filidei, at Whitaker Wellness Institute.

    “Upon examining Kris and watching the muscles in his forearms constantly twitching, he announced, ‘He’s got Lyme disease,’ and ordered a blood test. The first test from LabCorp came back suspicious, the second test by IGeneX was positive. This was in February 2016.”

(See link for article)

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**Comment**

The article then moves onto cancer because the website focuses on minsdiagnosises.  The advice to those diagnosed with cancer:  be proactive, seek out multiple opinions, and “be a little pushy,” also holds true for Lyme/MSIDS due to the severe polarization within the medical community.  Your best bet for achieving wellness is going to come from a Lyme literate doctor (LLMD).

Lastly, there has been research done on the connection between Lyme and cancer as well as in other coinfections.

For more:

Category:

Alzheimer's, Lyme, Treatment

3 Lyme Disease Vaccines in the Pipeline: RUN AWAY FAST

https://danielcameronmd.com/3-lyme-disease-vaccines-in-the-pipeline/

3 LYME DISEASE VACCINES IN THE PIPELINE

lyme-disease-vaccine
National Geographic magazine recently published an article, “Lyme disease is spreading fast—but a vaccine may be on the way.” In it, Guynup summarizes three Lyme disease vaccines that are currently in the pipeline. [1]
By 

In 1998, the first Lyme disease vaccine was introduced by LYMErix but it was pulled from the market after 3 years due to poor sales and possible safety concerns. The FDA was never able to confirm that the vaccine caused harm despite concerns.

Only recently have drug makers resumed researching new human Lyme vaccines.

“But the challenge now is creating vaccines that will protect against the seven globally known strains of Lyme disease,” says Obadiah Plante, who leads the bacteriology team at Moderna.

Pfizer/Valneva candidate: VLA15 and Moderna are both developing vaccines that target the bacterium’s Outer Surface Protein A (OspA). The spirochete that causes Lyme disease produces OspA in the tick. The vaccine is intended to create “antibodies that prevent the organisms from suppressing OspA when the tick next feeds,” the author explains. “This will render them immobile, imprisoned within the tick’s intestine and unable to infect a human host.”

The vaccine is not expected to work after the infection enters humans, as the spirochete changes proteins from OspA to Outer Surface Protein C (OspC).

“The Pfizer/Valneva candidate, VLA15, is farthest along and is being tested in a phase three clinical trial that launched in the summer of 2022,” writes Guynup.

Two study sites (Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard) were halted due to protocol violations. “In an email, a spokesperson for Pfizer noted that the study is expected to wrap up in December 2025,” Guynup points out.

Moderna, best known for developing a COVID-19 vaccine using mRNA technology, has been working on two Lyme disease vaccines using this same technology.

Moderna will begin human trials this summer with 800 participants in the U.S. between 18 and 70 years old.

The first vaccine, named mRNA-1982, contains a single mRNA that targets the Borrelia bacteria species that causes most cases of Lyme disease in the U.S.

The second vaccine, named mRNA-1975, contains a mixture of seven mRNAs targeting the Borrelia species that cause most cases of Lyme disease in both the U.S. and Europe.

MassBiologics is taking a different approach, using monoclonal antibody targeting OspA.

This vaccine may offer immediate protection, while it can take months for immunity to develop with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

“Within days after you get the subcutaneous injection, you’ve absorbed enough of the antibody so you’re immediately immune,” says Mark Klempner, a professor of medicine and vice chancellor emeritus of MassBiologics at UMass Chan Medical School.

According to Klempner, when 20 infected ticks were placed on nonhuman primates “this antibody treatment provided 100 percent protection.”

The company hopes to apply for approval from the FDA in 2025.

Author’s Note: The safety and efficacy of these vaccines are not yet available for doctors to weigh the pros and cons of offering a vaccine. Furthermore, none of the vaccines is designed for protecting against a co-infections.

References:
  1. Lyme disease is spreading fast but a vaccine may be on the way. National Geographic. Guynup, Sharon. May 15, 2023. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/vaccine-prevention-lyme-disease-epidemic-tick-treatment

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**Comment**

Category:

Lyme, research, vaccines