‘The People’s Testaments’ Episode 35: Father Describes ‘Serious Psychiatric Health Conditions’, Violent Episodes in Third Grade Son Due to Popular Over-the-Counter Laxative
After Mike Koehler’s son began taking Miralax, he experienced neurological change and struggled greatly. After fixing his gut microbiology, this young boy healed from the immense damage done by this conventional drug. In today’s “The People’s Testaments,” Mike tells his son’s story and explains the role of Polyethylene-glycol in this experience as well as in the lives of all of us. “We’re a huge experiment.” Tune in for a critical testament.
Prior trauma may worsen symptom severity of Lyme disease
Lyme disease can lead to severe symptoms in some individuals. In their study, “Psychological factors in the prediction of Lyme disease course,” Mustafiz and colleagues examined whether prior trauma may worsen the severity of symptoms for Lyme disease. [1]
The authors cited earlier research by Solomon and colleagues on the role of prior trauma in Lyme disease.² “The investigators noted that patients who reported a higher number of lifetime traumatic events (i.e., a higher trauma score) at initial presentation were more likely to report a painful, disabling symptom course at follow-up.”
Mustafiz and colleagues described the history of prior trauma in 60 individuals with Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS). Twenty-five patients met the criteria for highly probable PTLDS and 35 for definite PTLDS.
PTLDS is a term used to describe individuals who fail initial treatment for Lyme disease and remain ill with impaired cognitive function, pain, fatigue, and poor function.
The history of trauma life events was assessed by The Trauma History Screen (THS). “This self-report assesses exposure to 14 types of high-magnitude stressor events that could be traumatic (e.g., natural disasters, sexual or physical abuse, military trauma, loss of a loved one),” wrote the authors.²
They observed that prior trauma may worsen symptom severity of Lyme disease on every measure except for pain and fatigue. “A greater number of traumatic events were significantly associated with greater symptom severity on the scales of mood (stress, depression, and anxiety), cognition, multisystem symptom burden, and functional status (mental and physical), but not on measures of pain and fatigue,” wrote the authors.
“The investigators concluded that traumatic psychologic experiences predating disease onset may play an important etiologic role in symptom severity for chronic conditions like Lyme disease.”¹
The impact of prior trauma on the symptom severity of Lyme disease was modest. Therefore, the authors suspected that other factors were responsible for the symptom severity of Lyme disease. “These factors range from characteristics of the Borrelia strain to the biological characteristics and clinical history of the human host.”
Editor’s note: Some doctors have used PTLDS for individuals with Lyme disease who remain ill despite antibiotic treatment. I have not used the term PTLDS until they have a validated test to rule out a persistent infection.
References:
Mustafiz F, Moeller J, Kuvaldina M, Bennett C, Fallon BA. Persistent Symptoms, Lyme Disease, and Prior Trauma. J Nerv Ment Dis. May 1 2022;210(5):359-364. doi:10.1097/NMD.0000000000001452
Solomon SP, Hilton E, Weinschel BS, Pollack S, Grolnick E. Psychological factors in the prediction of Lyme disease course. Arthritis Care Res. Oct 1998;11(5):419-26. doi:10.1002/art.1790110514
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**Comment**
I have seen this personally with patients and it’s an important aspect to consider. For far too long we have separated the mental & spiritual from the physical when they are all interconnected.
I also appreciate Dr. Cameron’s refusal to call these PTLDS patients until there is a validated test to rule out persistent infection because that is also crucial to address – persistentinfection(s).
Three in four parents say they are worried about their child’s mental health following the pandemic, a new survey has found.
The survey of more than 2,000 parents, commissioned by BBC Bitesize and Netmums, found that 74% of parents are concerned about their child’s mental health, with the same proportion reporting that their child’s mental health had become a greater priority for them since the pandemic.
Nearly half, 44%, said that their child had experienced mental health challenges, and 46% said their child had been lonely because of the pandemic.
The results also showed the impact of lockdowns on children’s social skills and confidence.
Parents have told us since the earliest days of the pandemic that their children’s mental health was becoming a growing concern Anne-Marie O’Leary, Netmums
(See link for article)
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Important quote:
“The statistics speak for themselves, concerns about child mental health and the overall well being of families post-pandemic are reaching a crunch point.” ~ Helen Foulkes, head of content production from BBC
She added that the latest research “evidences just how severe the cumulative impact of two years of interrupted schooling and social distancing measures has been”.
Episode #165: Bartonella with Dr. Brian Plante, ND
Last Updated: May 11 2022
Why You Should Listen
In this episode, you will learn about the vector-borne infection Bartonella.
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About My Guest
My guest for this episode is Dr. Brian Plante. Brian Plante, ND is a licensed naturopathic doctor with extensive training in integrative healthcare approaches. He specializes in working with patients suffering from complex immune dysfunction such as Lyme disease, chronic viral infections, environmental toxicity (such as from mold and heavy metals), autoimmune disease, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. Additionally, Dr. Plante helps patients recover from functional gastrointestinal conditions, adrenal and thyroid disorders, and neuropsychiatric disorders. With each patient Dr. Plante meets, he conducts a comprehensive evaluation in order to get a complete picture and then creates individualized treatment plans to address that patient’s specific concerns. Dr. Plante is a graduate of the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR, as well as a member of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). He believes that one integral step in helping patients heal from complex chronic illness is by empowering them with knowledge and understanding. He facilitates this by patiently taking however much time is needed to investigate a patient’s symptoms and concerns thoroughly. Through compassionate listening, thoughtful instruction, and a steadfast commitment to helping patients experience lasting, positive change, Dr. Plante can combat the frustration patients often experience in their struggle to find answers. His goal with every patient with whom he interacts is to provide support and guidance in their journey toward achieving optimal health.
Key Takeaways
What symptoms provide clues for the potential of Bartonella?
Could Bartonella be an explanation for many neuropsychiatric conditions?
Might Bartonella play a role in SIBO?
What are the vectors through which Bartonella may be acquired?
What labs are useful for exploring the potential presence of Bartonella?
How often does mold exposure play a role in Bartonella patients?
Can Bartonella be a trigger for MCAS?
Can Bartonella be a driver of autoimmunity and immune dysregulation?
Might Bartonella play a role in hypermobility syndromes and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?
What role does Bartonella play in Morgellons?
What is the foundation for treating Bartonella?
What modalities can be helpful for terrain optimization?
What role do nutritional IVs play in Bartonella treatment?
Are antibiotics necessary in treating Bartonella?
What herbs may be helpful for addressing Bartonella?
How might oxidative therapies such as ozone, EBOO, and ozone plasmapheresis be used?
How often do biofilms need to be addressed?
What antimicrobial and immune-modulating peptides have a role?
Can Bartonella be fully eradicated?
Once a patient has recovered, can treatment be stopped? Or is there a maintenance strategy for longer-term support?
Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) Chief Scientific Officer, Timothy Sellati, PhD
Learn about an exciting research project that Global Lyme Alliance is fundraising for. It will uncover the “stealth” pathogen known as Bartonella that many Americans may carry. This study can help children, parents, and grandparents who suffer from psychiatric & neurological problems, among other physical illnesses. Learn more and donate at GLA.org/bartonella
Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) has launched a crowdfunding campaign in honor of Lyme Disease Awareness Month in May. GLA will use this campaign to bring attention to another debilitating illness that also affects many people with Lyme disease. The study will look at hidden bacteria known as Bartonella, a vector-borne pathogen that many Americans may carry. Bartonella can cause Bartonellosis, an infectious disease that can affect the brain, eyes, heart, and other organs. Bartonellosis can cause depression, anxiety, OCD, and encephalitis (which can result in seizures and coma).
Like Lyme disease, Bartonellosis is increasing in prevalence and can also go undiagnosed due to lack of awareness. Current antibiotic therapy for complicated Bartonellosis does not always eradicate the disease, and patients continue to suffer. The Bartonella Discovery Program is a project designed to help achieve the following:
To identify how Bartonella species interact with a patient’s immune cells, and how the intracellular, extracellular and biofilm lifestyles of Bartonella influence antibiotic susceptibility
To lay the foundation for drug discovery efforts to find antibiotic options that are more effective in killing and clearing these bacteria from patients
To use cutting edge tools to look for the bacteria in kids and young adults who suffer from an acute neuropsychological condition called PANS, and in older adults with dementia.
“The importance of this study cannot be overstated because of the severe neuroinflammation and neuropsychiatric disorders some patients can suffer when infected with Bartonella bacteria,” says GLA’s Chief Scientific Officer Tim Sellati, PhD.
The U.S.-focused study is multinational and multi-site at premier academic institutions using top Bartonella and biofilm experts. Associate Professor Monica Embers, PhD, a microbiologist and immunologist at the Tulane National Primate Research Center who has studied the persistence of tick-borne infectious diseases despite antibiotic therapy, is The Bartonella Discovery Program Director. When asked about the impact this program could have on patients,
Dr. Embers said, “With this project, we aim to use sensitive detection methods to directly find the bacteria in patients who are suffering from clinical disease consistent with Bartonellosis. This could tremendously impact patients who suffer from chronic disease that has been difficult to diagnose because if we can reliably detect the bacteria, it would offer direct evidence to support the diagnosis.”
Learn more and donate by clicking the link button below.
Madison Area Lyme Support Group 