Archive for the ‘Psychological Aspects’ Category

Abnormal MRI Leads to Lyme Encephalitis Diagnosis

https://danielcameronmd.com/abnormal-mri-leads-to-lyme-encephalitis-diagnosis/

ABNORMAL MRI LEADS TO LYME ENCEPHALITIS DIAGNOSIS

elderly woman with lyme encephalitis laying in hospital bed

Encephalitis is a rare manifestation of Lyme disease with brain parenchymal inflammation being documented in only a handful of cases. In this study, the authors present the case of Lyme neuroborreliosis with encephalitis with “significant parenchymal inflammation on MRI imaging in an immunosuppressed patient.” [1]

By 

In their article “Lyme neuroborreliosis with encephalitis: A rare case,” Rosendahl and colleagues describe a 74-year-old immunocompromised woman, who was admitted to the hospital with confusion, paranoid delusions, weight loss, back pains, and a history of fever and vomiting suspect of cancer and infection of unknown origin.¹

The woman had been hospitalized 4 times over a 4-month period.

She had a history of Lupus, myasthenia gravis (azathioprine and pyridostigmine treated), osteoporosis and atrial fibrillation. But did not have a history of dementia or psychiatric illness.

Initially, she was treated for possible bacterial meningitis and viral encephalitis.

The woman did not recall having a tick bite, EM rash or painful meningoradiculitis. “However, approximately three months prior the patient was efficiently treated for a non-itching universal skin rash with a topical steroid and antihistamines.”

This is the “first case of confirmed [Lyme neuroborreliosis] encephalitis with significant parenchymal MRI changes in a broadly immunosuppressed patient.”

Based on her spinal tap and MRI results, the woman was diagnosed with Lyme meningitis and treated with IV ceftriaxone followed by a week of oral doxycycline.

Her repeat spinal tap findings had improved. The hyperintensities in basal gangliae and thalamus resolved. However, she was left with cognitive problems, such as memory loss.

The authors discussed the need to consider Lyme encephalitis in a patient presenting with uncharacteristic symptoms for 3 months.

Note: This is a European case study involving a woman suspected of contracting Lyme disease from the tick species B. garinii. The results of this case may not apply to those in the U.S. involving infections from B. burgdorferi.

Related Articles:

Tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease can lead to chronic illness

Powassan virus encephalitis contracted during winter months

Lyme disease triggers inflammation in the ‘hindbrain’

References:
  1. Rosendahl SB, Ravn P, Lebech AM, Midtgaard Stenor CP. Lyme neuroborreliosis with encephalitis: A rare case. IDCases. 2023;31:e01704. doi:10.1016/j.idcr.2023.e01704

For more:

Category:

Lyme, Psychological Aspects, research, Testing, Treatment

The Connection Between Lyme Disease & Mental Illness

https://holtorfmed.com/articles/the-connection-between-lyme-disease-and-mental-illness/?

The Connection Between Lyme Disease and Mental Illness

 
By Holtdorf Medical Group

May is both Lyme Disease Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. While the two may seem unrelated, there is actually a significant connection between the two. Lyme disease, a bacterial infection primarily transmitted through tick bites, can cause neurological and psychiatric symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and memory problems:

The History of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease was first identified as a separate illness in 1975, when a group of children in Lyme, Connecticut, began experiencing symptoms of what was initially thought to be juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Researchers eventually linked the symptoms to a tick bite and identified the bacterium responsible for the illness, which they named Borrelia burgdorferi.

However, it’s now known that Lyme disease has likely been around for much longer than this. In fact, there are historical reports of illnesses that may have been caused by Lyme disease dating back hundreds of years. For example, there are reports of a condition known as “erythema migrans” that dates back to the 1800s and is thought to have been caused by the same bacterium that causes Lyme disease.

Over the years, researchers have learned more about Lyme disease and how it’s transmitted. They’ve also identified other species of ticks that can transmit the bacterium, including the black-legged tick and the western black-legged tick. Known as the “Silent Epidemic,” there are approximately 30,000 cases of Lyme disease reported by the Center of Disease Control (CDC) annually. However, the CDC also notes that around 476,000 people are treated for Lyme each year, according to insurance claims.

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease can affect any organ or system in the body, including the immune system, brain, nervous system, heart, and gut. In the U.S., most cases of Lyme disease are caused by a corkscrew-shaped spirochete called Borrelia burgdorferi. This organism has a unique way of evading the human immune system, starting as early as the tick bite, and has learned to survive in the human body even when aggressive treatment attacks are mounted against it.

Upon infection, some patients may develop a “bull’s eye” rash, a circular red rash centered around the bite that is also referred to as erythema migrans (EM). Anyone who experiences this symptom should seek medical attention immediately in order to receive a full course of antibiotics. Antibiotics are critical immediately after infection as they can prevent chronic Lyme from developing (this will be explained below). However, at least 30% of people exposed to Lyme disease do not develop this rash, which means many may become infected and not even know it.

Once the Borrelia bacteria has entered the body, this spirochete is able to hide itself from the body’s immune system while wreaking havoc on bodily systems as it attacks tissues and later triggers an inflammatory response. In this way, although a chronic infection, Lyme disease mirrors many autoimmune conditions because not only is the spirochete bacteria attacking the body, the body is also triggered to attack itself.

The Link Between Lyme Disease and Mental Health

Research has shown that Lyme disease can cause neurological and psychiatric symptoms. The spirochetes can damage nerve cells, disrupt the balance of chemicals in the brain, and trigger inflammation. Additionally, studies  show inflammation to the hippocampus (which is critical for learning and memory) caused by an infection or chronic stress can negatively impact the brain systems associated with motivation and mental agility.

Psychiatric symptoms can occur during the acute phase of the disease, as well as during the later stages of the disease. Some of the most common neurological symptoms of Lyme disease include:

  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Confusion
  • Memory problems

Psychiatric symptoms of Lyme disease can include:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Mood swings
  • Panic attacks

In some cases, these symptoms can persist even after treatment for Lyme disease. This is known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) or chronic Lyme disease. While the exact cause of PTLDS is not known, it is thought to be related to an ongoing immune system response to the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.

The condition known as neurological Lyme, or neuroborreliosis, occurs in about 15% of untreated patients. The condition can affect both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Potential symptoms include aseptic meningitis and facial palsy.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme Disease

Diagnosing Lyme disease can be challenging, as the symptoms can mimic those of other illnesses. Blood tests can be used to detect antibodies to the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, but these tests are not always reliable, particularly during the early stages of the disease. It’s important to seek medical attention if you suspect you may have Lyme disease, as early treatment is crucial for preventing long-term complications.

Early treatment for Lyme disease typically involves antibiotics. In general, the earlier the disease is treated, the better the outcome. Ozone therapy is also a great potential anti-viral and bacterial treatment that may help stimulate immune defenses to prevent chronic Lyme developing (Ozone is commonly integrated into chronic Lyme treatment due to its promising results).

Although there are so many cases of chronic Lyme in the United States alone, because Lyme disease mirrors other inflammatory conditions, many Lyme patients remain un or misdiagnosed. It is important to note that standard blood tests for Lyme disease are often inaccurate, especially when testing occurs soon after transmission. This is in part because the guidelines around a “positive test” are hard to solidify. The CDC identifies a positive Lyme diagnosis as at least five out of ten total markers from a standard blood test. This means that someone could be exhibiting the three most common markers and still not be diagnosed with Lyme.

Prevention of Lyme Disease

The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to take steps to avoid tick bites. This can include:

  • Wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants when spending time outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy areas.
  • Using insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 on exposed skin.
  • Checking yourself and your pets for ticks after spending time outdoors.
  • Showering within two hours of spending time outdoors to wash off any ticks that may be on your skin.
  • Keeping your yard free of leaf litter, tall grass, and brush, which can attract ticks.
  • Proactive ozone therapy for potential immunomodulating benefits

Conclusion

Lyme disease is a serious illness that can have significant effects on both physical and mental health. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms of Lyme disease and to seek medical attention if you suspect you may have the disease. By taking steps to prevent tick bites, you can reduce your risk of contracting Lyme disease and protect your overall health.

If you are experiencing mental health symptoms related to Lyme disease, contact our team of experienced integrative medical providers who can empower you to restore your sense of health.

For more:

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Psychological Aspects

Psychosis, Serious Side-Effect of COVID Shot. Many May Be Suffering From ‘Delusion of Benefit’ Says Cardiologist

https://twitter.com/DrAseemMalhotra/status/1650031510328692737  Video Here (Approx. 9 Min)

Psychosis: Serous Side Effect of COVID Shot

Re-analysis of mRNA vaccine data suggests one serious side effect is Psychosis.  Many people who took the jab may be suffering from ‘delusion of benefit’ says cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra
Overwhelming evidence to be presented in court that jab is ‘not safe & NOT effective.’
“In my whole career in medicine, Neil, with all the academic work I’ve done looking at all different areas of medicine, specifically also related to cardiovascular disease, I have never seen such high, overwhelming quality of evidence of harm of any drug and such poor efficacy,” ~ Dr. Aseem Malhotra
_________________
 2022 May; 71: 103129.
Published online 2022 Apr 13. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103129
PMCID: PMC9006421
PMID: 35447503

Psychiatric adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines: A rapid review of published case reports

Ilambaridhi Balasubramanian, Abdul Faheem, Susanta Kumar Padhy,1 and Vikas Menon2,⁎
Author information Article notes Copyright and License information Disclaimer

Abstract

We aimed to review the available reports of psychiatric adverse reactions to COVID vaccines. Electronic databases such as PubMed and Google scholar were combed to identify relevant reports. We found a total of 11 reports describing 14 cases of psychiatric reactions; these were mostly altered mental states, psychosis, mania, depression, and functional neurological disorder. The index case was commonly a young or middle-aged adult. All reports pertained to the use of either mRNA or vector-based vaccines. Symptom onset was within 10 days of vaccination in all cases; as such, this seems to be a high-risk period warranting vigilance.

  • One month after getting the mRNA-based COVID injection and then worsening three weeks later after getting the 2nd dose, a 31 year old man without a past medical or psychiatric history was brought to the ER because of erratic and bizarre behavior.  He was anxious, guarded, superficial and grandiose, reported becoming ‘clairvoyant’, being able to talk to dead people, hearing ‘people drumming outside his house’ and the constant voice of a co-worker whom he believed to be a lover (but was not).
  • Patient after 2nd dose of COVID injection immediately developed anxiety, nonspecific fear, and insomnia as the prodromal phase of psychosis. Starting the second week, patient manifested delusions of persecution, delusions of influence, thoughts insertion, and delusional behavior, culminating in a suicide attempt.  Psychosis lasted 8 weeks and symptom reduction was observed only after the graduate administration of antipsychotics over four weeks.
  • 12 other case reports of psychosis after COVID shots.
  • Doctor censured for suggesting “vaccine” psychosis led husband to murder wife.

https://theconversation.com/post-covid-psychosis-occurs-in-people-with-no-prior-history-the-risk-is-low-but-episodes-are-frightening-179193

Post-COVID psychosis occurs in people with no prior history. The risk is low but episodes are frightening

By Sarah Hellewell, Research Fellow, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University

Far from the respiratory disease it seemed at first, COVID can impact almost all parts of the body, including the brain. For a small number of people, COVID infection may be accompanied by an episode of post-COVID psychosis, a break from reality which can be frightening for the patient and their loved ones.

Psychosis is a condition characterised by confused thoughts, delusions and hallucinations. People with psychosis can struggle to tell what’s real from what isn’t. Psychosis occurs in “episodes” which may last for days or weeks. Since the start of the COVID pandemic, reports of post-COVID psychosis have come from all over the world.

Post-COVID psychosis is different to psychosis seen in other brain illnesses and diseases. So-called “first episode psychosis” is usually seen in teens or young adults in the development of schizophrenia, or alongside dementia in elderly people.

But people experiencing post-COVID psychosis are typically in their 30s, 40s and 50s, and are experiencing psychosis for the first time. They usually do not have any family history of psychosis. People with post-COVID psychosis also frequently have insight into the way they are feeling. They can recognise this is not normal for them, and something has changed in the way they are thinking.  (See link for article)

_______________

**Comment**

According to the article there were reports of post-viral psychosis during the Spanish flu as well as after the coronaviruses SARS and MERS.

This topic interests me as I experienced psychosis first-hand.  What a wild ride that was.  The event occurred while taking disulfiram/Antabuse, a new treatment at the time for Lyme disease and potentially Babesia.  If you are interested in that story, go here:

I attempt to highlight everything I can about the incident due to worries about single patients trying this treatment.  If you are single and live alone, you need to be checked on daily.  The psychosis can come on fast and you don’t know you are going nuts.  And you do go nuts.

Which brings me to Dr. Malhotra’s suggestion of ‘delusion of benefit’ theory.  I’m truly not trying to be divisive or mean here.  What I am attempting to do is point out that a perfect scenario was created in the past three years that could affect people’s reasoning ability: 

  1. Many had their faces covered for extended periods of time with oxygen depriving, CO2, and bacteria promoting toxic masks that science continues to show do nothing beneficial.
  2. Graphene, which is a toxic carcinogen, has been found in masks, PCR swabs, and the gene therapy injections. Symptoms caused by graphene are similar to COVID symptoms, further mudding the water of what a COVID case truly is since testing is fraudulently worthless.
  3. Graphene oxide in rats not only down-regulates glutamatergic synapses but changes synaptic function which is crucial to learning and memory. These changes are implicated in several brain diseases from dementia to anxiety disorders.
  4. Typically, these same people were then injected a graphene laced gene therapy with a known psychosis side effect that is linked to more reports of adverse reactions and death than any other vaccine in the history of VAERS.
  5. Multiple contaminants including metals have been found in the gene therapy.
  6. The gene therapy utilizes modified RNA (modRNA) forcing healthy cells to produce a toxic viral spike protein that disrupts cell metabolism, increases permeability of the blood-brain barrier, goes systemically into the body interfering with DNA repair, and is designed to persist – possibly forever.
  7. Another injection side-effect is blood clotting which will slow blood flow to the brain. One doctor found microclotting in over 60% of his vaxxed patients.
  8. Paxlovid, an “approved” yet ineffective treatment for COVID also can cause blood clotting.
  9. While authorities blame ‘climate change,’ these same authorities are spraying the air, and testing has confirmed graphene is in our precipitation along with a long list of toxins including aluminum particles, a known neurotoxin, which are found virtually everywhere from our food and body products to vaccines to cookware, which accumulate in the brain and are linked with Alzheimer’s, MS, asthma, autism, and autoimmune psychosis.
What a brilliantly orchestrated, or highly coincidental plan to affect the public’s ability to think and reason.
Food for thought.

Category:

Psychological Aspects, research, vaccines, Viruses

Back From Lyme Disease & Career Abyss, Jimmy Walker Grabs Lead At Heritage

https://www.si.com/golf/news/back-from-lyme-disease-and-career-abyss-jimmy-walker-grabs-lead-at-heritage

Back From Lyme Disease and Career Abyss, Jimmy Walker Grabs Lead at Heritage

Jimmy Walker, who won the PGA Championship in 2016, is back on tour thanks to a one-year exemption. He’s looking to make the most of it.

HILTON HEAD, S.C. – Jimmy Walker is like Kodak, an iconic brand name that was known by everyone until the world passed it by and film morphed into digital.

Walker may not have been as iconic as Kodak or Blackberry, but for a stretch from 2014 to 2016, Walker had six wins, including the 2016 PGA Championship. He was a force.

As time went on, instead of contending on the weekend he was back home, at first wondering where his game had gone and then eventually resigned to the fact that it was over.

A bout with Lyme disease near the end of 2016 caused irreparable harm and from there his confidence and to some extend his ability ebbed away.

And like Kodak, the golfing world passed him by.  (See link for article)

________________

**Comment**

The article points out that the pro golfer was also infected with EBV, West Nile virus, two different types of bacterial pneumonia, as well as Lyme disease.  He suffered “brain to body disconnects” and lack of energy which caused depression.

Now he’s back playing golf.

‘’I’m still a competitor, I still want to win, I still want to have all those feels and have all that built inside me,” Walker said. “And I mean, that doesn’t change, right?

“I want it bad. So that’s the bottom line.”

And we out here in Lymeland are all rooting for him to win as well, but winning in golf pales in comparison to overcoming Lyme/MSIDS!

For more:

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Psychological Aspects

Homicide, Two Assaults, And Suicide in Lyme Patient

https://danielcameronmd.com/homicide-two-assaults-suicide/

HOMICIDE, TWO ASSAULTS, AND SUICIDE IN LYME DISEASE PATIENT

lyme-disease-suicide

A case report by Dr. Robert Bransfield and colleagues describes a patient who developed substance abuse issues after struggling with Lyme disease and was eventually charged with homicide and two assaults. The patient later committed suicide.

By 

The article entitled “A Fatal Case of Late Stage Lyme Borreliosis and Substance Abuse,”1 describes a patient exhibiting aggressiveness, violence, and homicidality. Like many Lyme disease patients, the man experienced a delay in diagnosis and treatment. (One study reports that subjects enrolling in a trial of Lyme encephalopathy were ill an average of two years before being diagnosed.2)

The patient’s Lyme disease symptoms progressed. “Further disease progression contributed to him feeling desperate as a result of multiple late-stage symptoms,” wrote Bransfield et al.  According to Fallon et al., the number of Lyme disease patients who feel desperate is not clear. 2

Based on more than 30 years of experience treating Lyme disease patients, Dr. Bransfield previously described a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Lyme disease patients. “… neuropsychiatric symptoms, usually presenting with significant comorbidity which may include developmental disorders, autism spectrum disorders, schizoaffective disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders (panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, intrusive symptoms), eating disorders, decreased libido, sleep disorders, addiction, opioid addiction, cognitive impairments, dementia, seizure disorders, suicide, violence, anhedonia, depersonalization, dissociative episodes, derealization and other impairments.”3

“Further disease progression contributed to him feeling desperate as a result of multiple late-stage symptoms.”

The patient’s condition worsened.  “The pathophysiological effects of the infection resulted in an increased number and severity of multisystem symptoms, disability, and substance abuse,” the authors wrote. “He experimented with multiple substances in an effort for relief.”

The authors added, “During acute deterioration of his mental state from phencyclidine withdrawal, NMDA agonism increased, he committed a homicide, two assaults, and suicide.”

In an earlier study, Dr. Bransfield described substance abuse, cannabis use, and intoxication in Lyme disease patients.4

Bransfield and colleagues advised prompt diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease to help prevent addictive disorders, substance abuse, and death.

“More effective diagnosis and treatment and attention to substance abuse potential in these patients may help prevent some cases of addictive disorders, substance abuse, and death.”

Related Articles:

Mental health in COVID-19 and Lyme disease patients

Lyme disease and depression

Lyme disease patients at risk for suicide

References:
  1. Bransfield RC, Embers ME, Dwork AJ. A Fatal Case of Late Stage Lyme Borreliosis and Substance Abuse. Abstract. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports. April 2023. Last viewed 4/1/23 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915323000641?via%3Dihub
  2. Fallon BA, Keilp JG, Corbera KM, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of repeated IV antibiotic therapy for Lyme encephalopathy. Neurology. Mar 25 2008;70(13):992-1003. doi:10.1212/01.WNL.0000284604.61160.2d
  3. Bransfield RC. Neuropsychiatric Lyme Borreliosis: An Overview with a Focus on a Specialty Psychiatrist’s Clinical Practice. Healthcare (Basel). Aug 25 2018;6(3)doi:10.3390/healthcare6030104
  4. Bransfield RC. Aggressiveness, violence, homicidality, homicide, and Lyme disease. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:693-713. doi:10.2147/NDT.S155143

______________

**Comment**

Most are not diagnosed and treated promptly and nobody has a clue how many patients are going through something similar to this poor man.  Most of us feel desperate at some point.

For more:

Category:

Lyme, Psychological Aspects, research