In this post, I will try my best to explain what Lyme Disease is. Let me warn you, it IS very complicated. However, the more you learn about Lyme Disease, the better off you are. No one is safe from becoming infected with Lyme Disease.
I will NOT let the fear of ticks keep me from enjoying nature!
I refer to Lyme Disease as the “Opportunistic Disease in Disguise’ because of the way it changes while in a person’s body. It can go dormant and effectively hide from antibiotics and blood tests. Lyme Disease attacks different parts of the body causing varied symptoms which are most frequently misdiagnosed.
People diagnosed with Lupus, MS, Parkinson’s Disease, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Chronic Pain, Severe Arthritis, Migraines, ALS, Alzheimer’s, Restless Leg Syndrome, Costochondritis, ADD, Peripheral Facial Palsy, Depression, Anxiety disorders, Autism and many more illnesses are found to actually have Lyme Disease but are first commonly misdiagnosed. Most Primary Care Physicians are not literate enough in the world of lyme to know that these illness harbor similar symptoms to lyme disease. Instead they are treated for an illness other than Lyme Disease and never recover. It is in the best interest of the patient to educated themselves about Lyme Disease. You may be suffering from a misdiagnosed illness all this time when you could be getting treated for the correct illness that is affecting you. Since my first treatment in 2004, I had numerous doctors tell me I was experiencing Chronic Pain, Chronic Fatigue, Restless Leg Syndrome, Costochondritis, Hormonal Imbalances, Ulcers, Gastrointestinal Disorders, Severe Depression, Anxiety, just to name a few. They were quick to put me on many medications to ‘bandage’ my problems, but none ever put a rest to what was truly ailing me. The worst diagnosis I received was from several doctors who simply told me, “It’s all in your head. You need to see a psychiatrist!”
In the ‘traditional sense,’ Lyme Disease is an infectious illness caused by a spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) most often carried by an infected tick. However, as Joseph J. Burrascano, Jr., MD states, ‘clinically the illness often is much more than that, especially in the disseminated and chronic forms.” Dr. Joseph Burrascano is, in my opinion as well as countless other lyme literate people afflicted with Lyme Disease, one of, if not THE BEST lyme literate doctors in the world. His Lyme Disease Guidelines are commonly followed by the ‘lyme community,’ lyme literate doctors as well as lyme patients and care givers. You can find a wealth of information online about Dr. Burrascano, his background information as well as his guidelines.Severe Depression, Hormone issues, Anxiety, Insomnia, just to name a few. The most frustrating diagnoses the I received from doctors were ones when they told me, it was “all in my head.” I plead with those of you who recognize any of the ‘illnesses’/symptoms listed above as ones you have been said to have to PLEASE look into the possibility of Lyme Disease. It could very well save your life or the life of a loved one.
I would also like to mention PJ Langhoff an incredible author who, through her writings, speaks for all of us afflicted with this disease. She is a victim of Lyme Disease, along with her children. She is our voice. I thank her for all the sacrifices she has made. I thank her for her wisdom. I thank her for never giving up. She is a true inspiration. She has written several books that are very informative. I encourage those of you with Lyme Disease or who love someone with Lyme Disease to pick up one if not all of her books and get to reading! Her books include but are not limited to:
“It’s All In Your Head,” Patient Stories from the Front Lines
“It’s All In Your Head,” Around the World in 80 Lyme Patient Stories
“The Baker’s Dozen & the Lunatic Fringe
The Dreaded TICK
Various Ticks
An infected tick embeds itself into its host. The tick engorges itself with the host’s blood all the while transferring the spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) into the host’s bloodstream. As the spirochetes travel through the host’s bloodstream, they use their spiral shaped body to ‘corkscrew’ their way deep into the tissues and organs of the host. Above, notice how tiny the Nymph Deer Tick is. It is so small, it often goes unrecognized as it embeds itself into its victim. Within weeks, sometimes even days, symptoms will flare up. Because early Lyme Disease symptoms are similar to the flu, the infected person often goes untreated. This will lead to a more dangerous and difficult stage of the disease with a long, painful road to recovery IF the patient can find a lyme literate doctor to treat them. Sometimes, it is too late.
A Nymph Deer Tick is so small it often goes unnoticed as it crawls onto, then embeds itself into it's victim.
It was once believed that only deer ticks were carriers of Lyme Disease. However, many scientists are finding that mosquitos, deer flies, horse flies and other biting, blood sucking insects are also carriers. It was once believed that deer and mice were the only animals that carried the ticks around. Wrong! These tiny, blood sucking creatures are found on horses, squirrels, birds, dogs, rabbits, cats…. most animals that have access to the outdoors.
Co-Infections:
Not only do ticks carry Lyme Disease, but they carry Co-Infections as well. Usually when a person is treated only for Lyme Disease and never seem to fully recover, it is because they have been infected with Co-Infections as well. Co-Infections are treated separately from Lyme Disease. It is essential to the patient that they be clinically treated for both Lyme Disease and Co-Infections.
Bartonella is the most common of all tick-borne pathogens. Some symptoms seen with Bartonella are Central Nervous System issues; agitation, insomnia, and even seizures. Many cognitive deficits and confusion are common. Other symptoms may include lower abdominal pain, sore soles, red rashes, and tender subcutaneous nodules along the extremities. Swollen lymph nodes and sore throats are also very common. I am currently on treatment for Bartonella. The medication I am taking for Bartonella is Doxycycline along with Rifampin.
Babesiosis also known as Piroplasmosis. Babesiosis is not a bacteria, they are protozoans. Therefore, they will not be eradicated by any of the common lyme treatments for the lyme bacteria. Symptoms for Babesiosis include night sweats, high fever and chills, air hunger, occasional cough, persistent migraine-like headache, fatigue, a sense on imbalance, just to name a few. Because of my symptoms, there is a strong suspicion that I have this co-infection as well. If so, I will have to take a medication that is used to treat Malaria. Insurance will NOT cover the cost of this very expensive medication.
Other interesting and important facts about Lyme Disease:
Lyme Disease can be sexually transmitted.
Lyme Disease can be transmitted in utero.
Lyme Disease can be transmitted through blood transfusions.
Lyme Disease can be found in body tissue and organs, in urine, mucus as well as other bodily fluids.
Lyme Disease can be transmitted through organ donors.