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In the 21st century, developed countries enjoy some of the best medical care that science has to offer, yet we are suffering in epidemic proportions from asthma, allergies, cancer, chronic arthritis and auto-immune illnesses like lupus, ALS, MS and a host of other disorders that until the last few decades, were unheard of or exceedingly rare. Why?
Some forward thinking physicians have evidence to suggest that part of this epidemic is actually due to chronic lyme disease that has been misdiagnosed.
Steven Bock, MD, wrote in the International Journal of Integrative Medicine, that:
‘Patients have had negative testing for lyme disease for up to five years after the onset of symptoms. Patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), living in an epidemic Lyme area, with atypical signs for MS, deserve to be studied fully with Lyme and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing to determine if Lyme disease is an etiology.’ Even some children with attention deficit disorder (ADD) may in fact have underlying, chronic lyme disease.
How Can Doctors ensure the Correct Diagnosis?
If the patient’s clinical presentation and history are inconclusive, there are some tests that can help determine if it is lyme disease:
Enzyme Link Immuno absorbent Test and indirect Immuno Florescence can find out if there are antibodies to the tick. Even patients who show no antibodies can be found to have the disease using this test.
DNA Amplification Testing – Sometimes the affected person will shed DNA from the tick in his or her urine for years after infection, and this DNA can confirm whether it is present. If so, that chronic arthritis and depression they suffered from was probably triggered by lyme disease.
If more doctors would employ DNA and antibody testing of chronically ill patients, they would be able to give appropriate antibiotic therapy and avoid potential misdiagnoses.
So if you have flu like symptoms, headaches, tiredness, muscle aches, unexplained fever or arthritis that is not responding to treatment, mention lyme disease to your healthcare provider, as that may give you the answers and the cure you need.
Sources:
The Journal of Integrative Medicine, May/June 1999, Dr. Steven Bock.
Joanna is a freelance health writer for The Mother magazine and Suite 101 with a column on infertility, http://infertility.suite101.com/. She is author of the book, 'Breast Milk: A Natural Immunisation,' and co-author of an educational resource on disabled parenting, in addition to running a charity for people damaged by vaccines or medical mistakes.
Add a Comment9 Comments
Hi, Anyone out there with Lyme or FAM,any other immune problem.
May 24, 2010 - 11:52amPlease keep in touch would love to chat....
Thanks
Hugggssss, TO ALL IN NEED
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Hi, I want to keep you updated with my 15 yrs. research & scholarships, who's-who been voted into for all my work.
June 18, 2010 - 10:39amAgain not bragging at all just to let you know can give you info.
From the mycoplasma, to morgellons that invade our bodies now +++ we have many changing hosts,very intelligent.
By the way remember this is no longer known as tick borne illness I thought was ticks & flies, now according to specialist on Dr. OZ we can add flies.(Probably why EQUINE LYME ALSO).... SO be careful,far from easy if like me you are bug magnet. I believe we give off sent to them to make them more stealth these critters are smarter than you think. Watched a discovery program where flies where so smart they gave mosquitoes transferring their eggs +++.
Long story.
Keep in touch all we need to get this horrific known fastest growing epidemic under control. Now with all it`s carriers make much harder. Plus the long list co-infections I mentioned.
Thanks, Hugggggsssss, TO ALL IN NEED.....+++
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Hi, Thank You for sweet compassion.
April 25, 2010 - 12:58pmAll we want is understanding, not pity. Yet, I talk write congress,actually to anyone who will listen to save 1 life of this horror. If flu like symptoms last too long run do not walk to Dr.
Not only that you are right about image. What they don`t know is how much en-gerny it takes just to pretend, not to make people around you feel uncomfortable. SO we smile & laugh like anyone else.
Take Care Yourself.
I tell ohers if you do least 1 thing or 1 good thing, pat yourself on your back if no 1 gets how hard that 1 thing is to do. When I do get out try to do 1 kind gesture, in case someone else needs little love that day. Happy that least could get out that day. Good feeling....~~~~~~~~~~~
Hugggsssss, to all in need, Kerry
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Hey Kerry,
I understand what you are saying about looking fine on the outside while falling apart on the inside. Don't women all do this when something is bothering us? We keep it together on the outside when we have our own fight club going on in the inside.
I am glad that you are getting the word out and you never know, your family may come around. You are a very strong woman although you may not feel like it. To sit down and share your story will help so may others suffering also.
Your in my thoughts!
April 25, 2010 - 10:38amThis Comment
Hi, Thank you for your support. I hope made some sort statement & agree with the autoimmune poss. really Lyme.
April 25, 2010 - 10:29amWe,RA/MS/ALS/FMers/cfids/ME/++++. We all start out exactly the same live like that as though we got worse case flu we never able to get rid of. Many our symptoms are close just go from root of tree take diff. branch, No diff. than cancer gets into weakest area can get into. Plus all have brain neurotransmitter problems which loves to hide & work on. Many do not know about equine Lyme from horses, where mine could have even started. I know when was in Hosp. after camping, in for 10 days which called very rare meningitis. Sure main trigger. Never was quite well again took 10 yrs. for word Lyme ever came up, dxed with MS/FM/Cfids/ME/++++, then word Lyme came into life,which I suspected, gut thing, Like the auto Immune+. Very too long story, went through 8yrs. being stalked, sure pushed Lyme over edge,tested once positive for everything,Elisa,Western Blot,EBV/antibodies. Only once they say once was enough never told till sent for drs. paperwork 1 day. Hmmmmm?
How do handle pain,laughter,humor,My view, dolphins come in & calm me when they stop by.
Not to mention all the band aid meds(I call them,not sure). Took me 7 yrs. agony to finally say yes to meds. Last yr. pic line, only 6 wks. which now need constantly with orals,pulsing them. Chetes very smart mutate on own,change form & hide from biotics or grow to love & they grow where good bacteria gets killed off.
Yes, I talk about openly to get word out, strangers except better than family. Kids have signs & feel scared to be around me too vulnerable. Scares them they do not admit saw active fun loving,hard working tuff gal, go to BLOB. Scares people off. Our world is good for short term but never long. Too hard on them. I get it,I pretend alot, not bad looking so some want to think making all up.
How can anyone or why make up all the symptoms we live with from heart to brain to bowels,bladder. List never ends, not reliable(hardest for me to say). From truly min. to min. do you know how or what will be next....?Besides for 24/7 stuff.
Thanks so nice to have support from strangers, really MEANS SOOOOOO MUCH...
KerryBlue
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I'm so sorry, Karen, to hear about your horrific journey with lyme disease. I hope you find something that eases your pain.
If you have any successes, let me know so I can update the readers here.
Best Wishes,
Joanna.
April 25, 2010 - 3:02amThis Comment
Thank you for sharing your story, Karen. I have an Aunt that is also a 'Limie" as you called it and she has dealt with severe chronic pain for many years.
I am very sad to hear about your friends and family that are shying away from you. I tend to find that people are afraid of what they don't know. Have you ever tried educating them about your Lyme Disease? Maybe if they understood more they would be more willing.
Also, what do you do to try and curve your pain? I think many other women would be interested in knowing how you deal with the chronic pain. Thanks again for any input you would like to share.
April 24, 2010 - 9:51amThis Comment
I have been saying this for very long time. Mostly common sense, med background, cause & effect for everything. Just could not believe you wake up 1 day & your body decides to turn on you without cause.
April 24, 2010 - 9:07amLyme can hide for many yrs. in brain & elsewhere. My dads entire life had symptoms of rashes,swelling bad knees,when he got cancer & immune broken immediately came down with RA. Story much longer,with unexplained bowel prob. eventually left too long colostomy. SO much never explained. That is my closest case next to mine not to mention my sister,same unexplained illnesses including FM.
I have been dxed with just about everything. Now late stage Lyme with some ALS symptoms NO 1 is doing anything about. Finally Only thing felt might help that I CAN DO MYSELF. I bought sauna, hoping to stop progression since they keep my body temp very low to grow. This is way to push up temp as easily as able. Not sure, but giving it my best.
I live in chronic pain,nausea,fatigue 24/7(you know worse flu type. Not to mention the 50 other symptoms. YEASH...
I can`t tell you how happy was to see this that I was not crazy as most think I am sure when I explain, they look as though speaking pig latin.
I want to be part of any this if can. I have won 2 scholarships for some of my work,voted into who`s who.
Can`t be totally (Off my rocker,ha).
Sorry, only thing have left to keep me going is my sense humor. Have been stripped of just about everything. I was not bad looking,vibrant jock,owned own business. I ran big home,including all repairs,chopping wood+++. Now blob losing friends,family,,many scared,others do not believe,can`t keep up in normal world as many of us late lymies can`t. Getting up & living is the big chore.
Thanks for the article you are getting there. Like cancer 100 diff. names & types, what is the diff???
I think anyone bitten by anything carries, like cancer we have, just needs trigger, maybe stress,illness,even car accidents,all stress also. There are more co-infections or forms, we are just learning about or know. Fighting the Govt. is the problem,hmmmmmWHY????? Thank You for Your Time,Karen
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Hi, thank you for helping to raise awareness about Lyme disease. Please note that a new DNA test is now available to detect early-stage Lyme. This is an important step in the ongoing research about this multi-stage tick-borne illness. Here is a link to a brief interview with Dr Lee, who is using the DNA test in Milford, CT. http://www.lyme-disease-research-database.com/lyme_disease_blog_files/lyme-dna-test.html
Again, thank you for writing about the seriousness of Lyme.
April 23, 2010 - 7:34amThis Comment