Finding Relief For Your Headaches
If your headaches are being caused by Lyme disease, most medications and traditional treatments for migraines will not provide much pain alleviation. At most, you may be able to temporarily mask your symptoms or make them less severe. However, true relief will not come until you are able to address the core of your issue.
Treatment for Lyme disease depends on how long youve had the infection. If caught early, a course of antibiotics can be successful in improving your symptoms and getting rid of the disease. However, antibiotics are not always effective when the infection is not detected or treated right away. Additionally, there are times when people still feel ill and experience symptoms even after antibiotic therapy.
If symptoms, like headaches, last for more than six months, this is referred to as chronic Lyme disease. Often, not only are antibiotics ineffective at treating the condition at this stage but they can also be harmful and make it even more difficult for healing to happen.
Constipation In Lyme Disease
It is estimated that up to 25% of the worlds population struggles with constipation. Not only is constipation uncomfortable and can affect daily activities, but it can also predispose individuals to develop more severe health issues. What about people who are doing all the right things to prevent constipation drinking plenty of water, eating plenty of fiber, and exercising regularly but still experience constipation?
Constipation in Lyme has been referred to as Bells palsy of the gut. Just like facial paralysis that can occur in Lyme disease, the nerves that innervate the intestines can be affected causing a decrease in the muscular wave of contractions that usually move the contents of the intestines downstream. Chronic constipation ensues, and people end up taking magnesium, Dulcolax, or other laxative medications for long periods because the underlying cause of their constipation was never identified. Nerve dysfunction can occur elsewhere in the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, which leads to difficulty swallowing.
When constipation or difficulty swallowing is related to nervous system dysfunction from Lyme disease, treating the infection also helps to improve nerve signaling. Prokinetic medications help with bowel movements but also serve as physical therapy for the large intestine by increasing the activity of intestinal muscular contraction.
Can Lyme Disease Cause You To Be Anemic
4.1/5cansymptomsdisease can causeanemiaanemia
In this regard, can Lyme cause iron deficiency?
Lyme Disease Bacterium Switches Out Iron For Manganese To Evade Immune System, Study Shows. The bacterium that causes Lyme Disease substitutes manganese for iron in its diet, a new study finds. Lyme disease is transmitted by tick bites and can cause fever, fatigue, headaches and rashes.
Additionally, can you be anemic without losing blood? Anemia is a condition in which you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body’s tissues. Having anemia can make you feel tired and weak. There are many forms of anemia, each with its own cause. Anemia can be temporary or long term, and it can range from mild to severe.
Herein, can a tick bite cause anemia?
Illnesses transmitted by ticks can case fever, anemia, paralysis, lameness, and other symptoms. People can not catch Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever from infected dogs, but the same ticks that bite dogs can cause these illnesses and others if they bite humans.
Does Lyme disease affect blood count?
In patients with Lyme disease, the white blood cell count can be normal or elevated. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is usually elevated. The serum aspartate transaminase may be elevated. On complement testing, C3 and C4 levels are generally normal or slightly elevated.
You May Like: Lyme Disease Doctors In Virginia
What Should You Not Eat With Lyme Disease
First and foremost, there are the foundation foods.
- Sugar is a sweetener.
- Foods that have been processed or packaged and contain a large number of ingredients.
- Trans-fatty acids/hydrogenated fats, saturated fats
- Wheat/gluten, eggs, fish, milk/dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, corn, and other common allergens
- Something that is difficult to digest or making you feel bad after eating it.
How Is It Treated
Facial palsy is treated with oral antibiotics and Lyme meningitis/radiculoneuritis can either be treated with oral or intravenous antibiotics, depending on severity . Most people with Lyme disease respond well to antibiotics and fully recover. Varying degrees of permanent nervous system damage may develop in people who do not receive treatment in the early stages of illness and who develop late-stage Lyme disease.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Test For Lyme Disease Called
Lorraine: Dr Hilary Discusses Symptoms Of Lyme Disease
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
When a person has been bitten by a tick and becomes infected with Lyme disease, noticing a bullseye-shaped rash is one of the more common signs. However, not everyone will be able to spot an infection by a rash. Different symptoms of Lyme disease include fatigue, joint pain, heart palpitations or pain in the head. If you have been experiencing recurrent headaches it could be a warning.
How Long Does It Take For Lyme Disease To Cause Tinnitus
Lyme disease is hard to fit into a template when it comes to how it will present itself as symptoms. Some people experience symptoms in days while for some it doesnt show until weeks, months or even a year or more has passed.
But, the general consensus on the symptom presentation timeline is as follows
- 3 days to 2 Months after bite
- A circular, outwardly expanding scar
The above timeline is only a general guide to give you a starting point for your research into whether Lyme disease caused your Tinnitus. As mentioned earlier, Lyme disease presents itself very differently from patient to patient. It is entirely possible for Tinnitus as a symptom to present itself much sooner or much later than what is explained above.
Only a doctor can arrive at a firm nexus between Lyme disease and your Tinnitus.
Also Check: What Symptoms Does Lyme Disease Cause
What Happens At Your Appointment
The GP will ask about your symptoms and consider any rash or recent tick bites you know about.
Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose. It has similar symptoms to other conditions and there’s not always an obvious rash.
2 types of blood test are available to help confirm or rule out Lyme disease. But these tests are not always accurate in the early stages of the disease.
You may need to be retested if you still have Lyme disease symptoms after a negative result.
Neurological Symptoms From Late
If Lyme disease or associated infections are not adequately treated or go untreated, the persistence of the bacteria, and the inflammation from the immune response, can affect nerve function leading to a myriad of neurological symptoms. One study indicated it took an average of a year and a half following a tick bite for symptoms to manifest in the peripheral nervous system and two years to the onset of symptoms in the central nervous system . The significant length of time from bacterial exposure to onset of symptoms creates a challenge in associating Lyme disease as the cause of chronic neurological symptoms.
Neuropathy is a general term for disease of the nerves.
Polyneuropathy refers to multiple nerves involved in the pathology. In late-stage Lyme disease, polyneuropathy typically manifests as numbness, tingling or burning and can include any nerve but most commonly begins in the hands/arms and feet/legs. Less frequently, chronic neuropathy can lead to radicular pain.
Encephalopathy refers to generalized brain dysfunction
Read Also: How Long Lyme Disease Last
Not All Headaches Are Alike: Whats Causing Yours
byJennifer Crystalon May 17, 2019
Headaches are a common symptom of tick-borne illness. Now that Im in remission, I rarely get headaches. When I do, Ive become adept at recognizing why I have them. Knowing the nuances of my headaches helps me determine whether my pain is Lyme or babesia relatedor from something else entirelyand how to treat it. In short, I now know my own head as well as I know my own body.
I trained myself to recognize gradations and causes of headaches in part as a defense against people who thought they knew my head and body better than I did. In my worst days of battling tick-borne diseases, when I would complain to an acquaintance of a smashing migraine, they might say It could be the weather.
I wanted to scream. A headache that severe does not result from a shift in barometric pressure. Sometimes on muggy days with impending rain, I felt fine. My head was clear. I had no brain fog or pain. Other days, it would be beautiful and sunny outside, and I felt my head might explode. Healthy people were outside playing, encouraging me to enjoy the weatheritll be good for you!when all I really needed was to take some migraine medication and sleep.
These days when I do get a migraine, its usually because Ive pushed myself way too hard neurologically or physically. If they persist, I know my babesia is flaring. But the headaches I usually get now are the normal headaches healthy people thought I was suffering from years ago.
How Does Lyme Disease Cause Tinnitus
Lyme disease is a persistent and progressive disease that intensifies with time. If not treated in a timely manner, it can slowly develop to a stage where a disorder called Neuroborreliosis sets in. Neuroborreliosis is a central nervous system disorder that presents itself as some or all of the following symptoms facial palsy, double vision, nerve pain, Tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo, hyperacusis and more. It is believed that Lyme disease affects the ears by damaging the vestibulocochlear or auditory nerve. This is unlike Tinnitus that is caused by exposure to loud noises for example, where hair cells in the middle ear die out of over stimulation.
This study estimates that 75% of people with Lyme disease will suffer from Otolaryngological symptoms. 76.5% of those cases are likely to be Tinnitus, the most common Otolaryngological symptom. These are followed by 53.7% who had vertigo and dizziness, 39% who had headaches and 16.7% who had hearing loss.
Also Check: Can Lyme Disease Cause Rheumatoid Arthritis
When Should You See A Doctor If You Think You Have Lyme
The rash is a pretty good indication that you may have been bitten. Take a photo of the rash and see your doctor. At this stage, treatment with antibiotics will probably work.
If you don’t have the rash but have symptoms like fatigue, fever, and headache but no respiratory symptoms like a cough, you may want to talk to your doctor.
Can Lyme Disease Give You Headaches
Yes, Lyme disease can give you headaches and this is one of the most commonly reported symptoms. The bacteria that cause Lyme disease in the U.S. are Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii. These bacteria can infiltrate the central nervous system by crossing the blood-brain barrier, causing infection in the brain and headaches for those who have the disease. Inflammation of the membranes around the brain and the spinal cord is called meningitis. Because Lyme disease is an inflammatory disease it can also affect the joints, muscles, nerves, and other tissues of the body and the bacteria are particularly fond of scar tissue.¹
Also Check: Testing For Lyme Disease In Humans
The Lyme Disease And Digestive Symptom Connection
Since Lyme disease is a systemic infection, the bacteria can affect any organ or tissue in the body. The gastrointestinal symptoms of Lyme disease and its associated infections are related to inflammation, nerve damage, and mitochondrial dysfunction. These digestive symptoms or conditions may occur in isolation, but if systemic symptoms are present or the digestive disorders are challenging to treat, Lyme disease should be considered as the underlying culprit. In addition, treating digestive disorders improves the outcome of treating Lyme disease by reducing intestinal-mediated immune dysregulation.
What’s The Best Way To Prevent A Tick Bite
Ticks can’t fly or jump. But they live in shrubs and bushes and can grab onto you when you pass by. To avoid getting bitten:
- Wear pants and socks in areas with lots of trees and when you touch fallen leaves.
- Wear a tick repellent on your skin and clothing that has DEET, lemon oil, or eucalyptus.
- For even more protection, use the chemical permethrin on clothing and camping gear.
- Shower within 2 hours after coming inside. Look for ticks on your skin, and wash ticks out of your hair.
- Put your clothing and any exposed gear into a hot dryer to kill whatever pests might be on them.
How do you know if you’ve been bitten?
Since ticks are so small, you’ve got to have pretty good eyes to see them.
If you have a small, red bump on your skin that looks like a mosquito bite, it could be a tick bite. If it goes away in a few days, itâs not a problem. Remember, a tick bite doesnât necessarily mean you have Lyme disease.
If you notice a rash in the shape of a bull’s-eye, you might have a tick bite. Talk to your doctor about treatment.
If you have an allergic reaction to ticks, you’ll notice a bite right away.
You May Like: Lyme Disease In Dogs Treatment
Gastrointestinal Symptoms Of Lyme Disease
The spirochete that causes Lyme disease Borrelia burgdorferi and the associated tickborne infections such as Bartonella and Babesia can directly affect any organ system in the body, including the gastrointestinal tract. About 80% of the immune system is located around the digestive tract, so digestive health influences the immune response. Gastrointestinal symptoms of Lyme disease range from food intolerances to constipation.
Rarely does acute Lyme disease cause gastrointestinal symptoms, but occasionally nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and abdominal pain can occur. More commonly, digestive symptoms such as constipation, gas/bloating, and abdominal discomfort occur in chronic or late-stage Lyme disease. Lyme bacteria can directly infect the gastrointestinal tract causing inflammation that creates digestive symptoms. In turn, digestive issues can cause immune dysregulation increasing susceptibility to chronic infections. Whether digestive problems are a result of Lyme disease or increase the susceptibility to chronic infections, it is essential to address the underlying issues to restore health more quickly and effectively.
Sensitivities To Light And Sound
One of the pioneers in Lyme disease research is Joseph J. Burrascano Jr., MD. In the early days of the disease, he came up with a checklist that doctors could use to diagnose itand it includes all of the above signs, as well as other previously observed symptoms like sensitivities to light and sound, muscle weakness, erectile dysfunction, and dental pain.
Recommended Reading: Best Infrared Sauna For Lyme Disease
Lyme Disease Signs & Symptom
Lyme disease has been associated with numerous neurologic, rheumatologic and psychiatric manifestations. However, the full range of symptoms needed to recognize the disease may not be apparent to a physician during a routine examination.
Lyme disease has been associated with rheumatologic and psychiatric symtpoms
In one study, a series of individuals were ill for up to 14 years before they were correctly diagnosed with Lyme disease. These patients suffered with fatigue, sleep disturbance, poor memory and concentration, headaches, sleep disturbances, lightheadedness, irritability, chest pain, joint pain, fibromyalgia, and paresthesias.
Physicians may also mistakenly rule out Lyme disease in patients who have had prior treatment for the disease. But those patients can still exhibit symptoms and benefit from antibiotic therapy.
Diagnosing Neurological Lyme Disease
The first step in the diagnosis of Lyme disease and associated infections is to order blood tests through a Lyme specific laboratory. It is well-established the traditional two-tiered test has low sensitivity for diagnosing Lyme disease.
The diagnosis of acute central nervous system involvement of Lyme disease requires a lumbar puncture to analyze cerebral spinal fluid . The analysis of the CSF should include IgM and IgG antibodies to Borrelia bacteria and a test looking for the bacteria DNA . If either of these markers is elevated, it is diagnostic of Lyme neuroborreliosis.
An increased level of white blood cells in the CSF known as pleocytosis also aids in the diagnosis. However, some people with neuroborreliosis do not have elevated antibodies in the CSF, and since pleocytosis can be present in other central nervous system infections, Lyme disease may not be considered.
The chemical attractant something known to call the immune system to fight an infection CXCL13 in the CSF has become an important marker to help diagnose Lyme neuroborreliosis. In a 2018 study of Lyme neuroborreliosis patients with elevated white blood cells but no detectable Lyme antibodies in their CSF, 73% had raised levels of CXCL13. The authors of the study have proposed a CXCL13 result greater than 160 pg/mL is consistent with Lyme neuroborreliosis.
You May Like: What Is Chronic Lyme Disease In Humans
What Do You Do If You Become Ill
Consult your health care provider right away if you develop symptoms of Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick or if you visited a known at risk area for Lyme disease. The earlier a diagnosis is made, the greater the chance of a successful treatment.
If you saved the tick that bit you, bring it to your medical appointment. Tell your doctor:
- how long you estimate that the tick was attached to you
- where you were when you were bitten by the tick
What Are The Second Stage Signs And Symptoms Of Lyme Disease
The symptoms of second stage, early disseminated, Lyme disease can be difficult to attribute. Symptoms include severe fatigue, fever, pain, intermittent weakness and achiness of the muscles and joints, numbness in arms and legs, vision changes, and cognitive dysfunction such as short-term memory difficulties and problems multitasking. These symptoms are not specific for Lyme disease and can make the diagnosis of second stage Lyme disease very challenging.
More recognizable Lyme disease nervous system manifestations include facial paralysis , or meningitis with severe headache and stiff neck. Notable cardiac manifestations include passing out or feeling faint from an abnormally slow heart rate, irregular heart palpitations, or unexplained difficulty tolerating exercise. Meningitis and carditis are both potentially serious Lyme disease conditions and warrant immediate medical attention.
Also Check: Herbs That Kill Lyme Disease