How Do I Avoid Getting Bitten By A Tick
The best way to protect you against Lyme disease and other tickborne illnesses is to avoid tick bites. This includes avoiding tick-infested areas. However, if you live in or visit wooded areas or areas with tall grass and weeds, follow these precautions against Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis and tularemia:
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.
Debbie Gibson Reveals Drastic Weight Loss Caused By Lyme Disease
For as much as most people worry about their bodies and dieting, imagine if all of a sudden you couldn’t eat foods that were a regular part of your diet, and as a result, you couldn’t stop losing weight?
That’s what happened to 1980’s pop icon and the voice of the electric youth Debbie Gibson, who is opening up about her struggle with a painful condition she’s been battling for more than a year.
“Last year I was diagnosed with Lyme disease,” Gibson, 43, wrote on her blog last week. “It is an elusive disease that disguises itself as many other things and creates a lot of pain and discomfort along the way.”
Gibson tells her fans she decided to go public after receiving countless comments on her seemingly rapid weight loss after posting pictures from her concerts in Santiago, Chile.
“I would come across comments about my weight and appearance,” she wrote. “Some were just plain mean and ignorant. I want to urge you all NEVER JUDGE ANYONE! You never know what someone is going through.”
“There are over 300,000 cases of Lyme each year and only 10 percent are picked up,” Dr. Robert Bransfield, clinical professor at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical school, told ABC News. “As a result, many people go on to late stage symptoms that could have otherwise been avoided.”
“I couldn’t read or write or watch TV or anything,” Foster, 50, said. “I get emotional just thinking about it.”
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Later Signs Of Lyme Disease
What if Lyme disease isnt detected early on? The longer that disease-causing bacteria linger in the body, the more they disseminate, and as these microbes spread to tissues throughout the body, they can trigger a litany of symptoms. CDC says these may include:
- Severe headaches and neck stiffness
- Additional EM rashes. These lesions may pop up on other areas of the body
- A type of facial paralysis known as Bells palsy
- Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling. Knees and other large joints are vulnerable
- Intermittent pain in tendons, muscles, joints, and bones
- Nerve pain
- Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
You might have persistent or episodic symptoms, says Dr. Green. Pain that seems to move through the body? Thats common too. The hallmark of late Lyme is migratory joint pain: today my right knee hurts and tomorrow Im limping on my left ankle, and, oh, my third finger of my right hand swelled up, and, oh, my neck has swelled up, she says.
In rare cases, Lyme disease bacteria can enter the tissues of the heart. This complication, called Lyme carditis, can lead to lightheadedness, fainting, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, or chest pain.
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With Lyme Disease On The Rise Why Do So Many Chronic Sufferers Struggle To Convince Doctors They’re Sick
New York-based writer Porochista Khakpour has spent 12 years seeking answers to a variety of strange physical symptoms that have baffled doctors, from convulsions and tremors that feel like a panic attack, to debilitating fatigue. Shes sought midnight answers for strange fevers and painful gastritis, spent hundreds of sleepless nights fighting with drug-resistant insomnia, experienced rapid weight loss or gains of up to 40 pounds without any changes in diet, and most frightening to her, difficulty swallowing.
The author of two novels and the new memoir, Sick, Khakpour has visited dozens of doctors in some of the most respected medical institutions around the country. For years, these often-debilitating symptoms were written off as psychological or psychosomatic. It wasnt until 2012 that multiple, expensive blood tests from a company called IGeneX confirmed the presence of Lyme disease in her blood, caused by the bite of an infected tick. Im one of the rare cases where you have an unequivocal diagnosis. People have put that at less than 10 percent, Khakpour tells me.
Numerous patients say they live with chronic, persistent symptoms, like Khakpour, who experiences what she calls Lyme relapses.
Iits not uncommon for people with suspected or persistent Lyme disease to meet with doubt from the medical establishment.
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Broaden Your Scope To Fight Lyme Disease
Fighting Lyme disease is a journey. If someone tries to trivialize the way you feel or pain, the first step is to change that.
State your claim to a better and healthier life.
If one method fails, do not get discouraged or accept a setback.
Move forward. It is an opportunity to change your paradigm of thoughts.
Therefore, surround yourself with supportive people and professionals who understand what Lyme disease does to you.
Ultimately, broaden your view and try to approach Lyme disease holistically. It means that antibiotics may not be your only answer.
Think about the long-term impact on your health and establish a healing project with experienced people that you can trust.
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.
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How Are Lyme Disease And Fibromyalgia Connected
Many people assume getting a diagnosis for fibromyalgia and being put on a treatment plan is the beginning of the end to their painful symptoms, so it can be frustrating when traditional medications, such as Cymbalta, Savella, or Lyrica dont provide relief. However, the symptoms of Lyme disease and fibromyalgia are very similar. It is also possible for people to be diagnosed with both Lyme disease and fibromyalgia at the same time.
Lyme disease is currently the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. While it was previously estimated by the CDC that less than 300,000 people get Lyme disease each year, this number has more recently risen to 476,000 people being diagnosed and treated for the condition.
A doctor who understands both Lyme disease and fibromyalgia can make a more accurate diagnosis and identify which factors are likely contributing to your symptoms. Even if you have seen other medical professionals in the past, making an appointment with someone who specializes in Lyme disease allows you to backtrack and see if any more obvious signs have been overlooked.
While both conditions can be chronic, a customized, comprehensive treatment plan can help address symptoms of both Lyme disease and fibromyalgia. An integrative approach is often the best for patients with chronic conditions as it considers all aspects of ones health and uses various evidence-based treatments to achieve better overall wellness.
Red Meat Allergy Diagnosis And Treatment
At The Asthma Center, our allergists and pediatric allergists help our patients manage their food allergies by first determining what foods cause symptoms. Commercially available allergy skin tests for red meat are usually negative, but skin tests to fresh meat may be positive. When a meat allergy is causing any of the above symptoms, and a Lone Star tick bite is suspected, a blood test can help diagnosis this condition. Many cases of what has previously been diagnosed as idiopathic anaphylaxis may actually be cases of red meat allergy. The delayed reaction caused by red meat allergy is often misleading since most allergic food reactions occur within one hour of ingestion of the culprit food.
Avoidance of foods that trigger symptoms is a key part of living with red meat food allergy. The Asthma Center allergists pair these results and any other testing results which may apply to an individuals unique history and set of symptoms to identify specific triggers. The Asthma Center allergists also help our patients find relief of symptoms with antihistamines and corticosteroids, and prepare for anaphylaxis by carrying epinephrine auto-injector to reverse severe reactions to any unforeseen exposure or accidental ingestion of a triggering food.
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Clinical Assessment Scales And Treatment Studies
Lyme disease treatment studies that are frequently referenced use clinical assessment scales that were not specifically developed for Lyme disease. For example, both the Berende and the Klempner studies used the Health Status Inventory Short Form to measure treatment effectiveness . However, this scale is a general level of functioning scale, highly subjective, and it was not designed or standardized to measure level of functioning for Lyme disease . Other treatment studies only measured specific symptoms. The primary outcome in the Fallon study was neurocognitive performance, specifically, memory . The primary clinical outcomes measured in the Krupp study was fatigue, measured by the Fatigue Severity Scale and cognitive functioning . When an assessment that does not fully measure the symptoms associated with Lyme disease are used in a study, it may result in inaccurate results. A diagnostic system is needed that fits with the full clinical spectrum of symptoms seen in late-stage Lyme disease.
How Is Lyme Disease Diagnosed
Your doctor will diagnose you based on your symptoms and whether youâve been exposed to a tick. They might also run a blood test. In the first few weeks of infection, the test may be negative because antibodies take a few weeks to show up.
Hopefully soon, there will be tests that can diagnose Lyme disease in the first few weeks after youâre exposed. The earlier you get treated, the less likely itâll get worse.
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Can Asthma Symptoms Change During Pregnancy
Yes, asthma symptoms often change during pregnancy. Sometimes they get better and sometimes they get worse. We dont really understand what causes these changes.
Getting the flu can set off serious asthma symptoms. Be sure to get a flu shot in October or November every year.
Heartburn also can make your symptoms worse. Heres what you can do to help with heartburn symptoms:
- Sleep with your head up on a pillow .
- Eat smaller meals several times a day.
- Dont eat within 2 hours of bedtime.
- Ask your provider about medicines you can take.
How Can I Prevent My Dog From Getting Lyme Disease
The key to prevention is keeping your dog from being exposed to ticks. Ticks are found in grassy, wooded, and sandy areas. They find their way onto an animal by climbing to the top of a leaf, blade of grass, or short trees, especially cedar trees. Here they wait until their sensors detect an approaching animal on which to crawl or drop. Keeping animals from thick underbrush reduces their exposure to ticks. Dogs should be kept on trails when walked near wooded or tall grass areas. Vaccination against Lyme disease is recommended for pets that live in endemic areas or that travel to areas where Lyme disease is prevalent.
“Vaccination against Lyme disease is recommended for pets that live in endemic areas or that travel to areas where Lyme disease is prevalent.”
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Request Your Consultation Today
If you or someone you know is suffering from any of the aforementioned symptoms, and have been unsuccessful in finding effective treatment or lasting relief, Dr. Heyman treats patients at his integrative medicine practice: the Virginia Center for Health and Wellness in Aldie, Virginia. For an appointment with Dr. Heyman, please call & phone , or contact us online today.
Please Get Rid Of Your Scale
Before I start discussing the various factors that contribute to weight gain in chronic Lyme disease, theres one thing Id really like to see you do: Stop weighing yourself. If you are struggling with chronic Lyme disease and weight fluctuations, the last thing you should be doing is weighing yourself daily.
If you have Lyme, your body is working extremely hard to try to keep you healthy. A growing body of research shows that our bodies respond discernibly to the thoughts and feelings we experience. Positive and accepting thoughts support our well being, while negative thoughts drag down our health. If you are weighing yourself frequently and then bashing yourself internally when the number read back to you by the scale doesnt satisfy, you are adding to your bodys stress burden. Show yourself some compassion and, at least temporarily, stop weighing yourself. Body weight tells you very little about your overall health so, contrary to the recommendations of some more mainstream health website, I do not recommend focusing on it. Either stuff your scale in the back of your closet where it isnt visible, or throw it away! I got rid of my bathroom scale over two years ago and havent weighed myself since. This is the most free and comfortable I have felt in my body in my entire adult life.
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Why Bartonella Is The New Lyme Disease
2021 looks like it could be a record year for lyme disease.
I was recently interviewed on Lyme Talk Radio about Bartonella. In case you missed it, here is a transcript of our discussion on why Bartonella is the new Lyme Disease.
Q: Our research is now indicating that Lyme disease is deadly. Even when people may suspect they have Lyme symptoms, they will not get anything further than the typical CDC test. What is happening?
Dr. Dempsey: There is a fear factor and people dont want to know. They have seen family members and friends suffer and for them to get the diagnosis, they think it is a death sentence. The second reason is from the medical world. The thought is if they test the patient for Lyme disease and it is CDC negative thats the end of the workup. The problem is that even if patients are lucky enough that their doctor is thinking about Lyme and they are willing to get tested, if the Lyme is negative, the hunt stops there. The medical world is not thinking about the other vector born infections that are coming from ticks or other insects. They need to think about the other diseases.
Q: Can you talk about co-infections?
Q: Can you tell me about Lyme disease and the tick born infections that are now associated with it?
Q: What is the journey of the lyme-disease patient like?
Q: Everybody is talking about Lyme disease. People dont know what the other diseases that come from Lyme are. Why does bartonella now need to take center stage?
Q: What is the new test?
Lyme Disease: Battling A Small But Dangerous Foe
As the temperature warms, youre more likely to spend time outdoors. But being outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy areas, increases your exposure to ticks, and possibly Lyme disease. So before you take that hike or kick the soccer ball around, find out how you can protect yourself.
Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. People get it by a bite from an infected black-legged or deer tick. The tick becomes infected after feeding on infected deer, birds or mice.Did you know? A tick has to be present on your skin for at least 36 hours to transmit the infection.
Did you know? A tick has to be present on your skin for at least 36 hours to transmit the infection.
- A flat, circular rash that looks like a red oval or bull’s-eye anywhere on your body
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Difficulty sleeping and/or concentrating
The best way to protect against Lyme disease is to reduce your exposure to ticks and tick bites. Other ways to protect yourself from Lyme disease include:
Like most diseases, Lyme disease is best treated in the early stages. Thats why its important to contact your doctor immediately if you have any combination of the symptoms and believe you may have been infected.
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