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Can Lymes Disease Affect Your Liver

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Recovering From Spleen Surgery

Understanding the Persistent Symptoms in Lyme Disease | Johns Hopkins Medicine

It’s normal to feel sore and be bruised after a splenectomy, but you’ll be given pain relief.

You should be able to eat and drink as normal soon after the operation.

Like any operation, spleen removal carries a small risk of complications, including bleeding and infection.

Your doctor will talk through these risks with you.

You should be given breathing and leg exercises to do at home to reduce your risk of getting a blood clot or a chest infection.

Another risk is the surgical wound becoming infected. If you spot any signs of infection, contact your GP or hospital immediately, as you may need antibiotics.

Recovery usually takes a few weeks. Your doctor or nurse will advise when you can go back to your usual activities, such as driving.

Our Livers Are Already Overtaxed

The toxins from lyme and the chemicals from drugs and alcohol can destroy vital liver function.

Most patients with lyme ALREADY have liver damage and dysfunction, most specifically with the Cytochrome P-450 liver detoxification pathway. That makes is very hard to process out many toxins and toxic byproducts. It is this same pathway that is required to metabolize alcohol.

How Can Lyme Disease Affect Your Pregnancy

We dont know for sure about the effects of Lyme disease on pregnancy. Untreated Lyme may cause complications during pregnancy, including:

  • An infection in the placenta. The placenta grows in your uterus and supplies your baby with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord.
  • Stillbirth. This is when a baby dies in the womb after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
  • Congenital heart defects. These are heart conditions that are present at birth. They can affect the hearts shape or how it works, or both.
  • Urinary tract defects. The urinary tract is the system of organs that helps your body get rid of waste and extra fluids. Urinary tract defects can cause pain, urinary tract infections, kidney damage and kidney failure.
  • Problems with your babys blood, like hyperbilirubinemia. This is when your babys blood has too much bilirubin in it. Bilirubin is a yellow substance that forms as red blood cells break down. Too much bilirubin can cause your baby to have jaundice. This is when your babys skin and the white parts of his eyes look yellow because his liver isn’t fully developed or isn’t working.

Untreated Lyme disease also may cause your baby to have a rash after hes born.

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Do All Ticks Transmit Lyme Disease

No. In the northeastern and north-central U.S., the black-legged tick carries Lyme disease. In the Pacific coastal U.S., the western black-legged tick spreads the disease.

Other major tick species in the U.S., like the lone star tick and the dog tick, do NOT transmit the Lyme disease bacterium. But beware: All 50 states have reported Lyme disease, as well as Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America.

Doctors Recognize Lyme Disease In A Patient With Kidney Disease

Does Lyme Disease Affect The Liver

Kidney disease induced by Borrelia burgdorferi has been commonly reported in dogs but in the literature there are only a few cases of Lyme disease-associated renal damage in humans. In the February 2017 issue of BMC Nephrology, Florens and colleagues discuss the unique case of minimal change disease associated with chronic Lyme borreliosis that resolved completely after treatment with ceftriaxone and corticosteroids.

The article, Chronic Lyme borreliosis associated with minimal change glomerular disease: a case report, cites four published papers describing kidney damage in Lyme disease patients. The papers consisted of 4 cases of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis , a case of crescentic and IgA-deposit nephropathy, and a case of membranous nephropathy.

In another case, the authors describe a 65-year-old Caucasian woman admitted for an acute edematous syndrome related to a nephrotic syndrome. She had a history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and elevated blood pressure of 163/89 mmHg. Laboratory data showed hypoalbuminemia , severe proteinuria and a recent decrease of renal function . Renal biopsy showed minimal change glomerular disease .

This patient is the first case of minimal change glomerular disease associated with chronic Lyme borreliosis, according to Florens from Edouard Herriot Hospital, Lyon, France. The patients nephrotic syndrome and MCD resolved with a combination of intravenous ceftriaxone and the steroid prednisolone.

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Alcohol Causes Dangerous Levels Of Porphyrins

Many Lyme patients develop Porphyria. To consume alcohol can cause a very dangerous increase in the level of porphyrins in the body. In excess, porphyrins cause symptoms identical to a herx. In extreme cases, excess porphryin loads can be fatal but, in lesser levels, they kill cells all though the body but mostly in the liver and the nervous system .

Read more about Porphyria here.

The Damage Lyme Disease Can Do

Lyme disease can damage all of the bodys systems. Specifically, the illness can wreak havoc on:

  • The heart and circulatory system
  • The central nervous system
  • Gastrointestinal system
  • Skin

So, can Lyme disease cause damage to the renal system? Yes. Lets get to the bottom of how that occurs, and what can happen if it does.

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Symptoms: As The Infection Spreads

If the disease goes untreated in its early stages, over several weeks or months it can spread to other areas of the body like your:

  • Joints
  • Heart
  • Nervous system

You could also have more rashes and periods of pain and weakness in your arms or legs. Other symptoms include:

  • Facial muscle paralysis
  • Headache
  • Inflamed brain and spinal cord

Questions For Your Doctor About Test Results

Lyme Disease, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, DIagnosis and Treatment.

As you discuss your test report with your doctor, these questions may help you better understand your situation and most appropriate next steps in your care:

  • What did the test show about my ALP levels?
  • Were any other measurements taken in addition to ALP? What can you learn from those measurements?
  • Do you recommend any other tests? What are the pros and cons of different follow-up tests?

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Can I Take The Test At Home

At-home alkaline phosphatase testing is not widespread, but some at-home options are available to measure ALP as part of a liver panel. In these tests, you take a blood sample with a fingerstick and then send that sample to a laboratory where it can be analyzed.

Alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme tests are generally not available with at-home test kits.

Are Test Results Accurate

ALP test results are usually regarded as accurate, but, like any medical test, an ALP blood test is not perfect. There are potential sources of error in the processing and analysis of your blood sample, so laboratories must take care to follow best practices to ensure dependable results.

Testing for ALP isoenzymes is more technically demanding. Different methods exist for determining the part of the body that is the source of increased ALP, but special techniques that are not available at all laboratories can make this testing much more reliable.

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Disease Precautions For Hunters

This paper is intended to be a general guide about diseases that hunters and their hunting dogs may encounter. Links to additional information have been provided where appropriate. Hunters should always consult their physician if they are concerned they have been exposed to a disease or are showing symptoms of illness. If there are any concerns that your hunting dog or any other companion animal may have contracted any of these diseases, please contact your veterinarian.

Lyme Disease And Shingles: What Is The Connection

Can Liver Problems Affect Memory

Many patients having Lyme disease are afraid of contracting Shingles after their diagnosis of Lyme disease. The reverse is also true: patients with Shingles are also known to sometimes develop Lyme disease a few weeks/months or years down the line. So how are the two conditions related to each other? What is the reason for developing a Shingles rash following Lyme disease? Or are these simply misconceptions and myths that are circulating around the World Wide Web?

Let us try and clear up the doubts about Shingles and Lyme disease connection.

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Sarcoidosis Triggered By Lyme Disease

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs in the body, typically the lungs and lymph glands. The exact cause of sarcoidosis is unknown. But some researchers believe it may be a type of autoimmune disease, involving an abnormal immune response.

According to the American Lung Association, an infection or exposure to something in the environment can trigger the immune system to overreact, resulting in sarcoidosis.¹ In a 2018 study, van Dee and colleagues suggest that Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease bacterium, may be one of those infectious pathogens capable of triggering sarcoidosis. ²

Their study entitled Systemic Sarcoidosis Associated with Exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi in a 21-Year-Old Man describes the case of a 21-year-old forestry worker who was admitted to the emergency department with a history of headaches, a droopy left eyelid and swelling and redness of both legs.

The patient also had a stinging pain behind his sternum, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, thirst and nycturia, the authors write.

Results from lymph node and skin biopsies indicated non-caseating granuloma, leading to a diagnosis of systemic sarcoidosis. The condition had impacted the mans lungs, kidneys and skin.

References:
  • American Lung Association. https://www.lung.org
  • Latest From the Lyme Disease Science Blog

    How Do I Remove A Tick

    You should know how to remove a tick just in case one lands on you or a friend. To be safe, remove the tick as soon as possible.

    If you find a tick:

    • Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth, next to your skin.
    • Pull firmly and steadily on the tick until it lets go of the skin. If part of the tick stays in your skin, don’t worry. It will eventually come out. But call your doctor if you notice any irritation in the area or symptoms of Lyme disease.
    • Swab the bite site with alcohol.

    Note: Don’t use petroleum jelly or a lit match to kill a tick. They won’t get the tick off your skin quickly enough, and may just cause it to burrow deeper into your skin.

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    Beware Of Animal And Tick Bites

    Bites from animals and small blood-sucking parasites called ticks can cause infections.

    If you get bitten by an animal, particularly a dog, start your course of antibiotics if you have them with you, and seek medical advice urgently.

    If you go trekking or camping regularly, you may be at risk of Lyme disease, a disease transmitted by ticks.

    Try to avoid tick bites by wearing clothes that cover your skin, particularly long trousers.

    If you become ill, get medical advice straight away.

    What Are The Symptoms Of Lyme Disease

    Lyme Nephritis/Kidney Failure Secondary to Lyme Disease in a Dog

    Symptoms can start anywhere from 3 to 30 days after the bite. They may look different depending on the stage of your infection. In some cases, you wonât notice any symptoms until months after the bite.

    Early symptoms include:

    All of those symptoms are also common in the flu. In most Lyme infections, one of the first symptoms youâll notice is a rash.

    Without treatment, symptoms can get worse. They might include:

    • Severe headache or neck stiffness
    • Rashes on other areas of your body
    • Arthritis with joint pain and swelling, particularly in your knees
    • âDroopingâ on one or both sides of your face
    • Inflammation in your brain and spinal cord
    • Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in your hands or feet

    What does the rash look like?

    Some Lyme rashes look like a bull’s-eye with circles around the middle. But most are round, red, and at least 2 inches across.

    The rash slowly gets bigger over several days. It can grow to about 12 inches across. It may feel warm to the touch, but itâs usually not itchy or painful. It can show up on any part of your body.

    How small are ticks?

    Ticks come in three sizes, depending on their life stage. They can be the size of a grain of sand, a poppy seed, or an apple seed.

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    What Is Shingles What Is Its Connection With Lyme Disease

    Shingles is a viral disease characterized by a painful rash mainly on the torso and sometimes on the face. It usually occurs in patients with weakened immune system and is typically seen in elderly populations. Shingles disease affects the patient at the nerve level in that the virus called Varicella Zoster virus affects the nerves while also causing a painful rash on the body. Almost all patients who have suffered from chicken pox in their childhood have the dormant Varicella Zoster virus inside them. As a result, when they become sick or develop a weaker immunity, they tend to suffer from Shingles in adulthood.

    Lyme disease on the other hand, is basically caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. These microorganisms are present in many animals including deer, pheasants, rodents etc. If a deer tick bites you, you are likely to develop Lyme disease based on your overall health condition and also on the time period for which the tick remains attached to your body. The main symptoms of Lyme disease are bulls eye rashes along with fever, flu-like symptoms, joint pain, fatigue, sudden memory loss, lack of appetite, inability to concentrate etc.

    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 Can Lyme Disease Last For Years

    Category: Health Published: October 9, 2015

    If treated, Lyme disease does not last for years. However, for some people, the after-effects of the disease can linger for months and sometimes even years. Alternative medicine providers call this condition “Chronic Lyme disease,” but this title is simply wrong. For a person who has been infected with Lyme disease and then treated, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease is measurably no longer present in his body, even though he may still feel some symptoms. The correct title for this condition is therefore “Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome.”

    Lyme disease is an infection caused by a bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacteria is delivered to humans through tick bites. From the bite site, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. Usually, but not always, an infectious tick bite causes a characteristic red rash at the site of the bite. Other symptoms include fever, muscle soreness, headache, fatigue, and dizziness. In a few cases, symptoms can also include mood swings, memory loss, and sleep disturbance. If left untreated for too long, Lyme disease can lead to nerve damage, thereby causing shooting pain, numbness, and even paralysis.

    The CDC states,

    Early Disseminated Borreliosis With Multiple Erythema Migrans And Elevated Liver Enzymes: Case Report And Literature Review

    Liver disease

    Frauke Benedix1, Benjamin Weide1, Sigrid Broekaert1, Gisela Metzler1, Julia-Stefanie Frick2, Walter H.C. Burgdorf3, Martin Röcken1 and Martin Schaller1

    1Department of Dermatology, 2Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, and 3Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany.

    A 69-year-old man presented with multiple livid maculae and infiltrated urticarial plaques, as well as elevated liver enzymes. Based on typical clinical picture, histopathology and positive PCR from a skin biopsy, we diagnosed an early disseminated infection with Borrelia afzelii presenting with multiple erythema migrans and a subclinical hepatitis. During antibiotic treatment with intravenous ceftriaxone, the maculae and plaques vanished almost completely and the liver enzymes decreased within 14 days. Dermatologists should keep in mind that early disseminated borreliosis can present with multiple erythema migrans and hepatitis. Key words: disseminated borreliosis, erythemata migrantia, Lyme borreliosis, multiple erythema migrans, non-specific hepatitis, parainfectious hepatitis

    Acta Derm Venereol 2007 87: 418421.

    Table I. Clinical stages of Lyme borreliosis

    Organ

    Disseminated erythema migrans +/ subclinical hepatitis and other systemic symptoms

    Borrelial lymphocytoma

    Atrioventricular block

    Cardiomyopathy

    CASE REPORT

    Fig. 3. DNA-amplification of the borrelial OspA gene in two skin biopsies.

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    Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth

    Likely the most common gastrointestinal disorder associated with Lyme disease and other tickborne infections is small intestinal bacterial overgrowth . It is estimated 60-70% of people with Lyme disease have SIBO. The incidence of SIBO was as high as 81% in one gastrointestinal practice that screened patients for Lyme disease. Research has confirmed that SIBO causes 60-70% of IBS. This is promising because SIBO can be successfully treated leading to the resolution of IBS.

    The incidence of SIBO was as high as 81% in one gastrointestinal practice that screened patients for Lyme disease!

    In a normal state, the small intestine has very few bacteria. However, in SIBO there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine causing a range of symptoms. Bacteria can enter the small intestine either orally or can migrate from the large intestine into the small intestine. At the junction between the small and large intestine, the ileocecal valve keeps the contents in the large intestine from entering the small intestine. Ileocecal valve dysfunction allows bacteria to move into the small intestine. Antibiotics and excessive sugar consumption can also cause bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.

    SIBO is treated with antibiotics or herbal regimens that have proven to be effective against the bacteria that produce the gas. Probiotics, special diets, and motility agents are also used in the treatment of SIBO.

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