Bannwarth Syndrome In Early Disseminated Lyme Disease
Welcome to another Inside Lyme Podcast with your host Dr. Daniel Cameron. In this episode, Dr. Cameron will be discussing the case of a 66-year-old man with Bannwarth syndrome with urinary retention in early Lyme disease. By Dr. Daniel Cameron Omotosho and colleagues described this case in an article entitled A Unique Case of Bannwarth Syndrome in Early Disseminated Lyme Disease.¹ The man presented to the emergency room with generalized
What Are The Best Tests For Lyme Disease
At the Carolina Brain Center, we recommend two tests. One is DNA Connexions, a urine test. The other is MacTech Imaging, a saliva test.
The DNA Connexions test identifies co-infections common to Lyme disease. MacTech Imaging picks up where the DNA Connexions test leaves off by giving doctors an idea of a patients overall microbial load. Each saliva sample is scanned for spirochetes and then given a graded score.
These two unique tests allow us to proceed confidently with treatment. Post-treatment analysis informs doctors as to whether a patient is clear.
Lyme Disease Still Stuck In Controversy
I never saw the bite or the Lyme bulls-eye rash, said Harrington. But her doctor recognized her fatigue, nausea and fever as common symptoms.
Not everyone is as fortunate. Some Lyme victims are diagnosed late. Others are misdiagnosed.
In 2012, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 30,000 Americans get Lyme each year. In 2013, it moved the comma to 300,000. Oops. Many doctors want the comma moved again.
I see new Lyme patients every day. Multiply that by the number of doctors, said Dr. Richard Horowitz, Hyde Park, N.Y., internist and author of Why Cant I Get Better? Solving the Mystery of Lyme and Chronic Disease .
Named for a Connecticut burg where cases were identified in the 1970s, Lyme is caused by a bacterium that sounds like something your Italian grandmother makes for Sunday dinner: Borrelia burgdorferi. The name lauds the scientist who identified it, Willy Burgdorfer.
The vector , the deer tick, bites a Lyme host, usually a rodent. Then the tick bites a human and passes on Lyme.
Debate gets political
As Lyme spreads from concentrated areas on the East Coast, it has become a political debate between the ISDAs and the ILADSs.
The IDSAs use the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines, which say Lyme is not chronic.
The CDC agrees. Some Lyme patients may have suffered long-term damage to the nervous system or joints, says its website. They have post-Lyme disease syndrome, not chronic Lyme disease.
Tough to diagnose
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Beginning Lyme Treatment Tip: Just Start Somewhere
One evening, I was feeling particularly down. I needed to decide what to do. Each week, day-by-day, I seemed to feel worse and worse. I needed to decide, but I felt paralyzed for fear that Id make the wrong decision.
I was chatting with a dear friend from college who has been battling Lyme disease. She wisely encouraged me, Literally, start somewhere. It doesnt matter where. Switch if youre not happy.
That was it. That was what I needed to hear about beginning Lyme treatment. Just start somewhere. And that is what I did.
Push: Experiences Within Conventional Canadian Health Care
All participants had first sought assistance for their health-care concerns within the CCHS before turning to other options. The participants described negative experiences within the CCHS including perceived misdiagnoses, failure to obtain a diagnosis or improvement in symptoms, often after years of multiple specialist consultations , and insufficient or delayed antibiotic treatment drugs to treat my symptoms, but because of the political climate surrounding Lyme disease, he refused to prescribe conventional antibiotics).
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Exactly What Is Lyme Disease And Why Is It Sometimes Controversial
Some Granite Staters are tired of inaction when it comes to Lyme disease and are using their unique talents to do something about it.
To sufferers, Lyme disease is like that old adage about the weather: Everyone talks about it, but no one does anything about it. We talked to some people who are tired of struggling with the disease and are using their talents to make a difference. And were including some useful information so you dont become a victim yourself.
If youve lived in New Hampshire for any length of time, youve heard about Lyme disease. You know that youre supposed to cuff your pants into your socks and spray yourself with tick repellent before venturing into tall grass or the woods, and check for ticks following any circumstances in which you might have come in contact with a tick.
But despite public awareness of Lyme disease, you might be hazy on the particulars, such as what to expect if you get it or how the disease is treated. Perhaps thats at least partly due to the fact that even experts are a little unclear on some of the intricacies of Lyme disease.
But theres something else too. Its almost as if, in some peoples eyes, Lyme disease is a bit of an outlier, an outcast of sorts. How seriously should we take it, exactly? How big a deal is it, really, if you get it? Is some of it in peoples heads?
How To Approach Your Non
For various reasons, you may choose to consult with a doctor who doesnt specialize in Lyme disease or other tick-borne diseases.
If so, be sure to be as proactive as possible in providing information that could help in diagnosing your disease, and always feel free to share resources that you find in your own research to prompt discussions about any aspect of your diagnosis or treatment, including more advanced testing options.
If your doctor does not believe Lyme disease exists, reach out to another doctor for a second opinion.
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Testing Commonly Done With Our Patient During First Visit:
- Tick-borne disease antibody testing
- Chronic sinus and respiratory infections reducing immunity
- Viral infections stressing immunity and causing symptoms
- Hormone testing as needed
- Inflammation markers associated with tissue destruction associated with autoimmune disease. Patients can often have simultaneous infection and autoimmune process triggered.
- Other tests are ordered based on what is most clinically significant such as heavy metals, mold biotoxins, food intolerances
Our goal is to be proactive using treatments best suited for the patient. We dont claim to cure the infections, but the goal is to get patient to optimal health and improved function. We are trying to work ourselves out of a job by getting a patient through the process as efficiently as possible. We also understand these complex illnesses deserve patience and time. The goal is to treat the infection but also the body having the immune response to the microbe. We find that if you build the body up, you will get the best results in the clinic with an integrative approach. We focus on treatments which are anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, anti-microbial, and body balancing.
Rising Above Lyme Disease
In Rising Above Lyme Disease, naturopath and Lyme-literate doctor Julia Greenspan presents a Complementary and Alternative Medicine approach for recovery for those who have been suffering from this disease for weeks, months, years, or even decades. Operating from the front lines of the epidemic in New England, she gives hope to those who thought there was none or feels unheard by all those around them.
Rising Above Lyme Disease is a comprehensive reference with whole-body approach to overcoming tick-borne diseases and reclaiming your life. This is an easy-to-read supportive guidebook informing patients and families of treatment options, understanding the importance of lab work in diagnosis, common pitfalls Lyme patients experience, and difficulties shared by many patients across the country as well as around the world. Rising Above Lyme Disease addresses self-advocacy, the impact of the Lyme disease epidemic on the economy, and the cultural aspects of being a Lyme patient that are not well understood by the general public.
The incidence of Lyme disease is skyrocketing. If caught early, antibiotics can often successfully treat it, but more often than not, Lyme is asymptomatic and evades diagnosis until it is a full-blown, chronic condition that requires a multi-faceted treatment plan. And the truth is, the best treatment you can find is an integrative one where you can become your own best advocate.
Dr. Richard Horowitz, MD
St Martins Press 2017
Joy Devins
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Is There An Effective Treatment For Lyme Disease
Dr. Dane was introduced to a new treatment for Lyme disease in 2017. It was not an antibiotic, nor was it an herbal remedy. It was a mineral compound produced in liquid form that could be turned into a gaseous state and nebulized. The product essentially acts as a fumigator and blasts the body with a blend of minerals that kills the spirochetes and improves immune function. Skeptical at first, Dr. Dane tracked eight patients over the course of a year that she had treated for the neurological effects of Lyme disease. Much to her amazement, seven of those patients were clear of Lyme just over a year later. Symptom relief varied from completely gone to 50% better. However, some effects of CLD cannot be reversed.
The mineral product is called Lyme-N, and, like many aspects of Lyme disease, its effectiveness is controversial. But this is the only treatment Dr. Dane has seen eradicate the spirochetes associated with CLD.
Dr. Dane has witnessed many patients put their trust in her after becoming frustrated with more traditional Lyme disease treatments at other medical facilities. The Carolina Brain Centers way of treating patients is built upon the tenets of functional neurology, which use a combination of medical technology and brain therapy to produce healing where possible and the easing of symptoms in other cases.
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Disclaimer: The above material is provided for information purposes only. The material is not nor should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor does it necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of Global Lyme Alliance, Inc. or any of its directors, officers, advisors or volunteers. Advice on the testing, treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patients medical history. Global Lyme Alliance, Inc. makes no warranties of any kind regarding this Website, including as to the accuracy, completeness, currency or reliability of any information contained herein, and all such warranties are expressly disclaimed.
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Disincentives To Accessing Care Outside The Conventional Canadian Health
In addition to the emotional toll of leaving the CCHS, logistical and financial barriers were highlighted. Finding reliable and trusted information on Lyme disease was the first barrier It should be noted, however, that a few individuals found it easy to access treatment information via the Internet and social media.
Accessing care from American physicians resulted in difficulties for many. The financial burden of travel costs, as well as the direct cost of consultations and medications in the United States, was the most common barrier discussed. Geographic barriers also meant time away from work, the physical toll of travel, time away from family, and often the need for assistance when too ill or mobility impaired to travel alone. Finally, obtaining the medication in Canada that had been prescribed in the United States was problematic for some.
When asked how care for Lyme disease could be improved within Canada, there was a clear consensus. Respondents wanted an effective treatment protocol along with supplements and lifestyle change recommendations an effective diagnostic test, as well as clinical diagnoses based on symptoms more knowledgeable physicians prescribing rights for naturopaths across the country financial coverage for alternative treatments by the Canadian health-care system and increased respect toward patients with Lyme disease, through the acknowledgment of the existence of the disease and the suffering of patients.
Is The Western Blot Test A Valid Form Of Testing
The western blot test involves separating blood proteins to find those that suggest an infection is present. The answer to the above question is difficult to answer. Too many false negatives exist. Therefore, the western blot test should not be considered the only indicator of whether someone has Lyme disease. Even with adding theC6 peptide ELISA with the two-tiered western blot, the sensitivity for identifying Lyme improves only slightly.
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Legal Mandates To Cover Unproven Treatments
The state of Connecticut, meanwhile, enacted a law on June 18, 2009, “to allow a licensed physician to prescribe, administer or dispense long-term antibiotics for a therapeutic purpose to a patient clinically diagnosed with Lyme disease.” The states of Rhode Island, California, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Maine, and Iowa have similar laws.
Massachusetts and Rhode Island have laws mandating insurance coverage for long-term antibiotic therapy for Lyme disease when deemed medically necessary by a physician. In 1999 Connecticut had passed a similar, though somewhat more restrictive law.
Pull: Cognitive And Psychological Reactions To Experiences
Of particular importance to many was the relief from the stigma associated with Lyme disease experienced in the CCHS. This was highlighted by the protective attitude of participants toward their care providers. Finally, for some individuals, a general preference for alternative medicine was also expressed.
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Be Prepared For Your Doctor Visit
You can improve your chances of having an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment by providing your doctor with as much information as you can from the very start. The following checklist can be a good reminder of what to bring and discuss with your physician at your first visit:
- Have the tick tested and/or identified:If you were able to remove or find the tick that bit you, seal it in a glass or plastic container and consider sending it to IGeneX for testing. Additionally, photograph the tick and/or have the species identified ahead of time if possible. Knowing what kind of tick bit you and, in particular, whether it has tested positive for a tick-borne disease can be extremely helpful for your doctors diagnostic process. If the tick is still being tested when you see your doctor, you still may be able to start treatment based on the severity of your symptoms.
- Note possible exposure: Write down the places and dates that you believe you were exposed to ticksand the possible date and time of day when the engorged tick attached and fell off or was removed.
- Track your symptoms: Keep a running log of all symptoms youve noticed since the tick bite, even if youre no longer experiencing them. Be sure to include the days/times when symptoms appeared . For additional help, you can use IGeneXs Symptom Checker.
- Take pictures: Take pictures of any rashes or blisters that you may have noticed at the site of the tick bite or elsewhere on your body.
My Focus Is On High Level Health
In general, my focus is quenching the fires of inflammation and encouraging the growth and repair of your body and brain. If your hormones are deficient, your body toxic, your energy low, sleep insufficient, your metabolism out of balance, etc., any one of these conditions will hinder your ability to repair and regenerate your body. One might think this is normal aging, and for some it may be, but there is oftentimes a clear path to stopping the damage to initiate repair and regeneration. This is what my practice is all about.
..but there is often a clear path to health by stopping the damage and charting full recovery and High Level Health. Some commonly employed strategies:
- Resolving chronic infections – chronic viruses, chronic bacterial infections , indolent fungal infections
- Removing toxins – diet, sweating, IV Chelation, IV nutrient therapy
- Stimulating energy production – IV Laser, IV Ozone, IV Nutrient therapy, hormone balancing, exercise, high energy nutrition, deep sleep
Note: Dr. Hecht is currently not taking new patients for the memory impairment/Early Alzheimers program as he is currently enrolled in further study. Please call Priscilla at our front desk for periodic updates on this.
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Do Antibiotics Kill Lyme Disease
In acute cases, or when taken prophylactically soon after a bite, antibiotics can be helpful. But Dr. Dane recommends follow-up testing with DNA Connexions and MacTech Imaging. Not everyone bitten by a tick will develop Lyme disease. However, it is becoming more broadly accepted that increased numbers of patients experience treatment failure and end up with long-term, debilitating symptoms. These may include pain, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction. This is why extra testing is worth the effort.
Long-term antibiotic therapy for treating CLD has negative effects on the immune and venous systems if the antibiotics are given intravenously. But the main disadvantage of this type of treatment is that patients do not get the satisfaction of saying unequivocally that they beat the disease. Even Lyme-literate doctors will say antibiotics help to manage symptoms but do not eliminate the disease. This is true.
Antibiotics place Lyme infections into a dormant state, which of course result in the patient feeling better. The problem is that symptoms return as soon as antibiotics are stopped. Herbals do basically the same thing. The spirochetes go into a cystic formation and cover up with biofilm.
Spirochetes associated with CLD have great anatomical advantage. The way they are built allows them to live easily in viscous areas of the body, such as the mouth. The biofilm that forms over them makes them especially resistant to antibacterial treatments.
Identify Doctors Trained In The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Tick
You can access a variety of online resources and directories to locate doctors who are specifically trained in identifying and treating tick-borne illnesses. These do not have to be infectious disease specialists they can be physicians from any practice area who simply have extensive experience with tick-borne diseases.
It is particularly important to find a Lyme expert if you suspect that you may have Lyme disease, since it is the most frequently misdiagnosed of all tick-borne diseases. Finding a Lyme-literate medical doctor a physician who is familiar with the vast range of symptoms that may indicate infection at various stages of the disease, as well as potential coinfections and other complexitiescan help ensure that you get the right treatment, right away.
To find a doctor who is also a Lyme expert, you may want to explore the following resources:
Note: Some of these organizations may require you to submit a form or create a login to access their databases.
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