Does Lyme Disease Treatment With Antibiotics Affect Antibody Levels
Antibiotic treatment affects the pathogen . It does not directly influence antibody titers. However, if the treatment is successful and bacteria are removed from the host, the B-cells are not further triggered to produce new antibodies. As a consequence antibodies levels decrease after treatment. Thus, antibody levels are indicators of treatment success .
If I Already Have Lyme Disease What Added Risks Does Covid
COVID-19 should pose no additional risks for you if your Lyme disease was detected early, you have been treated with antibiotics, and your symptoms have resolved. You may, however, be at a greater risk of complications from COVID-19 if your immune system is decreased from the more severe forms of Lyme disease, such as post-Lyme disease syndrome or chronic Lyme disease.
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Can My Animal Get Infected Despite Being Vaccinated
Yes. Some animals have been infected despite vaccination. The most common reasons are low or short-lasting vaccine antibodies in the individual animal. It is advisable to monitor the vaccine response annually to ensure the animal develops sufficient antibodies in response to vaccination. Vaccine antibodies can be quantified with the Lyme Multiplex assay as early as two weeks following vaccination or anytime afterwards.
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Treatment For Lyme Disease Flare
There are things you can do to make Lyme disease flare-up symptoms less severe. Working with a Lyme literate doctor is crucial. A Lyme literate doctor is a specialist in Lyme disease. They have spent years studying and treating Lyme and understand it better than a general practitioner. They also know advanced treatments that go beyond antibiotics.
A general practitioner may want to treat each symptom separately. For example, if you feel anxiety and depression, they may wish to prescribe antianxiety or antidepressant medicines. If you have symptoms of insomnia, a doctor may want to prescribe drugs to help you sleep. Not all sleep medicines allow you to get restorative sleep, however.
Medications are often needed for Lyme disease flare-ups. Still, alternative treatments can be administered at the onset, exit, and in between flare-ups to combat debilitating symptoms.
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.
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Arthritis Caused By Lyme Disease
There are many causes for arthritis, and your veterinarian will focus on differentiating arthritis initiated by Lyme disease from other inflammatory arthritic disorders, such as trauma and degenerative joint disease.
Immune-mediated diseases will also be considered as a possible cause of the symptoms. X-rays of the painful joints will allow your doctor to examine the bones for abnormalities.
Alternative Treatments For Lyme Disease Flare
Lyme-literate doctors are equipped with the most advanced technology to offer quick procedures that help you feel better, like intravenous vitamin and antibiotic infusions. Most antibiotics and vitamins taken orally are broken down in the digestive system, with only a percentage making it to your bloodstream.
The antibiotics and vitamins go directly into your bloodstream with intravenous infusions, where Lyme bacteria are hiding.
Additional alternative treatments for Lyme disease flare-ups include
- Chelation therapy
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An Alternate Route And A Diagnosis
Ultimately, diagnosed me with Epstein Barr and leaky gut, which she treated through diet, lifestyle changes, and supplements. A conventional Lyme test came back negative. She said that we could still go ahead and treat for Lyme since it could be a false negative, but I wasnt ready to take that step without a definitive diagnosis.
After seeing the integrative doctor and implementing her treatment plan, I felt better in many ways, but I still didnt feel like we had gotten to the bottom of things. My friend pushed me to see a Lyme literate doctor and more than a year later, I finally did.
My Lyme doctor finally confirmed what my friend had suspected. A more sensitive, comprehensive test not covered by health insurance provided the missing piece of the puzzle. My doctor also looked for and discovered a rash where Id been bitten all those years ago, which to this day comes and goes. And so I began a treatment protocol based on guidelines from the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society , which recognizes that patients with chronic Lyme require individualized treatment that may involve extended courses of antibiotics.
Lyme Disease And Constipation
Ah, constipation: That dreaded symptom that nobody wants to experience! Constipation while going through Lyme antibiotic or herbal treatment is a big no-no you need to have regular bowel movements during your Lyme disease treatment to take out the trash generated when pharmaceutical or herbal antibiotics are actively killing Lyme and its co-infections. If youre struggling with constipation during your Lyme treatment, its thus imperative that you get your bowels moving!
If youre literally feeling stuck in the bowel movement department, here are a few ideas to get things moving:
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Where Are Ticks Found
Ticks are found throughout the UK and in other parts of Europe and North America. There are a high number of ticks in the Scottish Highlands.
They can be found in any areas with deep or overgrown plants where they have access to animals to feed on.
They’re common in woodland and moorland areas, but can also be found in gardens or parks.
How To Spot And Remove Ticks
Once youve come in from outside, one of the best ways to check yourself for ticks is to take a shower and bath.
Other than that, do your best to check your clothes, especially the folds of your clothes, knowing that ticks can be very small and hard to spot. Running your hands through your hair is also a good idea.
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Can You Prevent A Lyme Disease Flare
The best way to prevent a Lyme disease flare-up is by avoiding contracting Lyme disease in the first place. This can be done by always taking precautions against ticks and checking for ticks after spending time in wooded areas. Since Lyme disease is incredibly difficult to treat, and many people are often unaware that they even have it until it has had time to wreak havoc across the entire body, its especially important to avoid contracting the infection where possible.
For those who have already contracted and been diagnosed with Lyme disease, getting proper treatment is the best way to deal with, manage, and prevent Lyme flare-ups. Some tips for preventing Lyme disease from flaring up include:
- Identify your triggers by listening to your body
- Reduce stress levels by practicing stress management techniques
- Continue with proper Lyme disease treatment
- Practice good sleep hygiene so you have the best chance at getting good-quality sleep
- Avoid the consumption of sugar and alcohol
- Rest if you dont feel well
- Find a mental health provider that may help you cope with the symptoms of the disease and prevent any mental changes from worsening
What Triggers A Lyme Disease Flare
In some cases, a Lyme disease flare-up can be triggered by outside factors. For people with chronic Lyme disease, each trigger will be different because the body reacts differently to the borrelia bacteria.
Some common triggers for a Lyme disease flare-up can include:
- Emotional stress driven by grief, an accident, or a big life change such as divorce
- Physical stress on the body, such as a surgery or physical injury
- Other types of infections, such as cold or flu
- General exhaustion
- Eating a diet high in processed sugars and alcohol
- For those who menstruate, having a menstrual period could trigger a flare-up
- Not getting enough good-quality sleep
- Changes to routine or travelling
- Treatment changes
While many of these triggers cannot be avoided, some are preventable and can help you reduce the risk of having a Lyme disease flare-up.
Image by Bermix Studio on What does a Lyme disease flare-up feel like?
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What Is The Cost Of Treating Lyme Disease In Dogs
The cost of treating Lyme disease depends on the severity of the disease. If caught early, your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics along with a follow-up appointment and regular blood work to monitor the condition. If the infection is severe at the time of diagnosis, on the other hand, your dog may require hospital care with supportive treatments , which will be more expensive. Expect to pay for the initial office visit, diagnostic tests, medications, hospitalization, and any follow-up visits.
Chronic Lyme Disease Vs Ptlds
The terms chronic Lyme disease and Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome are sometimes used interchangeably. However, PTLDS is slightly more restrictive, referring to patients who have received treatment for Lyme disease but go on to experience Lyme disease symptoms. It does not include those who received a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis and have developed chronic symptoms of Lyme disease before receiving any kind of treatment.
The CDC defines PTLDS as generalized and/or recurring pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties that last for more than 6 months after treatment. These mirror symptoms associated with chronic Lyme disease, with or without treatment.
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What To Do If You Have A Blacklegged Tick Bite
Remove the tick by pulling it directly out with fine-tipped tweezers. Lift upward with slow and even pressure. Dont twist when removing it. Dont crush it or put soap or other substances on it. Dont apply heat to it.
Place the tick in a resealable container. See if you can identify what kind of a tick it is.
Immediately after removing the tick, wash your skin well with soap and water or with rubbing alcohol.
Not all ticks carry Lyme. The Lyme bacteria is transmitted only by blacklegged ticks in their nymph or adult stage.
Save the tick to show your doctor. The doctor will want to determine if its a blacklegged tick and if theres evidence of feeding. Ticks enlarge as they feed. Your risk of getting Lyme from an infected tick increases with the length of time that the tick fed on your blood.
Summary:
Pull the tick out with tweezers and save it in a resealable container for identification.
What Does The Lyme Multiplex Assay Measure
The Lyme Multiplex assay quantifies antibodies directed against specific proteins on the surface of B. burgdorferi at three different stages of the bacterial life cycle. This antibody profile can indicate whether an animal has been recently infected or is chronically infected with B. burgdorferi. It can also be used to monitor protective antibodies after vaccination.
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Youre Sensitive To Touch
With your sense of touch on high alert with Lyme disease, certain clothing textures might feel unbearable, and you might recoil from a persons touch. The sensitivity could be so strong that children might have outbursts when they cant tolerate certain feelings against their skin. Kids can have temper tantrums and refuse to get dressed when the reality is they cant tolerate the feeling of particular kinds of clothing or texture, Leventhal says.
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Chronic Lyme Disease Vs Acute And Late Stage Lyme
One reason chronic Lyme disease is harder to detect and treat than Lyme at earlier stages is that chronic Lyme disease symptoms are more wide-ranging and varied. Chronic Lyme disease can cause symptoms of early Lyme disease such as fatigue and muscle aches to recur, but it can also cause new symptoms that affect different parts of the body.
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How Is Lyme Disease Treated
Because the Lyme spirochete is a bacterium, it can be treated with antibiotics. The antibiotic of choice is doxycycline, followed by amoxicillin, then azithromycin. Treatment lasts for 4 weeks. Occasionally, the initial infection will recur, or the pet will become re-infected by being bitten by another infected tick.
Diagnosis Testing And Treatment
You may have heard that the blood test for Lyme disease is correctly positive only 65% of the time or less. This is misleading information. As with serologic tests for other infectious diseases, the accuracy of the test depends upon how long youve been infected. During the first few weeks of infection, such as when a patient has an erythema migrans rash, the test is expected to be negative.
Several weeks after infection, FDA cleared tests have very good sensitivity.
It is possible for someone who was infected with Lyme disease to test negative because:
If you are pregnant and suspect you have contracted Lyme disease, contact your physician immediately.
* Silver HM. Lyme disease during pregnancy. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 1997 Mar 11:93-7.
The most common co-infections that occur with Lyme disease are anaplasmosis and babesiosis. In general:
References:
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Tips For Reducing Inflammation
Changing diets to reduce inflammation can be daunting, but there are certain things people can do to make it easier.
- No miracle food: People should include a wide variety of foods in their diet rather than relying on a few anti-inflammatory foods. What works for some people may not work for everyone, so people should ensure they get a wide range of nutrients by diversifying their diet.
- Small changes: Rather than changing their entire diet all at once, people can make small changes to gradually replace pro-inflammatory foods with anti-inflammatory ones.
- Rainbow meals: The darker or more intense the color of a fruit or vegetable, the more packed full of antioxidants it is. Choose a variety of different colored fruits and vegetables.
- Exercise: Regular exercise can help reduce inflammation. People should start simply and aim for
Chronic Lyme Dos And Donts
Chronic Lyme disease is an ongoing Borrelia burgdorferi infection that can involve any body system or tissue. The infection produces a wide range of symptoms and signs, which can be debilitating for some patients. Common symptoms include severe fatigue, migratory musculoskeletal pain, headaches, and impaired memory. Unfortunately, chronic Lyme disease is complex and often misunderstood, which means that many patients will struggle to obtain the care they need to regain their health. Every patient concerned about Lyme disease and tick-borne illness should know the following.
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Which Antibodies Does The Vaccine From Merial Induce
It is a recombinant vaccine based on Osp A. Vaccinated animals should develop high antibody levels to OspA and maintain negative antibody levels to the remaining two antigens. Infected/non-infected animals can be identified based on OspC and OspF antibody values. Detection of the early Lyme infection stage is possible after using this vaccine.
Stress And Lyme Disease Flare
Whether its emotional or physical stress or mild or severe, stress is not healthy. Stress has been extensively studied and found to be a significant contributor to inflammation in the body. Stress releases chemicals called cytokines, which help repair damaged areas of the body. When released in high amounts, however, they are not beneficial. The more stressed you are, the more cytokines released, the more inflammation in your body.
Lyme disease is an inflammatory disease. Flare-ups are a sign of increased inflammation in your body, which can move to your joints, muscles, nervous system, and brain.
Because stress can be a trigger for a Lyme flare-up, you must implement stress-reduction activities daily. Try meditation, yoga, massage, exercise, gardening, and any other activity you find relaxing.
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Supporting The Adrenals First The Smart Move
To avoid this negative spiral of worsening health, the first step is recognizing that recurring and chronic Lyme disease symptoms are deeply integrated and entwined with the state of the bodys adrenal health and NEM stress response. This is such an important concept that is worth repeating since it paves the way to successful recovery from Lyme disease symptoms.
Since Adrenal Fatigue is an intrinsic condition and the mechanisms of dysfunction come from the inside, recovery must focus on the body holistically. Proper Adrenal Fatigue recovery is primarily concerned with rebuilding the bodys strength and nutritional reserves so that it has the capacity and energy to optimally power the many internal systems of the body. This is achieved using a combination of proper dietwhich avoids stress-inducing foods and provides natural nutritionalong with nutritional supplementation to round off the bodys much needed building blocks and lifestyle changes to minimize stress and keep the body active and relaxed. Care should be taken not to place further excessive stress by using stimulants, such as unnecessary hormones, herbs, and glandulars, that provide the body with short-term energy but have potentially excitatory and long-term negative effects on the body.
