This informative article below has been written by thyroid/adrenal patient Dana.
More stories:
Marvin had typical Lyme symptoms, yet blood work came out negative for Lyme. He has an explanation.
Tim was first infected with Lyme at age 11, but because of a high dose steroid shot, his symptoms came back in his late 20’s.
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I, Dana, became interested in the link between Lyme Disease (LD) and Hypothyroidism after my own young son contracted Lyme Disease in the late summer of 2005. Below is my son’s story — a child who was healthy and did not exhibit any signs of Hypothyroidism until AFTER he contracted Lyme Disease.
A few weeks before school began in 2005, my youngest son became ill with what I thought was a virus. He had a fever, sore throat, headache, and a stiff neck. I checked the lymph nodes behind his neck and ears and found them enlarged. I basically treated his symptoms the rest of the weekend with Motrin, and kept a watchful eye on him.
The following Monday, I had him see our family practitioner, who ran tests for Strep and Mononucleosis. Because the tests were negative, a viral illness was diagnosed. She stated it would need to run it’s course, and if he wasn’t better in a week, bring him back in.
Trusting the doctor, I took him home and continued to treat his symptoms. My son’s sore neck and throat got better, but other symptoms persisted – his fever continued and his lymph nodes were still swollen. Additionally, his eyes were bloodshot and he had no appetite. A second trip to the Doctor found a low White Cell Count, and we were instructed to come back in a month to recheck it. She also reiterated that he is probably just fighting a virus.
That weekend my older son noticed his brother had a weird red rash on his back, 2 weeks after his flu-like symptoms began. The numerous areas of rash were very faint, round and very large. There was some central clearing in each one. A third visit to the doctor concluded with a diagnosis of Lyme Disease. I was actually thankful to finally have a diagnosis. She stated a Lyme test would be run, but because the rash is so distinctive, she was going to treat him for Lyme Disease right away with Amoxicillin for 2 weeks.
Because I research anything that interests me, I got on my computer and started my investigation on “Lyme Disease”. Almost immediately I found out that the typical Lyme Rash, called “Erythema Migrans”, is conclusive for Lyme Disease. Even if the Lyme test comes back negative, treatment is necessary. However, by the time my son was treated, the “Borrelia Burgdorferi” (LD) infection had already disseminated or spread throughout his body and brain. That was why he had multiple bullseye rashes on his body.
Because the doctor did not suspect LD early on, I learned that my son already had progressed to Stage 2 or Early Disseminated Lyme Disease. The treatment for disseminated LD needed to be longer than 3 weeks on Amoxicillin! I called my Doctor and asked if she would please prescribe a longer course of antibiotics. She said that she would prescribe one more week and that would be enough to take care of the infection. So, my son was “allowed” to be on Amoxicillin for 4 weeks.
I also asked the Doctor if she thought that he might be better off on Doxycycline, instead of Amoxicillin, since literature states that Doxycycline is a better choice, especially if there is a chance of co-infections. She explained that because my son was only 10 years old, Doxycycline can discolor any permanent teeth that have not yet erupted. It was suggested that I call my dentist and ask his opinion. I did call my son’s dentist and he concurred with the Doctor about teeth discoloration. So, I reluctantly, decided to stick with the Amoxicillin.
However, because my son was showing signs of cognitive dysfunction, including short term memory loss and word recall problems (he is an A student), I was concerned that 4 weeks of antibiotics would not get rid of the LD infection. Luckily, through further research online, I found there was a “Pediatric Lyme Specialist” on the East Coast who might be able to help my son. After calling his office, his nurse explained that he really should be on antibiotics longer than a month, because my son was showing brain involvement. She asked me to send her all of my son’s records and recent blood work. By the way, my son’s Lyme test did come back positive for Lyme Disease.
My son was now in good hands. This wonderful, compassionate Doctor prescribed an additional 3 month course of Amoxicillin, which meant he was treated a total of 4 months on Antibiotics. He also suggested I buy a good Probiotic for the Yeast overgrowth that occurs during antibiotic treatment. Gradually, my son recovered his normal mental function and his other symptoms resolved during the antibiotic treatment. However, I was watchful for any return of symptoms, since my research show that these nasty bacterial “Borrelia Burgdorferi” Spirochetes are resistant to antibiotics because they do not have a cell wall. They are able to invade any and all organs or tissue in the body and cause destruction, slowly.
My son did recover, to a certain extent. However, to this day I do not know if the Amoxicillin was completely successful. What I do know is that because my son was not treated the first few weeks he was sick with LD, it was enough time for the “b. Burgdorferi” Spirochetes to invade his organs and brain.
THE PROGRESSION OF MY SON INTO HYPOTHYROID
About a year later, I noticed my son was more fatigued and getting headaches again, daily, as well as being moody and an easily aroused temper. He was also hungry all the time and gaining weight. Because I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism in 2004, I was aware of Low Thyroid symptoms. Also, we have a family history of Thyroid problems. My Grandmother, my now deceased Father, my younger sister, and my Maternal Aunt have all have been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. So, when I started to see symptoms of this in my son, I decided to monitor his temperature. Sure enough, his temperature was low throughout the day, never getting above 97.9. I set up an appointment with our local family practitioner, and when the results came back, he dismissed had Low Thyroid. My son’s TSH was 1.78 and his FT3 was almost mid-range. But, his FT4 was very, very low.
I knew, though, from my own experience and research that he was in fact Low Thyroid. But, I decided to wait it out a little longer to see if this might be temporary. It wasn’t. Unfortunately, I personally did not have a good Thyroid Doctor, and after much soul searching, I decided the best thing for my son would be to start him on a “trial” of Armour. By this time I had already been “self” treating myself with Armour, because I did not have the support from my own Endochronologist. I discussed with my son what all this entailed and he was willing to try it.
I started him on 1/4 grain of Armour and he did well. I waited out each increase for at least a few weeks and slowly he started to feel better. He started to lose the excess weight and his headaches lessoned. During this time, I continued to search for a better Thyroid Doctor. I slowly increased his Armour until we got to 3/4 grains. I did not want to increase any further until I had his Thyroid labs done, so I kept him on 3/4 grains for over a month. I luckily found a good Doctor an hour away from us and set up an appointment. Even though I knew in my heart that I was doing the “right” thing in self-treating my son, I was a little nervous on that first appointment.
However, after discussing my son’s symptoms and explaining his improvement, our new Doctor concurred that he probably did have a Thyroid problem. He agreed to run thyroid tests to see how his numbers were compared to the last Thyroid panel. He also agreed to start prescribing Armour for my son. I asked the new Doctor to check his FT3 and FT4 along with TSH. He was fine with that. Well, my son’s lab results indicated an improvement in his FT3, but his FT4 was still too low. So, the Doctor agreed that I could raise my son to 1 grain Armour. My son is continuing to improve on 1 grain Armour and I will hold this dose for 6 weeks. I suspect we are almost there in his treatment with Armour and I am reassured that my son will continue to improve.
STRONG LINK BETWEEN MY SON’S LYME DISEASE and THYROID DISEASE
Now you have read my own son’s story of his Lyme Disease and his subsequent Hypothyroid diagnosis. And my goal here is not only for you to be aware of Lyme Disease, but to highlight that there is a strong link between LD infection and later developing Thyroid Disease, Auto-immune Dysfunction and/or Adrenal Dysfunction.
John D. Bleiweiss, M.D., a Lyme Disease specialist, states, “Increasingly, I am encountering thyroid disease in LD. A local endocrinologist has remarked to me privately that the incidence of thyroid involvement in LD may be greater than expected from the normal population.” He goes on to say, “In many of these patients, the thyroid dysfunction was seen to originate in the pituitary or hypothalmus. Remaining alert to the possibility of thyroid disease is essential because there can be considerable clinical overlap with LD. Subacute thyroiditis is the most prevalent thyroid phenomenon I see in LD. Hypoadrenalism can uncommonly develop: www.lymenet.de/lymcheck.html#essay
Dr. James Howenstine, a Lyme Disease expert, states, “Profound dysfunction of the hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal, thyroid glands and gonads is very common in mycoplasmal, fungal, and anerobic bacterial infections. www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/archive.cgi?read=51356 He goes on to say, “There is considerable evidence that many patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Lyme disease have an infectious disease. Lyme disease needs to be considered in every patient with a chronic illness.”
Many of those who have Low Thyroid or Low Adrenal function have also been diagnosed with either Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which to me are “catch all” diagnoses that Doctors have used in order to “label” us with a disease they don’t understand.
There is considerable evidence that these diseases are actually caused by either a bacteria or virus. And, because of these infections, our bodies’ immune systems’ are weakened. That theory, in turn, pre-disposes us to developing various autoimmune disease as well as Thyroid and Adrenal disorders. My own son was perfectly healthy until he was bitten by a Lyme infected tick. This, I truly believe, set the stage for his own Thyroid to fail.
It is true that Thryoid disease in my own family is rampant. Many of us have developed Low Thyroid and Adrenal Disorders. I, personally, was diagnosed with Low Thyroid in 2004. I suspect that I have suffered from Low Thyroid most of my adult life. I too have some suspicion that I could have been infected with LD during my early years and will soon be testing for it. http://centralfloridaresearch.com/lab/ It could very well be that I was bitten by a tick during one of those summers I spent in Northern Wisconsin. Certainly Wisconsin is an epidemic state according to the CDC. www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/riskmap.htm
The Lyme Bacteria, ““Borrelia Burgdorferi”, has now been found in mosquitos, biting flies, fleas, and various other vectors www.wildernetwork.org/faq004.html It can be transmitted in utero and by breast milk. So it can be impossible to know for sure who is really “safe” from this insidious and very destructive infection. There is evidence that “b. Burgdorferi” bacteria could even be transmitted, sexually. www.anapsid.org/lyme/std.html We all know that the “b. Burgdorferi” cousin, Syphilis, can be spread through sexual contact.
“Transmission of the disease has been clearly documented after bites by fleas, mites, mosquitos and ticks. There is compelling evidence that Lyme disease (LD) can be spread by sexual and congenital transfer.” www.samento.com.ec/sciencelib/4lyme/Townsendhowens.html
“The Sacramento, California blood bank thinks that LD can be spread by blood transfusions. The CDC (Center of Disease Control) in Atlanta, Georgia states that their data indicates that Bb can survive the blood processing techniques used for transfusions in the US.” www.samento.com.ec/sciencelib/4lyme/Townsendhowens.html
“Biology professor, Lida Mattman, author of Cell Wall Deficient Forms: Stealth Pathogens, has been able to recover live spirochetes of Bb from mosquitos, fleas, mites, semen, urine, blood, and spinal fluid.” www.digitalnaturopath.com/cond/C351537.html#H2
BELOW ARE MORE FACTS ABOUT LYME DISEASE
LD is most often transmitted by a tick bite. Only 20 – 30% of those infected ever recall a tick bite. The more common tick vectors are the Deer Tick and the Lone Star Tick. However, other ticks can also transmit the LD bacteria. http://www.canlyme.com/ticks.html Ticks prefer to live wooded areas, fields, yards and even near the ocean. Even if you are not a nature lover and prefer to stay in your house, you are not safe from LD tick bites. Your own pets, cats or dogs, can bring these ticks into your household. Because some of these ticks are as small as a pin-head when in there nymphal stage, it can be virtually impossible to know if you were bitten. They have a two year life cycle and are most active April through October. However, depending on where you live, you are not even safe in the winter months. Every state in the US has cases of Lyme Disease. But, the most endemic areas include Northeastern states, Pacific Northwestern states and the Great Lake states. LD is found in many other countries as well and include many different “strains” of the LD bacteria. The following countries have reported cases of LD: Scandinavia, Central Europe, Southern Europe, Western Europe, Russia, Japan, China and Australia.
And, many, many cases of LD go unreported or misdiagnosed. According to the following website: www.emedicine.com/derm/topic536.htm , “Epidemiologic data suggest that the actual incidence of Lyme disease could be as much as 10 times higher than the CDC data indicate. This probably is a result of a restrictive case definition from the CDC, inevitable misdiagnosis, and the fact that physicians tend to underreport reportable diseases of all kinds.”
The President of a Lyme Testing Facility, Dr. Nick Harris, goes on to say, “Lyme disease, in fact, might be the most insidious — and least understood — infectious disease of our day. “If it weren’t for AIDS,” says Nick Harris, Ph.D., President of IgeneX, Inc., a research and testing laboratory in Palo Alto, California, “Lyme would be the number one infectious disease in the United States and Western Europe.” www.mercola.com/2001/jul/25/lyme_disease.htm
Lyme Disease is now thought to be the fastest growing infectious disease in the world. There are believed to be at least 200,000 new cases each year in the US and some experts think that as many as one in every 15 Americans is currently infected (20 million persons). www.digitalnaturopath.com/cond/C351537.html#H2
STAGES OF LYME DISEASE
Lyme Disease is now the new “Great Imitator” because it can mimic many other diseases. That is why it is often difficult to diagnose. About 40 – 50% of those infected, report a rash. This rash can often look like a bullseye www.lyme.org/gallery/rashes.html but, there have been other rashes implicated as well. This bullseye rash or the EM Migrans rash can be up to 12 inches across and there can be more than one. It is round or ring-like, with a pink or reddish border. There is usually central clearing. Sometimes it can feel hot or itch but, most of the time it cannot be felt at all. The rash can also mimic other skin conditions like ringworm, hives, flea bites, poison ivy, eczcema or even sunburn. Anytime you find a rash like this you must go to your Doctor right away before it has a chance to fade or if that isn’t possible, take a picture of it.
The first stage and early symptoms of LD can be vague or flu-like. These symptoms can show up days or even weeks after you are infected. Most have flu-like symptoms like fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, fatigue, headache and stiff neck. These flu-like symptoms resolve on their own even without early treatment. However, not everyone will get these flu-like symptoms and many will not get the rash. About 25% will have only vague flu-like symptoms or no symptoms at all. If a person is to get the Lyme Rash, EM Migrans, it can appear days or weeks after infection. The second stage of the disease progresses and the rash can then spread to other parts of the body. This is called Disseminated Lyme Disease. The spread of the disease begins soon after you are infected. The symptoms are varied with each individual. ( It is important to note that 30– 50% of people infected with LD have no symptoms at all or are asymptomatic, until some stressor like trauma, surgery, chronic stress, or another illness may then activate the LD infection.) www.canlyme.com/fibrocfslyme.html That makes the diagnosis much more difficult, because a person can be infected years before the symptoms actually occur.
Stage 2, or early Disseminated LD symptoms can include the following: numbness and tingling in face or Bell’s Palsy, memory, mood or cognitive problems(Neurological), arthritic pain in joints, muscle pain, ongoing fatigue, conjunctivitis, and heart involvement. www.wrongdiagnosis.com/l/lyme_disease/symptoms.htm
The last stage of LD is called Late Stage Lyme Disease or Chronic Lyme Disease. By the time a person has progressed to this stage of the disease they usually have been diagnosed with another disorder or disease. Some of the symptoms of Chronic LD are: mild to extreme fatigue, joint pain, muscle pain, chronic headaches, recurring sore throat or swollen glands, lightheadedness, cold hands and feet, skin rashes, sweating, heat or cold intolerance, weakness, ear ringing, face rash, vertigo, sleep disturbances, weight gain or loss, bowel problems, depression, panic attacks, hormonal imbalances, menstrual disorders, urinary disorders, eye problems, cognitive defects, and mood disorders. There are over 150 symptoms of Chronic LD, so I have only listed some of them. www.wildernetwork.org/faq038.html
HOW LYME SYMPTOMS CAN BE MISDIAGNOSED AS OTHER DISEASES
Because many of these symptoms are also symptoms of other diseases, they often go misdiagnosed. The following information was compiled from a Non-Profit Lyme Organization’s website: www.wildernetwork.org/faq011.html “There are many different diseases or conditions that are found in patients with Lyme disease. All too often Borrelia organisms are not being considered as the cause for patients complaints, signs, and symptoms. Infectious disease specialists often dismiss patients concerned about Lyme disease because many are under the assumption that Lyme disease is very rare, and/or they are not familiar with the various signs and symptoms of Lyme disease.”
Some of the following diseases/disorders are often Lyme infections that are misdiagnosed as: CFS, Fibromyalgia, MS, Parkinson’s, Lou Gehrigs (ALS) disease, Lupus, Guillian-Barre Syndrome, TMJ, ADHD, Depression, Candidiasis, Epstein Barr Virus, Sjogrens Syndrome, Arthritis, Thyroid Disease, Interstitial Cystitis, and Adrenal Disorders. www.wildernetwork.org/faq011.html They have found b. Burgdorferi Spirochetes in spinal fluid and tissues samples of MS patients, and in blood cultures of ALS and Parkinson’s disease patients.
If anyone has a chronic health condition or has been diagnosed with any of the above symptoms or conditions, it is important that you consider Lyme Disease as the contributing factor. Lyme Specialist, Dr. Cowden states, “There are very few symptoms where you shouldn’t consider Lyme,” says Dr. Cowden. “More than 50% of chronically ill people may have Lyme contributing to their condition.”
TESTING
Unfortunately, the testing for LD can often be inaccurate. One of the reasons, according to D. J. Fletcher and Tom Klaber, is that the LD Spirochete can travel through blood vessel walls and through connective tissue. Animal studies have shown that in less than a week after being infected, the Lyme spirochete can be deeply embedded inside tendons, muscle, the heart and the brain. It invades tissue, replicates and destroys its host cell as it emerges. Sometimes the cell wall collapses around the bacterium, forming a cloaking device, allowing it to evade detection by many tests and by the body’s immune system. www.mercola.com/2001/jul/25/lyme_disease.htm
Lyme Disease should be confirmed clinically,( by symptoms) not just by test results. That is why it is important to see a Lyme specialist, especially when the test results show inconclusive or negative.
Dr. Harris concludes, “Most of the standard tests used to detect Lyme are notoriously unreliable. Explains Dr. Harris, “The initial thing patients usually get is a Western Blot antibody test. This test is not positive immediately after Bb exposure, and only 60% or 70% of people ever show antibodies to Bb.”
Most labs will test first with the Elisa Test, which is only about 30 – 40% accurate. If the test is negative, they usually do no further testing. If you are lucky enough to have a positive ELISA test , they will then follow up with the Western Blot test, which has an accuracy of 60 – 70%. This 2 tiered testing procedure was designed by the CDC for surveillance purposes only! And, there lies the problem. Most testing facilities and Doctors are using the 2 tier testing procedure to diagnose LD even though they can be highly inaccurate. This means many who have LD will test negative and will receive no treatment!
The following statement by Dr. Scott Taylor, DVM, explains this better 2 tier testing procedure: “In defense of the ignorant physicians, much blame can rest on health officials and the medical establishments that are not giving clinicians the appropriate information they need to diagnosis these difficult cases of Lyme disease. The criteria being used to report Lyme disease by physicians is often set by state health officials and is often based upon the rigid criteria established by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This CDC criteria was established for an epidemiological survey, which was designed to study the distribution of Lyme disease. The two-step method of the CDC uses a screening immunoassay for all patients followed by a more sensitive and specific Western blot only if the screening test was positive. Unfortunately, this approach was originally intended for surveillance of Lyme disease in potentially asymptomatic patients, not for diagnostic purposes in patients with symptoms that are potentially related to Lyme disease. This criteria was not intended to be used as a standard for the clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease; the CDC has clearly stated this. Unfortunately, ignorant health officials and physicians continue to use these criteria for the clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease.” www.autoimmunityresearch.org/lyme-disease/
Dr. Sam Donta, MD, did a year long study on Chronic Lyme patients and he proved the initial ELISA test to be 66%+ inaccurate. www.canlyme.com/labtests.html
Tom Grier, MS, goes on to say, “In my opinion, the ELISA test is worthless as a diagnostic tool in Lyme disease. It is inconsistent and inaccurate, and should be discontinued as a tool to diagnose Lyme. If the NIH and CDC truly believe, as they’ve stated, that the diagnosis of Lyme disease is to be made on the basis of symptoms, then these tests should be temporarily banned until each manufacturer can prove efficacy using human serum. ”
Central Florida Research, Inc., has designed the most accurate Lyme Test available. This new Borrelia Burgdorferi antigen test is much more definitive than the Western Blot test. The test detects the spirochetes in the blood using a Flow Cytometer. This test is much more accurate and the testing is covered by most insurance companies. For more information, go to: http://centralfloridaresearch.com/lab/
CO-INFECTIONS
I also want to briefly mention the possibility that many LD sick patients may also be co-infected with other bacteria from the infected tick. Ticks carry many forms of disease and if a person is infected with LD, they should be also tested for these Co-Infections. The two most prevalent co-infections appear to be Babesia and Ehrlichia.
Nick S. Harris, Ph.D., ABMLI, states,”“There have been reports in the literature for the past several years on the detection of coinfections of Babesiosis or Ehrlichiosis in patients with Lyme disease. The prevalence or frequency of these diseases as coinfections in humans is not known. It is known, however, that 10 to 20% of the same ticks that carry B. burgdorferi also carry the Babesia and/or Ehrlichia organisms.” www.igenex.com/luat7no1.htm He goes on to say, Both Babesia and Ehrlichia, in their commonly recognized acute clinical presentation, result in patients who are quite sick with fever, malaise, myalgia, nausea and other symptoms. In the normal healthy population, in individuals with a normal immune system, Babesia and/or Ehrlichia may be a self-limiting subclinical disease that requires no medical intervention. We and other investigators think the possibility exists that some patients with Lyme disease may have a subclinical infection of Babesia and/or Ehrlichia and that these subclinical infections impact the resolution of the primary disease, Lyme. ”
So, it is very important to also be tested for co-infections, especially if antibiotic treatment fails to resolve symptoms.
THE LINK BETWEEN LYME DISEASE AND THYROID/ADRENAL DYSFUNCTION
In the very beginning, I stated there is a link between Lyme Disease and later on developing Thyroid/Adrenal Disorders. When my son contracted Lyme Disease, I truly believed he would be cured of the infection and would go on to live a “normal” life. Although he was one of the few who was treated more aggressively, I still do not know if he has been completely cured of LD. However, because we did not catch the LD infection before disseminated disease occurred, he in fact now probably has a weakened immune system. That is the nature of this infection. It hides in every tissue in the body, slowly weakening any organ it invades. Because these LD spirochetes like to invade organs like the Thyroid and Adrenals, it would make sense that an autoimmune response could be set off in these organs. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ and www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ There are numerous studies that show this occurs.
Why is autoimmune disease on the rise? While I also believe that our own toxic environment has a big role in the increase of disease’s that used to be rare, I also believe that these “always evolving” bacteria and virus are the true culprits. By invading our bodies, they weaken them and that sets the stage for the disease process to begin. This article states that the B. Burgorferi bacteria does cause an autoimmune response to begin after infection:
” Lyme borreliosis: from infection to autoimmunity.” by Singh SK, Girschick HJ.
Paediatric Rheumatology, Children’s Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
“Lyme borreliosis in humans is an inflammatory disease affecting multiple organ systems, including the nervous system, cardiovascular system, joints and muscles. The causative agent, the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted to the host by a tick bite. The pathogenesis of the disease in its early stages is associated largely with the presence of viable bacteria at the site of inflammation, whereas in the later stages of disease, autoimmune features seem to contribute significantly. In addition, it has been suggested that chronic persistence of B. burgdorferi in affected tissues is of pathogenic relevance. Long-term exposure of the host immune system to spirochaetes and/or borrelial compounds may induce chronic autoimmune disease. The study of bacterium-host interactions has revealed a variety of proinflammatory and also immunomodulatory-immunosuppressive features caused by the pathogen. Therapeutic strategies using antibiotics are generally successful, but chronic disease may require immunosuppressive treatment. Effective and safe vaccines using recombinant outer surface protein A have been developed, but have not been propagated because of fears that autoimmunity might be induced. Nevertheless, new insights into the modes of transmission of B. burgdorferi to the warm-blooded host have been generated by studying the action of these vaccines.“
PMID: 15214872 [PubMed — indexed for MEDLINE]
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
MORE STATEMENTS ON AUTOIMMUNITY AND LYME DISEASE
“Borrelia’s ability to grow slowly and avoid attack by the host’s immune system makes it a difficult pathogen to destroy. Not only can borrelia evade the host immune system, but often will suppress it as well.It’s also important to remember that borellia can go dormant in the body for lengthy periods of time. Then it can return to cause disease at any time.” www.autoimmunityresearch.org/lyme-disease/
“Lyme disease causes metabolic/endocrine dysfunctions that lead to weight loss or commonly chronic weight gain. Generally, women struggle with chronic Lyme disease more severely than men do. It is not known for sure why.”
“Clinically, “chronic fatigue syndrome” or “fibromyalgia”, which is more recently called “chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome” (CFIDS) cannot be readily distinguished from chronic Lyme disease and in fact is probably one in the same disease. Yes, I believe along with many LLMDs that most cases of fibromyaliga and CFIDS are actually misdiagnosed cases of chronic Lyme disease. Strong support for this comes from the fact that antibiotic and other LD therapies improve many patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia.”. I believe that the chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction caused by LD often leads to autoimmune diseases.”
“Inflammation is a major part of any disease, but none more complex and involved than with Lyme disease. Borrelia BLPs that has disseminated throughout the body will trigger inflammation in any and all systems, organs and tissues that it resides in. This is how Lyme can cause so many different symptoms and mimic so many disorders.”
“Borreliosis patients usually have multiple endocrine hormone deficiencies. This is based upon results in about 800 panels of test results.” Symptoms and diseases caused by endocrine hormone deficiencies are similar to those caused by tick-borne infections and hypercoagulation. “The three treatments with the most dramatic results in borreliosis patients are antibiotics, heparin and hormones, and patients seem to do better when all three treatments are done. A three-stranded cord is not easily broken.” www.drcharlescrist.com/hormones.htm
Again, there is a lot of information on the link between Lyme Disease and Thyroid/Adrenal Dysfunction and below I have included a small portion.:
John D. Bleiweiss, M.D. says: “Increasingly, I am encountering thyroid disease in LD. A local endocrinologist has remarked to me privately that the incidence of thyroid involvement in LD may be greater than expected from the normal population. A final judgement awaits formal statistical analysis. In many of these patients, the thyroid dysfunction was seen to originate in the pituitary or hypothalmus. Remaining alert to the possibility of thyroid disease is essential because there can be considerable clinical overlap with LD. Subacute thyroiditis is the most prevalent thyroid phenomenon I see in LD. Hypoadrenalism can uncommonly develop. Uncorrected hormonal aberrations can vitiate otherwise effective LD therapy. Like any infection, LD can provoke the onset of hyperglycemia and alter the facility with which diabetes is managed.” www.cassia.org/essay.htm
“Potentially contributing to this vasoconstriction are excessive levels of vasoconstricting hormones, magnesium and potassium deficiency, limbic or hypothalamic dysfunction due to CNS infection, local inflammation of capillary sphincter or hypothyroidism.” www.cassia.org/essay.htm
“In many of my patients, cysts are found not uncommonly in various locations: thyroid, breast, liver, bone, ovary, skin, pineal gland, and kidney. Some forms of Polycystic Kidney and Fibrocystic Breast Disease may be LD manifestations. LD can cause an interstitial cystis leading to bladder pain relieved by urination. A neurogenic bladder can develop with either hesitancy, frequency, loss of bladder awareness, urinary retention, incontinence or the symptoms of UTI (urinary tract infection). I suspect that some cases of chronic pyelonephritis are actually LD. Pediatricians may want to consider that nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting)” www.cassia.org/essay.htm
“An inordinate amount of exertional or non-exertional sweating may be described in the absence of hyperthyroidism. One of my patients experience anhydrosis (inability to sweat) for 27 years until antibiotics were given for LD.” www.theoneclickgroup.co.uk/
“Hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal axis dysfunction is frequently associated with Lyme disease, and many Lyme patients have (at least temporarily) both thyroid and adrenal insufficiency.“
www.digitalnaturopath.com/cond/C351537.html
“Lyme disease should be a differential diagnosis for all fibromyalgia patients who could have been exposed to a tick bite. Despite antibiotic treatment, a sequel of Lyme disease may be a post-Lyme disease syndrome (PLS), which is characterized by persistent arthralgia, fatigue, and neurocognitive impairment. [Journal of Rheumatology 23(8): pp.1392 – 1397, 1996] Although patients with CFS and PLS share many features, including symptoms of severe fatigue and cognitive impairment, patients with PLS show greater cognitive deficits than patients with CFS compared with healthy controls. This is particularly apparent among patients with PLS without premorbid psychiatric illness. According to an informal study conducted by the American Lyme Disease Alliance (ALDA), most patients diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) are actually suffering from Lyme disease. In a study of 31 patients diagnosed with CFS, 28 patients, or 90.3%, were found to be ill as a result of Lyme disease.” www.digitalnaturopath.com/cond/C351537.html
CONCLUSION from DANA
I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this information. This topic has been my main focus for a few years now and I have felt compelled to share this information with those who suffer from Thyroid/Adrenal Dysfunction, as well as those who have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, CFS, and other diseases/disorders. It is not my intention to panic or scare anyone but, only to plant the seed so that you can start on your own path to “total wellness”. I truly believe there are many of us who have LD and don’t know it. I, personally, have suffered from many illnesses since my early 20’s and am now struggling with Low Thyroid, Adrenal Insufficiency, Interstitial Cystitis, Fibromyalgia, OsteaoArthritis, TMJ, hormonal imbalances and will soon be having a Hysterectomy. I will be soon testing myself and the rest of my family for Lyme Disease. While some of my symptoms have been relieved with Armour and Adrenal therapy, I still continue to have problems that very well could stem from Chronic Lyme Disease and I plan on finding out if a LD infection is at the “root” of my problems. Below I have included my favorite websites on Lyme Disease. I have also included a natural therapy website that is working for many who have Chronic Lyme Disease. Lastly, I have included a website where you too can be tested for Lyme Disease. Again, not all LD tests are 100% so it is important that if you suspect you are infected, please find a LD Specialist so that you can be diagnosed and treated. God Bless you!
Go here to read about a man who had typical Lyme symptoms, yet lab work came out negative.
LYME INFORMATION WEBSITES:
www.lymediseaseassociation.org/
http://cassia.org/essay.htm
www.lymenet.org/
www.autoimmunityresearch.org/lyme-disease/
www.wildernetwork.org/index.html
www.townsendletter.com/July2004/July2004.htm
www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Oasis/6455/newsgroup-faq.html
http://www.ilads.org/files/burrascano.pdf (Diagnostic hints and treatment guidelines for Lyme Disease)
www.lymesite.com/index.htm
“Natural Therapy” for Lyme Disease
www.fettnet.com/lymestrategies/welcome.htm
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/lymestrategies/ (join this yahoo group)
Lyme Testing:
http://centralfloridaresearch.com/lab/
