Who would ever think that the bite of a poppy-seed sized tick could wreck so much havoc on the body? A tick that is now believed to contain many other bacteria organisms causing people to have a myriad of symptoms that quickly evolve into chronic disease. Who would have ever guessed this little critter known as the deer tick would be the source of a very mysterious and debilitating disease? A disease with symptoms overlapping those of many other diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to name a few. The disease? Lyme Disease.
The Great Imitator
The Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) spirochete is an evasive organism which can penetrate virtually any organ or system in the body, including the brain and central nervous system, joints, muscles and heart. Lyme disease symptoms may be similar to other medical conditions, making diagnosing a challenge. Lyme disease mimics many other health concerns such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, ALS, ADHD and even Alzheimer’s disease. Interestingly, despite debilitating symptoms, many Lyme patients outwardly appear quite healthy, which is why Lyme disease has also been called “the invisible illness“and “the great imitator.”
In 1981 the cause, a spiral shaped bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi) was discovered, yet not many in conventional medicine knew what to do with this newly discovered bacteria. This spirochete is now known to be able to invade every organ in the body. It has now become far more prevalent than AIDS and West Nile virus and is showing up in states where Lyme has never been known to exist. We now know that isn’t just carried by ticks. It can be found in semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk, saliva, tear ducts and even the blood supply. Co-infections are growing and Lyme is now recognized by some to be a mutating disease. There is also suggestion that we need to label Lyme as an STD because teens are giving it to each other through unprotected sex.
The United States has 10 times as many Lyme disease cases each year as the official numbers report. That’s the conclusion of research by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to the CDC each year. But three 2012 studies suggest that doctors actually diagnose and treat about 300,000 cases a year. One study is based on medical insurance claims. One uses a survey of clinical laboratories that test for Lyme disease. The third study looks at self-reported Lyme disease, based on a survey of the public. CDC officials were not surprised that their official numbers had been low. They presented their early estimates, based on the three studies, at a conference on tick-borne diseases.
Even though Lyme Disease is now a world-wide health epidemic and because doctors are not quick to look for Lyme, patients are continually told that their symptoms are not Lyme related. Doctors who actually test for and treat Lyme Disease are sometimes ostracized by the medical community. Correct diagnosis in the initial stages of Lyme is extremely important to the success of treatment yet many doctors don’t seem to feel it necessary to even ascertain the possibility of a Lyme’s Disease diagnosis until symptoms have become pronounced and thus very difficult to treat effectively. At this point the disease has become chronic with life-lasting health concerns.
Many people have the same story in that they have spent thousands of dollars and it has taken years, sometimes 15+, to get a correct diagnosis of Chronic Lyme’s Disease. Some of these people never had a bite and never had a rash. Unfortunately the medical community has a history of misdiagnosing the symptoms of Lyme’s as emotional or psychological illness.
Most tests for Lyme disease are inaccurate in one way or another. You may have the infection and yet your tests can be negative due to the lack of immune response to the bacteria. In some ways testing may even be harmful in that it could point a person in a direction that is not needed. Misdiagnosed Lyme Disease patients may undergo treatment for symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, or a hundred other diseases that Lyme can mimic. As a result, they may experience temporary relief but never detect the Lyme bacteria and fail to reach the root of the problem. With Lyme bacteria present, symptoms may come and go with varying intensity, returning with the onslaught of any degree of stress and seriously adding to the person’s discomfort. More and more practitioners believe that because testing is often inaccurate, treating first is necessary with testing used as backup and not as “proof” of illness.
Know The Three Stages of Lyme Disease
Stage 1: Localized Lyme disease – The bacteria are just entering the body and have not spread beyond the place of initial contact.
Stage 2: Early disseminated Lyme disease – Bacteria has moved outside of the initial area of contact and is beginning to spread around the rest of the body.
Stage 3: Late disseminated Lyme disease – Bacteria has spread throughout the body.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Each Stage
The symptoms of Lyme disease may be present from a few days to a few weeks after the initial infection. Lyme disease symptoms are very similar to flu symptoms.
Stage 1 Lyme Disease Symptoms
- General nausea
- Headaches
- Join pain
- Muscle pain
- Stiff neck
- Chills or fever
- Bull’s eye rash;, known as erythema migrans
Stage 2 Lyme Disease Symptoms
Stage 2 Lyme disease symptoms may begin to occur a few weeks to a few months after initial exposure. These symptoms may include, but are not limited to:
- Weakness or even paralysis in the facial muscles
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
Stage 3 Lyme Disease Symptoms
Stage 3 Lyme disease symptoms may occur months to years after the initial exposure. Joint and muscle pain are common at this stage. Other symptoms may include, but are not limited to:
- Lyme Carditis
- Slower cognitive processes
- Speech problems
- Joint swelling
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Muscle weakness
- Abnormal movement in the muscle
Natural Suggestions for Lyme Disease Symptoms
The suggestions below are not all-inclusive. According to Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt who is well known for his successful treatment of neurological illness and chronic pain with Integrative Medicine: “Depending on where you live in the U.S., consider the treatment that is offered to you through a Lyme literate physician. Most of them have been through the training at ILADS and I do recommend that.” Dr. Klinghardt provides free access to all his recipes on his web site. Learn more about his treatment at www.KlinghardtAcademy.com.
- Andrographis
- Cat’s Claw
- MSM
- Sarsaparilla
- Garlic (Allicin). If using a pill, it should be enteric-coated.
- Milk Thistle
- Japanese knotweed
- Reishi Mushroom
- Wild Mediterranean Oregano Oil
- Olive Leaf Extract
- Pau d’arco
- Turmeric
- Magnesium
- Nascent Iodine
- SAMe
- Systemic Enzymes
- Probiotics
- Vitamin B Complex
- Transfer Factor LymPlus
- Coenzyme Q10
- Vitamin C
- Green Tea
- Digestive tract cleansing
- Liver/gallbladder cleansing
- Address Omega-3 deficiencies
- Address EMF exposure
- Parasite Cleansing
- Colloidal Silver
- Zeolite
- Glutathione
- Ozone Therapy
- Homeopathy
- Healthy Diet – Reduce or eliminate foods that may cause inflammation such as wheat, gluten, sugar and grocery store dairy products.
Under Our Skin VIDEO Trailers
A gripping tale of microbes, medicine & money, UNDER OUR SKIN exposes the hidden story of Lyme disease, one of the most serious and controversial epidemics of our time. Each year, thousands go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, often told that their symptoms are all in their head. Following the stories of patients and physicians fighting for their lives and livelihoods, the film brings into focus a haunting picture of the health care system and a medical establishment all too willing to put profits ahead of patients.
underourskin.com
NEW…Sequel – Under Our Skin 2 – Emergence
In this dramatic follow-up to the widely acclaimed UNDER OUR SKIN, EMERGENCE takes the viewer on a journey from horror to hope. We witness the emerging epidemic of Lyme disease as infection and education spread globally. We watch as the truth emerges about the disease’s persistence and reach, about promising new research, and about medical collusion and conflicts of interest that continue to impede progress. We revisit the characters from UNDER OUR SKIN as they emerge into better health, reclaiming their lives and dignity, and offering hope to the legions now suffering. As Lyme disease surges, EMERGENCE shines a probing light on the issue and becomes a beacon in the dark. Below is the Emergence trailer. Emergence can be purchased at http://www.underourskin.com/store
RESOURCES
CDC.gov Press Release August 19, 2013
Quest Diagnostics Press Release, Lyme Disease Health Trends
Lymedisease.org, Symptom Checklist (PDF)
