Lyme & Co-infections: The Road to Recovery

~ Chapter 1~

Lyme… A Brief History

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme Disease (LD) is a multi-system bacterial infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia Burgdorferi, the cause of transmission primarily infected ticks.

Lyme disease is spread primarily through three ticks in the US: the deer tick in the eastern U.S., the black-legged tick in the western U.S. and the Lone Star tick, in the South and Midwest. Many researchers also believe that other vectors such as mosquitoes, fleas, biting flies, and lice may be responsible for Lyme transmission. Evidence abounds that the disease may even be spread from mother to baby in-vitro or through the birth process. Babies may become infected at birth via the birth canal if the mother is infected, or possibly acquire it through breast milk. Blood transfusions infected with Lyme also may transmit the disease. Some researchers believe that Lyme and other tick-borne diseases can be sexually transmitted.

Where did Lyme Disease Originate?

The disease is named after the village of Lyme, Connecticut where a number of cases were identified in 1975. Most people believe that Lyme disease originated from this area. However, Lyme disease had been reported as early as the 1800’s in Europe. The first record of a condition associated with Lyme was discovered in 1883 by Alfred Buchwald, a German physician. In 1909, a Swedish physician named Arvid Afzelius presented his research concerning a ring-like lesion he had found during observation. Twelve years later, Afzelius published his work, concluding that this rash had come from the Ixodes tick. It wasn’t until 1970; however, that Erythema Migrans (bull’s eye rash) was labeled and recognized as an early possible component of the disease.

Other connections were to follow: In 1977, physician Allen Steere of the U.S. reported a misdiagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis which was later found to be Lyme Disease. This condition, associated with Lyme would be named Lyme arthritis.

In the early 1980’s, Willy Burgdorfer, PhD was investigating outbreaks of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Research scientists Jorge Benach and Edward Bosler, PhD were working with Burgdorfer to gather information about the possible transmission of borrelia from infected ticks to humans. In one of the batches of ticks, Burgdorfer noticed an embryonic form of parasite in the bodily fluid of two of the ticks. Upon closer inspection, he found spirochetes. Later, the spirochetes would be named Borrelia Burgdorferi after his findings were found to be a causative agent of Lyme Disease. In 1985, Paul Duray, a Lyme disease researcher, declared that the Lyme bacterium worked its way through the body early in the disease, the former belief being that the infection was slow to spread. Burgdorfer also was able to demonstrate that ticks infected with Borrelia could be found across the country.

The Lyme Disease Foundation, founded in 1988, has helped to bring researchers, patients, and government officials together in the fight against Lyme. Breakthroughs in the treatment of Lyme continue to rise as more research is being done.

~Chapter 2~

Three Stages of Lyme

Throughout the twentieth century, connections have been made between many of the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease and other chronic disease processes. The Lyme disease bacterium can infect several parts of the body, producing different signs and symptoms at different times. Some of these associations include muscular, joint, digestive, neurological, and psychiatric problems. It is important to note that not all patients with Lyme disease will experience all symptoms, and that many of the symptoms associated with Lyme occur with other diseases as well. Hence, Lyme Disease is often misdiagnosed because many of its symptoms can mimic those of other disorders.

There are three known stages of Lyme Disease

Stage 1: Primary

Stage 2: Secondary

Stage 3: Tertiary

The Primary Stage

The first stage of Lyme disease or primary stage is often characterized by the

familiar Bull’s Eye rash or Erythema Migrans, which may appear at the site of the bite.

© Healthwise, Inc.

Normally this is a localized rash, but can spread progressively from the site of origin. The rash may begin as early as two days after the tick bite, or it may not appear for several months. It is estimated that in one third of those bit by ticks, this rash may never appear or may be so light in color that it goes unnoticed. This can be especially true of those with darker skin tones.

The typical rash begins as a small, reddish bump about one-half inch in diameter, which may or may not be raised. This rash may expand outward and reach a size from one to two inches to cover an entire section of skin. There may also be variations in color ranging from red to purple to a bruised-like appearance. The shape of the rash may resemble a ring, triangle, oval, or a long ragged line. The rash associated with Lyme disease can last from one week to several months and usually will disappear on its own. This does not mean that the disease is dormant. Rash or no rash, if left untreated, the infection may continue to gain ground resulting in both acute and chronic health issues. The rule of thumb is…

If in doubt… get checked out!

It’s a wise idea to seek medical attention early on before complications from lack of treatment arise. If Lyme is caught in its early stages, it is often successfully treated allopathically with a few rounds of antibiotics.

Primary Stage Lyme Symptoms may include:

chills

fever

headache

lethargy

muscle pain

The Secondary Stage

In Secondary Lyme (Early Disseminated), widespread inflammation becomes apparent as the spirochetes begin to gain a foothold in the human terrain. The infection is spread deeper via the lymphatic and circulatory systems. The central nervous (CNS) may also be affected. Symptoms may be intermittent and disappear after days, weeks or months. About 8% of those untreated during this stage will develop cardiac symptoms, while neurological involvement affects an average of 10%. The intensity and severity of symptoms at this stage may suggest that the disease is more serious and harder to treat.

Secondary Stage Lyme Symptoms may include:

headache

fatigue

malaise

lethargy

muscle pains

stiff neck (Meningitis)

joint inflammation

heart palpitations

fainting

blurred vision

speech impairment

numbness and tingling

nausea and vomiting

loss of muscle function

hallucinations

facial paralysis (Bell’s Palsy)

eyelid drooping

confusion

brain fog

abnormal sensitivity to light

The Tertiary Stage

Tertiary Lyme Disease or Stage 3 can occur from months to several years after the initial tick bite. In this later stage of the disease process, many of the body’s organs are affected resulting in degeneration and damage. Rheumatoid Arthritis or Lyme Arthritis as it is called is the most common symptom at this stage and affects about 80%. Depression, memory loss, and anxiety are also very common. The breadth and severity of symptoms depends largely on the integrity of the body’s immune system at this stage. The symptoms can appear and disappear, exacerbate or go into remission from months to years at a time.

Tertiary Stage Lyme symptoms may include:

Any or all of the above symptoms from Stages One and Two

Rheumatoid Arthritis (Lyme Arthritis)

Atrioventricular conduction abnormalities (AV heart block)

Encephalopathy

Memory Loss

Chronic Insomnia

Extreme Mood Changes

Ataxia

Severe Depression

Psychological Disorders

Many of those affected in this late stage of Lyme are those who have had the mysterious undiagnosed illness for years. They often fall in the category of Autoimmune and exhibit many symptoms relating to various chronic health issues such as Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, and the like. Fortunately, with all the attention to Lyme and the research that has been done in the past decade, there are now more treatment options available for those afflicted with this late stage of Lyme.

~Chapter 3~

Life Cycles of Lyme

The bacteria responsible for Lyme disease, Borrelia Burgdorferi, can assume three forms: Spirochete, Cell-wall-deficient, and Cyst. This transformation occurs for the purpose of bacterial survival and proliferation in the human body. The various bacterial formations can take place in any of the three stages of Lyme.

Spirochete

Description:

spiral/drill capable shape allows penetration into dense tissue and bone

capable of intracellular infection

rapidly converts to CWD and cyst form when threatened

Symptoms :

conventionally recognized Lyme Disease symptoms

Bull's-eye rash, Bell's palsy, flu-like symptoms, fever

causative bacteria in early-stage Lyme Disease

Conventional treatment and success rates:

pharmaceutical antibiotics

sometimes successful if infection is caught early

often causes conversion to CWD and cyst form

Other treatments and success rates:

Rife Machine therapy has been shown to treat Lyme in the spirochete form without causing conversion to CWD or cyst form.

Cell-Wall-Deficient (CWD)

Description:

lack of cell wall makes targeting by immune system and antibiotics more difficult

capable of intracellular infection

converts Vitamin D to immunosuppressive hormone known as 1,25-D

causes autoimmunity

clumps together in dense colonies

inner layers unreachable by antibiotics and immune system

Symptoms:

numerous syndromes and conditions not conventionally attributed to Lyme including but not limited to: paralysis, multiple sclerosis, mental disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, post-Lyme syndrome

causative bacteria in many Lyme symptoms and problems.

as or more dangerous than spirochete form, very difficult to treat

Conventional treatment and success rates:

often misdiagnosed as autoimmune or psychiatric disorders and mistreated with steroids, painkillers, antidepressants

symptoms are often deemed idiopathic

very low success rate

Other treatments and success rates:

The Marshall Protocol has been used quite successfully to treat Lyme disease in its cell-deficient form. Other successful therapies will be discussed in the following chapters.

Cyst Form

Description:

dormant form bacteria are not mobile and do not cause symptoms.

can survive antibiotics, starvation, pH changes, hydrogen peroxide, temperature variation, and most other adverse conditions.

converts back to spirochete form when conditions are favorable.

Symptoms:

does not cause symptoms.

responsible for relapsing and remitting Lyme Disease

can persist unrecognized and asymptomatic for many years

Conventional treatment and success rates:

asymptomatic, so conventionally not treated with anything.

frustration and confusion experienced by patient and practitioner upon inevitable relapses due to cysts.

Other Treatments and success rates:

Cyst form antibiotics (5-nitroimidazoles) are somewhat successful. Avoidance of cell wall inhibiting antibiotics (e.g. Rocephin) and use of a rife machine to kill spirochetes that emerge from cysts can be highly successful.

Information taken from Bryan Rosner’s book: The Top 10 Lyme Disease Treatments

Used with permission. www.lymebook.com

~Chapter 4~

Common Disorders Associated with Lyme

Because Lyme disease causes suppression of the Immune System, oftentimes opportunistic co-infections arise. Such infections set up the playground for autoimmune disorders which further devastate the body. Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system mistakenly thinks that an organ or tissue is a foreign invader and attacks it, thus the term autoimmune. Because of the similarity of symptoms, Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed or not recognized as the primary causative factor of such ailments.

Autism

It is estimated that 1 in every 150 children have or display signs of Autism, developmental disorder that affects the brain.1 It may begin at birth and is often diagnosed within the first two-and-a half years of life. Most children with this disorder appear physically normal; however they exhibit behavioral patterns different from the norm. These can range from communication difficulties, both verbal and non-verbal, to all aspects of social and recreational interactions.

Many connections have been made between Autism and its potential triggers, Heavy Metal Toxicity, Fungus-Yeast Candidiasis, and Lyme disease. Through research testing, clinicians also have discovered connections between Mothers with Lyme (active or non-active) and their Autistic children. One theory is that the infection may be transmitted invitro during early developmental stages and or passed on through the birth process. 2

Similarities between Lyme and Autism abound. Lyme disease can result in brain dysfunction (under conductivity of brain areas), defects in the gyrus and loss of purkinje cells in the cerebellum. (ibid)

In the late stages of Lyme disease, neurological, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms may predominate, many of which overlap symptoms often associated with Autism. These symptoms may include food avoidance, facial recognition problems, sleep disorders, light sensitivity, speech and language loss, noise sensitivity, bed wetting, aggression, panic attacks, chronic fatigue symptoms, headaches, movement disorders, sore throats and poor swallowing, hypofusion (poor blood flow particularly to