Topic: transfer of lyme of lyme to significant other??
janice victorov
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22937
posted
Anyone know of any cases of lyme being transferred to ones significant other??? Just curious.
-------------------- jkv44 Posts: 1247 | From virginia | Registered: Oct 2009
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sutherngrl
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Member # 16270
posted
This has not been scientifically proven, but many feel that it is very possible.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
My LLMD says that he sees cases of this all the time and advises all of his patients to use protection. I really wouldn't doubt it, it makes sense.
-------------------- Never, Never, Never give up! Posts: 395 | From Connecticut | Registered: Nov 2008
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sutherngrl
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Member # 16270
posted
Well my hubby has started showing some signs such as achiness and fatigue, not severe, but noticable. He is getting older and wonders if that is causing these symptoms. I also notice that he has brain fog, not old enough for that.
The possiblities are one or the other of us transferred it to the other; or its just that we go to the same places and maybe were bitten by infected ticks separatly. The second possibility is just as likely; but in my opinion how can we really know.
Either way it is a serious issue. If not sexually transmitted, then there sure are a lot of infected ticks running around bitting all of us.
My husband is not ready to jump on the Lyme bandwagon, but does want to get tested in May when I go back to LLMD..... if he still has these symptoms. I think he just isn't ready to go there, or possibly a little denial. But he is giving it some thought.
I don't believe that "everything" is LD, but his symptoms do make me wonder and I am concerned about him.
This is the first I have talked about his symptoms. I do not want newbies to think that it is definetly sexually transmitted since it hasn't been proven and many here have LD and their significant other does not.
More studies need to be done; but you know how that goes.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
a spirokete is a spirokete if you can pass syphillius on to a mate why not lyme !
im sure one of the bakers dozen knows for sure that it can be passed, but they are probably holding on to a patent or a licsense so until there is a profit in it for them they will not say for sure !
Posts: 294 | From sw chicago suburbs | Registered: Apr 2007
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djf2005
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11449
posted
My wife has + testing after being w/ me.
I have had lyme very symptomatic for 3 yrs and was most likely born w/ it. (congenital)
My whole family has it so yes, it is easily passed IMO. It displays different symptoms in family members and some do not get sick so there's no across the board rule for it.
But in short, yes, it can be passed, and easily.
Any bodily fluid can carry spirochetes.
Best
Derek
-------------------- "Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."
sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
Just trying to keep an open mind here, because I can definetly see how lyme could be passed to a partner.
But my question is...... if it so readily shows up in bodily fluids, then it shouldn't be so very hard to test us for Lyme. If it can be passed so easily because it is in bodily fluids, then why don't they test our bodily fluids and find the spirochetes?
This is the only reason I question the passing of lyme sexually. Or should I say, why I keep an open mind about it.
I just wish they would get it all figured out for us.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
I personally don't think it can be transmitted from kissing.
Do a google search of "lyme found in semen" and there are several links there that say yes it has been found in semen. I don't know how reliable any of them are though.
I have lyme and hubby has "untreated" lyme. We haven't been using protection and I've been wondering lately if that could be why I'm still sick after 5 years of treatment. I think it could play a part anyway.
He could be reinfecting me. I haven't told him yet but from now on we will be using protection.
My daughter has lyme also and they don't use protection either. Her hubby is showing some symptoms.
It does make me wonder if some that doesn't remember a tick bite or rash if they could have gotten it from a partner.
Maybe one of these days they will do more research and figure all this out.
Sapphire
Posts: 495 | From KY USA | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
I hope not hopeful! I'm very confident that my husband gave it to me sexually.
If it is passed through bodily fluids, how can any of us ever have any fun!!! This sucks!
-------------------- abbyjo Posts: 253 | From Southern CA. | Registered: Jun 2008
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
Well its in the back of my mind that my husband passed it to me, even though I have been ill for 3 and 1/2 years and he is just now having some symptoms.
He is the one that spent time in the woods, pulled ticks off of him, not me. And the fact that so many of us don't remember a tick bite. Not that, that is proof we didn't have one. It just makes me wonder.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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nenet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13174
posted
(Edited: mis-typed. all fixed now, I hope)
There is a urine antigen test for Lyme. I think the problem with fluid testing is that, like with blood, you are going to get a high number of false negatives.
In other words, there might be too few pieces of spirochetes, or whole bacteria, in the fluid sample to have a successful PCR result every time, and so a high failure rate for that kind of sample test.
But in real-world situations where fluid is transferred, there may be enough viable bacteria to pass on infection.
I hope that makes sense.
Also, there are published case studies of semen, breast milk, and other fluids being positive for Lyme. I forget at the moment if any full research studies have been done.
This subject has been posted about so many times here - a search would bring up some helpful links. I know others have posted studies on this before.
edited for multiple typos. Guess I need to take a break hehe!
posted
nenet, how do you figure you're going to get false positives? Did you mean false negatives?
I've read reports that indicate very good testing of *spiked* urine, but very low positive urine test for people with active lyme infections. That sounds reasonable to me - it takes quite a while before lyme migrates to the bladder, so recent infections aren't going to produce spirochetes in the urine.
That would explain false *negatives*.
I can't comprehend how one would get a false positive in a urine test that's looking for the spirochetes - or pieces thereof. If you find the bacteria in the urine how could you not be infected?
Posts: 98 | From Maine | Registered: Jul 2009
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nenet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13174
posted
Yikes! Sorry I mis-typed, I meant false negatives!
I knew I was not up to snuff enough to post today. oops. I'll go back and edit it.
GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
posted
Yes, I definitely shared my tickbite (huge bull's eye) with my husband. No doubt about it. All science points toward it. The person on the receiving end may not become ill if he has a competent immune system, healthy dental mouth, etc. About saliva? Ever had a bleeding gum when brushing a bit harder? Am not so sure that kissing doesn't transfer it also. As far as my doctor, Dr.K., is concerned, it is transmittable with body fluids.
Don't wait - treat!!!!!
Take care.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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ping
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6974
posted
quote:Originally posted by sutherngrl: Well its in the back of my mind that my husband passed it to me, even though I have been ill for 3 and 1/2 years and he is just now having some symptoms.
He is the one that spent time in the woods, pulled ticks off of him, not me. And the fact that so many of us don't remember a tick bite. Not that, that is proof we didn't have one. It just makes me wonder.
Hi sutherngrl - There are a number of possibilities / variables that could be at work here. I most definitely believe that Borrelia sp. is sexually transmissible. Remember in the film UOS toward the end when Mandy pointed out that her husband was being impacted? Remember his response? Look at it again and extrapolate from there. No offense meant to our male posters, but most often, this is variable #1 - Denial.
Variable #2 - Sort of goes along with denial, but many men are taught, or by nature don't talk about what they perceive are minor maladies; as stated, it's thought of as a part of getting older. And keep in mind, there are usually a lot of little things going on with a person before the infection(s) present in a major way and the person is near disabled by the time they realize that something more is happening to them. Meanwhile, the man (or woman) has spread the infection to their sexual partners, not knowing they are infected. Women seem far more likely to recognize small changes / differences in their bodies and seek answers in a timely manner.
Variable #3 - And I know numerous men that have this one... Their wife has Lyme/Co's and are undergoing tx and the man flatly refuses to have anything to do with it. Could be because he's sick of dealing with it, or afraid of suffering the prolonged pain he's watched his wife/Sig Other go through...So many variables.
Didn't mean to be so long-winded, but just wanted to state that not only is it a possibility, but several LLMD's have done studies and the results are overwhelmingly in favor of sexual transmissibility. One of those docs was a Houston LLMD who published back in 2004. Will try to find the article for you....
-------------------- ping "We are more than containers for Lyme" Posts: 1302 | From Back in TX again | Registered: Mar 2005
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
Well I guess I have tried to put these thoughts out of my mind. Its really the last thing I want to imagine right now.
My LLMD said it wasn't scientifically proven but didn't get into a deeper discussion on what he actually thinks regarding this. I didn't ask either because at the time my husband didn't mention his symptoms to me or maybe he didn't even have them then. It was only recently that he has started bringing up the achiness and fatigue that he relates to "getting older".
Ping you are right about most men. They don't discuss their ailments like women do and they don't address them as urgently either.
Anyway, it pays to be safe, since the possibility of sexual transmission is there.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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RZR
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Member # 20953
posted
When lyme goes into remission, is protection still needed?
-------------------- Tick bite May 2009 Diagnosed June 2009 Posts: 2329 | From SouthEast | Registered: Jun 2009
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posted
I asked Dr. C about this as he has had a ton of patients in and out of his door since working with lyme in the late 80's. He said about 1 out of every 100 of his patients have had partners also come down with lyme. You also have to consider I have heard patients that say they have got bitten in bed by a tick that was brought in by their spouse. I personally think some people thru good genetics or strong immune system don't develope lyme.
Posts: 805 | From Utopia | Registered: Feb 2006
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