i really think im expericing sjogren's syndrome (dry skin, dry eyes, dry nose, dry mouth etc...) now after at least 4 years of having undiagnosed lyme and was just reading a number of old posts and had a couple questions.
When secondary syndromes develop because of lyme - from what you have all read or gone through yourselves - do they also seem to fade after treating the lyme and/or co-infection that caused it or is the damage already done making it a totally separate issue now?
This is say if someone actually developed a positive ANA/RF test confirming the additonal condition and not just only having a positive Lyme Disease test that seems to mimic this.
Like I have read a lot about secondary autoimmune conditions - like lupus, sjogrens etc... but haven't found any real info about my concern above.
I haven't gotten a positive ANA or RF but was just wondering as a general point of interest.
Thanks, Matt
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
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Yes, secondary syndromes or conditions such as those you mention often become history when lyme,TBD (tick-borne diseases), or other stealth infections are adequately treated.
If fact, many TBD patients are frequently misdiagnosed with Sjorgen's (I was) and Lupus (I was).
I had many abnormal ANAs but also normal ones in the past couple of years, although I am far from normal and have floundered with treatment for various reasons.
If you have dry eyes, be sure to keep them lubricated with a preservative free drop (but be sure it has not passed the expiration date - and NEVER use Visine or drops that "take the red out").
Do you have a good doctor - a LLMD?
Those vitamin D numbers are interesting. I don't know what it means when one is high and one is low, but I hope you are getting expert advice about that.
I think you will find this book very interesting in light of your questions.
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This book, by an ILADS member LLMD, has a lot of good information:
- by Kenneth B. Singleton , MD; James A. Duke. Ph.D. (Foreword)
You can read more about it and see customer reviews.
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Posted by sans0002 (Member # 16409) on :
hey keebler,
i have my first LLMD appt on october 3rd and it is Dr. B in Toronto and i have heard great things about him so i'm very excited to go and see him as i'm still not on any sort of treatment for the time being.
ya the vitamin D levels are interesting lol ... actually i got called back into my family physicians office yesterday to have that test redone through a different lab just to make sure that it was not a lab error - do ill know in another couple weeks if it was or not