Hi. I don't know all the details on this (it's a friend of a friend thing -- you know how Lyme attracts Lyme questions), but the short version is:
Tick bite 2-3 months ago. Early flu-like symptoms. Intolerant of all antibiotics. Lives in Colorado.
What would you take or who would you see?
Thanks all.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
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I would still see an ILADS LLMD as it necessary to get a proper physical assessment and consideration of other tick-borne infections.
Your friend may not be so intolerant as perhaps have a liver condition that prevents tolerating of certain drugs.
The "intolerance" could also be a herx. Still, what matters is knowing WHAT is going on and how the LLMD would treat - and then figuring out if alternative methods can be used - or incorporated.
Most patients REQUIRE support supplements in order to handle antibiotics (abx).
It's important to read through the ILADS and Burrascano guidelines, even if pursuing other paths. Whatever, support supplement will never be enough if the infection is not tackled head-on, too.
" . . .To treat Lyme disease for a comparable number of life cycles, treatment would need to last 30 weeks. . . ."
. . .
". . . If all cases were detected and treated in the early stages of Lyme disease, the debate over the diagnosis and treatment of late-stage disease would not be an issue, and devastating rheumatologic, neurologic, and cardiac complications could be avoided. . ."
. . . .
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TESTING
You should also be evaluated for coinfections. Not all tests are great in that regard, either, but a good LLMD can evaluate you and then guide you in testing. One of the top labs is:
"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both. Some antibodies against the borrelia are given more significance if they are IgG versus IgM, or vice versa.
Since this is a chronic persistent infection, this does not make a lot of sense to me. A newly formed Borrelia burgdorferi should have the same antigen parts as the previous bacteria that produced it.
But anyway, from my clinical experience, these borrelia associated bands usually predict a clinical change in symptoms with antibiotics, regardless of whether they are IgG or IgM."
The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) provides a forum for health science professionals to share their wealth of knowledge regarding the management of Lyme and associated diseases.
This explains a lot about how the body works when fighting lyme. It has some very detailed accounts and suggestions.
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Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
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Your friend may also seek out an ILADS-member LL ND (naturopathic doctor). There are a few around. I think it is vital for the ND to be ILADS-educated so that they can adequately understand and address the unique and persistent nature of tick-borne infections.
Most NDs who are not ILADS educated are inclined to just try to "get the body stronger" and, while that is good, it falls way short.
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Find a local SUPPORT GROUP for help in finding a doctor, etc.