Thirteen Lyme-literate health care practitioners reveal their treatment strategies for chronic Lyme disease in new book.
Denver, Colorado--August 31, 2009. A new book, "Insights Into Lyme Disease Treatment: Thirteen Lyme-Literate Health Care Practitioners Share Their Healing Strategies," provides people with Lyme disease and their physicians with current, cutting-edge information on the treatment of chronic Lyme disease and the corollary conditions that it causes.
It is a comprehensive resource, written from the perspective of thirteen Lyme disease experts, including eight Lyme-literate medical doctors (MD's), two naturopathic doctors (ND's), a ``heilpraktiker'' (or healing practitioner, as the German title translates into English) and one chiropractor and nutritionist. The training and education of the experts encompasses a broad range of disciplines, but most use a combination of allopathic, naturopathic, complementary and alternative medicine in their practices. Whatever their background, however, all are experienced in treating chronic Lyme disease.
The book includes each practitioner's anti-microbial and detoxification protocols, as well as their recommended supportive treatments for the body. It also provides their perspectives on the challenges and roadblocks to healing.
According to the CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lyme disease is the fastest-growing infectious disease in the US, with more than 20,000 new cases reported each year. The CDC estimates, however, that only one in ten cases is reported, which means that there could be at least 200,000 new cases each year, and perhaps even many more than that.
Lyme disease can be treated successfully with antibiotics when - and if - it is caught early, while the Lyme spirochetes are still in the patient's bloodstream and can be reached by antibiotics. If the disease goes undiagnosed, the spirochetes, (which are related to those that cause syphilis), can infiltrate the non-blood areas of the body, such as the nervous system, brain, heart, joints, and cartilage. The disease then becomes a multi-symptom, multi-system illness that wreaks havoc upon nearly all of the person's tissues and organs.
Once this happens, Lyme disease becomes chronic and difficult to diagnose. It may masquerade as a variety of other illnesses. Many physicians do not know how to effectively treat it. It devastates nearly every aspect of a person's existence. ILADS, the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, estimates that most chronic Lyme disease sufferers experience a level of disability equivalent to that of a person who has suffered from a recent heart attack. As chronicled in the recently released documentary, "Under Our Skin: There's No Medicine For Someone Like You," those with chronic Lyme experience so much neurological and cognitive dysfunction that they end up losing their jobs, homes, mobility, and, in some cases, their lives.
For those who have been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease or who haven't received adequate treatment help through the means that have been available to them, Insights Into Lyme Disease Treatment provides a comprehensive variety of effective, in-depth solutions. For the practitioner, it provides cutting-edge information on treatments that has not been published elsewhere. &nb sp; The information in this book was obtained through interviews with the following thirteen health care practitioners:
Steve XXXXXX, MD Steven XXXXX, MD Susan XXXXXX, ND, MS Ginger XXXXXX, DNP Lee XXXXXX, MD, MD (H) Ingo XXXXXX, MD Ronald XXXXXXX MD Deborah XXXXXX MD, PhD Pete XXXXXXX, MD, MBA Nicola XXXXXXXX, ND Marlene XXXXXX, ``Heilpraktiker'' (Healing Practitioner, Germany) Elizabeth XXXXX-XXXX, DC, CCN Jeffrey XXXXXXXXX, MD
These practitioners were chosen on the basis of their expertise and experience in treating chronic Lyme disease. After the interviews, Ms. Strasheim wrote the book's chapters, collaborating with the practitioners in the editing process, to make sure that all of the information from the interviews was accurately represented. Each chapter is devoted to the treatment approach of a particular practitioner, and covers, to a greater or lesser degree, the following:
1) Anti-microbial treatments for Lyme disease and associated infections, including antibiotics, herbs, homeopathic remedies, plant stem cells and biophotons
2) Information on how to support the body's systems, which is an integral component to healing from chronic Lyme disease. Particular attention is given to the immune, endocrine, neurological, digestive and musculoskeletal systems
3) Treatments for symptom atic relief. Solutions for fatigue, pain, brain fog, depression, anxiety and insomnia are offered, as well as others
4) Detoxifying Lyme biotoxins, mold, candida, heavy metals and other environmental toxins
5) Treating food and environmental allergies
6) Lifestyle and dietary recommendations for faster healing
7) Strategies for healing emotional trauma
8) Patient and practitioner challenges to healing
9) Factors that influence healing
10) Suggestions for how family and friends can help the sick
11) Which anti-microbial treatments work and which don't
12) How to discern whether Lyme disease is primary in patients' overall symptom picture
The Author
"Insights Into Lyme Disease Treatment" was written by Connie Strasheim, a Lyme disease sufferer and health care researcher. She is the author of "The Lyme Disease Survival Guide: Physical, Lifestyle and Emotional Strategies for Healing," a book that describes Lyme disease treatment strategies, as well as practical solutions for coping with the difficulties of chronic illness. Ms. Strasheim wrote "Insights Into Lyme Disease Treatment" when she realized that more information on how to treat c hronic Lyme was sorely needed from the experts who treat Lyme patients. Prior to becoming ill from chronic Lyme disease, Ms. Strasheim worked as a Spanish instructor, medical interpreter and flight attendant. Ms. Strasheim lives in Denver, Colorado and is available for phone, on-line, and in-person interviews. She can be reached at: 303-949-3347, or via email at: [email protected].
09/14/2009 > Edited the above links ... they work now - Lou B
[ 09-14-2009, 12:38 AM: Message edited by: Lou B ]
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
This sounds fabulous! Thanks so much for posting, Jay! Seems like a good way to collect a lot of opinions/experiences, in one place.
Good to see you here.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
jay, thanks for the update! if you get a chance, would you use SEARCH at the top of LYME BOOKS posts .... it's a compiled post on the many lyme books there are.... thanks so much jay! xoxox
Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :
Holy Cow...that sounds fantastic!!!
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
Thank you for posting this.
When I clicked on the 2 links listed under "availability", one page was not found and the blog page was from June and I didn't see the book info.
I appreciate knowing about this book!
Posted by Dawn in VA (Member # 9693) on :
There's a little "Buy It Now" button near the top left of the screen.
I couldn't get the other 2 links to work, either.
Edited to add: this link looks the same as one of the previous; don't know this one worked and the other didn't.
[ 08-29-2009, 01:25 PM: Message edited by: Dawn in VA ]
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
Thanks Dawn
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
Connie's new book is really good!
Posted by dan67 (Member # 20344) on :
I can't get the website to work...
Posted by ChuckG (Member # 19093) on :
The two links didn't work because the first ended with a period and the second ended with a comma. Neither of which was part of the valid URL in each case.
Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
Hi All--
I just copied and sent the info sent to me by my LLMD--I did not try the links before I posted it-
I have been Very buzzy getting my work shop ready for new equipment i have purchased--
Running Heavy cable threw conduit by myself is perty hard to do but I am close to being finished --I am Sure the book will be Great- --Jay--
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
hi jay,
as another member posted above, please edit your 1st post by removing the COMMA and the PERIOD after each of the 2 links you showed, and folks can go directly to the sites you provided. thx my friend. hugs
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
It looks like the book will be available at Amazon.com as well, just not yet. If you want the full names of the physicians discussed in the book, check out Amazon.
Posted by dan67 (Member # 20344) on :
Jay, Thank you so much for posting this. I am ordering this book right now.
Happy to hear you are capable of doing such hard work!
Luvs
Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
up-
Posted by lightparfait (Member # 22022) on :
Did Connie do the bionic 880 treatment in Germany?
Posted by dan67 (Member # 20344) on :
If you do a google search specific to connie's blog and using keyword bionic, you get 21 results, some of them talk about connia's trip to Germany and her use of the bionic.
Bea Seibert
Posted by Amanda (Member # 14107) on :
I have to say, I saw two of the practioners on this book list.
I spent a lot of money on their protocols, which did not help me feel better, did not help me get better, interfered with my abx, and in fact a few things made me worse.
Not for me this herb and detox stuff, that's for sure....
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
I just got mine in the mail. Looks good. I've only read the first few pages though because it just came.
I'm sorry that happened to you Amanda. My experience with detox is that you usually do feel sicker if it is effective. You will reap the rewards if you stick with it - that is unless you are feeling worse for a reason other than mobilizing and removing toxins.
Typically if the supplement/herb whatever is used to kill bugs or remove toxins, I feel worse initially and sometimes for awhile but usually come out feeling much better.
You've been so vocal about your lack of success with supplements/herbs, just wondering if you tolerate abx well?
Terry
Posted by Healing in Santa Cruz (Member # 7798) on :
Anyone that has read it,is Pyroluria talked about? Thanks Joyce
Posted by dan67 (Member # 20344) on :
Pyroluria occurs 2 times in the book's index. Got my copy in the mail.
Posted by Amanda (Member # 14107) on :
Hi Terry
It is amazing how well I have tolerated abx and other meds. I did have problems with flagyl and rifampin, but I take two other oral abx, bicillin shots and mepron with very few side effects.
It turned out that I don't absorb abx well when I take detox herbs, which in turn causes me to get worse. I trying to take any herbs and supplements and in 5 weeks had a big jump in my immune system, finally have started herxing on a regular basis etc...
I know herbs and supplements and other alernative therapies have helped some poeple here.
I just want people to realize that these alternative therapies don't work for everyone, and in fact may hinder your progress.
If you are taking a lot of herbs/vitamins with your meds and not making progress after a year, it might be a good idea to stop your herbs/supplements and see what happens.
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
I'll probably get a copy, but someone is making money off us lymies Posted by aiden424 (Member # 7633) on :
I got the book a couple days a go from amazon.com. Haven't had time to read much of it yet.
Kathy
Posted by Looking (Member # 13600) on :
Some research has shown that green tea actually is beneficial to drink with antibiotics & can make some drug-resistant bacteria susceptible to antibiotics.
There may be other herbs that have the same actions as well. Maybe future research will determine this.
There have been several posters here that have been forced to stop antibiotics due to the damage to their stomachs so they can no longer tolerate abx.
I appreciate everyone sharing their different experiences, but we all have to find what works for us, usually by trial & error unfortunately. Due to varying factors in our bodies we can't expect to have the same success or lack of success as the next guy with a particular program.
This book sounds like it will present several different points of view --- always good to know what those actually treating lyme have experienced.
If we buy this or any book by clicking on the amazon.com logo at the top left of this page, we will help support lymenet.
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Excerpt: Pharmacy researchers have shown that drinking green tea helps the action of important antibiotics in their fight against resistant superbugs, making them up to three times more effective.
Green tea is a very common beverage in Egypt, and it is quite likely that patients will drink green tea while taking antibiotics. The medical researchers wanted to find out if green tea would interfere with the action of the antibiotics, have no effect, or increase the medicines' effects.
"We tested green tea in combination with antibiotics against 28 disease causing micro-organisms belonging to two different classes," says Dr Mervat Kassem from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Alexandria University in Egypt.
" In every single case green tea enhanced the bacteria-killing activity of the antibiotics. For example the killing effect of chloramphenicol was 99.99% better when taken with green tea than when taken on its own in some circumstances."
Green tea also made 20% of drug-resistant bacteria susceptible to one of the cephalosporin antibiotics. These are important antibiotics that new drug resistant strains of bacteria have evolved to resist.
I just ordered some green tea from iherb. I love it when good stuff for Lyme comes in tea form, it means I can actually enjoy taking my supplements! So often good tasting stuff like tea or drinks are bad for us and we have to avoid them. I also take Nettles tea in spring for allergies.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
Hey Amanda, Glad you are herxing and getting better.
I guess I don't understand how you can tell that herbs caused you to not absorb abx. How can you tell if feeling worse is due to herxing or the illness progressing?
Anyway, I trust that you are satisfied with your decision and that's all that matters.
Lots of valuable info on detox and herbs and supplements in the book. Some interesting looking info on plant stem cells. So far, with just a cursory look, I haven't seen one of the LLMD's that are not recommending some supplements/herbs.
Terry
Posted by aiden424 (Member # 7633) on :
Just finished reading it. Very good book!! Would highly recommend it.
Kathy
Posted by lightparfait (Member # 22022) on :
Anything new recommended that has not been discussed here on lymenet?
Posted by aiden424 (Member # 7633) on :
I have no idea. I'm not sure what's all been dicussed here. I don't read every post, I only read a few posts each day. I thought the book had some really good information in it.
Kathy
Posted by peto (Member # 14092) on :
I have been seeing one of the doctors featured in this book for over 1 1/2 years. My treatment has and continues to be antibiotics for lyme and coinfections. Some supplements have been recommended, but most I was already taking. Never have I been pressured to take anything.
Interesting that he has never mentioned this book to me, so I don't think it is about the money-at least for him.
Bottom line: i trust my doctor because I am getting better.
Tina
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
up
Posted by dan67 (Member # 20344) on :
Any other reviews on this read now that a few more days have passed?
Posted by knobs (Member # 21928) on :
Peto - My LLMD wrote the forward for this book and, surprisingly, she didn't mention the book to me either.
Still waiting for my copy in the mai--3 weeks!
[ 09-15-2009, 05:46 PM: Message edited by: knobs ]
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
knobs - I liked what your doctor wrote. She seems like a great doctor.
Terry
Posted by Littlesprout (Member # 7406) on :
I just read this book, very good and helpful. I would highly recommend it.
I don't need to read more books about the Lyme suffering (know it to well) or the political fight which I have been hearing for yrs and yrs
This is something I could sink my teeth into!
Posted by ukcarry (Member # 18147) on :
It doesn't go into dosages etc, but still contains plenty of interesting viewpoints or info.
Posted by dan67 (Member # 20344) on :
what do the docs think of the buhner protocol?
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
Fantastic book. Well worth the money and I would definitely recommend it. I'm amazed that each of these doctors found the time to participate in the project. Very good stuff.
Posted by knobs (Member # 21928) on :
TerryK-She is very good. I can email her anytime and she gets back to me by the following morning. She had lyme herself.
Posted by Care26 (Member # 22284) on :
I am halfway through and really enjoying the book. Various philosophies on treating Lyme are presented. I don't think it will change much for my husband's treatment but it is a good read.
If I had to do it over, I would buy it again.
Ps. Bought my copy through lyme.net/ amazon. It came quickly!
Posted by dan67 (Member # 20344) on :
Just spent the last hour reading many pages of this book with the "Search Inside the Book" feature on Amazon.
Looks like I will need to find the $'s in my budget to order a copy.
Not sure there is anything really new or earthshattering in the book, but it gives very good summary lists of various herbs and antibiotics that each doc uses in their own practices. For example -- lists of herbs for liver support or immune support or to treat bartonella etc.
Also many docs give lists of opportunisitic infections they test for.
The book does not get into dosing of meds but at least a couple of docs think lower doses of antibiotics may be required when herbs are added to the treatment plan. Many of the docs seem to do what I have done with hubby -- they combine herbs from Buhner, Zhang and the Nutramedix products etc rather than just following one protocol.
If someone is stuck and needs ideas for what else to try then I think this book might offer some options.
Bea Seibert
Posted by Jane S (Member # 22586) on :
Yes this is a good book, I have purchased and read it. Lots of different ways to treat lyme beyond the high dose abx. Various LLMD discuss how they evaluate the patient and then provide a course of treatment based on the symtoms and testing if applicable.
I personally liked the book, also if you think you would fit one of the DR type of treatment they give you their contact information. They also urge you not to use some of their suggested treatment with out being under the care of a DR.
YOu could possibly use the information that any DR provides in this book and take to your LLMD to inquire if it may be right for you to try thru you LLMD.
I thought the book was good in that regard.
Posted by Topaz (Member # 20216) on :
One of the docs is my llmd as well.
I'm definitely going to pick up the book.
Number one, I'd love to hear about different treatment approaches and why.
Number two, because my llmd is a man of few words and it'd be nice for a change to hear what he has to say...heh.
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