Is there any data linking Lyme disease to IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)? I am a M over 50, and it is unusual for someone my age to come down with IBS. I have tried elimination diets with some success to address food intolerances, and I found a post on another site that mentioned the Lyme bacterium can cause leaky gut syndrome, which can lead to food intolerances. Besides being told I have IBS, I have suffered from insomnia, mild anxiety, back pain (although MRI shows herniated discs), tingling in my right foot, and joint pain. My dog was recently diagnosed with Lyme disease. While my symptoms aren't nearly as severe as others have, I am wondering if I should get tested for Lyme disease. Thanks!
Posted by JamesNYC (Member # 15793) on :
Hey Open,
Welcome to Lymenet.
You have familiar symptoms. If you want to look into it, you should see a LLMD (Lyme Literate MD) as most Drs are not expert in lyme.
(Other members will be along shortly to give you much more info)
As for IBS: Yes there is. You should do a search, you'll find other threads on this.
IBS and Crohn's etc are a result of a faulty immune response. Since Lyme can cause a faulty or weak immune response you are pretty much open to most any other autoimmune type condition as long as this faulty immune function exists. You will see many random autoimmune conditions here, that did not exist prior to Lyme diagnosis.
You can get these conditions without Lyme also, but as a result of a different mechanism other than Borellia bacteria.
Arthritis is also an autoimmune condition.
Low Dose Naltrexone can be used for all of your conditions. I use it for Crohn's Disease.
I would see a reputable Lyme doctor. Do not bother with an average doctor. They do more harm than anything.
Dan
Posted by gwb (Member # 7273) on :
quote:Originally posted by D Bergy: Low Dose Naltrexone can be used for all of your conditions. I use it for Crohn's Disease.
Dan
Dan, what does Naltrexone do to help you with Crohn's disease? How does it work and what kind of relief do you get from it? Will it work the same for IBS sufferers like myself?
You said that "Naltrexone can be used for all of your conditions". Could you explain a little more about this drug and what conditions it helps and how?
Did your LLMD prescribe it for you?
Gary
Posted by openminded (Member # 23054) on :
Thanks for the replies.
After reading more info on this site, I am going to get tested for Lyme.
Posted by D Bergy (Member # 9984) on :
Low Dose Naltrexone can be used for almost any auto immune condition.
It tricks the body into producing a more effective immune response, and that is about it.
All autoimmune conditions have the same characteristic which is an improper or ineffective immune response. LDN corrects this problem to a large degree. Your body can correct many of the symptoms, once the immune system is working more normally.
I do not have Lyme, so i use it strictly for Crohn's. I had to find a doctor that would prescribe it for my condition.
My Gastroenterologist would not prescribe it, as his experience was strictly with immune suppressants, which are standard Crohn's Drugs. I was not going to go down that road.
My GI doctor is very traditional and I doubt he will prescribe that either. I do go to an old fashioned alternative doctor, but not sure he will be open to this either. Guess I'll just have to keep knocking on doors until I find a doctor who will prescribe it for me.
Does Naltrexone reduce your Crohn's pain significantly? By the way, how is your wife doing with her stomach issues lately? Sure hope she's feeling better.
Gary
Posted by D Bergy (Member # 9984) on :
She is getting over the Flu, which was minimal since I treated her for it. She is doing well, the stomach problem comes and goes, but has been good the last couple of days.
I never had much pain from Crohn's. That is not typical but i am glad for that part of it. I really have no significant problems from it. I treat it using various methods, and they all seem to help.
I am now attempting to kill a possible XMRV virus to see if it is responsible for the disease. I have come to no conclusions on this yet. It will likely be years before I can. Crohn's symptoms can come and go, and I have to stop taking my LDN to prove it is gone. I will wait until I get a base line colonoscopy to have a comparison for later on.
Dan
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
GI symptoms have always been one of my major Lyme symptoms. I'm glad you're going to be tested ... be sure it's a Western Blot, preferably from IGeneX.
Fermented foods have helped my gut, tons! Raw sauerkraut, kefir, and kombucha one with about every meal.