Chronic Lyme Disease: Myth or Reality? By Mehmet Oz, MD
Mehmet Oz, MD, host of The Dr. Oz Show, sorts out the truth. Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted by the bite of a deer tick, can cause a variety of flu-like symptoms--achy joints, fatigue, fever, headache. But chronic Lyme disease is a different beast. Experts can't agree on a case definition--or if the condition exists at all. What's clear is that some Lyme patients, even after taking the standard treatment of antibiotics, continue to suffer long-term and often serious health problems, including poor mental function, migratory joint pain, and sleep disturbances. Whether the condition is an autoimmune or nervous system response triggered by the now-eradicated infection (sometimes called post-Lyme disease syndrome), or a chronic case of the disease directly attributable to an ongoing infection depends on whom you ask--as does the treatment.
The Case for Diagnosing CLD
"There is absolutely no doubt chronic Lyme disease [CLD] exists," says Richard Horowitz, MD, president of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Educational Foundation. What's more, he adds, many of those who contract Lyme disease can also have tick-borne coinfections like babesiosis, caused by parasites, and their symptoms can easily be mistaken for those of other ailments such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. "Like syphilis, chronic Lyme disease is a great imitator," Horowitz notes. He has seen more than 11,000 patients whose CLD he has helped to pinpoint using his own broad differential diagnosis, which looks at all possible causes of symptoms. Along with specific treatments for any overlapping conditions, he often prescribes a combination of targeted antibiotics to beat the infection, and says he has seen dramatic recoveries.
The Case Against Diagnosing CLD
"There's simply no scientific evidence that these symptoms are caused by an ongoing infection of Lyme disease," says John Halperin, MD, chair of the department of neurosciences at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, and professor of neurology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. Halperin agrees that some Lyme disease patients can experience real, ongoing health issues. However, he says, "The best guess is that it has to do with how our nervous systems respond to different stressors. It's probably due to a fundamental neurobiological trait of some people." Halperin believes the way to treat the problem is symptomatically. That means everything from therapy for depression to surgery for severe arthritis--but not months of antibiotics, which can result in serious side effects, according to National Institutes of Health-funded studies.
Dr. Oz Says...
Let's get past the fundamental argument over whether this is a chronic condition or an autoimmune response by acknowledging that it could be both. Someday we might discover that ticks aren't giving people just a bacterial infection but also a virus or a hybrid bug. Patricia Gerbarg, MD, is the coauthor of How to Use Herbs, Nutrients, and Yoga in Mental Health Care as well as a former Lyme patient. What she found, and what I support, is that certain supplements strengthen the body's ability to repair itself from the long-term problems associated with CLD. Taking vitamin B12, coenzyme Q10, chromium, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, and herbs such as Rhodiola rosea can improve energy and help with cellular repair--all key in recovering from conditions that can be as resistant as Lyme disease.
Posted by ping (Member # 6974) on :
Lymeblue,
I appreciate you posting this small (very) article. It has once again re-confirmed my lack of trust of Dr. Oz and his superficial approach to Lyme and other serious illnesses. He's clearly a spokesman for the various supplements industry(s) and a few others; that will no doubt encourage the public at large to further buy into this crap. What a sad joke. Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
Hmmm..... Not happy with Dr. Oz's statment. While he admits that it could be both infectious and/or autoimmune and/or some unknown pathogen, I feel that the association he makes to mental health care being a big part of the solution is minimizing the horrible infectious nature of chronic lyme disease.
I've no doubt if he was ever unfortunate enough to experience the effects of chronic lyme disease, he would not be approaching it with Yoga for mental health and a few OTC supplements!
Terry
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
I like this part the best...
"There's simply no scientific evidence that these symptoms are caused by an ongoing infection of Lyme disease," says John Halperin, MD, chair of the department of neurosciences at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, and professor of neurology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine."
Here is some of his other nonsense... look at the correspondence section down below.
Thanks Blue for posting this. I got my laughs from the IDSA's funny line of the day.
Posted by massman (Member # 18116) on :
Dr. Oz does talk about supplements BUT he also owns many shares of a drug company.
I feel he is trying to cover his a$$ on all sides. Perhaps he will volunteer for some lyme + a few coinfections with no treatment for 10 or 20 years.
Then he can get back to us.
Posted by Shosty (Member # 12232) on :
The "Yoga for Mental Health" was not Dr. Oz' phrase but was from the title of the book he cites, written by a former Lyme patient.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I think he has down played the seriousness of Lyme Disease. He is more interested in his TV personality and "money".
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
Thanks for clarifying Shosty. Still, the fact that he chooses a book that has yoga for mental health in it's title is disturbing.
Perhaps I'm a bit gun shy but it reminds me of the attitude that so many of us hear from uninformed doctors. If we just relaxed, had more sex, ate less, got out of the house more often ect. ect. we would be fine.
Terry
Posted by bigstan (Member # 11699) on :
Read this several months ago. I thought this was an update. No same crap...Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla!
Can't stand this guy, or his big boss Oprah! Can't wait to she is off the air. Just my opinion.
[ 12-02-2009, 05:55 PM: Message edited by: bigstan ]
Posted by johnnywv (Member # 23012) on :
sounds like a politician...not a doctor
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
"...it could be both." There's a real bold answer Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
I guess he does not want to upset the apple cart. I wish these doctors who do not believe in DLD would become test subjects and be infected and treated with a couple of weeks of doxy.
Posted by GuitarMan (Member # 5560) on :
Well one thing that I do have to say about him... I was listening to an interview, he had with the people that did the documentary movie, "Under Our Skin"... he didn't completely discount the possibility of there being a condition of known as chronic lyme disease. he just seemed to me to approach it with skepticism and a bit on the fence. that is only natural of a doctor I suppose, seeing that there is a lot of ambiguity surrounding lyme disease.
Posted by ping (Member # 6974) on :
I don't wish this or any other disease on anyone, I really don't, however, I still maintain and take rest in my motto / mantra of the last few years - "Everyone is going to get their turn".
This doesn't mean that Dr. Oz is going to have a go with it, but keep in mind, this man has children, nieces, nephews, etc. and will one day have grandchildren. At the rate TBD's are spreading, virtually everyone will be impacted in some form or another. I think it would be harder to watch your child suffer with this disease (the fastest growing segment of new infections) than to fight it oneself; ask any mother or father on the board...
I know this seems little consolation and it doesn't mean that we should not keep pushing, but I tell you, it's true. All a person can really do is present the pearls and go and know that others will remember where to find help when the time comes. Those who are my age might or might not live long enough to see these illnesses gain the recognition and open medical tx's they deserve, but there's a strange sort of solace in advancing toward the end of life and knowing that indeed, "Nobody gets out of life alive" and "Everyone will get their turn".
Done with the old-timer's philsophy lesson for today. Have a great weekend!
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