I am reading some verrryyy interesting and hidden information about the fact that MS tends to burn itself out after about 25 years of onset, Meniere's does the same after about 8 to 10 years... Both diseases are considered autoimmune, causing nerve damage and permanent loss of function... So what is the difference with lyme? Is lyme causes nerve damage and all of those with MS r Meneire's test potive for lyme, could we say the same for LD then?....
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
as far as i know, and i may be wrong, lyme will not do this. it's caused by a tick, so therefore, not lyme ms or meniere.
Posted by 5vforest (Member # 29365) on :
"So what is the difference with lyme?"
Lyme is not an autoimmune disease.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
3+ years and it's going nowhere for me. I don't ever see whatever I have going away on its own.
Posted by RubyJ (Member # 28711) on :
I've had it for about 23 years. Hasn't burnt out on it's own yet. I wish it would - that would save me a lot of pain and $$$$$$$.
Posted by onbam (Member # 23758) on :
Lyme is an infection that can mimic and, in some cases, cause autoimmunity. It won't "burn itself out."
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
i know, but in case for MS for example , it takes 25 years... I am not saying burning itself out means cured but it kind of does the damage it has to do and then leaves you the way you are... but that means no more progression, only permanent damage.... Which is a very interesting point because maybe during those 25 years , it was your immune system trying to keep you alive as long as possible but as we age the immune system becomes weaker....I am just trying to figure out how many processes are going on in our bodies at the sam e time id est: diease/immune system/inflammation.... all of this caused by different cells in our bodies and that's probably why everyone of us here is always confused about what causes what, some say oh my sx are from lyme, otehrs from bartonella, others from babesia... but hey, we are so confused that we keep repeating that sx overlap... Well for me this is NOT an answer, symptoms overlap not because of similar sx caused by different infections but because of different infections causing the same immune response... Obviously there is an "auto immune" component to lyme, that's what causes ongoing inflammation and that's also why steroids are so bad as they weaken the immune system....
Posted by 5vforest (Member # 29365) on :
"Auto immune" means your immune system is attacking your own cells. That is not what is happening with Lyme disease.
If you want an idea of what Lyme can do if it's left untreated for a long time, think about its close cousin Syphilis. Bacteria don't just give up and stop reproducing.
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
I do not believe there is any auto immune disease, this simply does not exist.. as you know if it was that simple immune suppressants would be enough to correct the problem, well they are NOT... so obviously the auto immune scheme is just a in every case, there is an underlying and undefined cause to auto immune conditions... but again, auto immune conditions burn themselves out after decades... leaving the body damaged.... just like untreated lyme...
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
NO WAY
Posted by Dawn in VA (Member # 9693) on :
I think due to the fact that Bb can morph into the cystic form- and remain hidden from our immune systems as such for who the heck knows how long- then pop in and out of the active form at will, well...
It's so darn resilient in that sense. Different from other autoimmune/genetic stuff in that there is indeed persistent infection. Maybe when one's immune system is super strong, but otherwise I'm not so sure.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
It can go DORMANT, but that is an entirely different thing than "burn itself out." It WILL return.
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
Shahbah, As an acive infection with borrelia Burgdorferi is essentailly an invasion of the human body by a mobile parasitic bacteria that has evolved to [partially] evade the human immune system, it won't "burn itself out" any more than a case of tuberculosis will go away on its own.
An auto-immune disorder it is not.
It may CAUSE some auto-immune issues, but that's a whole different story.... ;-)
Posted by chiquita incognita (Member # 30381) on :
Shabah, I am quite sure that you do not mean it this way, so please don't misunderstand me here. I am not saying this was your intention, but am only making a point:
At that rate, we might as well not treat it, eh?
Sure convenient for some powers that be that would just love it.
And what about the patients in the meantime? Oy.
Let's not even put such things in print, please. Don't give them any "wise" ideas.
Again it's not intentional and we all know and understand that. You are asking a smart question.
Just the same, we have to remember that there are people who would just love to grab onto certain ideas and we can't be feeding them right into their very mouths. In print.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
I don't ever see whatever I have going away on its own.