When I asked my LLMD whether I got lyme because my immune system was low, he said that there are cases where he could not explain contagion in that way, obviously meaning that there were people in good condition with good immune systems that got lyme anyway.
But I've heard people on this forum saying that not everyone gets lyme. Is there evidence that that is really the case? If so, does it depend on the person's immune system, how long the tick is attached, whether it is harder to transmit sexually rather than by insect bite, etc.?
Posted by lymenotlite (Member # 33166) on :
There are people, including a friend of mine, who says that not everyone who is exposed to lyme gets it. There are also people on this forum who say the same but I have never read anything that justifies this belief.
Makes me feel like I am guilty for not having a good enough immune system.
Anyone?
Posted by lymegal23 (Member # 28573) on :
This is a really good question and I would love to see the answers to this
I feel like it shouldnt really matter how strong someones immune system is. I mean lyme and co infections are such strong and toxic infections. I'd hafta believe ANYONE...good immune system or not. would end up becoming very sick from it eventually
Posted by Harmony (Member # 32424) on :
dunno
but I think my immune system is Grrreaaaat!!! and I got it - then again, I probably got bitten so many times it is not funny
I do think it is very strange, looking back, and looking around me, that some people are just out there "dumb and happy", as they say, in the deep grass, and they seem fine, no Lyme
how can this be?
I have the same question
and what if I get over this and then get bitten again
Dr. B says you get it worse the next time UNLESS you do the clean living, then you get it in a milder form - huh???!!
is he thinking that the immune system will be strong if you do the clean living... not sure what he means and why some people seem to walk through the lion's mouth, so to speak, without harm
Posted by erikjh1972 (Member # 20964) on :
the theory makes no sense to me, if your body "Fought" it which would mean your body effectively killed the lyme then i think we would have ourselves a cure. otherwise the toxins and bacteria would multiply so much over time your body couldnt possibly fight it all.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I see people who work outdoors and are bitten by ticks all the time and they never get sick. So I think that just because you are exposed, it doesn't mean you are going to get sick.
Posted by lymegal23 (Member # 28573) on :
^ I seriously wonder why that happens. There must be a reason behind it
My immune system has always been REALLY GOOD. Over the years I always made sure i took lots of vitamin c everyday, so I know my immune system was really good. I never got sick.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I never got sick either. I was always very healthy until I got LD.
Posted by Harmony (Member # 32424) on :
a lot of people also may have Lyme and not know it
even when I talk to some of them, I am more careful now since I ran into a few who had a lot of unexplained symptoms that could easily be Lyme
but they had a negative ELISA test and now refuse to consider Lyme, even after you tell them about the test reliability
they may be in denial, like: no, no my nerves go numb because I have skinny arms and I lean on my elbow, and my doc gives me something for the panic attacks, it's ok, my insomnia is due to my bad GI problems, it's not Lyme, bla bla bla