I have diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, fibromyalgia and sjogrens disease. I'm just starting to learn about the link between fibro any lyme. Does anyone know if there's any links between lyme and diabetes or sjogrens? Thanks!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Welcome but sorry for the reasons that bring you here.
So, you know that very often fibromyalgia is undiagnosed lyme (or other stealth infection).
And, yes sjogren's can also be misdiagnosed lyme, but it can also develop from lyme or other stealth infection and coexist. Then, with the infection(s) addressed the other symptoms of sjogren's have often disappeared for many.
Some medicines and nutritional deficiences can also cause sjogren's symptoms - be sure to check the fine print on all Rx patient information pages directly from the manufactures' sites.
And now for your last question. Yes, lyme can cause diabetes. Again, sometimes, with infection(s) addressed, this may subside.
All along the way this can help: healthful diet, certain herbs (Gymnema sylvestre) and minerals (magnesium) . . . and even gentle exercise (as aerobics can cause heart damage with active infection) . . . things can often turn around.
I see that you have posted for a doctor so I hope you find a good ILADS-educated lyme literate doctor (LLMD) very soon to help you sort this all out.
Be sure to look around and ask other questions as you have those along the way.
Good luck. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- As with all things lyme, just seeing a connection is not where we stop. There are things that can be done. Starting with adrenal support, you can address both sjogren's and diabetic symptoms.
Lyme clobbers the HPA axis. Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Adrenal "triangle of organs" that control so much.
So that is the WHY, here is the HOW, or WHAT HELPS link:
The authors above show WHY that can happen but - other than the obvious "treat the infections" advice which is vital - don't detail the range of support techniques for the adrenals along the way, to help the lower stress hormones that lyme clobbers.
While not a LL doctor and not discussing lyme (but does acknowledge infections as stress), THIS author offers great advice that can benefit those with lyme.
Gymnema Sylvestre - Six articles relating to diabetes management from Vitamin Research Products. All their articles have excellent third party research citations.
Google Scholar Search: antidiabetic+medicinal+plants -
Posted by Andever (Member # 36185) on :
Manybites - I'm so glad to hear you are doing well - so sad that this passed on to your son, i hope he is doing well also.
Keebler - thank you for the information. It's funny that you mention adrenal function because several years ago I had an abdnormal reading on a 24hr urine sample.
My doctor at the time had just started testing for cushing's but I lost my health insurance and was never diagnosed.
I truly have soo many health issues that I wonder how I'm still alive at times.
I have actually lost all of my teeth due to the sjogrens - they just kept breaking off at the gums - usually it happened when I was sleeping so it's not like there was any trauma.
Thank you again for the links - and now I'm off to read read read! lol!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I believe Lyme can cause auto-immune disease. I have Sjogren's as well, even though my Lyme is gone.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
Excitotoxins that can cause neuropathy, symptoms of "fibromyalgia" and so much more havoc. -
Posted by Andever (Member # 36185) on :
lymetoo - do you know if you got sjogrens from the lyme ?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- STEROIDS - a word about
I'm sure she'll answer soon.
Just came back to caution again steroids that are often used in sjogren's.
Steroids can be a disaster with lyme. Of course, if you are currently taking steroids, they cannot be stopped cold turkey. I'll just leave it at that and if you need more detail about that, just ask.
MOUTH
Sorry to hear about your teeth. As they broke during sleep, I have to wonder about bruxism (grinding of teeth) during sleep. Low magnesium can cause bruxism. Low magnesium is very common with lyme.
Lyme (and other kinds of spirochetes & also other stealth infections) can cause a lot of problems with the mouth. Most dentists are not at all aware of that. ---------
- by Connie Strasheim - Townsend Letter - July, 2010
[Be sure to scroll down past a section of ads that looks like the end of the article. This is a four-page article. You might want to print it out for easier study.]
Excerpt:
. . . Cortisol allergies produce all the signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, but often, adrenal function in people who have these allergies is normal.
Many patients with cortisol allergies cannot tolerate cortisol replacement until they are desensitized to these allergies. . . . -
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Andever: lymetoo - do you know if you got sjogrens from the lyme ?
- Pretty sure. I had Lyme a very long time before being treated.
PS to Keebler. I don't take steroids.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- TuTu,
sorry if my post was confusing.
The steroid cautions was for Andever.
When I was (mis)diagnosed with Sjogrens, steroids were prescribed and I got much worse (because lyme had not yet been identified).
For some with the dx of "fibromyalgia" steroids are often prescribed. I just wanted to make sure Andever was aware the steroids can cause a disaster with lyme (and some other chronic stealth infections, too). -
Posted by Andever (Member # 36185) on :
keebler - I have been on steroids alot for my asthma. I've stopped using them the past two years because I always get so sick when I use them.
This past summer I had a very severe case of bronchitis. I didn't want the steroids but it was that or end up in the hospital.
I took them but again I felt like hell (worse then normal) for at least two months after. Now I just suffer through the asthma.
I actually, in the past, thought the steriods aggrevated the cushing's that the doctor thinks i have but as I've said I never got the chance to get that diagnosis.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- If it's a matter of your life, of course, do what you need to do in an emergency.
However, if not an emergency, do remember that if you have lyme or other infection, steroids can make things worse, sadly, as you've found out.
When necessary, steroids can be given ALONG WITH certain antiobiotics at a particular dose, preferably 48 hours in advance. LLMDs know more about how to do this.
There are many other things beside steroids that can help to prevent emergencies, without the risk. But it's best to be guided by a doctor who sees the big picture.
I hope you can find a good ILADS-educated lyme literate doctor. I read in your post over in "seeking" that there are some practical roadblocks to that. I hope that changes.
BTW, some researchers suspect that acetaminophen may be linked to asthma (it also blocks the liver from making glutathione, a key element to being able to metabolize toxins).
Just good to be aware of that. You can search the web for details. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
What ILADS is - & WHY you need an ILADS-educated, Lyme Literate Doctor - starting with assessment
Many valuable links here, even if you think a LLMD seems out of reach right now. -
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
no problem, keeb
Andever.. have you begun your search for an LLMD?
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
Andever I sent you a PM. Look at the top left side of the page for the blinking sign alerting you to a private message.
The diabetes, neuropathy, fibromyalgia and sjorgrens can all have another cause which also affects lyme treatment. My son had diabetes and my daughter had fibromyalgia.
Posted by Andever (Member # 36185) on :
Hey all - sorry for not responding. I think I jinxed myself talking about how I got sick and needed to use inhalers.
I've been sick and again - steroids or hospital. I am also taking cipro for a sinus infection.
Considering that my body is now fighting an infection all my other symptoms are flared and memory and concentration is out the window.
I really can't do too much research right now but will hopefully be back at it shortly and will address everyone's correspondance.