haven't been able to read this yet but wanted to post it to save so I can come back to it and read it.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
for years i thought he said the same but i saw mew stuff in this
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
~~~~~Able to copy and paste some of the notes this am. I am hoping to be back with the rest of the notes when able.
Dr. Burrascano has treated over 10,000 patients with Lyme since early '80s.
"It is up to you. Learn as much as possible. Do as much as possible. Have a positive attitude."
Dr. Burrascano's definition of Lyme Disease "Lyme disease is the illness that results from the bite of an infected deer tick; it's not one germ."
Stages of Lyme
Early Lyme - I
Disseminated Lyme - II Chronic Lyme - III -for one or more years - immune system breakdown and its consequences -co-infections become important -serologic tests less reliable -treatment must be more aggressive and of longer duration
The sicker you are, the less reliable the tests; lyme burrows deeper and is no longer easily detected in blood
CD-57 test - the one test that shows how long Lyme has been present (See more blow regarding CD57)
Tick Bites
Only 17% recall having a tick bite (Texas Dept of Health) Only 36% recall a rash Only 50% have positive western blot Co-infections: tests are even less sensitive
Ticks: nature's "dirty needles"; a tick lives for 2 years
Co-infected patients: more ill, more difficult to treat; Lyme treatments do not treat Babesia, Bartonella, or viruses.
**Dr. Burrascano says he has never seen a patient without co-infections.
Sorting Out Co-Infections Lyme, Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Mycoplamsa
Mycoplasma - Made worse with exercise, aka "Chronic Fatigue Germ", major fatigue, neurological disfunction, found in the sickest and poorest responding; have the worst CD-57 tests
ELISA test - mostly useless; use Western Blot Spinal Tap - only 9% have + csf PCRs - 60% sensitivity at best because germ doesn't stay in blood LDA - 30% sensitivity
Why Igenex?
Dr. B has no affiliation with them, no professional relationship with them, etc...
If a test is commercialized to be sold as a test kit, it must follow narrow CDC restrictions and guidelines. (Ironically, these restrictions were a result of the Lyme vaccine debacle.)
Most Lyme tests are commercial. Commercial Lyme tests miss 75% of cases.
Based on double-blind government proficiency tests, IGenex did well.
CD-57 COUNT (tracks a type of white blood cell)
Lower counts seen in chronic Lyme Only Lyme (not co-infections) makes CD-57 low
The CD-57 reading does not change *during* treatment ... until Bb is controlled. Then it quickly changes.
Predicts a relapse if low when antibiotics end
The CD-57 test must be done by LabCorp's method (using the "normal is >200" scale) <20 - severe illness 20 - 60 most common for chronic patients > 60 Lyme activity minimal > 120 - relapse not likely
Why Are Chronic Lyme Patients So Sick?
-High spirochete load (perhaps multiple bites) -Protective niches in the body and biofilms allow Bb to evade the immune system and antibiotics -Immune suppression and immune evasion
Biofilms are a protective layer
Lyme germs live in different forms: Spirochete - surrounded by a cell wall Spiroplast - balls up, has no cell wall Cystic form - has hard outer shell
Lyme germs can live *inside* a human cell, inside the vacule
Doxycycline - can get into the cell Erithromycin - can get into the cell Rocephin - does not kill germs inside vacule
Treatment - Back to Basics
Form a therapeutic alliance with your Dr.; should be able to have "meeting of the minds"
Pharmacology -It is *critical* that you achieve therapeutic drug levels - this varies from patient to patient -Antibiotics - you *must* have extra-cellular and intra-cellular meds as Bb can live in and out of cells -Antobiotics - must act on blood & tissues
Spiroplast/L form: no cell wall Tetracyclines, Erythromycin
Cyst: Metronidazole, Tinidazole, Rifampin
Spirochete B. burgdorferi - needs sustained levels L form - Tetracyclines, need a spike in blood levels Cystic - Metronidazole, sustained levels for 2 weeks +
Antibiotic combinations are necessary Intracellular and extracellular Blood and tissue
Intravenous therapy is most effective Intramuscular Penicillin effective as well
Indications For Intravenous Therapy -illness for more than one year -prior use of steroids -documented immune deficiency -abnormal spinal fluid -synovitis with high ESR -age over 60 -failure or intolerance of oral therapy
Aggressive supportive therapy also necessary: Sleep cycle Food Supplements Detoxing
As symptoms wind down, DO NOT cut dosage! Resistance develops that way.
Progressively increase exercise program -exercise is vital and required -not exercising will increase risk of relapse
If CD-57 is not normal at end of treatment, continue treatment or there will be relapse
Prognosis -May not cure infections, may need open-ended maintenance therapy
What to Watch For: Signs of persistence; continued fevers Four week cycles of ailments Migrating symptoms Positive PCR or urine LDA
If you have not relapsed in 3 years, you never will.
What if you're not sure you're over it? Low grade fever still present Signs of recurrent four-week cycles Migrating pain Low CD-57 counts
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