I have heard from a woman in the midwest that because she was infected on the eastern US coast, her lyme disease strain in more severe and debilitating that those of us who were infected in the midwest.
She has also commented that hardly anyone in the midwest gets the EM rash.
I had the EM rash and I was hospitalized last year with sever seizures and near blindness and a bad case of encephalitis, sever confusion, hallucinations, etc. My seizures took almost a year to subside and I have both neuro and arthritis symptoms. I believe I also have some brain damage as a result with the lesions in my brain.
So is there a way to determine WHICH strain I have and is there any truth to what strain is in what part of the states, and which area causes more severe symptoms?
I am very CDC positive through IGX.
People travel, and migrating birds carry ticks so how can one say there are geographic boundaries?
Posted by snowflake (Member # 8950) on :
forgot to add....
Is there a way to determine the strain and co-infection by looking at the WB bands?
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Can't answer most of your questions, but I have a different theory on the rash.
My theory is that people who get the rash have a stronger immune response -- the rash is a sign that your body has recognized the foreign bacteria.
You did say you had a positive test -- would expect this with a rash if the antigens have not been bound up as immune complexes.
Bea Seibert
Posted by tabbytamer (Member # 3159) on :
There are hundreds of strains of Lyme.
Also to consider might be the type(s) of co infections prevelant in the ticks of a certain area as we know having co infections can intensify symptoms.
My LLMD mentioned certain bands on the western blot as being seen more often in California.
It would be great if they could learn more about a possible correlation with bands / areas / strains as a key to what abx to start treating patients with.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
I was told by a woman starting the 2nd LDA group in Iowa that hers was WORSE also since she came from the east coast. I think that's baloney!
Of the recent lyme books I have read, that has NOT been mentioned at all.
co-infections; yes, I believe there is....go to TREEPATROL'S NEWBIE LINKS and look for the western blot igm/igg numbers showing what each means. I'm sure there are some co-infections mentioned there, but I didn't know that until now when I was being tested for them! Check it out!
Posted by snowflake (Member # 8950) on :
Hey Cave, I am curious if there are labs that are tracking the strains when they test. Is this just antecdotal evidence that western strains are more neurologic than eastern? What about us in the middle?? Why do I have to have both neurologic and severe arthritic? I'm curious...
cave76 Frequent Contributor Member # 835 posted May 10, 2005 10:33 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It also might be because of different strains there. I was always a bit bemused that Poland seemed to be far ahead of the US (and certainly the rest of Europe) in their research about Borrelia. Even a decade ago!
Here in the States it's often stated that West Coast Lyme is more neurologic than East Coast Lyme. If that is or was true I don't know. And maybe the lines are fuzzier now.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posts: 5522 | From: Santa Rosa CA | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged
Posted by tabbytamer (Member # 3159) on :
I got ill here on the west coast. Mine was severe arthritic, neuro/psych, urogenital, cardiovascular, and skin first few years.
Would flare up as lymphatic/arthritic/neuro monthly. Then hit hard year 13 to current as severe neuro with additional vertigo stuff.
Arthritic basically flares monthly.
The thing is, as long as people travel and birds fly, how do you know who has west, mid, or east Lyme?
Posted by snowflake (Member # 8950) on :
quote:Originally posted by tabbytamer: The thing is, as long as people travel and birds fly, how do you know who has west, mid, or east Lyme?
Yes, Exactly my point.
And yes, co-infections do play a big part of the game, which do vary by geographic area.
So does anyone know if the major tick borne illness labs are testing our blood samples for the type of strain so that this could be correlated later to symptoms and treatment success or failures?
Yes, I know there are so many variables like length of infection prior to diagnosis, lenght of treatment, person's immune response, genetics, co-morbidity, etc. What about viruses? There are many viruses that are transmitted by ticks. Why aren't the reference labs testing for those?
I swear I read a published article lately about the different strains causing different symptoms and I can't find the silly thing. I KNOW I have read certain people here quoting "I have the such and such strain." So HOW do they know??
Arrgh, too many questions unanswered. We need MORE research! $$$$$$$$$$$$$
Posted by snowflake (Member # 8950) on :
Silly me. Maybe this is what I was thinking of.. N. American vs. European. Still does not answer my questions. Will wait for the morning lymenetters.
Ther Umsch. 2005 Nov;62(11):731-6. Related Articles, Links
North American Lyme disease and European borreliosis differ in many aspects: Whereas in North America infection by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto almost invariably leads to erythema migrans, frequently followed by oligoarthritis in untreated individuals, most infections in Europe are caused by Borrelia garinii and Borrelia afzelii and are contracted asymptomatically.
A minority of the infected individuals develop neuroborreliosis, consisting of various combinations of meningitis, radiculitis and (cranial) neuritis. Lyme carditis, presenting with second or third degree atrioventricular block, is infrequent on both continents.
Diagnostic limitations and the protean manifestations of Lyme borreliosis frequently give rise to misunderstandings and overdiagnosis of Lyme disease. Targeted use of Lyme serology, judicious application of a case definition, strict adherence to established treatment options and thorough patient information may lead the narrow path between unjustified exclusion and careless assumption of the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis.