Asking for someone I know, not myself, need to be careful what I tell them.
What are your thoughts on, for those with the rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, what percentage of these people is it really lyme causing the symptoms?
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
it was my first dx...a year later when blood test did not confirm they changed it to fibromyalgia
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I think it can be misleading if they are someone who will say "well, not necessarily" or "not always" for lyme has certainly been the underlying cause of RA for many. If they are an "odds" type of person, they may not be so interested in finding the truth but floating on luck.
If it can for one person, it most certainly can be for anyone else.
I doubt there is a fabulous odds ratio as RA so often is not examined in light of lyme. And those with lyme may have RA symptoms but often would seems to jump the medical ship just shy of that (mis)diagnosis.
If you can find one or two articles about particular people who sorted it out past RA to lyme, that might be enough to spark their awareness.
At the very least, I hope they understand the need for an ILADS educated expert to do a diagnostic evaluation that will start with lyme and also consider a wider range of chronic stealth infections that can lead to RA. (Mycoplasma should be considered, etc.)
And I hope they will avoid steroids (as they are often offered for treatment of various "autoimmune" (mis)diagnoses that are infection-connected.
I would say, though, that 100% of the time, ALWAYS, with EVERY CASE of someone with RA - & before any RA treatment (if that could be contraindicated for someone with infection) . . .
they should be assessed in person by an ILADS educated expert for lyme and other TBD and other chronic stealth infections (such as mycoplasma). -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- There are some decent medical hits from a Google Advanced Search of:
I would say it's 100% lyme related (JMO). Gluten, dairy and sugar all play a part causing serious inflammation, but IMO, lyme is the trigger.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I would also say the mineral deficiencies might be showing up if someone is eating gluten and shouldn't be .. or if candida is eating up all the minerals and vitamins.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
Don't rule out Protomyxzoa Rheumatica - pay attention to the last part of the name - it causes rheumatoid arthritis and other auto immune diseases.
Your friend should get tested and also begin LDN.
Posted by sparklyholiday (Member # 42456) on :
RA was my first diagnosis...
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
Try the Autoimmune Paleo diet. It has brought some complete relief of symptoms.