posted
I would like to know, too, if anyone has had success repairing the hormone disruption that occurs with Lyme Disease.
------------------ Excerpt from Dr. S:
"Borrelia burgdorferi produces a large suite of bio-toxins that have tissue affinity, mainly neurotoxins with high molecular tropism for lipid structures (i.e., central nervous system, peripheral nervous system), muscles, joints, lungs and many others." These statements are backed up by research data identifying specific neurotoxins from Bb.
What this means is that Borrelia burgdorferi toxins are strongly attracted to fatty cells (such as those of the nervous system), and exert effects that disrupt normal functioning of these cells. These bio-toxins are thought to alter various specific sites in the brain on molecular, structural and chemical levels, interfering with all the major neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, GABA).
In this way they can cause all manner of neurological and psychiatric symptoms that mimic (or cause) many illnesses, from degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's, to depression and autistic disorders. Indeed, Dr. F, a former president of the American Psychiatric Association, has acknowledged that Lyme disease can contribute to every single psychiatric disorder in the Diagnostic Symptoms Manual IV (DSM-IV), the manual used to diagnose psychiatric disorders.
Lyme bio-toxins are also known to interfere with many hormones, enzymes and their receptors, interfering with their usual functioning. One symptom that is prevalent in Lyme disease and related illnesses (chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, autism, depression etc), is chronic fatigue.
This can be explained by molecular toxicology research that shows that the calcium channel's normal functioning may be altered by Bb's bio-toxins. This results in the impairment of enzymes and other cellular chemicals involved in cellular energy production. -----------------
Looking
Posts: 590 | From Canada | Registered: Oct 2007
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savebabe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9847
posted
Yes...I have thyroid and pituitary problems due to lyme disease and possible co-infections.
I found that glutathione (Wellness Pharmacy) helped a lot.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FUNCTIONS OF GLUTATHIONE (GSH)? [Refs. 1--5]
* Maintains proper oxidation-reduction (redox) potential inside cells. Redox affects the oxidation state of sulfur in enzymes, and thus affects the rates of biochemical reactions in cells.
* Scavenges peroxides and oxidizing free radicals directly and also serves as the basis for the antioxidant network.
* Performs Phase II detoxication of heavy metals (such as mercury), organophosphate pesticides, chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, estradiol, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, acetaminophen, and other foreign and endogenous toxins.
* Stores and transports cysteine throughout the body.
* Transports amino acids into cells, especially cystine into kidney cells.
* Regulates the cell cycle, DNA and protein synthesis and proteolysis, and gene _expression.
* Regulates signal transduction.
* Participates in bile production.
* Protects thyroid cells from self-generated hydrogen peroxide.
By means of several of the above functions, GSH plays very important roles in (1) maintaining mitochondrial function and integrity, (2) regulating cell proliferation, and (3) supporting the immune system.
HOW IS GLUTATHIONE (GSH) SYNTHESIZED IN THE BODY? [Refs. 1--5]
* GSH is synthesized inside cells by a two-step process. The first step involves the ATP-powered enzyme glutamate cysteine ligase (formerly called gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase). This step is normally the rate-limiting reaction, and is controlled by the cellular redox state and feedback inhibition, among other factors. The second step makes use of the ATP-powered enzyme glutathione synthetase.
* The necessary substrates are cysteine (which is often the rate-limiting substrate when GSH is depleted), glutamic acid (or glutamine) and glycine. Cysteine and glutamic acid are joined together in the first step, and glycine is added in the second step.
* The liver is the main producer and exporter of GSH.
* A few epithelial cell types can import GSH molecules intact.
* Most cell types use the gamma glutamyl (or GSH scavenging) cycle. This cycle makes use of the plasma-membrane-bound exoenzymes gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and dipeptidase. This cycle disassembles GSH outside the cell and imports the parts for reassembly inside. It also serves as a transport mechanism to bring other amino acids into the cell, cystine(di-cysteine) being favored.
IS GLUTATHIONE DEPLETED IN CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME?
There is considerable evidence that it is, at least in a substantial fraction of CFS patients. Here are the results of all the published studies that bear on this question: * GSH depletion in CFS was first suggested by Droge and Holm [6]. * Cheney [7,8] reported that his CFS clinical patients were almost universally low in GSH. * Richards et al. [9] found that patients could be divided statistically into two distinct groups, one having significantly elevated erythrocyte GSH relative to a healthy control group, and the other having significantly lower values. * Fulle et al. [10] found elevated total (reduced plus oxidized) glutathione in muscle biopsy specimens from PWCs relative to healthy controls, but they did not report values for reduced glutathione alone. * Manuel y Keenoy et al. [11] found that a subgroup of fatigued patients with low magnesium, whose body stores of Mg did not improve with supplementation, had significantly lower GSH. * Manuel y Keenoy et al. [12] did not find a significant difference between CFS patients and fatigued controls in terms of whole-blood GSH, but they did not compare with a healthy control group. * Kennedy et al. [13] found significantly lower red blood cell GSH in PWCs compared to healthy controls (p=0.05). * Kurup and Kurup [14] found significantly lower red blood cell GSH in myalgic encephalomyelitis patients compared to healthy controls (p<0.01).
Posts: 1603 | From ny | Registered: Aug 2006
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
-
just a quick note. Yeah, my adrenal function was the worst that a LLMDs said he ever saw. I guess I've always wanted to be best at something, but not the worst. I'm still trying to figure it all out.
While I think the infections really do a lot of damage,
you might Google and PubMed search " endocrine disruptors "
Rachel's Friends is a group trying to get these out of cosmetics.
Their link might also mention the use of plastics for food that gets hot, perfumes, cleaning chemicals etc. There may be some things that could be shifted in your home that might make a difference. Stay out of the laundry aisle at the supermarket, too.
It's far more complex, but that might be a little help.
posted
My hormones are still not right, but what can you expect from a bunch of male doctors bent on diagnosing a 41 yo woman as being in 'normal' menopause?
That's okay. Eventually EMF exposure will eat up their *burly* hormones, too. I can't wait. In fact, I want to be there to watch.
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posted
I have become hypoglycemic from lyme, and my adrenals and thyroid are out of whack. I'm a 30 year old male and don't meet the usual criteria for this imbalance. My llmd says once you fix the core problem ie lyme then the rest of your system eventually balances out.
I tried to supplement the adrenal fatigue with cortisol but since it is a steroid it was not a good idea, although some have done well with it.
I can feel that I am out of balance esp. my blood sugar at times.
good luck.. Rich
Posts: 413 | From nj | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Yes, I'm also male. My testosterone sank rather quickly with Lyme. It's hovering in the normal range but at the lower limits.
LD seems to have disturbed my pituitary output in some way.
I've read somewhere that testosterone seems have some anti-Lyme (or at least pro-immune system) effect. Maybe this is why LD acts to undercut certain hormones.
I'm hopeful that Lyme treatment will get my pituitary back on-line so-to-speak.
I'm hypothyroid as well which throws another wrench in the works.
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 36 | From Connecticut | Registered: Oct 2007
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
I was given bio-identical hormone replacement therapy about a year ago.
It helped alot with wicked menstrual cramps.
I need to get tested again to make sure what I'm taking is correct - but I've been kind of short on cash for most of the year, though.
It may help you guys out there, too.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
With Lyme suppressed hormone levels, replacement is tempting. Some are more easily replaced than others though.
Hormone replacement is dicey especially if there's a chance the hormonal axis will regain homeostasis through antibiotics/LD treatment alone.
It's a catch-22 I suppose. They'll supplement treatment and make you feel better, but then you may have to wean yourself off them later which could present problems. Decisions decisions.
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 36 | From Connecticut | Registered: Oct 2007
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
re: BIHRT
Thanks! I'll consider that. It worked real well - initially - but I'm getting the really bad cramps again. I just figured I needed to test my levels & adjust the hormones.
I'm really getting tried of all this figuring... It's this & that & the other. It takes it's toll after a while.
ALSO- I don't think there are many people with "normal" hormone levels these days.
There's so many pollutants & toxins that it seems hard to avoid having some effect from the estrogens in plastic & pesticides. Even frogs & fish are becoming hermaphrodites.
Google - xenoestrogens if you don't know about this.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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Rianna
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11038
posted
Yes I have severe thyroid/adrenal/pituitary problems due to lyme. I am now registered Addison's and was totally unresponsive to a synathcen (ACTH Stimulation Test) and hd zero natural cortisol production and started to product Antibodies to Thyroid (both TgAb & TPO so Hashimoto's and Grave Antibodies at the same time) - many pituitaury problems are associated with lyme disease and endo says he sees this often as Lyme appears to like the Hormone producing glands and likes the frontal lobe where the pituitary sits.
So I personally had to have all hormones that were underfunctioning replaced before even treating the Lyme or Co-Infections.
The most shocking thing to the Endo is that after 5 months IV Rocephin produce cortisol - He says that this can only be due to the load of chronic infection being lowered - still very under active but working a little now.
posted
The infection has disrupted my thyroid hormones, but other hormones seem to be functioning normally.
After studying the problem for 6 years and consulting with many endos, all of whom were unfamiliar with the matter, my conclusion is the infection somehow blocks or interferes with my thyroid hormone receptor sites. According to blood tests, I have plenty of hormone circulating, but I suspect it is blocked from getting to where it's supposed to in the body, and thus I experience symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Posts: 727 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2006
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posted
Interestingly enough, one of my hormones went skyhigh. Prolactin is supposed to be around 20 something. Mine went to over 200 early on and has stayed that way. Had pituitary surgery -- hyperplasia, no tumor.
Posts: 13117 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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lymewreck36
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4395
posted
before my lyme was treated, I lost my menstral cycle and started to make breast milk, and I hadn't had a baby in years.
Treatment stopped the lactation, and it wasn't until I had flagyl that my menstral cycle returned.
Mary
Posts: 1032 | From North Carolina | Registered: Aug 2003
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