TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
J Obstet Gynaecol. 2010 Feb;30(2):184-6.
Endometriosis-associated Lyme disease.
Matalliotakis IM, Cakmak H, Ziogos MD, Kalogeraki A, Kappou D, Arici A.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. [email protected]
The aim of this study is to report three cases of patients with endometriosis and infertility, and associated with Lyme disease.
The medical files of 405 women with endometriosis and 200 without endometriosis were studied retrospectively. We report 3 cases with endometriosis and Lyme disease.
Of 405 patients with endometriosis treated in our study over a 6-year period, 3(0.8%) had Lyme disease. All cases presented with typical erythema migraines, fever and fatigue. The serological findings were positive for Borrelia burgdorferi, for 3 cases. Two out of 3 women underwent IVF-ET procedures and one of them conceived in the first cycle without complication during pregnancy or after childbirth recorded.
We concluded that women with endometriosis are more likely to have chronic fatigue syndrome, systemic lupus erythematous, Sj�gren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and other autoimmune inflammatory and endocrine diseases. A review of the literature confirms the uniqueness of the co-existence of Lyme disease in women with endometriosis in these cases.
PMID: 20143981 [PubMed - in process]
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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lymielauren28
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posted
Count me in the endo-lyme club. It sucks.
-------------------- "The only way out is through" Posts: 1434 | From mississippi | Registered: Nov 2007
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Hoosiers51
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What exactly are you all's endo symptoms, and how do you know exactly if you have it?
I have had some pretty painful periods, but other than that...who knows. My periods are actually on the lighter side.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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posted
It's interesting to learn about all this in hindsight. Many folks I knew with fibromyalgia had endometriosis.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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map1131
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Member # 2022
posted
Goodness these has got me wondering about early lyme in myself. I've tracked my early sx as '98.
But I'm really beginning to believe that it goes back much further with me. Severe female problems started with me in '80.
I ended up with Chronic Inflammatory disease, three surgeries to remove large mass/scarred tissues of ?, fertility specialist later on with no success.
Odd sx came and went, thyroid died, goiter appeared, horrible sinus infections, period of feeling dizzy. Family camping vacations. Tick attachement '85 with flu-like illness seven days later, Rocky Mountain Fever tested negative.
It makes sense with all these women with labels as chronic fatigue, fibro etc would also have endometriosis because they have a fricking vector borne illness that is the underlining cause of their illness.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
I had 3 children and never had any issues with endo.
Then when I was 35 I began to have severe painful periods, heavy bleeding etc.
The worst thing that happened for me was that I started having bladder pain...like a bladder infection, chills, very bad pain etc... but there was never an infection.
This went on for months and I ended up having a laporoscopy to check things out. They found endo on my bladder and lasered it off. I've also developed endo in my intestines and bleed with bowel movements during my period.
Looking back I think my lyme could have started back then. We started camping back then. I don't remember a tick bite but that is when I started having problems and major fatigue.
I haven't had any bladder symptoms for almost 10 yrs but it recently started again. I am seeing my OB Gyn next week.
-------------------- TxLymie IgG-Negative IgM - Postive bands 23 and 41
Other dx: 2000: Endometriosis 2009: Chronic EBV, Mycoplasma infection, HHV6, H.pylori Posts: 297 | From Houston | Registered: Jun 2009
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Vermont_Lymie
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Member # 9780
posted
Thanks Terry for finding this abstract.
Such important and relevant research and this affects so many of us. I notice that the authors are based at the University of Crete.
It is sad that doctors in the U.S. rarely seem to research these important lyme-related health issues.
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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massman
Unregistered
posted
The symptoms are endo, but where is the real cause ? The HPA axis is involved with communication of ALL organs that produce hormones.
Dr. U who has studied extensively with Dr. K states that 80% of problems such as endo originate above that in either the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid and / or adrenal.
So evaluating these + helping them return to health may help significantly with endo.
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TerryK
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Endometriosis is a painful, chronic disease that affects 5 1/2 million women and girls in the USA and Canada, and millions more worldwide. It occurs when tissue like that which lines the uterus (tissue called the endometrium) is found outside the uterus -- usually in the abdomen on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and ligaments that support the uterus; the area between the vagina and rectum; the outer surface of the uterus; and the lining of the pelvic cavity. Other sites for these endometrial growths may include the bladder, bowel, vagina, cervix, vulva, and in abdominal surgical scars. Less commonly they are found in the lung, arm, thigh, and other locations.
This misplaced tissue develops into growths or lesions which respond to the menstrual cycle in the same way that the tissue of the uterine lining does: each month the tissue builds up, breaks down, and sheds.
Menstrual blood flows from the uterus and out of the body through the vagina, but the blood and tissue shed from endometrial growths has no way of leaving the body. This results in internal bleeding, breakdown of the blood and tissue from the lesions, and inflammation -- and can cause pain, infertility, scar tissue formation, adhesions, and bowel problems.
What are the Symptoms of Endometriosis?
Pain before and during periods
Pain with sex
Infertility
Fatigue
Painful urination during periods
Painful bowel movements during periods
Other Gastrointestinal upsets such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea. In addition, many women with endometriosis suffer from:
Allergies
Chemical sensitivities
Frequent yeast infections Diagnosis is considered uncertain until proven by laparoscopy, a minor surgical procedure done under anesthesia. A laparoscopy usually shows the location, size, and extent of the growths. This helps the doctor and patient make better treatment choices.
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cactus
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posted
I'm in this club, too. Not fun.
We know I contracted Lyme at 11 years old (but was undiagnosed at the time) - and shortly thereafter developed mitral valve prolapse (associated with Lyme) and then endometrisosis.
And interestingly - the Endo Associaton has listed fibromyalgia as a condition that often accompanies endo.
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Count me in. I have it and have had surgery for it as well. After my surgery in 2008 for Endo is when I crashed and was finally (after 30 years misdiagnosed) diagnosed with Lyme and Co's.
-------------------- Never, Never, Never give up! Posts: 395 | From Connecticut | Registered: Nov 2008
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lymielauren28
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posted
Even though I didn't get really sick until about 4 years ago I believe I've had this since I was about 11 too. I got "cat scratch fever" when I was eleven and I was out of school for almost a month. I couldn't even walk and my Mom had to carry me to the bathroom. I recovered, but always had weird symtoms on and off after that.
I started my period at 12 and they were unbearably painful. In high school I had chronic yeast infections and horrible eczema on my hands that would clear up and then come back.
Flash forward to 26 - I went out to a friends farm and got covered in ticks. About 3 weeks later I was sick beyond belief and have been sick ever since. The endo seemed to really kick off after that. My periods are so painful that they actually make me vomit. I have lesions throughout my abdomen and if I move a certain way or lift something too heavy it tears them and that causes the most god-awful pain ever and it lasts for weeks. Ovulation pain is unbearable, I can't have children and the list goes on...
I did improve tons by changing my diet completely but fell off the wagon a couple of months after letting the diet slide - it's definitely a lifetime commitment. Google the endo diet - it's the only thing that's really helped me but like I said as soon as you stop the symtoms come back!
-------------------- "The only way out is through" Posts: 1434 | From mississippi | Registered: Nov 2007
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cantgiveupyet
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Member # 8165
posted
There was a poster that used to post here Trails(was their SN) They went to a Dr who linked endo with Lyme( they used to have this posted on their website, but was taken down) If you search under their name you should be able to find info on endo and lyme.
I read yesterday (WHERE, I don't know!) that in one study over 80% of a dr's endo patients had Lyme.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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IckyTicky
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posted
Had complete hysterectomy (ovaries, cervix..everything) at the young age of 29. Severe endo. I know an LLND in California (lots of people have heard of her) and she told me she has a gyn friend in California that had started doing her own studies. So far (this was over a year ago) that gyn had tested endometrial tissue and 100% had come back positive for lyme.
-------------------- IGM: 18+, 23+, 30+, 31+++, 34+, 39IND, 41++, 58+++, 66+, 83-93IND IGG: 31+, 39IND, 41+ Also positive for Mycoplasma Pneumoniae and RMSF. Whole family of 5 dx with Lyme. Posts: 1014 | From Texas | Registered: Jul 2009
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Wow Icky. That is incredible. It makes sense...It was about 10 yrs ago I was diagnosed with endo. At that time I was severely fatigued, had fevers, chills etc. I did get put on abx for a while because they thought I had a bladder infection.
I'm guessing that kicked the lyme somewhat into remission but I'm betting the yr I was diagnosed with endo was the same yr I contracted lyme.
I wish more studies would be done to see if there is a link.
-------------------- TxLymie IgG-Negative IgM - Postive bands 23 and 41
Other dx: 2000: Endometriosis 2009: Chronic EBV, Mycoplasma infection, HHV6, H.pylori Posts: 297 | From Houston | Registered: Jun 2009
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