posted
I have already read articles either for or against lyme being sexually transmitted. I personally would rather talk to people on this board and see if it has happened to them. Has anyone passed it to their husband/wife or significant other??
Posts: 7 | From michigan | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
So I'm sick but so far my husband is not. We're a hetero couple who've been together about 5 years. I worry about it a lot. Every time he has a pain or headache or whatever, I wonder if it's starting.
Posts: 702 | From North Eastern USA | Registered: Dec 2009
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blinkie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14470
posted
Yep, my hubby has positive bands but no known co infections.
Also, I think that is how I got lyme in the first place. Only lyme, no co infections.
7 years later, bit by a real tick and got a handful of co infections with it.
Posts: 1104 | From N.California | Registered: Jan 2008
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posted
My hubby and I just had our 13th anniversary the 21st. I was born with Lyme and bartonella at the minimum. In 2003 I was bitten by a tick and currently also have babesiosis. Don't know how long I've had it, but at least since then, I'd guess.
My husband has looked backwards in his life trying to determine whether he ever had symptoms prior to meeting me. He is positive he did not.
He was 49 when we met, so that's a long time span that he might have missed something in, but he swears NO symptoms whatsoever of lyme and co. until the last 4-5yr.
We do presume I infected him (as well as both kids, obviously).
Posts: 155 | From Texas | Registered: Oct 2007
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gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
More and more evidence is coming out that lyme is not only sexually transmitted but very likely transmitted in other ways as well:
Methods of Lyme Disease Transmission
W.T. Harvey, M.D., M.S., M.P.H., and Patricia Salvato, M.D., of Diversified Medical Practices in Houston, Texas, were puzzled by the high number of patients testing positive for Lyme disease. Many of these patients presented with "established" criteria for Lyme disease, but others did not.
The fact that southeastern Texas is a 'non-endemic' region, and that many of the patients had no history of erythema migrans rash, led the doctors to question established methods for Lyme disease consideration. Careful reflection of published research lead them to conclude the following.
First, the arthropod is not the exclusive vector of Lyme disease. In addition to ticks, Bb may be carried and transmitted by fleas, mosquitos, and mites.
Second, Lyme disease is not exclusively vector-borne. Compelling evidence supports horizontal (sexual) and vertical (congenital) human-to-human transfer. Other front-line physicians are arriving at the same conclusions. "Of the more than 5,000 children I've treated, 240 have been born with the disease ," says Charles Ray Jones, M.D. Dr. Jones, who is the world's leading pediatric specialist on Lyme disease, says that about 90% of his practice is comprised of patients with the disease.
He also states, "Twelve children who've been breast-fed have subsequently developed Lyme.'' University of Wisconsin researchers state that dairy cattle and other food animals can be infected with B. burgdorferi and hence some raw foods of animal origin might be contaminated with the pathogen. Recent findings indicate that the pathogen may be transmitted orally to laboratory animals, without an arthropod vector.
Thus, the possibility exists that Lyme disease can be a food infection. Citing limitations of laboratory tests for the detection of antibodies to Bb, a study was conducted in 1995 at the University of Vienna (Austria) for its detection. Utilizing polymerase chain reaction testing for DNA, Bb was found to be present in both the urine and breast milk of patients previously diagnosed with Lyme disease.
A study conducted at the Sacramento (California) Medical Foundation Blood Center in 1989 concluded that there is evidence that the transmission of Bb is possible by blood transfusion . Furthermore, in 1990, a study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia stated that the data demonstrates that Bb can survive the blood processing procedures normally applied to transfused blood in the USA.
Q: Can you say something more about the potential contagious aspects of the disease?
A: Massie: Lyme disease is potentially contagious. There are numerous scientific abstracts, documented cases, websites, etc. to prove this statement. According to Dr. Charles Ray Jones, Pediatric Lyme specialist, "Of more than 5,000 children I've treated, 240 have been born with the disease. Twelve children who've been breast-fed have subsequently developed Lyme.
Borrelia bacteria (Bb) can be transmitted transplacentally, even with in vitro fertilization; I've seen 8 children infected in this way. People from Asia who come to me with the classic Lyme rash have been infected by fleas and gnats." Dr. Gregory Bach, D.O., presented a study on transmission via semen at the American Psychiatric Association meeting in November 2000 in which he confirmed Bb DNA in semen using the PCR test.
Dr. Tang states "Transmission may also occur via blood transfusion and through the bite of mosquitoes or other insects." I do not believe we all need to panic, but we should take necessary precautions. I have found time and time again that when one spouse is Lyme-positive, the other spouse usually has Lyme as well.
My first LLMD who diagnosed me 15 years ago believes I got infected from a blood transfusion from a botched surgery in 1994.
I'm always very careful around my grandkids about sharing utensils and not letting them drink out of the same glass with me.
Due to my hands often being dry and chapped, with cuts and bleeding, I cook using gloves to protect my family when preparing meals.
"Lee Cowden, M.D., states that there are very few symptoms where one should not consider Lyme, especially given that a quarter of the U.S. population may be affected. It is estimated that Lyme disease may be a contributing factor in more than 50% of chronically ill people." (From the same source above.)
If what Cowden says is true, I seriously doubt that if lyme disease is a contributing factor in more than 50% of chronically ill people that they ALL got it from a tick bite.
I'm convinced this disease is more contagious than we'd like to believe.
posted
I have been married to my husband for 25 years. I was infected prior to meeting him. We don't use "protection". He is not sick.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
quote:Originally posted by sixgoofykids: I have been married to my husband for 25 years. I was infected prior to meeting him. We don't use "protection". He is not sick.
I would contribute that to the fact that your husband is in good health and has a very good immune system. Either that, or he's very "lucky".
quote:Originally posted by gwb: I would contribute that to the fact that your husband is in good health and has a very good immune system. Either that, or he's very "lucky".
Gary
Could be. My LLMD doesn't think it's sexually transmitted, he thinks that married couples more likely both get it because they are together in the same places.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
It's interesting, my dad died over 20 years ago. Guess what he died of? ALS (Lou Gerhig's Disease). My LLMD didn't know this at the time, and it didn't enter my mind to mention it, but looking back, I can't help but wonder if I somehow got this disease from my dad?
At the time (20 years ago), when people were diagnosed with ALS, Lyme disease was rarely talked about, so no one ever thought to make the connection.
We'll never know now, but I can't help but wonder if my dad died of complications of Lyme disease and not ALS. I can't help but wonder if that's why I might have Lyme disease too.
Interesting...
Gary
[ 05-22-2010, 09:32 PM: Message edited by: gwb ]
Posts: 1349 | From OK | Registered: May 2005
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