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Suggest Treatment For Lyme Disease
Question: Is there any treatment for Lyme Disease after the use of oral antibiotics? I have been working hard on keeping my natural immune system strong and still am sleeping more than my family doctor thinks proper, but I get a headache if I try to keep going. I never had headaches before other than once in awhile with sinus congestion, and they were different. All tests show I am in great condition except for the presence of Lyme. I am told I will always have the antibodies. Is there any good center that effectively treats continuing after-effects of Lyme.? I am 80 years old, an avid gardener with several acres of garden adjoining woodlands full of deer (I have a hunt club working on keeping the population down). I had a large target rash in 1990 that disappeared before I got a doctor's appointment and was told that Lyme did not exist in Mathews County, XXXXXXX where we live. A month later a dermatologist treated me with antibiotics noting I had classic Lyme Disease. Blood tests at that time were negative. The family doctor said the rash did not mean anything. He believed the blood test, that he begrudgingly requested. I kept going but in 2014 I felt absolutely exhausted and my new doctor received two positive Lyme test results and treated me again with antibiotics twice but I felt much worse and afterwards just worked on recovering my own immune system. It has taken me until about now to get back functioning without a walker for arthritis. I still have periodic abnormal visual blurring though four opthamologists have declared my eyes in excellent shape. (Most of my ancestors have lived healthy lives for close to 100 years). More and more of my friends are having tick-related problems. We seem to be better at treating dogs than people. One neighbor is going to Charlottesville for injections that control his Alpha-gal ($1000 each month). Others I know are just suffering with restricted diets. Where is the best center for treatment of tick-borne diseases? There is so much trash on the web about methods. Is there anything I have not found that really has scientific verification. I am currently using Chinese herbs and believe it has helped. Others I know are still suffering and living on pain pills and not willing to try the acupuncture and herbs. Do you have a vector-borne illness specialist in your book?
Brief Answer:
Chronic Lyme disease
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I understand your concern. From what I read, I am inclined to think it is a case of chronic Lyme disease, which is, as yet, not a recognised diagnosis per se, but includes a specter of illnesses or symptoms for which there is no convincing or supportive scientific basis or connection to the germ that causes Lyme disease. In other words, there is no lab or clinical evidence that chronic Lyme disease is an caused by an infection.
It is often confused with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, which is a condition made of remnant symptoms which persist after successful treatment of infection.
The symptoms of Chronic Lyme are general, non specific and not consistent with any set of symptoms pertaining to a specific disease or syndrome, but fatigue is the most prominent symptom, with joint and muscle pain, being the second most common. Although research is still underway, some experts believe that the immune system stays affected long term after the eradication of the infection, causing hypersensitivity to pain, leading to fatigue.
The most common treatment, which is wrong, in this case is long term antibiotic therapy. Since it is not yet a fully understood condition the treatment is not yet standard and agreed upon by authorities in medicine. However, chinese medicine and exercise have proven to be the most effective means in the treatment of this condition.
To the best of my knowledge there is no center that deals with this particular condition, because a few doctors are firm believers in its existence. I recommend you ask your PCP to find doctor in the area that is familiar with this syndrome and believes in it. I am positive that with XXXXXXX being a hot spot for Lyme disease, you will soon find a professional willing to guide your through treatment.
I hope this helps.
Wishing you good health and all the best
Chronic Lyme disease
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I understand your concern. From what I read, I am inclined to think it is a case of chronic Lyme disease, which is, as yet, not a recognised diagnosis per se, but includes a specter of illnesses or symptoms for which there is no convincing or supportive scientific basis or connection to the germ that causes Lyme disease. In other words, there is no lab or clinical evidence that chronic Lyme disease is an caused by an infection.
It is often confused with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, which is a condition made of remnant symptoms which persist after successful treatment of infection.
The symptoms of Chronic Lyme are general, non specific and not consistent with any set of symptoms pertaining to a specific disease or syndrome, but fatigue is the most prominent symptom, with joint and muscle pain, being the second most common. Although research is still underway, some experts believe that the immune system stays affected long term after the eradication of the infection, causing hypersensitivity to pain, leading to fatigue.
The most common treatment, which is wrong, in this case is long term antibiotic therapy. Since it is not yet a fully understood condition the treatment is not yet standard and agreed upon by authorities in medicine. However, chinese medicine and exercise have proven to be the most effective means in the treatment of this condition.
To the best of my knowledge there is no center that deals with this particular condition, because a few doctors are firm believers in its existence. I recommend you ask your PCP to find doctor in the area that is familiar with this syndrome and believes in it. I am positive that with XXXXXXX being a hot spot for Lyme disease, you will soon find a professional willing to guide your through treatment.
I hope this helps.
Wishing you good health and all the best
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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