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LYME DISEASE and its Connection to THYROID/ADRENAL PROBLEMS

_http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/lyme-disease/_

(http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/lyme-disease/)

 

This informative article has been written by thyroid/adrenal patient Dana.

I became interested in the link between Lyme Disease (LD) and

Hypothyroidism after my own young son contracted Lyme Disease in the late

summer of

2005. Below is my son’s story—a child who was healthy and did not exhibit

any

signs of Hypothyroidism until AFTER he contracted Lyme Disease.

A few weeks before school began in 2005, my youngest son became ill with

what I thought was a virus. He had a fever, sore throat, headache, and a

stiff neck. I checked the lymph nodes behind his neck and ears and found them

enlarged. I basically treated his symptoms the rest of the weekend with

Motrin, and kept a watchful eye on him.

The following Monday, I had him see our family practitioner, who ran tests

for strep and Mononucleosis. Because the tests were negative, a viral

illness was diagnosed. She stated it would need to run it*s course, and if he

wasn*t better in a week, bring him back in.

Trusting the Doctor, I took him home and continued to treat his symptoms.

My son*s sore neck and throat got better, but other symptoms persisted–his

fever continued and his lymph nodes were still swollen. Additionally, his

eyes were bloodshot and he had no appetite. A second trip to the Doctor

found a low White Cell Count, and we were instructed to come back in a month to

recheck it. She also reiterated that he is probably just fighting a virus.

That weekend my older son noticed his brother had a weird red rash on his

back, 2 weeks after his flu-like symptoms began. The numerous areas of rash

were very faint, round and very large. There was some central clearing in

each one. A third visit to the Doctor concluded with a diagnosis of Lyme

Disease. I was actually thankful to finally have a diagnosis. She stated a

Lyme test would be run, but because the rash is so distinctive, she was going

to treat him for Lyme Disease right away with Amoxicillin for 2 weeks.

Because I research anything that interests me, I got on my computer and

started my investigation on **Lyme Disease**. Almost immediately I found out

that the typical Lyme Rash, called **Erythema Migrans**, is conclusive for

Lyme Disease. Even if the Lyme test comes back negative, treatment is

necessary. However, by the time my son was treated, the **Borrelia Burgdorferi**

(LD) infection had already disseminated or spread throughout his body and

brain. That was why he had multiple bullseye rashes on his body.

Because the Doctor did not suspect LD early on, I learned that my son

already had progressed to Stage 2 or Early Disseminated Lyme Disease. The

treatment for disseminated LD needed to be longer than 3 weeks on Amoxicillin! I

called my Doctor and asked if she would please prescribe a longer course of

antibiotics. She said that she would prescribe one more week and that

would be enough to take care of the infection. So, my son was **allowed** to be

on Amoxicillin for 4 weeks.

I also asked the Doctor if she thought that he might be better off on

Doxycycline, instead of Amoxicillin, since literature states that Doxycycline

is a better choice, especially if there is a chance of co-infections. She

explained that because my son was only 10 years old, Doxycycline can discolor

any permanent teeth that have not yet erupted. It was suggested that I

call my dentist and ask his opinion. I did call my son’s dentist and he

concurred with the Doctor about teeth discoloration. So, I reluctantly, decided

to stick with the Amoxicillin.

However, because my son was showing signs of cognitive dysfunction,

including short term memory loss and word recall problems (he is an A student),

I

was concerned that 4 weeks of antibiotics would not get rid of the LD

infection. Luckily, through further research online, I found there was a

**Pediatric Lyme Specialist** on the East Coast who might be able to help my

son.

After calling his office, his nurse explained that he really should be on

antibiotics longer than a month, because my son was showing brain

involvement. She asked me to send her all of my sons records and recent blood

work.

By the way, my son*s Lyme test did come back positive for Lyme Disease.

My son was now in good hands. This wonderful, compassionate Doctor

prescribed an additional 3 month course of Amoxicillin, which meant he was

treated

a total of 4 months on Antibiotics. He also suggested I buy a good

Probiotic for the Yeast overgrowth that occurs during antibiotic treatment.

Gradually, my son recovered his normal mental function and his other symptoms

resolved during the antibiotic treatment. However, I was watchful for any

return of symptoms, since my research show that these nasty bacterial

**Borrelia

Burgdorferi** Spirochetes are resistant to antibiotics because they do not

have a cell wall. They are able to invade any and all organs or tissue in

the body and cause destruction, slowly.

My son did recover, to a certain extent. However, to this day I do not

know if the Amoxicillin was completely successful. What I do know is that

because my son was not treated the first few weeks he was sick with LD, it was

enough time for the **b. Burgdorferi** Spirochetes to invade his organs and

brain.

THE PROGRESSION OF MY SON INTO HYPOTHYROID

About a year later, I noticed my son was more fatigued and getting

headaches again, daily, as well as being moody and an easily aroused temper. He

was also hungry all the time and gaining weight. Because I was diagnosed with

Hypothyroidism in 2004, I was aware of Low Thyroid symptoms. Also, we have

a family history of Thyroid problems. My Grandmother, my now deceased

Father, my younger sister, and my Maternal Aunt have all have been diagnosed

with Hypothyroidism. So, when I started to see symptoms of this in my son, I

decided to monitor his temperature. Sure enough, his temperature was low

throughout the day, never getting above 97.9. I set up an appointment with our

local family practitioner, and when the results came back, he dismissed he

had Low Thyroid. My son*s TSH was 1.78 and his FT3 was almost mid-range.

But, his FT4 was very, very low.

I knew, though, from my own experience and research that he was in fact

Low Thyroid. But, I decided to wait it out a little longer to see if this

might be temporary. It wasn*t. Unfortunately, I personally did not have a good

Thyroid Doctor, and after much soul searching, I decided the best thing for

my son would be to start him on a *trial* of Armour. By this time I had

already been *self* treating myself with Armour, because I did not have the

support from my own Endochronologist. I discussed with my son what all this

entailed and he was willing to try it.

I started him on 1/4 grain of Armour and he did well. I waited out each

increase for at least a few weeks and slowly he started to feel better. He

started to lose the excess weight and his headaches lessoned. During this

time, I continued to search for a better Thyroid Doctor. I slowly increased his

Armour until we got to 3/4 grains. I did not want to increase any further

until I had his Thyroid labs done, so I kept him on 3/4 grains for over a

month. I luckily found a good Doctor an hour away from us and set up an

appointment. Even though I knew in my heart that I was doing the “rightâ€

thing

in self-treating my son, I was a little nervous on that first appointment.

However, after discussing my son’s symptoms and explaining his

improvement, our new Doctor concurred that he probably did have a Thyroid

problem. He

agreed to run thyroid tests to see how his numbers were compared to the

last Thyroid panel. He also agreed to start prescribing Armour for my son. I

asked the new Doctor to check his FT3 and FT4 along with TSH. He was fine

with that. Well, my son*s lab results indicated an improvement in his FT3, but

his FT4 was still too low. So, the Doctor agreed that I could raise my son

to 1 grain Armour. My son is continuing to improve on 1 grain Armour and I

will hold this dose for 6 weeks. I suspect we are almost there in his

treatment with Armour and I am reassured that my son will continue to improve.

 

STRONG LINK BETWEEN MY SON*S LYME DISEASE and THYROID DISEASE

Now you have read my own son*s story of his Lyme Disease and his

subsequent Hypothyroid diagnosis. And my goal here is not only for you to be

aware

of Lyme Disease, but to highlight that there is a strong link between LD

infection and later developing Thyroid Disease, Auto-immune Dysfunction and/or

Adrenal Dysfunction.

John D. Bleiweiss, M.D., a Lyme Disease specialist, states,

**Increasingly, I am encountering thyroid disease in LD. A local endocrinologist

has

remarked to me privately that the incidence of thyroid involvement in LD may be

greater than expected from the normal population.** He goes on to say, **In

many of these patients, the thyroid dysfunction was seen to originate in

the pituitary or hypothalmus. Remaining alert to the possibility of thyroid

disease is essential because there can be considerable clinical overlap

with LD. Subacute thyroiditis is the most prevalent thyroid phenomenon I see

in LD. Hypoadrenalism can uncommonly develop:

_www.lymenet.de/lymcheck.html#essay_ (http://www.lymenet.de/lymcheck.html#essay)

Dr. James Howenstine, a Lyme Disease expert, states, **Profound

dysfunction of the hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal, thyroid glands and gonads

is

very common in mycoplasmal, fungal, and anerobic bacterial infections.

_www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/archive.cgi?read=51356_

(http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/archive.cgi?read=51356) He goes on to

say, **There is considerable

evidence that many patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia,

and Lyme disease have an infectious disease. Lyme disease needs to be

considered in every patient with a chronic illness.**

Many of those who have Low Thyroid or Low Adrenal function have also been

diagnosed with either Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which to me

are **catch all** diagnoses that Doctors have used in order to *label* us

with a disease they don*t understand.

There is considerable evidence that these diseases are actually caused by

either a bacteria or virus. And, because of these infections, our bodies*

immune systems’ are weakened. That theory, in turn, pre-disposes us to

developing various autoimmune disease as well as Thyroid and Adrenal disorders.

My own son was perfectly healthy until he was bitten by a Lyme infected

tick. This, I truly believe, set the stage for his own Thyroid to fail.

It is true that Thryoid disease in my own family is rampant. Many of us

have developed Low Thyroid and Adrenal Disorders. I, personally, was

diagnosed with Low Thyroid in 2004. I suspect that I have suffered from Low

Thyroid

most of my adult life. I too have some suspicion that I could have been

infected with LD during my early years and will soon be testing for it.

_http://centralfloridaresearch.com/lab/_'>http://centralfloridaresearch.com/lab/_

(http://centralfloridaresearch.com/lab/)

It could very well be that I was bitten by a tick during one of those

summers I spent in Northern Wisconsin. Certainly Wisconsin is an epidemic state

according to the CDC. _www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/riskmap.htm _

(http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/riskmap.htm)

The Lyme Bacteria, **Borrelia Burgdorferi**, has now been found in

mosquitos, biting flies, fleas, and various other vectors

_www.wildernetwork.org/faq004.html_ (http://www.wildernetwork.org/faq004.html)

It can be

transmitted in utero and by breast milk. So it can be impossible to know for

sure who

is really *safe* from this insidious and very destructive infection. There

is evidence that **b. Burgdorferi** bacteria could even be transmitted,

sexually. _www.anapsid.org/lyme/std.html _

(http://www.anapsid.org/lyme/std.html) We all know that the **b. Burgdorferi**

cousin, Syphilis, can be spread

through sexual contact.

**Transmission of the disease has been clearly documented after bites by

fleas, mites, mosquitos and ticks. There is compelling evidence that Lyme

disease (LD) can be spread by sexual and congenital transfer.**

_www.samento.com.ec/sciencelib/4lyme/Townsendhowens.html_

(http://www.anapsid.org/lyme/std.html)

**The Sacramento, California blood bank thinks that LD can be spread by

blood transfusions. The CDC (Center of Disease Control) in Atlanta, Georgia

states that their data indicates that Bb can survive the blood processing

techniques used for transfusions in the US.**

_www.samento.com.ec/sciencelib/4lyme/Townsendhowens.html_

(http://www.samento.com.ec/sciencelib/4lyme/Townsendhowens.html)

**Biology professor, Lida Mattman, author of Cell Wall Deficient Forms:

Stealth Pathogens, has been able to recover live spirochetes of Bb from

mosquitos, fleas, mites, semen, urine, blood, and spinal fluid.**

_www.digitalnaturopath.com/cond/C351537.html#H2_

(http://www.digitalnaturopath.com/cond/C351537.html#H2)

BELOW ARE MORE FACTS ABOUT LYME DISEASE

LD is most often transmitted by a tick bite. Only 20-30% of those infected

ever recall a tick bite. The more common tick vectors are the Deer Tick

and the Lone Star Tick. However, other ticks can also transmit the LD

bacteria. _http://www.canlyme.com/ticks.html_

(http://www.canlyme.com/ticks.html)

Ticks prefer to live wooded areas, fields, yards and even near the ocean.

Even if you are not a nature lover and prefer to stay in your house, you are

not safe from LD tick bites. Your own pets, cats or dogs, can bring these

ticks into your household. Because some of these ticks are as small as a

pin-head when in there nymphal stage, it can be virtually impossible to know

if you were bitten. They have a two year life cycle and are most active

April through October. However, depending on where you live, you are not even

safe in the winter months. Every state in the US has cases of Lyme Disease.

But, the most endemic areas include Northeastern states, Pacific

Northwestern states and the Great Lake states. LD is found in many other

countries

as well and include many different *strains* of the LD bacteria. The

following countries have reported cases of LD: Scandinavia, Central Europe,

Southern Europe, Western Europe, Russia, Japan, China and Australia.

And, many, many cases of LD go unreported or misdiagnosed. According to

the following website: _www.emedicine.com/derm/topic536.htm_

(http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic536.htm) , **Epidemiologic data suggest

that the actual

incidence of Lyme disease could be as much as 10 times higher than the CDC

data indicate. This probably is a result of a restrictive case definition

from the CDC, inevitable misdiagnosis, and the fact that physicians tend to

underreport reportable diseases of all kinds.**

The President of a Lyme Testing Facility, Dr. Nick Harris, goes on to say,

**Lyme disease, in fact, might be the most insidious — and least

understood — infectious disease of our day.** **If it weren’t for AIDS,**

says

Nick Harris, Ph.D., President of IgeneX, Inc., a research and testing

laboratory in Palo Alto, California, **Lyme would be the number one infectious

disease in the United States and Western Europe.**

_www.mercola.com/2001/jul/25/lyme_disease.htm_

(http://www.mercola.com/2001/jul/25/lyme_disease.htm)

Lyme Disease is now thought to be the fastest growing infectious disease

in the world. There are believed to be at least 200,000 new cases each year

in the US and some experts think that as many as one in every 15 Americans

is currently infected (20 million persons).

_www.digitalnaturopath.com/cond/C351537.html#H2_

(http://www.digitalnaturopath.com/cond/C351537.html#H2)

STAGES OF LYME DISEASE

Lyme Disease is now the new **Great Imitator** because it can mimic many

other diseases. That is why it is often difficult to diagnose. About 40-50%

of those infected, report a rash. This rash can often look like a bullseye

_www.lyme.org/gallery/rashes.html _

(http://www.lyme.org/gallery/rashes.html) but, there have been other rashes

implicated as well. This bullseye rash

or the EM Migrans rash can be up to 12 inches across and there can be more

than one. It is round or ring-like, with a pink or reddish border. There is

usually central clearing. Sometimes it can feel hot or itch but, most of

the time it cannot be felt at all. The rash can also mimic other skin

conditions like ringworm, hives, flea bites, poison ivy, eczcema or even

sunburn.

Anytime you find a rash like this you must go to your Doctor right away

before it has a chance to fade or if that isn’t possible, take a picture of

it.

The first stage and early symptoms of LD can be vague or flu-like. These

symptoms can show up days or even weeks after you are infected. Most have

flu-like symptoms like fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches,

fatigue, headache and stiff neck. These flu-like symptoms resolve on their

own even without early treatment. However, not everyone will get these

flu-like symptoms and many will not get the rash. About 25% will have only

vague flu-like symptoms or no symptoms at all. If a person is to get the Lyme

Rash, EM Migrans, it can appear days or weeks after infection. The second

stage of the disease progresses and the rash can then spread to other parts

of the body. This is called Disseminated Lyme Disease. The spread of the

disease begins soon after you are infected. The symptoms are varied with each

individual. ( It is important to note that 30- 50% of people infected with

LD have no symptoms at all or are asymptomatic, until some stressor like

trauma, surgery, chronic stress, or another illness may then activate the LD

infection.) _www.canlyme.com/fibrocfslyme.html _

(http://www.canlyme.com/fibrocfslyme.html) That makes the diagnosis much more

difficult, because a

person can be infected years before the symptoms actually occur.

Stage 2, or early Disseminated LD symptoms can include the following:

numbness and tingling in face or Bell’s Palsy, memory, mood or cognitive

problems(Neurological), arthritic pain in joints, muscle pain, ongoing fatigue,

conjunctivitis, and heart involvement.

_www.wrongdiagnosis.com/l/lyme_disease/symptoms.htm_

(http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/l/lyme_disease/symptoms.htm)

The last stage of LD is called Late Stage Lyme Disease or Chronic Lyme

Disease. By the time a person has progressed to this stage of the disease they

usually have been diagnosed with another disorder or disease. Some of the

symptoms of Chronic LD are: mild to extreme fatigue, joint pain, muscle

pain, chronic headaches, recurring sore throat or swollen glands,

lightheadedness, cold hands and feet, skin rashes, sweating, heat or cold

intolerance,

weakness, ear ringing, face rash, vertigo, sleep disturbances, weight gain

or loss, bowel problems, depression, panic attacks, hormonal imbalances,

menstrual disorders, urinary disorders, eye problems, cognitive defects, and

mood disorders. There are over 150 symptoms of Chronic LD, so I have only

listed some of them. _www.wildernetwork.org/faq038.html_

(http://www.wildernetwork.org/faq038.html)

HOW LYME SYMPTOMS CAN BE MISDIAGNOSED AS OTHER DISEASES

Because many of these symptoms are also symptoms of other diseases, they

often go misdiagnosed. The following information was compiled from a

Non-Profit Lyme Organization’s website: _www.wildernetwork.org/faq011.html _

(http://www.wildernetwork.org/faq011.html) **There are many different diseases

or conditions that are found in patients with Lyme disease. All too often

Borrelia organisms are not being considered as the cause for patients

complaints, signs, and symptoms. Infectious disease specialists often dismiss

patients concerned about Lyme disease because many are under the assumption

that Lyme disease is very rare, and/or they are not familiar with the various

signs and symptoms of Lyme disease.**

Some of the following diseases/disorders are often Lyme infections that

are misdiagnosed as: CFS, Fibromyalgia, MS, Parkinson*s, Lou Gehrigs (ALS)

disease, Lupus, Guillian-Barre Syndrome, TMJ, ADHD, Depression, Candidiasis,

Epstein Barr Virus, Sjogrens Syndrome, Arthritis, Thyroid Disease,

Interstitial Cystitis, and Adrenal Disorders.

_www.wildernetwork.org/faq011.html_

(http://www.wildernetwork.org/faq011.html) They have found b. Burgdorferi

Spirochetes in spinal fluid and tissues samples of MS patients, and in blood

cultures of ALS and Parkinson*s disease patients.

If anyone has a chronic health condition or has been diagnosed with any of

the above symptoms or conditions, it is important that you consider Lyme

Disease as the contributing factor. Lyme Specialist, Dr. Cowden states,

**There are very few symptoms where you shouldn’t consider Lyme,** says Dr.

Cowden. **More than 50% of chronically ill people may have Lyme contributing to

their condition.**

TESTING

Unfortunately, the testing for LD can often be inaccurate. One of the

reasons, according to D. J. Fletcher and Tom Klaber,, is **The LD Spirochete,

can travel through blood vessel walls and through connective tissue. Animal

studies have shown that in less than a week after being infected, the Lyme

spirochete can be deeply embedded inside tendons, muscle, the heart and the

brain. It invades tissue, replicates and destroys its host cell as it

emerges. Sometimes the cell wall collapses around the bacterium, forming a

cloaking device, allowing it to evade detection by many tests and by the body*s

immune system. _www.mercola.com/2001/jul/25/lyme_disease.htm_

(http://www.mercola.com/2001/jul/25/lyme_disease.htm)

Lyme Disease should be confirmed clinically,( by symptoms) not just by

test results. That is why it is important to see a Lyme specialist, especially

when the test results show inconclusive or negative.

Dr. Harris concludes, **Most of the standard tests used to detect Lyme are

notoriously unreliable " " . Explains Dr. Harris, **The initial thing

patients usually get is a Western Blot antibody test. This test is not positive

immediately after Bb exposure, and only 60% or 70% of people ever show

antibodies to Bb.**

Most labs will test first with the Elisa Test, which is only about 30-40%

accurate. If the test is negative, they usually do no further testing. If

you are lucky enough to have a positive ELISA test , they will then follow

up with the Western Blot test, which has an accuracy of 60-70%. This 2

tiered testing procedure was designed by the CDC for surveillance purposes only!

And, there lies the problem. Most testing facilities and Doctors are using

the 2 tier testing procedure to diagnose LD even though they can be highly

inaccurate. This means many who have LD will test negative and will receive

no treatment!

The following statement by Dr. Scott Taylor, DVM, explains this better 2

tier testing procedure: **In defense of the ignorant physicians, much blame

can rest on health officials and the medical establishments that are not

giving clinicians the appropriate information they need to diagnosis these

difficult cases of Lyme disease. The criteria being used to report Lyme

disease by physicians is often set by state health officials and is often based

upon the rigid criteria established by the Center for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC). This CDC criteria was established for an epidemiological

survey, which was designed to study the distribution of Lyme disease. The

two-step method of the CDC uses a screening immunoassay for all patients

followed by a more sensitive and specific Western blot only if the screening

test was positive. Unfortunately, this approach was originally intended for

surveillance of Lyme disease in potentially asymptomatic patients, not for

diagnostic purposes in patients with symptoms that are potentially related to

Lyme disease. This criteria was not intended to be used as a standard for

the clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease; the CDC has clearly stated this.

Unfortunately, ignorant health officials and physicians continue to use these

criteria for the clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease.**

_www.autoimmunityresearch.org/lyme-disease/ _

(http://www.autoimmunityresearch.org/lyme-disease/)

Dr. Sam Donta, MD, did a year long study on Chronic Lyme patients and he

proved the initial ELISA test to be 66%+ inaccurate.

_www.canlyme.com/labtests.html _ (http://www.canlyme.com/labtests.html)

Tom Grier, MS, goes on to say, **In my opinion, the ELISA test is

worthless as a diagnostic tool in Lyme disease. It is inconsistent and

inaccurate,

and should be discontinued as a tool to diagnose Lyme. If the NIH and CDC

truly believe, as they*ve stated, that the diagnosis of Lyme disease is to

be made on the basis of symptoms, then these tests should be temporarily

banned until each manufacturer can prove efficacy using human serum. **

Central Florida Research, Inc., has designed the most accurate Lyme Test

available. This new Borrelia Burgdorferi antigen test is much more

definitive than the Western Blot test. The test detects the spirochetes in the

blood

using a Flow Cytometer. This test is much more accurate and the testing is

covered by most insurance companies. For more information, go to:

_http://centralfloridaresearch.com/lab/_'>http://centralfloridaresearch.com/lab/_

(http://centralfloridaresearch.com/lab/)

 

CO-INFECTIONS

I also want to briefly mention the possibility that many LD sick patients

may also be co-infected with other bacteria from the infected tick. Ticks

carry many forms of disease and if a person is infected with LD, they should

be also tested for these Co-Infections. The two most prevalent

co-infections appear to be Babesia and Ehrlichia.

Nick S. Harris, Ph.D., ABMLI, states,**There have been reports in the

literature for the past several years on the detection of coinfections of

Babesiosis or Ehrlichiosis in patients with Lyme disease. The prevalence or

frequency of these diseases as coinfections in humans is not known. It is known,

however, that 10 to 20% of the same ticks that carry B. burgdorferi also

carry the Babesia and/or Ehrlichia organisms.**

_www.igenex.com/luat7no1.htm _ (http://www.igenex.com/luat7no1.htm) He goes on

to say,** Both Babesia

and Ehrlichia, in their commonly recognized acute clinical presentation,

result in patients who are quite sick with fever, malaise, myalgia, nausea

and other symptoms. In the normal healthy population, in individuals with a

normal immune system, Babesia and/or Ehrlichia may be a self-limiting

subclinical disease that requires no medical intervention. We and other

investigators think the possibility exists that some patients with Lyme disease

may

have a subclinical infection of Babesia and/or Ehrlichia and that these

subclinical infections impact the resolution of the primary disease, Lyme. **

So, it is very important to also be tested for co-infections, especially

if antibiotic treatment fails to resolve symptoms.

 

THE LINK BETWEEN LYME DISEASE AND THYROID/ADRENAL DYSFUNCTION

In the very beginning, I stated there is a link between Lyme Disease and

later on developing Thyroid/Adrenal Disorders. When my son contracted Lyme

Disease, I truly believed he would be cured of the infection and would go on

to live a **normal** life. Although he was one of the few who was treated

more aggressively, I still do not know if he has been completely cured of

LD. However, because we did not catch the LD infection before disseminated

disease occurred, he in fact now probably has a weakened immune system. That

is the nature of this infection. It hides in every tissue in the body,

slowly weakening any organ it invades. Because these LD spirochetes like to

invade organs like the Thyroid and Adrenals, it would make sense that an

autoimmune response could be set off in these organs. _www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=PubMed & Cmd=ShowDetailView & TermToSe

arch=16571084 & ordinalpos=15 & itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_Result

sPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum) and _www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/_

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=PubMed & Cmd=ShowDetailView & TermToSea\

rch=15695691 & ordina

lpos=33 & itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocS

um) There are numerous studies that show this occurs.

Why is autoimmune disease on the rise? While I also believe that our own

toxic environment has a big role in the increase of disease’s that used to

be rare, I also believe that these “always evolving†bacteria and virus are

the true culprits. By invading our bodies, they weaken them and that sets

the stage for the disease process to begin. This article states that the B.

Burgorferi bacteria does cause an autoimmune response to begin after

infection:

**Lyme borreliosis: from infection to autoimmunity.** by Singh SK,

Girschick HJ.

Paediatric Rheumatology, Children’s Hospital, University of Würzburg,

Würzburg, Germany

**Lyme borreliosis in humans is an inflammatory disease affecting multiple

organ systems, including the nervous system, cardiovascular system, joints

and muscles. The causative agent, the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi, is

transmitted to the host by a tick bite. The pathogenesis of the disease in

its early stages is associated largely with the presence of viable

bacteria at the site of inflammation, whereas in the later stages of disease,

autoimmune features seem to contribute significantly. In addition, it has been

suggested that chronic persistence of B. burgdorferi in affected tissues is

of pathogenic relevance. Long-term exposure of the host immune system to

spirochaetes and/or borrelial compounds may induce chronic autoimmune

disease. The study of bacterium-host interactions has revealed a variety of

proinflammatory and also immunomodulatory-immunosuppressive features caused by

the pathogen. Therapeutic strategies using antibiotics are generally

successful, but chronic disease may require immunosuppressive treatment.

Effective

and safe vaccines using recombinant outer surface protein A have been

developed, but have not been propagated because of fears that autoimmunity

might

be induced. Nevertheless, new insights into the modes of transmission of

B. burgdorferi to the warm-blooded host have been generated by studying the

action of these vaccines.**

PMID: 15214872 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

_www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ _

(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=PubMed & Cmd=ShowDetailView & TermToSea\

rch=15214872 & ordinalpos=51 & itool=EntrezSystem2.

PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum)

MORE STATEMENTS ON AUTOIMMUNITY AND LYME DISEASE

**Borrelia*s ability to grow slowly and avoid attack by the host’s immune

system makes it a difficult pathogen to destroy. Not only can borrelia

evade the host immune system, but often will suppress it as well.It’s also

important to remember that borellia can go dormant in the body for lengthy

periods of time. Then it can return to cause disease at any time.**

_www.autoimmunityresearch.org/lyme-disease/_

(http://www.autoimmunityresearch.org/lyme-disease/)

**Lyme disease causes metabolic/endocrine dysfunctions that lead to weight

loss or commonly chronic weight gain. Generally, women struggle with

chronic Lyme disease more severely than men do. It is not known for sure why.**

**Clinically, *chronic fatigue syndrome* or *fibromyalgia*, which is more

recently called *chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome* (CFIDS)

cannot be readily distinguished from chronic Lyme disease and in fact is

probably one in the same disease. Yes, I believe along with many LLMDs that most

cases of fibromyaliga and CFIDS are actually misdiagnosed cases of chronic

Lyme disease. Strong support for this comes from the fact that antibiotic and

other LD therapies improve many patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia.**. I

believe that the chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction caused by LD

often leads to autoimmune diseases.â€

**Inflammation is a major part of any disease, but none more complex and

involved than with Lyme disease. Borrelia BLPs that has disseminated

throughout the body will trigger inflammation in any and all systems, organs and

tissues that it resides in. This is how Lyme can cause so many different

symptoms and mimic so many disorders.**

**Borreliosis patients usually have multiple endocrine hormone

deficiencies. This is based upon results in about 800 panels of test results.**

Symptoms and diseases caused by endocrine hormone deficiencies are similar to

those caused by tick-borne infections and hypercoagulation. **The three

treatments with the most dramatic results in borreliosis patients are

antibiotics, heparin and hormones, and patients seem to do better when all three

treatments are done. A three-stranded cord is not easily broken.**

_www.drcharlescrist.com/hormones.htm _

(http://www.drcharlescrist.com/hormones.htm)

Again, there is a lot of information on the link between Lyme Disease and

Thyroid/Adrenal Dysfunction and below I have included a small portion.:

John D. Bleiweiss, M.D. says: **Increasingly, I am encountering thyroid

disease in LD. A local endocrinologist has remarked to me privately that the

incidence of thyroid involvement in LD may be greater than expected from the

normal population. A final judgement awaits formal statistical analysis.

In many of these patients, the thyroid dysfunction was seen to originate in

the pituitary or hypothalmus. Remaining alert to the possibility of thyroid

disease is essential because there can be considerable clinical overlap

with LD. Subacute thyroiditis is the most prevalent thyroid phenomenon I see

in LD. Hypoadrenalism can uncommonly develop. Uncorrected hormonal

aberrations can vitiate otherwise effective LD therapy. Like any infection, LD

can

provoke the onset of hyperglycemia and alter the facility with which

diabetes is managed.** _www.cassia.org/essay.htm_

(http://www.cassia.org/essay.htm)

**Potentially contributing to this vasoconstriction are excessive levels

of vasoconstricting hormones, magnesium and potassium deficiency, limbic or

hypothalamic dysfunction due to CNS infection, local inflammation of

capillary sphincter or hypothyroidism.** _www.cassia.org/essay.htm _

(http://www.cassia.org/essay.htm)

**In many of my patients, cysts are found not uncommonly in various

locations: thyroid, breast, liver, bone, ovary, skin, pineal gland, and kidney.

Some forms of Polycystic Kidney and Fibrocystic Breast Disease may be LD

manifestations. LD can cause an interstitial cystis leading to bladder pain

relieved by urination. A neurogenic bladder can develop with either hesitancy,

frequency, loss of bladder awareness, urinary retention, incontinence or

the symptoms of UTI (urinary tract infection). I suspect that some cases of

chronic pyelonephritis are actually LD. Pediatricians may want to consider

that nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting)** _www.cassia.org/essay.htm_

(http://www.cassia.org/essay.htm)

**An inordinate amount of exertional or non-exertional sweating may be

described in the absence of hyperthyroidism. One of my patients experience

anhydrosis (inability to sweat) for 27 years until antibiotics were given for

LD.** _www.theoneclickgroup.co.uk/ _ (http://www.theoneclickgroup.co.uk/)

**Hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal axis dysfunction is frequently associated

with Lyme disease, and many Lyme patients have (at least temporarily) both

thyroid and adrenal insufficiency.**

_www.digitalnaturopath.com/cond/C351537.html _

(http://www.digitalnaturopath.com/cond/C351537.html)

**Lyme disease should be a differential diagnosis for all fibromyalgia

patients who could have been exposed to a tick bite. Despite antibiotic

treatment, a sequel of Lyme disease may be a post-Lyme disease syndrome (PLS),

which is characterized by persistent arthralgia, fatigue, and neurocognitive

impairment. [Journal of Rheumatology 23(8): pp.1392-1397, 1996] Although

patients with CFS and PLS share many features, including symptoms of severe

fatigue and cognitive impairment, patients with PLS show greater cognitive

deficits than patients with CFS compared with healthy controls. This is

particularly apparent among patients with PLS without premorbid psychiatric

illness. According to an informal study conducted by the American Lyme Disease

Alliance (ALDA), most patients diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

(CFS) are actually suffering from Lyme disease. In a study of 31 patients

diagnosed with CFS, 28 patients, or 90.3%, were found to be ill as a result of

Lyme disease.** _www.digitalnaturopath.com/cond/C351537.html _

(http://www.digitalnaturopath.com/cond/C351537.html)

CONCLUSION

I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this information.

This topic has been my main focus for a few years now and I have felt

compelled to share this information with those who suffer from Thyroid/Adrenal

Dysfunction, as well as those who have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, CFS,

and other diseases/disorders. It is not my intention to panic or scare

anyone but, only to plant the seed so that you can start on your own path to

*total wellness*. I truly believe there are many of us who have LD and don*t

know it. I, personally, have suffered from many illnesses since my early 20’

s and am now struggling with Low Thyroid, Adrenal Insufficiency,

Interstitial Cystitis, Fibromyalgia, OsteaoArthritis, TMJ, hormonal imbalances

and

will soon be having a Hysterectomy. I will be soon testing myself and the

rest of my family for Lyme Disease. While some of my symptoms have been

relieved with Armour and Adrenal therapy, I still continue to have problems

that

very well could stem from Chronic Lyme Disease and I plan on finding out if

a LD infection is at the “root†of my problems. Below I have included my

favorite websites on Lyme Disease. I have also included a natural therapy

website that is working for many who have Chronic Lyme Disease. Lastly, I

have included a website where you too can be tested for Lyme Disease. Again,

not all LD tests are 100% so it is important that if you suspect you are

infected, please find a LD Specialist so that you can be diagnosed and

treated. God Bless you!

Lyme Information Websites:

_www.lymediseaseassociation.org/_ (http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/)

_http://cassia.org/essay.htm _ (http://cassia.org/essay.htm)

_www.lymenet.org/ _ (http://www.lymenet.org/)

_www.autoimmunityresearch.org/lyme-disease/_

(http://www.autoimmunityresearch.org/lyme-disease/)

_www.wildernetwork.org/index.html _

(http://www.wildernetwork.org/index.html)

_www.townsendletter.com/July2004/July2004.htm _

(http://www.townsendletter.com/July2004/July2004.htm)

_www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Oasis/6455/newsgroup-faq.html _

(http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Oasis/6455/newsgroup-faq.html)

_www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.htm _

(http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.htm)

_www.lymesite.com/index.htm_ (http://www.lymesite.com/index.htm)

“Natural Therapy†for Lyme Disease

_www.fettnet.com/lymestrategies/welcome.htm_

(http://www.fettnet.com/lymestrategies/welcome.htm)

_http://health.lymestrategies/_

(http://health.lymestrategies/) (join this )

Lyme Testing:

_http://centralfloridaresearch.com/lab/ _

(http://centralfloridaresearch.com/lab/)

 

 

 

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