Lyme and Lyme Induced Autism

This Spring Lymenaide and And What Productions filmed an interview with Dr Chitra Bhakta.

Dr Bhakta is a DAN  (Defeat Autism Now) and an LLMD. She spoke with us about Lyme Induced Autism, Lyme disease and treatment.

The whole 2 part interview can be watched here.

 

This Disease Called Lyme

When I tell someone about my illness, I call it Lyme disease. However, borrelia burgdorferi is only one small part of that illness. My definition of Lyme disease, is something much bigger. Lyme, in itself, was the catalyst that opened the door and invited the rest of my disease to come out to play.

For me Lyme is the large branching tree of everything I have. Each separate infection/disease is only one branch; borrelia burgdorferi, bartonella, erhlichia, babesia, HHV6, CMV, EBV, parasites, amoebas, thyroid imbalance, hormonal imbalance, candida, heavy metals, food sensitivities, the list goes on. I don’t differentiate, I call it all Lyme. The reality is though, it is not all Lyme. Lyme is really only borrelia burgdorferi.

I often wonder how much confusion this causes. I have seen many people write online about how angry they are that their doctor has told them they are now suffering from X not Lyme. They are angry because they are still sick. Of course they are still sick. They most likely had more than just Lyme, borrelia burgdorferi, to start with.

When the laundry list of diseases is as long as most of ours are, getting rid of one infection, even if it is borrelia burgdorferi, is not going to make us well. It is only one step in this long process.

Even the IDSA says that one of the reasons that some of us remain symptomatic is, They had Lyme disease and another infection simultaneously and were only treated for Lyme disease. Each co-infection is, in fact, a different infection.

Putting aside all the monitory interests involved with the IDSA and Lyme disease, are they in part arguing semantics? Or, are we for that matter?

While I believe the IDSA guidelines to be flawed and most definitely not in the interest of the ill, I have to admit that Lyme would not be nearly as hard to treat if it was only borrelia burgdorferi.

I suppose I would even go so far as to say that if you saw the right doctor, and if you were diagnosed right away, and if you only had borrelia burgdorferi, then Lyme would be easy to diagnose and easy to treat with a short course of antibiotics. That is a few too many ifs for me. It may be the exception but it is most definitely not the rule.

I don’t believe that the literal Lyme disease, borrelia burgdorferi, is the same disease that the majority of us are talking about when we say Lyme. We have it yes, but it is only the trunk not the whole tree of our illness.

If you had noticed the small sapling growing, unwantedly, in your garden early on, you may have be able to simply pluck it out by hand. Now though, with the size of the tree and the span of it’s branches, you are very likely going to need a tree trimmer and a bulldozer to get to the root of the problem.

-Ashley

 

Lyme Cured Naturally- Heather’s Story on YouTube

In this video I was interviewed by a woman that I met at a Day Spa in New York.

I met her at my lowest point during my Lyme battle. I remember sitting in the chair crying in the waiting room at the Day Spa asking to see the owner inquiring about Colonics. My doctors had all failed me and I just didn’t know what to do. She came up to me, gave me a hug, told me she was battling Lyme disease herself and that everything was going to be okay and started introducing me to ozone. She does a lot of work with doctors in the New York area and Ozone.

When I saw her recently she was amazed at how much better I am doing. I was shocked when she said she wanted to interview me. But, I nervously I agreed to do it. (My dog wanted in on the video too):-)

This is part 2 of a 5 part series. You can find the other 4 videos by following the links at the bottom of this post.

more about “lyme cured naturally – heather’s stor…“, posted with vodpod

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The Post Traumatic effects that I have from Lyme are devastating. Getting over Lyme was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, I’m still on my way and I want you to know that even though I try to smile these days and in this video. Those memories of 6 months ago, those dark times, were the scariest times of my life.

I questioned how it was so easy for some and harder for others. I remember getting so angry every time I heard someone recovering so quickly from this disease. I think there were a lot of factors.

1. Knowledge (good doctors, good protocols, following those that have good success or sticking to the winners)
2. Money
3. Support.

I want to give people hope and hopefully save a life. People shouldn’t have to die or contemplate ending their life because doctors don’t understand, they are broke and they have next to no support. I couldn’t afford an LLMD at this point and sold off lots of stuff that I had. Even without the help of a doctor, there is still hope and if your antibiotic fails please, please don’t give up. You’re not alone. Write down all the things that you have to live for, post it somewhere and don’t stop until you find the answer.

God bless,

Heather

This is part 2 of the 5 part series Heather did with . To see the rest of the videos follow the links listed below.

HEATHER’S STORY PART 1
HEATHER’S STORY PART 3
HEATHER’S STORY PART 4
HEATHER’S STORY PART 5

 

Uninvited Guests

my little friend

I have worms.

I discovered them about a month ago. It was after my second ever coffee enema. Nine hours after the morning reverse latte, three of them showed up all by their lonesome selves, much to my disgust and surprise.

I only told a few people. I was embarrassed. I know that it is “normal”, a lot of us have worms and other parasites but, well, I mean…just..YUCK!

I knew that I should keep them, but seriously, I was so horrified I could not flush them fast enough. They were not really gross. They looked like smallish smooth earthworms. They were about three inches long, pink on one end and fleshy translucent on the other. I deduced that the pink was because, gulp, they had been feeding on me. Not my favorite thought.

You should have seen the look on my doctors face when I told him about my little friends. I swear he was excited! Well, whatever floats your boat. He looked truly disappointed that I had disposed of the little beasts.

I was sent home with a collection kit should my slimy visitors show up again.

Well, today was the day. Always vigilant I had a peek  just to check for them. There they were taunting me, “HAHA, how do you propose to get us out of the toilet now?” Evil little bastards. But, I am industrious, their escape plans were foiled by my plastic forks and rubber gloves.

I can not believe I have to admit this, I was excited at their reappearance. Why, I have no idea. I guess somehow I am intrigued by the cornucopia of living organisms within me.

 

Ehrlichia and Lyme

Ehrlichiosis (HME) was originally thought to be only an animal disease. It was described in humans in 1987 and is now found in 30 states, predominately in the southeast, south-central, and mid-Atlantic states, Europe and Africa. Anaplasmosis (HGE)in humans was first identified in 1990 in a Wisconsin man. Before that it was known to infect horses, sheep, cattle, dogs and cats. It occurs in the upper midwest, northeast, the mid-Atlantic states, northern California, and many parts of Europe. Studies suggest that in endemic areas as much as 15% to 36% of the population has been infected, though often it is not recognized. (1)

Diagnosis is limited by our current ability to test for only two species. Ehrlichia parasites multiply inside host cells, forming large mulberry-shaped clusters called morulae which doctors can sometimes see on blood smears. The infection still can easily be missed. The doctor may suspect ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis in a patient who does not respond well to treatment for Lyme disease. (1)

Ehrlichiosis is caused by bacteria that belong to the family called Rickettsiae. Rickettsial bacteria cause a number of serious diseases worldwide, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever and typhus. All of these diseases are spread to humans by a tick, flea, or mite bite.

Ehrlichia bacteria can be carried by the Lone Star tick, the American dog tick, and the deer tick, which can also cause Lyme disease. (2)

There are two kinds of ehrlichiosis, both of which are caused by tick-borne rickettsial parasites called Ehrlichia that infect different kinds of white blood cells. In HME (human monocytic ehrlichiosis), they infect monocytes. In HGE (human granulocytic ehrlichiosis), they infect granulocytes. HGE was renamed anaplasmosis in 2003. Ticks carry many Ehrlichia-like parasites that have not been identified yet. It is likely that the lone star tick transmits HME and that the deer tick transmits HGE. (1)

Not every individual tick is infected with the bacteria, so a tick bite does not automatically result in illness. It usually takes 24 to 36 hours for an infected feeding tick to transmit the ehrlichiosis-causing bacteria to its host. (3)

The symptoms of ehrlichiosis usually appear about a week after someone has been bitten by an infected tick. However, it is also common for ehrlichiosis to have very mild symptoms or even no symptoms at all. The only way to conclusively diagnose ehrlichiosis is through a blood test. The good news is that this disease is usually resolved by the immune system and requires no medical treatment. (3)

For people who have compromised or weak immune systems, such as very young children, the elderly or those with autoimmune deficiency diseases, ehrlichiosis can become very serious or fatal if left untreated. When the immune system is unable to effectively fight bacteria, the bacteria are able to multiply quickly and overwhelm the body. (3)

Treatments include-
Doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline, rifampin and zithromax

Symptoms include-
profound fatigue
sever muscle pain
high liver enzymes
low white blood cell count
fevers
severe headaches
nausea
malaise
flat red rash
diarrhea
joint pain
confusion
low platelet count
anemia
kidney failure
respiratory insufficiency

SOURCES-
1. http://www.lymedisease.org/lyme101/coinfections/ehrlichia.html

2. https://www.google.com/health/ref/Ehrlichiosis

3. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-ehrlichiosis.htm

RELATED POSTS-
Babesia
Bartonella
This Disease Called Lyme

 

Babesia

Babesiosis is an infection caused by a malaria-like parasite, also called a “piroplasm,” that infects red blood cells. Babesia microti is believed to be the most common piroplasm infecting humans, but scientists have identified over twenty piroplasms carried by ticks. Ticks may carry only Babesia or they may be infected with both Babesia and Lyme spirochetes. (1)

Long-standing infections may need to be treated for several months, and relapses sometimes occur and must be retreated. (1)

Babesia infection is becoming more commonly recognized, especially in patients who already have Lyme Disease. It has been published that as many as 66% of Lyme patients show evidence of co-infection with Babesia. It has also been reported that Babesial infections can range in severity from mild, subclinical infection, to fulminant, potentially life-threatening illness. The more severe presentations are more likely to be seen in immunocompromised and elderly patients. Milder infections are often missed because the symptoms are incorrectly ascribed to Lyme. Babesial infections, even mild ones, may recrudesce and cause severe illness. This phenomenon has been reported to occur at any time, even up to several years after the initial infection. Furthermore, asymptomatic carriers pose risks: to the blood supply as this infection has been reported to be passed on by blood transfusion, and to the unborn child from an infected mother as it can be transmitted in utero. (2)

Diagnostic tests are insensitive and problematic. There are at least thirteen Babesial forms found in ticks, yet we can currently only test for B. microti and WA-1 with our serologic and nuclear tests. Standard blood smears reportedly are reliable for only the first two weeks of infection, thus are not useful for diagnosing later infections and milder ones including carrier states where the germ load is too low to be detected. Krause, PJ, Telford, SR, Spielman, A, et.al. Concurrent Lyme disease and Babesiosis. JAMA 1996. 275 (21):1660 “As is common in the case of Babesial infections, parasites frequently cannot be seen in blood films.” Therefore, multiple diagnostic test methods are available and each have their own benefits and limitations and often several tests must be done. Be prepared to treat based on clinical presentation, even with negative tests. (2)

No Lyme cure exists if a powerful co-infection like Babesia and/or Bartonella is present and untreated to the point of full removal. Lyme cure is also likely impossible in the presence of ineffective routine dosing, (i.e. like 750 mg of Mepron twice a day), which kills some Babesia but leaves some residual Babesia alive. (3)

Current Babesia testing does not test for all possible human species. Current national labs have not invested large sums to improve species or genus level Babesia testing, or better visualization techniques that would increase the capacity to see Babesia in a blood drop smear. (3)

Many Babesia species infect humans, and more species or species variants are discovered every year. I (Dr. Schaller) believe I am seeing patients with a mix of Babesia species or species variants. For example, I have patients with Babesia microti, Babesia duncani (WA-1) and suspected MO-1. This last species is all over North America. Further, I believe microti has more than one strain in the USA, and we already know it has more than one strain in the world. I believe the dose that kills one species or species variant, does not fully remove other species or other species variants. This is a revolutionary component in approaching Babesia treatment. (3)

Treatments include-
Mepron, malarone, lariam, clindamycin, quinine, alinia, metronidazole, primaquin, zithromax, cryptolepsis, artemisinin, smilax, tesel, enula, mora, rizol oils, flagyl, biaxin, ketek, plaquenil, chlorquine, primaquine, proquanil

Symptoms include-
night sweats
flushing pressure-like headaches
violent nightmares, vivid dreams
shortness of breath, air hunger
dry cough
neck pain
fatigue
dizziness
trouble thinking
fevers
memory loss
chills
sense of imbalance
encephalopathy DEFINITION

Related Post-
SUCCESSFUL BABESIA TREATMENT
BARTONELLA

SOURCES
1. http://www.lymedisease.org/lyme101/coinfections/babesia.html
2. http://www.canlyme.com/coinf.html#ehrl (taken from Burrascano)
3. http://www.babesiabook.com/articles/babesiaupdatereview.html

 

Bartonella

Bartonella is a bacterium that causes illness, the most commonly known of which is a disease called “Cat Scratch Fever.” Thousands of known cases of Bartonella occur in the U.S. each Year, with the vast majority of known cases due to bites from fleas that infest cats or infected dogs (may also occur directly from bites and scratches from infected dogs or cats). Bartonella can also be transmitted by ticks that transmit Lyme Disease. In fact, in a study published recently, deer ticks from New Jersey had a higher prevalence of Bartonella organisms than of Lyme organisms. (1)

It is unclear whether the organism that we see transmitted along with Lyme disease is actually a Bartonella species (such as B. henselae or B. quintana) or is “Bartonella-Like Organism” (BLO) that is yet to be fully identified. While BLO has features similar to organisms in the Bartonella family, it also has features slimiar to the Mycoplasma and the Francisella (causes tularemia) families. (1)

It has been said that Bartonella is the most common of all tick-borne pathogens. Indeed, there seems to be a fairly distinct clinical syndrome when this type of organism is present in the chronic Lyme patient. However, several aspect of this infection seem to indicate that this tick-associated strain of Bartonella is different from that described as “cat scratch disease”. For example, in patients who fit the clinical picture, standard Bartonella blood testing in commonly non-reactive. Furthermore, the usual Bartonella medications do not work for this- they suppress the symptoms but do not permanently clear them. For these reasons I (Dr Burrascano) like to refer to this as a “Bartonella-like organism” (BLO), rather than assume it is a more common species. (2)

Incidentally, animal studies show that Bartonella may be transmitted across the placenta. No human studies have been done. (2)

Bartonellosis is often mild but in serious cases it can affect the whole body. Early signs are fever, fatigue, headache, poor appetite, and an unusual, streaked rash. Swollen glands are typical, especially around the head, neck and arms. Burrascano suspects bartonellosis when neurologic symptoms are out of proportion to the other systemic symptoms of chronic Lyme. He also notes gastritis, lower abdominal pain, sore soles, and tender subcutaneous nodules along the extremities. Lymph nodes may be enlarged and the throat can be sore. (3)

Bartonella are bacteria that live inside cells; they can infect humans, mammals, and a wide range of wild animals. Not all Bartonella species cause disease in humans. Bartonella henselae causes an important emerging infection first reported in 1990 and described as a new species in 1992. It is mainly carried by cats and causes cat-scratch disease, endocarditis, and several other serious diseases in humans. (3)

Bartonella bacteria are known to be carried by fleas, body lice and ticks. Scientists suspect that ticks are a source of infection in some human cases of bartonellosis. People with tick bites and no known exposure to cats have acquired the disease. People who recall being bitten by ticks have been co-infected with Lyme and Bartonella. More research needs to be done to establish the role of ticks in spreading the disease. (3)

Babesia and Bartonella are not little addendums to Lyme disease, but are often far more serious than Lyme disease. Any physician who is not well-versed in these two killing infections perhaps should not be considered competent enough to treat patients with flea and tick infections. These infections do not circle around planet “Lyme” like small moons, instead, they are their own huge planets that cause massive consequences to the human body. (4)

In my experience (Dr. Schaller), Bartonella is profoundly agitating and causes all possible psychiatric troubles. Some patients feel like they have gasoline in their veins and are highly reactive and grossly sensitive. I also believe Babesia and Lyme disease, to a lesser extent, can also cause very diverse psychiatric troubles. (5)

It is important to realize that Bartonella is not rare. It is all over the world and only those living in the polar ice caps are immune to the risk of infection. I (Dr. Schaller) personally believe based on newer and more aggressive testing that it is more common than Lyme disease. Many are falsely diagnosed with Babesia because they are tired and fatigued, and yet this is a highly common symptom of Bartonella reported in vast numbers of studies. It is a major contributing infection to chronic fatigue and Fibromyalgia symptom clusters. (6)

You should appreciate that it is unlikely you will ever be cured of Lyme in the presence of Bartonella. Why? Bartonella is a massive immune suppressing bacteria. It can float attached to Red Blood Cells in vast numbers and not even cause a cold or fever. Just imagine, bacteria are floating in your blood and you might not have any fever at all! If you had Staph or Strep in your blood at these levels you would likely be dead in 48 hours unless you were pumped full of antibiotics in an ICU. So how is it this huge elephant floats in vast numbers and causes no severe fever and no disastrous signs of deadly sepsis—infected blood throughout the body with massive inflammation. It is because it has ways of shutting down the immune system. It violates many rules of bacteria behavior and this is one reason it has been so seriously missed until recent years. (6)

Treatments include-
ceftin, ciprofloxacin, mycobutin, levaqin, septra, doxycycline, omnicet, cumanda, clove bud oil, houttuynia, banderol

Symptoms-
ice pick like headaches
photophobia
anxiety
reflex sympathetic dystorphy
cardiac problems
gut problems
plantar fascial pain
burning pain
night sweats
weight loss
neurological symptoms
foot pain, sore soles
enlarged lymph nodes
rash that looks like red or purple stretch marks PHOTOS
cold hands and feet
intestinal infection
blood thinkening
sore throat
agitation
insomnia
confusion
lower abdominal pain

Related Posts-
BABESIA

1. http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=062704;p=0
2. http://www.lymediseaseresource.com/BurrGuide2008.pdf
3. http://www.lymedisease.org/lyme101/coinfections/bartonella.html
4. http://lymeinfo.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/ignore-bartonella-stay-ill-lose-a-relationship-job-or-hurt-an-organ-part-1/
5. http://www.personalconsult.com/articles/violenceandlyme.html
6. http://74.125.155.132/custom?q=cache:4mhxB9XO9igJ:www.personalconsult.com/bartonella/bartonellaignored.doc+Bartonella&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=google-coop-np