How do you know if you have Lyme or other Co-infection? “Lyme is a clinical diagnosis supported by laboratory data.” - Dr. Charles Ray Jones MD
Read that quote very carefully, in fact re-read it. It indicates that it is first up to the physician and the patient to review signs and symp- toms and then determine whether or not Lyme disease should be includ- ed in a diagnosis. This is because the conventional testing that is avail- able right now is very limited and is unreliable. The most common testing that is utilized is an ELISA followed by a Western Blot, both of which were developed as surveillance tests for research purposes but were incor- rectly adopted by clinicians for clinical application. The issue is that these tests are both poor in their sensitivity, meaning that they fail to reveal true positives. In fact 50% or more of people who actually have Lyme may test negative utilizing these testing methods. The other negative of these tests is that they cannot be utilized immediately after a bite. Both rely on the body’s immune system to react to the Bb bacteria, which may take 6 weeks or more. By this time the bacteria has had plenty of time to cause havoc and becomes much more difficult to eradicate. Re-read that quote again from Dr. Jones. If you present with signs and symptoms, specifically an EM rash after a known bite, treatment should be started immediately and not delayed for a confirmatory test. It can even be argued that if you present with an EM rash without a known bite but live in a Lyme endemic area then treatment should be started immediately. There are many other types of testing available, specifically for
chronic Lyme and co-infections, which I will cover in Part II, in next months issue.
Prevention and Checks The best way to minimize the chance of being infected by a
tick bite is prevention and tick checks. There are many methods of preventing the attachment of ticks and I certainly, as a man who enjoys the outdoors, do not find staying inside an option. Some of the methods that I use include regular tick checks after I have been outside either for recreation or working. Ticks mostly inhabit the ground in long grassy, wooded areas. They often grab a hold of your shoes, clothing, and then find their way to your skin. The most com- mon areas of attachment tend to be warm areas on the body. When you check yourself or a family member be sure to think like a mon- key and comb through the hair and scalp, check the armpits, the groin, the back of the knees and legs. It is often recommended, if possible, to shower immediately after being in an area of exposure
so that you can fully check yourself. Another option is to wear light color clothing in order to be able to spot ticks more easily. Ticks range in size from small to extremely small, from the head of a pin to the tip of a pin so they can be very difficult to spot. Careful examination is key. Not only is it important to
Deer tick - Nymph (L), Adult (R) (Photo - Dr. Rudy Mueller)
examine yourself, friends and loved ones but also your 4-legged friends that explore all depths of the yard and trails. Your 4-legged friend can unknowingly bring that tick inside and onto you. Keep your animals
hair trimmed short, apply Frontline or Advantix and be diligent and routine in your checks. My wife and I live in Cumberland County in a very wooded area so one of the things that we did was contact a local company who sprays all natural essential oils and sets tick tubes around the property. Many of the chemicals that are utilized for pesticides can have a negative effect on our body and our ecosystem so weigh your options very carefully and research exactly what these compa- nies are introducing into your property. Lyme is a serious infection that causes a range of symptoms and diseases that can affect us all in different ways. I personally have been bitten twice and have tested positive for Lyme. Understanding Lyme is an evolving process that takes a lot of time. I look forward to sharing some fascinating and groundbreaking information about chronic Lyme in next months article. Information presented in this article has been gleaned from many practitioners with whom I am thankful to be associated. It takes a village to beat Lyme!
Part II…Sneak Peek
• Chronic Lyme, an attitude and lifestyle adjustment • Bb organism, a wolf in sheep’s clothing • Test, test, test…how, why, when… • Treatment options
I will speak more to those of us who have been affected by dis- seminated or chronic Lyme. I will explain the many different ways the Bb organism evades detection by our immune system, dive into testing, and speak to different treatment options that I utilize in my practice including functional medicine and herbal remedies.
Your Health Detective, Dr Rudy Mueller, DC, IFMCP. See ad on page 29.
16 Essential Living Maine ~ July/August 2014
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