Re: The emergence of Lyme disease - by Steere - April 2004

[Guest guest]

OK so here's my question then. If we are too believe that was he says about

the below is how it goes then what happens to those of us who fall into this

" Post Lyme Syndrome " category? What do we do about it? Stay this way? Sit and

wait to die? I wish someone could answer this.

Robyn

In a message dated 4/22/2004 2:57:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

Robynn@... writes:

Post-Lyme disease syndrome. A small percentage of patients with

well-documented Lyme disease may develop disabling musculoskeletal pain,

neurocognitive symptoms, or fatigue along with or soon after symptoms of the

infection (S59-S62). This post-Lyme disease syndrome, or chronic Lyme

disease (the terms are used interchangeably), which is similar to chronic

fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia, persists for months or years after

standard antibiotic treatment of the infection. In a study of such patients

who then received intravenous ceftriaxone for 30 days followed by oral

doxycycline for 60 days, or intravenous or oral placebo preparations for the

same duration, no significant differences were found between the groups in

the percentage of patients who said that their symptoms had improved, gotten

worse, or stayed the same (81). Therefore, it is hypothesized that B.

burgdorferi may trigger immunologic or neurohormonal processes in the brain

that cause persistent pain, neurocognitive, or fatigue symptoms, despite

spirochetal killing with antibiotic therapy (82). Among B.

burgdorferi-infected patients, a prior history of depression or anxiety

seems to be a risk factor for the development of chronic Lyme disease (83).

[Guest guest]

I think those people who have gotten better need to write STeere.

I don't know if it would really help, but it is a thought.

[Guest guest]

So he is saying that those of us with Chronic Lyme or Post Lyme

syndrome usually " have had past history of Depression or Anxiety " , reading

between the lines this sounds oddly like the 'You just want to be ill "

syndrome I was mis-dxed with years ago. How about the fact that Lyme messes

with our brain chemistry and causes those symptoms in some? Maybe 'if' they

came up pre-Lyme dx its because those people went awhile before the dx?

People can go months or years after courses of abx and still have latent

Lyme. Hasnt he heard of Cyst form Lyme?

God forgive me but I hate that man.

[Guest guest]

,

You are absolutely right, and he is so " guarded " by the same peer

reviewers that his articles always get published

when others that disagree with him don't get their articles in any of the

journals. I have been following this since 1993......he is totally wrong.

connie, MI

[Guest guest]

I do think you reach a point you should stop abx treatment, that you are causing

more harm than good to your body.....especially if you are not feeling better on

the abx treatment.

At some point, the body needs to be repaired..........and yes that repair will

take months, and perhaps years.........the lyme and all the drugs have caused

damage and imbalance that needs healing and correcting.......extensive testing

needs to be done to determine how to help begin the repair........I'm living

proof.

The tricky part is knowing when enough treatment is enough.......only you and

your Dr. can determine that.

ConnieKnwnj

When our bodies & minds are out of balance.......

........we suffer!