Injuries and Lyme Disease

Shortly after contracting Lyme disease, I fell and broke my arm.  I was having trouble walking at the time due to swollen knees, ankles, thighs, and feet.  I would also get dizzy without warning.  One day I had to walk a long way in the rain and slipped on a wet sidewalk.  I slipped and broke my arm.  I had to wear a cast and a sling.  After a few weeks, I had to do physical therapy.  For some reason, I could not straighten or bend my arm, no matter how much I exercised it.  Every night, new scar tissue seemed to form when I slept.  I finally accepted that it would never be the same.  I concentrated on recovering from Lyme disease.  Then little by little, as the antibiotics started to work, my arm did recover its range of motion. My broken arm had taken two years to recover.

At my last follow up appointment, I mentioned to my doctor, that my broken arm was recovering, along with the Lyme disease.  I told my doctor that I thought that the Lyme disease had kept my arm from recovering in a timely fashion.  She said, "Yes, I have had many patients complain about the same thing.  Lyme disease loves to attack scar tissue.  Patients say that old injuries will be inflamed by Lyme disease."  Joints that have wear and tear from running, work, or repeated use will be attacked by Lyme.  For this reason, my doctor advised not to try to exercise at all while being treated for Lyme disease.  Rest, elevation, and plenty of sleep is the protocol for Lyme.  Walking, jogging, running, and work will just cause flare ups of inflammation.  Once the Lyme disease is over, there will be time to recover lost muscle tone.

Your Ears and Lyme Disease

Ring, ring, ring!  No it isn't your phone. It's Lyme disease calling.  As if the joint pain, swelling, and fatigue weren't enough, tinnitus often accompanies other Lyme symptoms.  Sometimes it will go away with antibiotic treatment.  I have symptoms of tinnitus that fluctuate in volume and intensity.  Occasionally, the symptoms will disappear completely for a day or a few hours.  Sometimes it will only be in one ear, but most days it is both ears.  I am trying an herbal that has helped some with this problem.  I have also read that zinc supplements often help.  For some reason, my tinnitus seems to go away for a short time just after drinking coffee.  I don't know if it is the caffeine or the warmth of the coffee that offers temporary relief.  So far, nothing that I have tried is offering permanent cure.

Here is an article related to tinnitus that may help:

http://sinusitisblog.com/2014/09/mystery-lyme-disease/

Aa link to a Facebook page that has Yoga poses for tinnitus, herbal remedies, oils, and other tips for curing tinnitus is below.

https://www.facebook.com/Help-Each-Other-Tinnitus-1536106870000040/timeline/

How to improve hearing loss and tinnitus symptoms:

http://www.healthyfoodhouse.com/these-natural-remedies-will-improve-your-hearing/

Your Spleen and Lyme Disease

One of the first symptoms that I had with Lyme disease, is a large cyst on my spleen.  (called a splenic cyst) At the time, I did not know that this was being caused by Lyme disease.  I had gone to several doctors complaining of a sore and stiff neck and a frozen shoulder.  I became desperate for relief, so I decided to see if a local chiropractor could help me with this condition.  He took some x-rays and discovered a cyst on my spleen.  I asked every doctor if the cyst on my spleen and my other symptoms could be related.  Every doctor said, "No, and we don't treat those.  They will disappear on their own."

Well, I am here to tell you that Lyme disease does cause cysts and enlarged spleens.  It is a very common problem for those with Lyme disease.  The lymph system, the spleen, and lymph nodes are a key part of the immune system.  This can become disrupted by Lyme disease.  Many who have Lyme, do have this same condition.  The spleen is part of your lymph system.  It acts as a filter for bacteria.  Guess what is probably inside of that cyst?

I had other cysts form throughout my body.  I also had enlarged lymph nodes, and some have still not resolved.  These swollen nodes are an indication of a lingering infection.  They can cause fatigue.

Swollen lymph nodes and poor lymph fluid drainage seems to be a common complaint for many Lyme patients, including myself.  It may account for some of the swelling, pain, and a sudden weight gain that I experienced with this disease.  My doctor recommended getting a rebounder or mini-trampoline for pushing the fluid out of my legs.  I also went to a massage therapist for a Lymphatic massage.  As frustrating as this problem is, it will eventually go away and limbs will return to their normal dimensions.

Just got my latest blood test from the Lyme doctor and it indicates that my lymph# is 0.9.  I am not sure what that indicates.  I will have to ask at the next appointment.  It does say that normal is 1.0-4.8.  It says that it is a low number.  I am not sure of the significance of that figure.  Here is one possible explanation, according to HealthMD.com:

Causes of Low Lymphocyte Count

There are a number of factors that can contribute to a low lymphocyte count. The causes can be classified into general causes, acquired causes, or inherited causes.

General Causes

• The body fails to produce an adequate number of lymphocytes.
• The body produces a sufficient number of lymphocytes, but they are destroyed.
• The lymphocytes become trapped in the spleen or lymph nodes.

Acquired Causes

The acquired causes are related to underlying medical conditions or responses to medical treatments. Some examples of acquired causes are:

• infectious diseases
• autoimmune disorders
• steroid therapy
• blood cancers and blood diseases
• radiation/chemotherapy

Inherited Causes

The inherited causes are related to defects in the genes that play a role in lymphocyte development. Some key examples of these diseases are:

• DiGeorge anomaly
• Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
• Severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome
• Ataxia-telangiectasia

Some other tips for endema or fluid retention:



Burdock root is a diuretic, and can help you eliminate fluid if you have edema. You can drink it as a tea for a milder effect. If you cool the tea, and apply it topically with a compress, it helps with psoriasis, eczema or other skin irritations. 

I recently found an article that spells out the connection to enlarged spleens and Lyme disease.  I am including a link to the article here:

http://lyme.ehoow.org/?p=107

Chinese pressure points for lymph drainage:
http://healthycures.org/keep-pressing-this-point-for-2-minutes

How to drain your lymph system:
http://healthywildandfree.com/10-ways-to-empty-your-lymphatic-system-from-toxins-causing-you-to-feel-sick-fat-and-weak-immunity/#sthash.JmMvD1eB.dpbs

How to give yourself a lymphatic massage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA-wi0d7-Ro

https://www.facebook.com/815902161806363/photos/a.815999451796634.1073741828.815902161806363/943028699093708/?type=1&theater

Anti-Malarials

At what I thought would be my last visit to the Lyme disease specialist, I was told that my lingering symptoms are not due to Lyme disease, but due to a type of malaria called babesia that is carried by ticks.  I am 90% well at this point.  I feel almost normal.  The lingering symptoms are: some mild joint pain, (no more swelling) tinnitis in both ears, thrush, dry mouth, and night sweats with vivid dreams.  I am taking an antimalarial, along with a cocktail of herbals, probiotics, and anti-fungals.

A new symptom that has popped up recently was purpura on one of my wrists.  I googled searched purpura+Lyme disease to see if anything came up, and sure enough it did.  There must be others out there experiencing this symptom with Lyme disease.  In case you have never heard of it, purpura are purplish-red spots appearing on skin or mucus membranes anywhere on the body.  These spots are actually tiny, broken blood vessels just below the skin.  My google search indicated that these spots could be the result of a bacterial infection, low platelet counts, or they could be caused from medication side effects.  They could also be a sign of another serious disease.  If you have these spots, definitely bring them to the attention of your doctor so that you can rule out something more serious.  My doctor is taking the precaution of retesting my platelet count, which was normal at the last office visit.  Fortunately, these spots are temporary, and have already decided to fade away on their own.

I never thought that I would get Lyme disease and I never thought that I could get something like malaria (babesia) living in the United States.  Going through Lyme disease and the 2 co-infections that came with it definitely has been a learning experience for me.  I won't need to visit the doctor for another 16 weeks.  Hopefully, that will be my last visit.  At that point, I will have been in treatment for just over a year, and living with this illness for over 2 years.

Below is a link to a Good Housekeeping magazine article that parallels my own experiences with Lyme disease and the struggle to get properly diagnosed:

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a33353/chronic-lyme-nearly-ruined-my-life/?src=spr_FBPAGE&spr_id=1443_209788223

Travel Charity For Chronic or Terminal Illness

If you need to travel in order to receive treatment for your Lyme disease, the folks at Roses From Linda may be able to help.  It is a travel charity that I learned about while watching the Steve Harvey show.  I was lucky enough to have a Lyme disease doctor who was 1/2 an hour from my home.  Not everyone is that lucky.  Lyme disease doctors are few and far between.  Even if you have one near your house, it may take a year or more to see someone locally.  (My Lyme doctor is so busy, she books a year in advance and sees patients from far and wide.)  It may necessitate traveling to someone in a distant state in order to get in to see the doctor in a timely fashion.  With Lyme disease, it is important to receive treatment quickly before the damage to joints, tendons, and nerves becomes permanent.  If you don't have the money to travel, you may be eligible for assistance, so don't wait!

If you want to make a donation to Roses From Linda in memory of someone who has lost their battle with chronic illness such as Lyme disease, you may contribute cash or frequent flyer miles.

For help with travel expenses, treatment, or equipment click on the link below:

http://www.rosesfromlinda.org/

Help with expenses related to a chronic illness, including medical, travel expenses, and housing:
http://www.indystar.com/story/life/2015/12/26/giving-back/77789342/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=

Rebuilding After Lyme Disease

After a disease like Lyme is over, one needs to begin rebuilding.  There is so much collateral damage that has occurred in its wake. Where to begin?  I'd like to start by making a list of some of the damage.

• rebuild lost muscle tone
• regrow hair
• catch up on sleep
• loose/gain weight, depending on the individual
• regain self-confidence
• rebuild relationships/friendships
• become a productive person at home/work
• rebuild a positive, hopeful attitude about life

I am sure that there are other things that I am forgetting.  The list of things that I need to work on isn't only physical, it's mental, social, financial, and emotional.  Lyme disease is isolating and depressing, even with a supportive network of friends, family, and medical professionals.  It will take a lot of time and effort to get back to the way that I was only a couple of years ago.

New Cure For Lyme?

A friend in the scientific community sent me a link to an article that has a potential cure for swiftly wiping out Lyme and persistent co-infections.  I just had to share this good news.  It may be worth sharing this with your doctor or asking to try a "Z-Pak" for Lyme.  I plan to share this with my doctor at my next appointment.

Zirthromax, the “Z-Pak” common to doctors’ offices worldwide, has not been used to fight the superbugs. Traditional lab tests in standard bacteriologic media had shown the standard antibiotic to have no effect.

But the new study shows that growing the potentially-deadly bacteria in mammalian tissue culture media made a huge difference – and proves that in real hospital settings, the Zithromax could turn the tide against the spreading germs.

“Even more striking, the drug-resistant superbugs were completely wiped out when azithromycin was paired with the antibiotic colistin or with antimicrobial peptides produced natural by the human body during infection,” said the authors.

See the complete abstract in the link below:

http://www.dddmag.com/news/2015/06/z-pak-can-kill-superbugs-says-new-study?et_cid=4617516&et_rid=60905291&location=top