Celiac's Or Undiagnosed Lyme? Candida? Both?

[tailz]

I'm not the only one who thinks this is too coincidental. I have a hunch that all of us with so called food "allergies"...MS? Lupus? Rheumatoid Arthritis? Muscular Dystrophy? Myasthenia Gravis? Sjogren's Syndrome? Chronic Fatigue? Irritable Bowel? ADHD? Schitzophrenia?...are really walking around with some sort of systemic infection. At first I was thinking candidiasis, and that may still be a part of this. But I read so many posts on the Lyme Disease forum about people who had gone undiagnosed for years only bacause they had not developed the "classic" bull's eye rash of Lyme to alert their doctors. One woman had actually walked around for 20 years thinking she had MS.

Look at the maps and the graph. Autoimmune disease, neuromuscular disease, food allergies are all on the rise. I'd be curious to have a breakdown of each "disease" to see how they correspond with the maps and graph. I know my symptoms began around this time. Makes me wonder. I have Rinne to thank for tipping me off...

Lyme Disease (Info, Map, Graph)...not thrilled with how they diss testing you unless you present enough symptoms or how they diss alternative therapies while recommending you wait until you have *enough* symptoms, but some good info:

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Lyme Disease Risk Map:

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More Info on Lyme Disease:

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Lyme Forum

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[eKatherine]

Look at the maps and the graph. Autoimmune disease, neuromuscular disease, food allergies are all on the rise. I'd be curious to have a breakdown of each "disease" to see how they correspond with the maps and graph. I know my symptoms began around this time. Makes me wonder. I have Rinne to thank for tipping me off...

MS is known to be related to geography, but distribution of cases appears nothing like Lyme.

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My understanding is that Lyme is found in North America, but not in Europe. The incidence of celiac is estimated to be the same in North America and Europe.

[eKatherine]

You asked to see a map, and I showed you one that demonstrates that there is no geographical similarity between the distribution of cases of Lyme and MS. If you want to see Western Blot Lyme test results from all the MS patients in the world, you'd better start raising money for that study now yourself, because nobody is going to do that for you.

[rinne]

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Thanks for starting this topic. can't post now but will be back later, I just wanted to respond to the Lyme in America statement.

[ravenwoodglass]

"I have a hunch that all of us with so called food "allergies"...MS? Lupus? Rheumatoid Arthritis? Muscular Dystrophy? Myasthenia Gravis? Sjogren's Syndrome? Chronic Fatigue? Irritable Bowel? ADHD? Schitzophrenia?...are really walking around with some sort of systemic infection. "

Out of these I was thought to have at one time or another and depending on the doctor I saw

MS

RA

SS

CFS

IBS -IBD

ADHD

and although it is not in your list

Depression

Fibro

For me all were connected to nothing other than gluten. It took a long time but except for residual nerve damage (ataxia) I am in complete remission from all. I did have to become a fanatic when it came to searching out gluten sources and I do avoid ALL possible sources of CC. Those CYA statements that so many companies put out are usually listened to by me. I regret it when I don't.

[rinne]

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Lyme Spirochete Found in the Brain of MS Patients

The causative organism of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, has been found in the brains of many victims of multiple sclerosis (MS). The antibiotics minocycline, tinidazole, and hydroxychloroquine are reportedly capable of destroying both the spirochetal and cyst form of Bb. Because of this apparent correlation, it is proposed that double-blind clinical trials be performed to confirm this finding.17 (See Listing 5.)

Listing 5: Lyme Disease Linked to Four Major Diseases

Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Systemic Scleroderma and Arthritis

ALZHEIMER'S

The spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi has been found in the brain of many Alzheimer patients. Also in the brain, antigens and genes of Bb have been co-localized with beta-amyloid deposits.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

The spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) has been found in the brain of many multiple sclerosis (MS) patients along with amyloid deposits. MS has been linked to Lyme disease both seasonally and by location.

SYSTEMIC SCLERODERMA

The spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi has been found in the blood in systemic scleroderma. Treatment with antibiotics effective against Bb returned the skin to normal.

LYME-INDUCED ARTHRITIS

Only certain strains of Bb are capable of causing the symptoms of arthritis.

© 2005 BRI

Ravenwoodglass I am glad that all of your symptoms have resolved on a gluten free diet. I found it interesting that all of the conditions you have listed overlap with problems that people with Lyme also have.

Out of these I was thought to have at one time or another and depending on the doctor I saw

MS

RA

SS

CFS

IBS -IBD

ADHD

and although it is not in your list

Depression

Fibro

I am clear that gluten is a problem for me and has been for a very long time, I am also clear that going gluten and dairy free has alleviated my symptoms about 50%. I know cross contamination is not an issue, I am eating only simple foods I prepare myself and have changed all my kitchen equipment, medications, etc. My digestion has improved, the malabsorption has diminished, and no constipation which is a first for me.

However, I am in pain and the other pain in my back is worse and seems to be wrapping round my stomach and causing pain. I have learned that RMSF attacks the tissue between the organs and I am wondering if that is the pain I am feeling in my abdominal region. I spent a lot of time in a remote place in Colorado where two friends were diagnosed with it. I have also had a rash, although it was not the typical bull's eye, and it has been since then that my health has started to deteriorate. I am also wondering about a rash and fever I had in California twenty years ago because other health problems began around that time. I have contacted IGeneX, a reliable lab for testing according to the Lyme Boards, and will follow up on testing. For anyone who is interested here is there address.

IGeneX, Inc.

795 San Antonio Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303 USA

Tel. 650.424.1191 / 800.832.3200 Fax. 650.424.1196

In the meantime I have been using the Salt/Vitamin C protocol as a diagnostic tool and have had what appears to be two herxes.

I have been thinking alot about diagnosis and the difficulty of obtaining one and the dangers of receiving the wrong diagnosis. As an example, with the pain I am in and a family history of spondylosis it is quite possible that with a diagnosis of arthritis I would receive medication that would further the Lyme if it is Lyme and not arthritis. Also, if I am convinced the only thing wrong with me is food intolerances I could spend all my time and energy simply trying to modify my diet and miss the systemic nature of what is going wrong with me.

I think that these parasites have been with us for a very, very long time and that is was the shift in our diet to preserving food with sugar that changed the chemical balance in our bodies and made us into the ideal hosts for them. The Salt/Vitamin C treatment changes us so that we become an inhospitable host to them.

[Lymetoo]

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Thanks for starting this topic. can't post now but will be back later, I just wanted to respond to the Lyme in America statement.

Yes, it's definitely in Europe. We have people on the lyme board from Europe. They have just as much trouble getting diagnosed there as in the states.

MS is known to be related to geography, but distribution of cases appears nothing like Lyme.

Open Original Shared Link

My understanding is that Lyme is found in North America, but not in Europe. The incidence of celiac is estimated to be the same in North America and Europe.

I think the map supports the relationship between Lyme and MS. Cases of LD are more prevalent exactly where the MS cases are, for the most part. I do know, for example, that West Africa has alot of Lyme cases. The MS map shows West Africa, Europe, northern US [mostly], Australia, etc.

.

One woman had actually walked around for 20 years thinking she had MS.

I"ve been on the LD board for 6 yrs now and that is not a rare occurence. We have quite a few who thought they had MS, only to find out years later that it was Lyme. The worst thing about that is that most MS patients are given steroids or other immune suppressing drugs, which make the LD go deeper. Then it's even more difficult to clear.

I believe I've had LD for 48 yrs and I wasn't dxd until 6 yrs ago. I had been treated with steroids and methotrexate by a rheumatologist. Thankfully, we moved away after about a yr of seeing this dr, and had we not moved, I'd still be sick and still taking harmful drugs like those.

Now, I'm feeling great and so happy to have been given a new lease on life.

By the way, I don't believe the rheumatologist or any other dr ever thought to test me for Lyme. I had several ask me if I'd had a rash, and I said No.... so end of discussion. They erroneously thought "no rash, no lyme." WRONG!

[ravenwoodglass]

I find the similarity interesting also. Years ago when I had my first child and the celiac started to hit me heavily Lyme was one of the things I was tested for. And then again a few times in my last 5 years of illness so some doctors aren't totally clueless. I am very thankful that I did not turn out to have Lyme as I know it can be tough to get rid of.

[Lymetoo]

I find the similarity interesting also. Years ago when I had my first child and the celiac started to hit me heavily Lyme was one of the things I was tested for. And then again a few times in my last 5 years of illness so some doctors aren't totally clueless. I am very thankful that I did not turn out to have Lyme as I know it can be tough to get rid of.

HI there! If they test you again, be sure to ask them to test through Igenex labs in CA. [they won't want to do that, believe me!]

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BTW.....Many with Lyme disease have candida [even before taking antibiotics] because Lyme suppresses the immune system, allowing the candida to take over.

[rinne]

Now, I'm feeling great and so happy to have been given a new lease on life.

That is wonderful.

[Lymetoo]

here is more info:

Wild Condor's Links and information:

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Johns Hopkins.... testing for Lyme inadequate

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[Katie O'Rourke]

We do defnitely have lyme disease here in the UK, which is in Europe, though it is thought that you are only susceptible here if you come into contact with wild deer in countryside areas - two examples of this are Silverdale in the Lake District/North Lancashire and the Scottich highlands. i ahve been to both of these places, but supposedly if you check for ticks afterwards and dont have any then you shoudl be fine. however, i had coeliac disease before i went to these areas and had not been to vulnerable areas before being diagnosed as coeliac. just a thought.....

[Nancym]

Rinne, I've been diagnosed recently with akylosing spondylitis but now I'm wondering about Lyme. I went through a check list of symptoms and I have a lot of them. Let me know what you find out about the testing! I'm going to bring it up with my MD when I see him, but I have a feeling it might not get taken seriously.

[nikki-uk]

Is there a cure for Lyme Disease??

[mle-ii]

It usually is treated with long term antibiotics. Many people have other tick-related coinfections. Most Infectious Disease doctors think they can cure it with 4 weeks of antibiotics. This is NOT true. You need to see a Lyme Specialist. I'm going to get tested by IGeneX labs. They will send you a test kit for free which you can take to a Lyme Specialist.

Given that they think that antibiotics may have lead some folks to start getting ill. Are there any "natural" antibiotics or antifungal foods/supplements or whatever? The human body has done pretty darn well to survive for so long that one would think there were better ways of taking care of this than killing off bacterias that are normal in the gut flora.

[ravenwoodglass]

Ravenwoodglass, you could still have LYME even though you tested "negative". I tested "negative" several times (ELISA), but I'm getting retested. It doesn't always show up on ELISA. Sometimes it doesn't show on a Western Blot. MOST people do not get the classic bull's eye or remember any rash. Your doc should consider it by symptoms (see link below). I saw too many people on here and the MS forum, complaining about the same symptoms. And too many people on the MS forum had been later dx'd with Lyme. Remember, most of these people did not wake up one day with full-blown "MS" or "Lupus". It was a gradual sequence of symptoms.

In the early stages of the healing process I might have looked into this. However after 6 months to a year I had no issues, unless glutened. It would be a good idea to rule out though for folks that continue to have problems after an extended period of gluten free living.

[Lymetoo]

Cure?? We in the Lyme community don't use that word. After years of suffering, we realize that it's "always going to be there". I'm feeling VERY WELL after 4-6 yrs of treatment. I took 4+ yrs of antibiotics....was totally miserable the entire time.

Now I'm doing great, thanks to some natural supplement which have boosted my immune system and eliminated alot of my pain and fatigue. I'm hoping that going gluten free will help with both of those as well!!

If you ever get bitten by a tick....take action. You WON'T always get a rash. I never did.

Go here for more information:

Open Original Shared Link You can ask questions on the "flash discussion" board.

Wild Condor's Links and information:

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[rinne]

Please get tested, Nancy. I just saw the doctor Friday, and he is pretty sure I have Lyme and at the very least Bartonella.

I second that Nancy, and check out the symptom list for Lyme, you'll have a sense of whether it fits for you.

And I'm glad to know your doctor is testing you. My doctor literally threw her hands up in the air when I saw her yesterday, she said and I quote, "I'll refer you to an infectious disease specialist and then I'm done, none of your tests show anything wrong." Wow, I am glad I am not a vulnerable person at least to that kind of bull****. I get her frustration with me, I actually want to know what is wrong, I will not just take pills to stop feeling bad, I ask for more than seven minutes of her time. She said when I brought up Lyme and my experience in Colorado that she didn't think it could be Lyme, I didn't have the symptoms. When I saw her in January she wrote out a prescription for Ome-prazole and when I saw her again in June because she called me in she never even asked if it has helped. She is an idiot and I am an idiot for spending my time with her. I must find another Doctor.

I have been using the salt/c protocol for 4 weeks now, I am taking 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon Vitamin C three times a day in a large glass of water. I saw a naturapath on Thursday and my blood pressure is normal, the last time it was checked it was low and the naturapath was fine with my taking the salt/c. Funny, when I brought up Lyme he asked if I had seen an article in a health magazine about him treating someone with Lyme. No, but now I am looking for it. I love those fortuitousness moments.

As I have looked further into Lyme I am learning that an estimated 25 million Americans suffer from parasites and that they can also do real damage. The great thing about the salt/c is that it wipes these critters out too.

[CantEvenEatRice]

I am definitely interested in learning more about Lyme treatment. I was diagnosed with Celiac and then with Lyme. I spent 6 months on iv antibiotics, but I still do not feel that great. I have tons of food intolerances and I cannot figure out if most of my problems are due to Celiac or to Lyme. What other treatments are available besides antibiotics? I would hate to have to go back on them.

[GFBetsy]

Check out the "OMG" thread . . . Rachel - 24 and Rinne have both been diagnosed with Lyme recently, so there is more discussion about this in that thread. (The last 20 or 30 pages or so )