An underestimated disease

Have you, or someone else you know, been trying to figure out health problems without any result? Or  you might have gotten a diagnose like ME, chronic fatigue syndrom, fibromyalgia, somatization disorder, without knowing the cause. In either case, this article will be worth reading!

Some say it is the fastest growing epidemic in the world. Others say it is the fastest growing infection in North America, and that it is growing faster than AIDS. You can at least say that it is spreading very rapidly. Only in United States, cases of lyme disease has almost doubled between 2004 and 2009. My 10 fingers are not enough to count how many people I know that finally have gotten the diagnose. I also know many people that have the symptoms, but that still haven't checked themselves for lyme disease.

Some of the symptoms: Fatigue, weakness, exhaustion, pain:"pins and needles" / shooting or stabbing pain / burning sensations in feet and hands, muscle twitches / muscle cramps, numbness, migraine / head ache, tremor, fever, often sick / flu-like symptoms / infections and inflammations, chills, tinnitus / ringing in ears, swollen lymph nodes / "swollen glands", swollen joints, stiffness, sleeping difficulties / insomnia, concentration difficulties, cognitive problems, brain fog, depression, panic attacks, anxiety, confusion /disorientation, difficulty finding words, unexplained skin rashes, heart problems: abnormal heart rhythm / irregular heart beat, heart failure, meningitis paralysis, etc. I've heard of people that even have become blind. 
The symptoms can develop fast, or it can come sneaking through several months and even years.

This is a trailer to a must see movie about patients that are misdiagnosed, people that are very sick, and how doctors that help them get sued. It is unbelievable. People share their stories and how they got help.

Here is a link to the whole movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JgR_Jfbhv8

More movies: http://ilads.org/lyme_disease/lyme_videos.html

Short facts:
1. The disease is caused by a spiral-shaped bacteria (a spirochete) called Borrelia Burgdorferi. It is transmitted through ticks, but there are speculations on other ways that you can get infected. It can affect multiple organs which will give many different symptoms. Ticks like to stay in wet places: in grass, or on bushes. Inspect your body for ticks after have being out in the nature.

2. It is a clinical diagnosis. Right now there are no blood tests that can tell for sure, and the common one that people usually take is very inaccurate. (This is a big problem!)

3. Less than 50% that are infected have actually seen a tick bite on their body. Some studies say as low as 15 %. Less than 50% will get a red rash.

4. If you are infected, you often get co-infections as well, which makes the treatment harder. (Babesia, Twar, Erlichia, bartonella, anaplasma, etc.)

5. Lyme disease is often called the great imitator, because it imitates many diseases. You can get all kinds of symptoms which may look like another neurological, mental or rheumatic disease. (Multiple sclerosis, alzheimer, parkinson, migraine, lupus, ALS, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, vertigo, ADD, ADHD, etc. )
6. Lyme disease weakens your immune system, and it may affect your nerve system after a while and cause permanent damage, if you don't get treated early enough. For this reason, you easily get infected by other infections which makes it more complicated. Many people struggle with a complex of a multi infection, and it is often hard to find out exactly what the different infections are. This makes it harder to treat.

It has never been made a study that proves that 30 days with antibiotics is enough to get rid of the infection, yet these are todays guidelines that most doctors follow. Many that are infected and get this treatment may get sick later in life. Fortunately there are doctors with more knowledge and experience who treat their patients longer than 30 days. Some of those are called LLMD - Lyme Literate Medical Doctor. Some need to be treated for many months, even several years before they get better. The treatment may include oral antibiotics, but also intravenous antibiotics may be needed for some. 

Additional treatments
There are people that get healed by natural treatments. I know about people that antibiotics haven't worked for, so they tried natural remedies, and they work! 

Here is a good natural treatment that has a lot of good principles, important for lyme disease. Many of these principles can also be followed while trying Cowden Protocol, recommended by many good doctors. This has helped many with lyme disease, and also with co-infections, especially where antibiotics has failed.
Another good natural treatment is from cvp-health.de. Send a message at service@cvp-health.de and ask for more information on lyme disease treatment.
The treatment I have been told is the following pills:
1. APP plus
2. TBB plus
These have immune stimulating and bacteria killing effects.
3. DRC plus - For detox.
4. Energy plus can also be used, but the three above is the most important.
All these are to be taken 2x2 a day with meals.

Fever treatment is very efficient (also in combination with antibiotics). "Hyperthermia – Borrelia prefer temperatures below that of the body. Using hot showers, baths, or saunas at temperatures of up to 104 degrees F (40 degrees C) for 20-30 minutes daily to raise the body temperature is a helpful therapy for treating borreliosis. Borrelia species are especially sensitive to the combination of antibioticsand heat. Raising the body temperature also dilates the peripheral circulation and increases the permeability of the blood vessels throughout the body. These physiological changes assist in the delivery of antibiotics to all areas of the body increasing the amount of antibiotics able to penetrate and reach the borrelia. Hyperthermia improves the effect of antibiotic therapy by approximately 16 times."(http://autoimmunityresearch.org/lyme-disease/)

Cold laser treatment is also something I have heard good things about, especially Erchonia cold lasers. You can go to their website and search for clinics all over the world, that use their lasers. The good thing about this treatment is that it has no documented side effects. So it should be worth a try. Not all of those with these lasers are familiar with this treatment, but they should have a book of guidelines on different treatments, including lyme disease (along with the laser, if I have understood it right), so just ask them. It is especially good if you are on an antibiotic protocol or herb protocol. The lasers are mostly used in North America as far as I can see.

Your lifestyle is very important
The recovery process of chronic Lyme disease does not only demand treatment, but also a major change of your lifestyle! Don't feed the bacterias with things they like. A vegan diet will have many benefits. It is important to eat more alkaline food and cut out the acidic foods, since lyme disease often cause an acidic environment in the body. Eat more natural and organic food. Stay away from sugar (and cut down on carbohydrates), eat plenty of vegetables, make vegetable juices, eat whole foods (Not white breads, etc.) Be careful with free fats, especially bad fats. Stay away from alcohol and other stimulants. 
Some supplements that may be considered taking is: Vitamin D (is often low), Q10, Selenium, B12, Vitamin C, Milk thistle, Probiotics. (See these guidelines)

Exercise, not to hard, but stay active. Get out in the sunshine and get some fresh air every day.

Drink enough water, at least 2-3 liters a day. Get enough sleep, and don't stress. Talk to people around you and get a supportive network. And remember, trust in God. Talk to him. He know how you feel, He has a plan, and wants to help you. It is hard to look positive at things in life, but it is not impossible. When things seem hard and dark, stretch out your hand to Him that can make the weak strong. Jesus said: "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt 11:28) A great book that you may enjoy: Steps to Christ, one of the world's most sold books.

So if you think you might have lyme disease, it is important to see a doctor that has lots of knowledge about lyme disease, and that prefer better testing methods. Ask ILADS for a doctor in your area. I know about some good doctors in Canada, United States, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Just message me if you want to know more about this.

If you think that you have been bitten by a tick, don't hesitate to contact a doctor, and be aware of symptoms later in life! Treatment of lyme disease is most effective when begun early. Remember that you eventually should see a doctor with lots of knowledge about lyme disease, since many times, 30 days of antibiotics isn't enough to kill all the bacterias. You may get better, but you might get worse later in life and then it can be harder to treat.

Resources

Empower Missions

http://www.ilads.org/ - International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society

http://www.borrelia-tbe.se/ - Swedish lyme association

http://www.norskborreliosesenter.no/ - A private clinic in Norway

http://www.b-c-a.de/index.php?L=1 - A private clinic in Germany
ILADS Guidelines
Guidelines by Dr Joseph Burrascano, MD - specialized in Lyme disease.