Ten: Full Circle

There is a philosophical principle from the 14^th century that is often paraphrased “when faced with a problem, the simplest explanation is usually the best one.”

I have chronic Lyme Disease and coinfections. Since I had no neurological symptoms before I was hospitalized this is the simplest explanation. The course of antibiotics I received (which was less than even the most conservative doctors recommend) was not enough to eliminate all the bacteria.

I am sure that you have noticed that a recurring theme from my medical visits was “there is no Lyme disease in Alabama,” or “Neurological Lyme is very rare.” You may wonder, as I did initially, why a doctor would not just say “Lyme disease can cause the symptoms you are experiencing, so let’s explore it.”

After reading numerous books and hundreds of articles over the last two years, I think I can briefly answer that question.

First, most doctors have little training in the diagnosis of Lyme Disease and other tick-born illnesses. Lab testing for these bacteria is archaic and notoriously inaccurate. The most common tests detect antibodies in the bloodstream (an immune response), not bacteria. Such can be successful for diagnosing acute infections (as I had in the hospital), but less so for chronic infections due to a compromised immune system and the ability of these bacteria to “hide” in connective tissues and within cells. As a result, many people are misdiagnosed as having an autoimmune disease, or even worse labelled as having an “idiopathic illness.”

The second reason is that treatment for chronic cases is controversial. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Medical Association (AMA) do not recognize the existence of chronic Lyme and therefore will not approve antibiotics for treatment. This creates a situation in which doctors are afraid they may lose their license if they make a diagnosis based on symptoms rather than a positive test.

The result of these two circumstances has created an industry of “specialists” who treat Lyme with long-term antibiotics and other therapies “under the radar.” They do not accept health insurance, which means that sufferers must pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for treatments and procedures that may or may not be effective.

Which brings me full circle in this tale.

After all my research I have decided to aggressively self-treat for a few months. This is why I chose to “semi-retire.” I knew this would require self-discipline of an almost religious fever and all my time and energy.

I will not bore you with all the details of my regimen. It involves a very strict anti-inflammatory diet, daily moderate exercise, adequate rest, and an herbal protocol developed by the late Stephen H. Buhner in his book Healing Lyme (Natural Healing of Lyme Borreliosis and the Coinfections Chlamydia and Spotted Fever Rickettsioses).

Will it work? I have no idea. But I can report that I am six weeks in and have made remarkable progress in alleviating many of my symptoms, including an astonishing improvement in my balance and ability to walk.

If it does not? Then I move on to the next thing on the Redhead’s list of “all the things.”

As I wrote in the beginning, this series of posts is intended to be a cautionary tale. Its ultimate purpose is to convince you to follow some simple precautions when you spend time in the woods (or even your backyard) in tick-infested areas.

I recommend you do the following (at a minimum):

Wear light-colored clothing so you can see ticks before they reach your skin.

Tuck your shirt into your pants and your pant legs inside your boots or socks.

Use tick-repellant spray.

And above all, check yourself carefully for tick bites when you undress.

Finally, if you are bitten, find a doctor who will prescribe 30 days of antibiotics. If they need convincing, tell them you know someone with Lyme and you want to be proactive.

Enjoy the great outdoors but stay healthy, dear reader.

We will now return to the blog about nothin’ in particular…