Paleo Magazine – August-September 2019

68 August/September 2019

Persistent Lyme: Next Steps

For those suffering with persistent or latent forms of Lyme, treatment

options can be much more complicated. In fact, chronic Lyme can

be downright difficult to treat and requires a strong commitment to

treatment from the patient. It is therefore important to weigh the pros

and cons of aggressive treatment prior to moving forward.

Factors to consider include:

Complexity of Treatment A somewhat brief round (2 to 4 weeks)

of antibiotics tends to work well when Lyme is caught early, because

the disease hasn’t had enough time to develop into its more protective

or persistent forms. When untreated, the tiny spirochete bacteria

eventually corkscrew their way into cells, form protective biofilms,

and can develop into cysts, becoming impervious to the short stint of

antibiotics that can be so effective in treating early cases of Lyme.

Cost Unfortunately, health insurance may not cover more than a few

weeks of antibiotic treatment. Treatments can become quite costly and

typically require ongoing interventions. Some specialty clinics can cost

$25,000-$50,000 and may require patients to stay for 1 to 2 months.

Duration of Treatment One should expect several months of

treatment before noticeable changes are experienced. Unfortunately,

relapses can occur, and ongoing care may be necessary.

Feeling Worse Before You Feel Better As with many diseases,

patients undergoing treatment often note feeling much worse before

they feel better. Much of this effect is due to the die-off of pathogens

being eradicated. Fortunately, a Lyme specialist can often adjust the

course of treatment based on tolerance.

Support Having a supportive family and social network is going to

be key in the healing process. There may be some issues with missed

work and periods of increased stress and frustration as well, which can

be rough on relationships.

While these factors can be daunting to think about, it is necessary

to reflect on them to drive home the point that treatment for persistent

vector-borne diseases is rarely easy. Those with manageable symptoms

could simply start with Dr. Horowitz’s 16-Point MSIDS model, working

down his list of factors on their own to see if symptoms subside.

Of course, for those suffering from symptoms that are debilitating,

constantly worsening, or compromising quality of life, I highly

recommend seeking a Lyme-literate specialist and beginning

treatment as soon as possible.

Dr. Janel Payne, a naturopath specializing in Lyme in Bend, Oregon,

states that, “Patients need to seek treatment that best resonates with

them and find a practitioner willing to work with them. They need

to give any treatment at least 6 months to see appreciable beneficial

changes; however, most patients will find relief sooner. Several factors

need to be taken into account, such

as bacterial load, genetics, toxic

load, polymicrobes, their outside

support system, and how long they’ve

been sick.”

Prevention Is Key

Ultimately, the best way to beat Lyme and

other vector-borne diseases is to focus on

prevention. Understanding and taking steps

to prevent tick exposure when outdoors and

always checking for ticks upon returning

indoors is the best and easiest method

for protection, and well worth the effort.

Furthermore, understanding how to handle

a newly discovered tick bite is paramount

for quick and effective treatment. With

the summer months well upon us, I highly

recommend visiting the CDC’s website

for more information on preventing and

managing tick exposure: CDC.gov/ticks/

tickbornediseases/tick-bites-prevention.html

While Lyme can be a scary and frustrating

disease, the good news is there are simple

steps you can take when outdoors to

drastically reduce your risk of exposure.

Some simple tips found on the

CDC’s website include:

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containing 0.5 percent permethrin as well

as using insect repellents when outside

(make sure they are registered with the

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(S^H`ZJSVZLS`PUZWLJ[NLHYWL[Z

family members, and yourself for ticks.

;VILVU[OLZHMLZPKL^OLU`V\JVTL

home jump in the shower and throw

clothing in the dryer for 10 minutes.

If clothes need to be washed, use

hot water rather than cold or warm to

YPUZLVɈSPUNLYPUN[PJRZILMVYL[OL`JHU

become attached.

If a tick is found on the body, remove it

HZZVVUHZWVZZPISL\ZPUNHWHPYVMÄUL

tipped tweezers and clean the area (the

CDC’s website provides clear steps on

this process).^5

JASON KR EMER, DC, CCSP, CSCS, IS A

CHIROPR ACTOR AND FUNCTIONAL

MEDICINE PRACTITIONER.

FR

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LYME DISEASE

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