Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It is the fastest growing vector-borne illness in the United States and can cause rashes, joint pain, and headaches in its early stages.
Later stage Lyme can cause severe joint pain similar to arthritis, chronic fatigue, severe headaches, and neurological conditions. Although Lyme is not deadly, it can be debilitating and destroy a person's quality of life.
Lyme is most frequently contracted through black-legged tick bites; however, it can be contracted from other insect bites. Where you live or how active you are outdoors does not greatly influence your risk of contracting Lyme disease since the disease can be carried by birds, pets, and other animals that live where we live. Black-legged tick populations are now prevalent in 43 states and multiple countries beyond the U.S. There is plenty of opportunity for people to come into contact with Lyme and never even know it.
It is estimated that 90% of the population in some states have Lyme and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that more than 300,000 new cases occur annually in the U.S. Lyme infects people of all ages from children through seniors. In the Midwest, most Lyme diagnoses occur spring through fall but in more temperate climates, Lyme is common year-round.
In many cases, Lyme is asymptomatic and people never know they have it. However, some people react very badly to Lyme, particularly if they are immunocompromised or have other conditions that have created an inflammatory response in the body. These people may develop chronic Lyme disease, which is harder to treat.
Lyme is frequently misdiagnosed or is a missed diagnosis – patients are told they have another condition when in reality they have Lyme disease.
One of the reasons Lyme is so often misdiagnosed is because the symptoms mimic other, more mainstream conditions. Everyone responds differently to Lyme disease. What looks like fibromyalgia in one person, can present as chronic fatigue syndrome or migraines in another.
Lyme is often misdiagnosed as:
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Somatization Disorder
Multi-System Illnesses
Neurological Conditions
Rheumatologic Conditions
If you have been suffering from a mystery illness that leaves you with brain fog, debilitating body pain, or constant fatigue, you should get tested for Lyme disease.
Lyme can cause a variety of symptoms. One of the earliest signs is a "bull's eye" rash. Pain, fatigue, and brain fog are three other early symptoms. Left untreated, Lyme can take hold in the brain and body resulting in more severe conditions.
Early clues you have Lyme Disease can include body-wide pain, chronic fatigue, and neurological symptoms.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease include:
Anxiety
Arthritis and joint pain
Brain fog
Bull's eye rash
Chills and flu-like symptoms
Chronic fatigue
Chronic pain
Dizziness
Facial palsy
Headaches/Migraines
Irregular heartbeat
Loss of cognitive function
Neck stiffness
Muscle aches
Muscle twitching or tremors
Ringing in the ears
Sleep disorders
Visual changes
“First and foremost, Dr. Lyday is the first health practitioner within the traditional healthcare setting, who truly took the time to listen to me and work to help find the root cause of my health issues. Other practitioners took very little time or dismissed my symptoms as being an issue that could be fixed with another prescription.”
There are several diagnostic tests that can be used to determine if you have Lyme, but they are not always accurate - particularly if Lyme has been present in the body for a long time.
Dr. Lyday is a certified Lyme disease specialist who bases her diagnoses on blood test results as well as symptoms and patient history.
The good news is: It is possible to treat Lyme and recover completely! Treatment is tailored to the patient based on their symptoms, the length of time they have had Lyme, any previous Lyme treatments they have received and their response to those treatments, and the patient's current health status.
Some people who have just recently been diagnosed with Lyme may recover with a short round of antibiotics. Those who have been living with Lyme for a longer period of time may need to slowly and gently build their immune system back up, undergo detox, and develop a nutrition plan that helps their body obtain the nutrients it needs to recover and rebuild so it can better tolerate the antibiotics needed to fight the bacteria.
Treatment response depends on how long Lyme has been in the body, how strong the immune system is, if there are any co-infections, and how aggressively treatment proceeds. Lyday Center patients are always closely monitored for side effects and treatment is adjusted as needed.
Treatment for Lyme:
Obtain proper diagnosis
Kill the bacterial infection
Treat any co-infections
Restore the immune system
Detoxify the body
The first step in recovering from Lyme is obtaining an accurate diagnosis. Visit Dr. Lyday for a thorough analysis of your condition and a personalized treatment plan that will allow you to say goodbye to your mystery symptoms for good!
