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Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Vol. 13(4) 2006 pp. 73-82
Acceptance and awareness of the possibility that Lyme disease can present as CFS has important therapeutic and prognostic implications.

Lyme Disease Presenting as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Source: Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Vol 3 #4, 2007

Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and Lyme Disease

CND: Differential Diagnoses

When to Suspect Lyme
"Prior to proper diagnosis, patients habitually report that they were assigned the following diagnoses most often: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Candidiasis, Chronic mononucleosis, Hypoglycemia, and Stress-related illness..."


Fibromyalgia, infection and vaccination: Two more parts in the etiological puzzle.

Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, and Lyme Disease
 

Chronic fatigue syndrome in patients with Lyme borreliosis.


Lyme Disease (Jan. 2005) - Townsend letter
According to an informal study conducted by the American Lyme Disease Alliance (ALDA), most patients diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) are actually suffering from Lyme Disease. In a study of 31 patients diagnosed with CFS, 28 patients, or 90.3%, were found to be ill as a result of Lyme Disease.


ILADS - Controversies in Neuroborreliosis

Differentiating Lyme Disease from FM and CFS

Lyme Disease Misdiagnosed as Fibromyalgia

Canberra FM/CFS page - Rosemary's story: Lyme and CFS in Australia

Rheumatic mimics and selected triggers of fibromyalgia.

Lyme Disease | CFS | Chronic Fatigue | Holtorf Medical Group

Trial Indicates an antibiotic, Azithromycin  May Be Beneficial for Subset of CFS Patients

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients: New ideas about the cause, spread and therapy of Lyme Disease

The role of microorganism infections in chronic illnesses:
Support for antibiotic regimens

Quackpot Watch

Late and Chronic Lyme Disease: Symptom Overlap with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia By Dr. Sam Donta
 

Herbal Antibiotics : Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria (Storey Medicinal Herb Guide)
 

Natural Alternatives to Antibiotics

 

The Antibiotic Alternative: The Natural Guide to Fighting Infection and Maintaining a Healthy Immune System


Dr. Mercola - Lyme Disease: The Unknown Epidemic
Millions of people who are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer's, chronic fatigue syndrome and other degenerative diseases could have Lyme Disease causing or contributing to their condition.


Master symptom list for FMS, CFS and Lyme

Lyme Disease -- Where did it come from?

Testimony To Rhode Island Assembly Committee
Army prototype will allow military to go around heavy tick populated areas and test and treat in the field.  Those with Chronic Lyme Disease are not allowed to give blood and  many other interesting tidbits.

TESTIMONY TO MASSACHUSETTS COMBINED HEALTH COMMITTEE

An Understanding of Laboratory Testing

Distinct Pattern of Cognitive Impairment Noted in Study of Lyme Patients

Gazette.com
A physician, diagnosed with ALS found that he actually had Chronic Lyme even though his tests were negative.  He now treats others, many who have been diagnosed with FMS or CFS.  They may have negative tests but if they fit the picture of lyme he offers them treatment and many get better!

Tick-borne Diseases Are Found in All 50 States

Chronic Lyme Disease - Comprehensive discussion of issues written by a Veterinarian who has Lyme Disease


The Human Side of Lyme - Website by an M.D. who has Lyme Disease

EVALUATION OF ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH
PERSISTENT SYMPTOMS OF LYME DISEASE:
AN ILADS POSITION PAPER

Lyme Disease: Ancient engine of an unrecognized borrelosis pandemic

LymeNet Flash: Symptom Study...


Conflicts - why we can't get diagnosed and treated

Summary of Lyme Coinfections

chronic infection


Update on Lyme Disease
Ginger R. Savely, RN, FNP-C


CHRONIC LYME DISEASE written by a veterinarian that contracted lyme disease

eMedicine - Tick-Borne Diseases, Lyme : Article by Jonathan A Edlow, MD

Two-year evaluation of Borrelia burgdorferi culture and supplemental tests for definitive diagnosis of Lyme disease.


ILADS What your Psychiatrist should know

Lyme disease: a public health crisis

WUSA9.com | Health - A Hidden Danger - 4 children with congenital lyme


Up-to-the-minute Lyme Disease News from across the country

YouTube - Lyme in British Columbia Canada.., Dannie danniez28@shaw.ca

Living Smart #210: Kathleen Zabawa - Lyme in Texas - interview with woman who has lyme and 3 of her children have it as well

Most CFIDS and FM are really borreliosis. See the RICO data  here:

Lyme Disease & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - A Patient-Researcher's Perspective

Guaicum treatment for Syphilis
Lyme disease is a spirochete similar to syphilis.  It's possible that guaifenesin therapy works for fibromyalgia because it is working on a spirochete infection such as lyme.

When to Suspect Lyme

Diagnostic distinctions between fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and Gulf War syndrome;  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post-Lyme Disease.


Lyme Disease Test Kits: Potential for Misdiagnosis - a negative test cannot be used to rule out lyme disease

Post-Lyme syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome. Neuropsychiatric similarities and differences.


The role of microorganism infections in chronic illnesses:  Support for antibiotic regimens By Garth Nicolson

CDC - Diagnosing CFS
"Chronic fatigue syndrome can resemble many other illnesses, including mononucleosis, chronic Lyme disease..."

The Role of Infection in Initiating ME/CFS
 

Reasons for False Negative Lyme Disease Blood Test Results

Lyme Disease borreliosis pandemic William T. Harvey, MD ILADS.org

The Personal Lyme Disease Story Of Karen J. Rose - died 4-18-07

Controversy continues to fuel the “Lyme War”

CDC - Emerging infectious determinants of chronic diseases

Lyme Disease & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - A Patient-Researcher's Perspective

Frequently Asked Questions About Antibiotic Therapy for Rheumatic conditions

Clinical Advisor

chlamydia Pneumoniae Help and Treatment

An Interview with Dr. Levin

Lyme Disease Often Missed as a Cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Lyme Disease - Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers

Tick-borne Diseases Are Found in All 50 States

[Appraisal of Lyme borreliosis] [Versicherungsmedizin. 2004] - PubMed Result

Long Term Antibiotics in Lyme Disease

Overdiagnosis of Lyme Disease -- Cherney 129 (9): 752 -- Annals of Internal Medicine

Clinical Advisor

Chronic Lyme Disease is a Frequent Cause of Fibromyalgia and CFS

Lyme Disease is caused by a spirochete bacteria called Borrelia.  There are 100 known strains of borrelia in the U.S. and 300 strains world wide.  Borellia burgdorferi (Bb) is one strain of borellia that was discovered as a cause of Lyme Disease around 1983 by Dr. Burgdorferi.  Lyme Disease has been described in the medical literature since the 1880's.  Examination from tick specimens from the late 1800's show that Borellia was present in some ticks at that time.⁷ 

Bb is an unusual bacteria with unusual behavior and there is much that is unknown about it and the extent of illness that it produces in humans.  It is a slow growing, deep tissue infection that can take days, months, years or even decades to manifest as a disabling illness.

Chronic Lyme Disease Produces identical symtpoms as Fibromyalgia and CFS
While there may be more than one illness that can produce symptoms of Fibromyalgia and CFS ( Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), most LLMD's (Lyme Literate Medical Doctor's) would agree that a frequent cause of Fibomyalgia and CFS is Chronic Lyme Disease.  Because there are many misconceptions about Lyme Disease among physicians, there are undoubtedly many who have been diagnosed with Fibromyagia or CFS who actually have undiagnosed Lyme Disease.

The same symptoms that are diagnosed as Fibromyalgia are also recognized in those who have Chronic Lyme Disease^1,2  and fibromyalgia or CFS are often connected with a diagnosis of Lyme Disease.⁵ Some patients who have had proven lyme disease go on to develop Fibromyalgia or CFS symptoms even though they have been treated with the standard, short course of antibiotic treatment.⁶  Lyme Literate Medical Doctor's (LLMD's) attribute the cause of these symptoms to an on-going infection of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.  Even though there is no proof to the contrary, this conclusion is not supported by all in the medical community and this is why there are so many physicians who are misinformed about chronic lyme disease.

The International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS) is a non-profit, medical society made up of physicians and other medical professional's who are on the front lines treating Lyme Disease patients.  One of their goals is to educate physicians about Lyme Disease.  They state that patients who are diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, CFS and several other illnesses need to be evaluated for Lyme Disease. (see #15)
http://www.ilads.org/PRBrochure.pdf

This stance follows standard medical practice because a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia or CFS should be made only after other illnesses with the same symptoms have been ruled out.

In addition to individual symptoms being the same for Fibromyalgia, CFS and Lyme Disease, many other similarities exist such as the great variability in symptoms and symptom intensity from person to person, the waxing and waning of symptoms and sometimes, periods of remission. Stress, either physical or emotional will often bring flares in Lyme Disease, just as it does with Fibromyalgia and CFS.  Similarly, many with Lyme Disease look well but feel very ill.

"On a clinical basis, "chronic fatigue syndrome" or "fibromyalgia" cannot be readily distinguished from chronic Lyme Disease. Indeed, accumulating experience suggests that Lyme Disease may be a frequent cause of Fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue (8,12)."
Late and Chronic Lyme Disease: Symptom Overlap with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia

Also, in ILADS treatment guidelines:
Evidence-based guidelines for the management of Lyme disease.
"The clinical features of chronic Lyme disease can be indistinguishable from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. These illnesses must be closely scrutinized for the possibility of etiological Borrelia burgdorferi infection."
AND
"The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) working group recommends that empiric treatment be considered routine for patients with a likely diagnosis of Lyme disease."

For those who want to look further at the symptoms see:
Symptoms and Characteristics - compilations of peer-reviewed literature reports

Lyme Disease  - Symptoms

Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of Lyme Borreliosis - Brian Fallon M.D.

Extensive discussion of issues relating to lyme disease that are also dealt with in Fibromyalgia and CFS such as Neurally Mediated Hypotension, Low Blood Volume, magnesium deficiency and others, also diagnostic hints such as SPECT scanning of the brain, CD-57 and another list of symptoms.
Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines

Lyme Disease exists world-wide
Many doctor's will not consider testing for Lyme Disease unless one lives in an area that is considered to be endemic (known to have Lyme Disease). This is a problem because Lyme Disease exists in many area's that are not considered endemic. It is believed by some to exist worldwide.

Many species of migratory birds have been tested to carry ticks that contain the bacteria  that causes Lyme Disease.  This is thought to be one cause for the spread of the disease.

Lyme Disease (Borelia burgdorferi) Spriochetes in Ticks collected from birds in midwestern United states.

First isolation of Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, from blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, removed from a bird in Nova Scotia, Canada - CCDR Volume 25-18 - Health Canada

Prevalence of Lyme Disease Borrelia spp. in Ticks from Migratory Birds on the Japanese Mainland -- Ishiguro et al. 66 (3): 982 -- Applied and Environmental Microbiology

http://www.nih.go.jp/JJID/58/184.pdf

Borrelia burgdorferi was found so far in 30 species of Arthropoda, 13 species of mites (Acarina), 15 species of flies(Diptera), two species of fleas (Siphonaptera).

People and animals travel so it does not make sense to think that Lyme Disease is not capable of spreading or does not already exist in area's that are considered to be non-endemic.  It's not surprising that Lyme disease is slow to be reported in non-endemic area's given that testing and diagnosis are typically limited to endemic areas based on recommendations from organizations like the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA).   How will we know if it exists in those areas that are considered non-endemic if doctors won't test for it or consider a clinical diagnosis but instead diagnose Fibromyalgia and/or CFS?

The CDC map that defines 'endemic' area's and risk area's is based on statistical extrapolation (guesses) using very little actual data except in those area's where Lyme Disease is known to be abundant.  The cost to sweep for ticks and then test them for pathogens would be prohibitively expensive.  The other problem is that the little actual data that they do use is 8-12 years old. That is a long time in the life of a disease that had very little available data about it's prevalence 10 years ago. For an idea of some of the methods used, follow the link below:
Methods Used for Creating a National Lyme Disease Risk Map

Why is the CDC not considering confirmed cases of lyme disease in dogs when they compute risk?
U.S. Canine IDEXX Positive Lyme Results

According to the CDC,
"This study demonstrates how canine serosurveys using the IDEXX 3Dx test can serve as an active surveillance system for potential human Lyme disease risk."
Antibody Testing and Lyme Disease Risk | CDC EID

Despite the difficulty of getting doctor's to test for lyme disease, (even when your symptoms are identical to lyme disease), cases have been reported in every State in the U. S., in Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, Germany, Africa, Slovakia, Great Britain and in many other countries.
International Links on Lyme Disease

The Bulls eye rash is seen only 9% of the time
A new study has found that the majority of rashes seen in early lyme disease are not the slowly expanding bulls eye rash that is commonly thought to be the hallmark of early lyme disease but instead, a diffusely homogenous red plaque or patch.¹⁰ The red plaque or patch is the predominant rash but a rash of any kind only occurs in a little over 50% of new lyme cases. Many people are bitten and do not remember being bitten or having a rash even though they test positive for Lyme.

CDC surveillance criteria should not be used for diagnosis of Lyme Disease
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) publish surveillance criteria that is very narrow and restrictive in that it is designed to prevent false positive cases from being reported.  It is well known that this restrictive criteria will cause valid cases of Lyme Disease to be missed.  The CDC surveillance criteria  are geared towards acute, newly acquired Lyme Disease and will miss many if not most cases of Chronic Lyme Disease because in Chronic Lyme Disease,  the immune system is often not strong enough to produce the required antibodies that are needed for a CDC positive blood test.

The CDC specifically state that this criteria should not to be used for diagnosis. Unfortunately, many doctors use the CDC surveillance criteria for diagnosis.  There are laboratories that specialize in tick borne illnesses and thus employ the most accurate testing methods but many doctor's don't use them. This leaves a great many people with chronic, untreated Lyme Disease and co-infections, many of whom are likely to be diagnosed with Fibromyalgia or CFS.
 

It is well known that Lyme Disease blood tests are highly unreliable.  The FDA issued a bulletin that clearly states that a negative Western Blot does not rule out an active infection.
Lyme Disease Test Kits: Potential for Misdiagnosis

The myth that diagnosing Lyme disease is as easy as running a blood test can quickly be dispelled since it has been proven that a mother who was sero-negative for Lyme Disease (negative blood test) gave birth to a baby that died after 8 days and whose tissues were proven to contain the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease.  The mother had been suffering with symptoms of migratory myalgia and malaise for several years.³  She was clearly infected and passed the infection on to her child, even though she herself tested negative.  Some think that a false negative blood test is not a rare occurance.

Many doctor's follow the IDSA testing recommendations where they use a screening test called ELISA first.  If the ELISA is positive or indeterminate (questionable) then confirmatory testing with the Western Blot follows.  Unfortunately, in the case of Lyme Disease, the ELISA is extremely unreliable and is estimated to detect only about 30% or less of those infected.  Even the Western Blot is not very accurate.  Recent research indicates that from 22%-57% of the time the Western blot would not come back positive in a serum sample from a patient with active Lyme Disease.
Columbia University - FAQ

According to "Evidence-based guidelines for the management of Lyme disease", diagnosis of Lyme disease by the two-tier confirmation method outlined by the CDC, fails to detect up to 90% of cases and does not distinguish between acute, chronic, or resolved infection.
Evidence-based guidelines for the management of Lyme disease.

To make matters worse, there are numerous strains of the Bb bacteria that can cause Lyme Disease (100 known strains in the U.S., 300 strains worldwide) but only a few are currently included in lab tests. In addition, several very specific Lyme Disease markers are not tested for by many labs.  Conservatively, an estimated 36% or more of Lab tests yield incorrect results and yet most physicians do not follow the CDC recommendations which state that Lyme Disease needs to be a clinical diagnosis (based on symptoms, history and lab tests) rather than based on lab tests alone.  
Some known strains
EUCALB Biology: The Spirochaete: Borrelia Strains
Borrelia Molecular Biology Home Page

Tests that detect Lyme Disease rely on the immune system to produce antibodies to the bacteria. The spirochete bacteria that causes Lyme Disease can hide from the immune system so that the immune system does not know that the body is infected and thus does not fight the infection.  Since the immune system does not always produce antibodies (because it doesn't detect the infection), tests often produce negative results when a person is indeed infected. Those who have been infected for a longer period of time (many of whom are diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and/or CFS) may not produce antibodies at all because their immune systems are much more compromised than those who have been more recently infected.

For those people who were infected while in the uterus, a lyme antibody may never be produced because the immune system does not see the bacteria as foreign.
Lab Tests for Lyme Disease, Tom Grier


Lyme Disease can be transmitted to a fetus during pregnancy
According to the CDC, and other published reports, Lyme Disease can be transmitted to a fetus. 
CDC Current Trends Update: Lyme Disease and Cases Occurring during Pregnancy -- United States
"Transplacental transmission of B. burgdorferi has been documented in a pregnant woman with Lyme Disease who did not receive antimicrobial therapy."
Also
Gestational_Lyme_Borreliosis_Annotated_1989.pdf

Available studies focus on the immediate results of pregnancy, such as the likelihood of congenital abnormalities and/or death.  Based on these few, narrowly defined studies, it is often stated that there is no proof that a Lyme infected mother produces children that have congenital abnormalities or that die due to a Bb infection. One study noted that the incidence of cardiac malformations was significantly higher in a group of infants who were located in an endemic area (an area known to have Lyme disease) as compared with a group in a non-endemic area, but that the rate of total congenital malformations was not significantly different.⁴ 

Even though tissue cultures prove beyond a doubt that Bb infections exist in the heart, brains, liver and other organs of some dead newborns, the specific cause of their death is unknown. The article in the link below, is based on a study of the current medical literature.   While the conclusions represented in the article are dubious, it is clear that it has been proven beyond a doubt that Lyme disease can be transmitted during pregnancy to a fetus.
Teratogen Update: Lyme Disease
Case studies and pathology reports

There are no long term studies to our knowledge that actually follow children who were born to Bb infected mothers to determine the state of their health as they grow up and reach adulthood.  It is unknown how this type of untreated infection would manifest but we do know that chronic, untreated Lyme Disease often eventually presents with the same symptoms as Fibromyalgia or CFS.

LLMD's typically feel that risk of infection to a fetus is high enough that the pregnant mother should be treated during pregnancy so as to hopefully avoid infection of the fetus.  For appropriate treatment recommendations during pregnancy, please search for "pregnancy" in the following document:
Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines for Lyme and other Tick Borne illnesses

Babesiosis and a Bartonella like organism (BLO) are two common co-infections that are often seen in lyme infected patients that can also be transmitted to a fetus.
ILADS - International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society

Ticks aren't the only insects that can be infected with the bacteria that causes lyme.
Mosquitoes. horse flies, mites and possibly spiders may carry the infection.  At this time, it is unknown if these other carriers can infect humans.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology - Ticks and biting insects infected with the etiologic agent of Lyme Disease, Borrelia burgdorferi.

Mites transmit Bb to white mice

Horse and Deer Flies, HYG-2115-98

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection in mosquitoes from Szczecin area.

Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in mosquitoes (Culicidae) in recreational areas of the city of Szczecin.

In Europe, at least one case has been ascribed to mosquito bites

Transmission of Tick Borne Infections via Blood Transfusion
 The CDC admits that the potential for transmission of tick-borne infections is unclear. According to a 1998 Special issue of Blood Safety - CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases.  The most commonly reported transfusion associated tick-borne infection is babesiosis (a common Lyme Disease co-infection).  One case of transfusion transmitted Rocky Mountain spotted fever (another co-infection) has been reported.

The University of California, San Francisco Medical Centers permanently disallow anyone who has had lyme disease or Brucellosis/Babesiosis to give blood.
UCSF Blood CentersUCSF Medical Center Mount Zion Hospital - Permanent Deferrals

The American Red Cross conducted a study to determine the survival of Borrelia burgdorferi in blood products under blood bank storage conditions.  Bb was shown to survive in Red Blood Cells (4 degrees C) and FFP (below -18 degrees C) for 45 days and in PCs (20-24 degrees C) for 6 days. They conclude that the results of their study does not exclude the possibility of transmission of Lyme disease through blood transfusion.⁸  Based on that study, The Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla concluded that transfusion-related Lyme disease is theoretically possible.⁹

Lyme Disease may be sexually transmitted.
In a presentation at the International Scientific Conference on Lyme Disease in April, 2001, Dr. Bach stated that based on his findings, the possibility of sexual transmission needed further study. 

Dr. Bach found that in a significant number of couples, both partners presented with Lyme disease although only one had a history of tick exposure.  He also noted that sexually active couples have a remarkable propensity for antibiotic treatment failure and that the possibility that couples may be re-infecting one another through sexual contact should be considered.

In laboratory testing, Dr. Bach found that semen samples provided by male Lyme patients (positive by western blot/PCR in blood) and the male sexual partner of a Lyme infected female patient were positive approximately 40% of the time.
RECOVERY OF LYME SPIROCHETES BY PCR IN SEMEN SAMPLES OF PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED LYME DISEASE PATIENTS

The CDC states:
"While alternate modes of transmission remain theoretically possible, it is clear that the great majority of Lyme disease cases are due to tick-borne transmission. Given limited resources, we feel it is prudent to focus resources on preventing illnesses due to known modes of transmission rather than diverting them to evaluate rare or non-viable alternate routes. Gains made in preventing primary infection through tick bites will also necessarily reduce any risk of illness that might exist due to secondary (sexual and transplacental transmission."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Response January 16, 2004 to Lyme Disease Association Health & Human Services Meeting, DC, November 2003

While we do know that it has been proven that transplacental transmission during pregnancy occurs, there are no reliable figures as to how often it occurs.  Since it is not known how often it occurs, why is the CDC assuming that the great majority of transmission is tick borne? 

Sexual transmission has not been studied enough to know how often it occurs either.  One doctor, who has conducted his own studies states that it undoubtedly occurs and needs further study in order to determine the real numbers. 

Lyme Disease and the importance of Co-Infections
Ticks (and possibly other carriers) that transmit Bb also transmit other infections. There is an estimated 66% chance that at least one of several other infections will be transmitted at the same time as Bb. These are called "co-infections". The most common of these infections are Babesia, Ehrlichia, and Bartonella like organisms but there are also viral infections that can be transmitted. Babesia is a malarial like infection that responds to malaria medications. This could be why some Fibromyalgia and CFS patients respond well to the anti-malarial medication Plaquenil.

Co-infections often have overlapping symptoms with Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia or CFS but effective treatment for Lyme Disease is not effective for the co-infections.  If one is treated for Lyme Disease and does not get better, then there are possibly co-infections that need to be treated first before any improvement will be seen.  
Researchers are only now beginning to uncover the connection between tick-borne coinfection and inexplicable illness.

Lyme Disease Tick-Borne Coinfections

Co-infections are hard to diagnose with lab tests alone so again, one will need to be evaluated by a LLMD in order to rule out co-infections as a cause for symptoms.

Note:  Studies showing that antibiotic treatment is not useful for Fibromyalgia and CFS are flawed in several areas.  Co-infections must be treated first before Lyme treatment in order to see improvement.  The correct antibiotics must be used and the length and dosage must be high enough in order to allow for improvement.

Dissension in the medical community regarding diagnosis and treatment of chronic Lyme Disease.
There is a political battle going on regarding lyme disease. Most in the allopathic medical world follow the IDSA (Infectious Disease Society of America) because that is who they would normally follow when it comes to these types of diseases.

The lyme leaders in the IDSA camp have insurance company ties, conflicts of interest regarding  patents for lyme testing as well as  personal and political reasons for publishing the guidelines that they do regarding diagnosis and treatment of lyme disease. Most doctor's are not aware of many of the issues and rely on the group that they would normally follow for these types of diseases, the IDSA.

Several States have had to pass laws in order to allow LLMD's to treat chronic lyme patients without fear of losing their license.

Those who are infected with this complex, under-funded and misunderstood illness are left without diagnosis and treatment while insurance companies and others who have financial interests and other motives are allowed to dictate policy based on little to no science, ignoring much of the studies that do exist that are in opposition to their own views.

LLMD's are often harassed by insurance companies, even anonymously turned into medical boards where they are threatened with the loss of their medical license if they continue to treat chronic lyme disease patients.

The International Lyme and Associated Disease Association (ILADS), a non-profit organization made up of physicians and other medical professional's base their recommendations on studies and their experience in treating many thousands of patients.  They recognize that there is much that is unknown about chronic Lyme Disease and they are looking for patterns and treatments that will further the understanding of Lyme Disease and improve the quality of life for those who suffer with this commonly  misunderstood illness. 

ILADS member Dr. Burrascano Jr. - Lyme Conspiracy - Reprinted from Senate Committee Hearing on Lyme Disease

ILADS- Dr. Stricker testimony California - Senate Health and Human Services Committee

Columbia University University Disease Research Studies on the diagnostic controversy

The symptoms of Fibromyalgia, CFS and Lyme are so similar that for many, it will depend on which type of doctor one sees as to which diagnosis is given. More people would be diagnosed with Lyme Disease if there were more Lyme Literate Medical Doctor's but one has to specifically seek them out because of the hot political battle going on in the medical community regarding the nature and treatment of chronic Lyme Disease.

Since chronic Lyme Disease produces the same symptoms as Fibromalgia and CFS and there is no known underlying cause for Fibromyalgia and CFS, it is important for anyone who has these symptoms to be evaluated by a LLMD in order to determine if anti-microbial therapy may be helpful. 

You can seek the name of a LLMD in your area from this group by clicking on the heading "Seeking a Doctor".   People will reply to you privately so as to protect the names of LLMD's.

LymeNet seeking a doctor forum

Lyme Links



References
1. Nowakowski G, Kochanska-Dziurowicz A, Widala E., '[Tick spirochetosis--Lyme borreliosis]",
Entrez PubMed

2.  Jowi JO, Gathua SN., "Lyme Disease: report of two cases.", East Afr Med J. 2005 May;82(5):267-9.
Lyme Disease: report of two cases.

3.  Lavoie PE, Lattner BP, Duray PH, Malawista SE, Barbour AG, Johnson RC. "Culture positive, seronegative, transplancental Lyme borrelosis infant mortality." Int. Conf. Lyme borreliosis 1990 (abstract).

4. Williams CL, Strobino B, Weinstein A, Spierling P, Medici F.,  "Maternal Lyme disease and congenital malformations: a cord blood serosurvey in endemic and control areas.Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 1995 Jul;9(3):320-30.",
Entrez PubMed

5.  Hausotter W., "[Appraisal of Lyme borreliosis]", 2004 Mar 1;56(1):25-9.
Entrez PubMed

6.  Bujak DI, Weinstein A, Dornbush RL., "Clinical and neurocognitive features of the post Lyme syndrome.", J Rheumatol. 1996 Aug;23(8):1392-7.
Entrez PubMed

7.  Stephen Harrod Buhner, "Healing Lyme, Natural Healing and Prevention of  Lyme Borreliosis and its Coinfections"

8.Badon SJ, Fister RD, Cable RG., "Survival of Borrelia burgdorferi in blood products.", Transfusion. 1989 Sep;29(7):581-3.
Entrez PubMed

9.  Nadelman RB, Sherer C, Mack L, Pavia CS, Wormser GP., "Survival of Borrelia burgdorferi in human blood stored under blood banking conditions", Transfusion. 1990 May;30(4):298-301.
Entrez PubMed.

10, Stonehouse A, Studdiford JS, Henry CA., "An Update on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Lyme Disease: "Focusing on the Bull's Eye, You May Miss the Mark"", 1: J Emerg Med. 2007 Oct 16 [Epub ahead of print],
An Update on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Early ...[J Emerg Med. 2007] - PubMed Result



 

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