Stages and Treatment

	Three stages of Lyme Disease
Stage 1 Early-localized disease: Erythema Migrans rash.  Sometimes  flu-like symptoms. Fatigue Malaise Lethargy Headache Sore muscles Joint pains Swollen/enlarged lymph nodes.  If Rash is not present, then the symptoms at this stage may be indistinguishable from an upper respiratory infection.	Stage 2 Early disseminated disease  May occur shortly after stage 1 and up to 10 months later. Rash may develop at sites across the body. Moderate to severe musculoskeletal symptoms including inflamed joints, tendons and fibromyalgia-like symptoms.  Some develop neurologic manifestations from an infected/inflamed brain,  as well, as an infected nervous system  such as;  Meningitis Encephalitis  Cranial neuropathy, Peripheral neuropathy Inflammation of the spinal cord  A side of the face that is numb or paralyzed. Others have  inflammation of the heart and surrounding area Changes in heartbeat. Others have Swollen lymph nodes Conjunctivitis  Liver enzyme abnormalities Hepatitis  Kidney abnormalities	Stage 3 Late chronic disease  May occur many months or years after the tick bite or start quite quickly. As the bacteria and neurotoxins spread it manifests a myriad of minor to severely debilitating symptoms. As a result of a disordered or infected system(s), chronic symptoms arise from the many affected parts of the body, including the brain, nervous system, eyes, joints, heart, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, limbs.

(Chart compliments of Lyme-symptoms.com) Link below:

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Treatment protocol per highly reknown LLMD Joseph Burrascano

EARLY LOCALIZED:

Treatment: oral therapy until symptoms form (at least one month)


EARLY DISSEMINATED: 

Treatment:  oral therapy until no active disease for a minimum of 1-2 months (4-6 months more typical)  For those unresponsive, intolerant of oral antibiotics or for the more ill patient: I.V. Therapy until clearly improved, 6 weeks minimum


LATE DISSEMINATED: 

Treatment: extended I.V. therapy, minimum of 14 weeks.  Following with oral and intramuscular treatment.


CHRONIC LYME DISEASE/PERSISENT CURRENT INFECTION:

Treatment: Antibiotic therapy will need to continue for many months and the antibiotics may have to be changed periodically to break plateaus in recovery.  Difficulties can arise with colitis from overuse of antibiotics, I.V. catheter infections and yeast overgrowth to name a few.  If treatment can continue long term, there is hope for a fair amount of recovery but attention must be paid to many modalities including diet and exercise, supplements, low stress, avoidance of alcohol and caffeine.  Even then, not all patients with chronic Lyme will fully recover.  Many relapse soon after treatment is stopped leaving them candidates for open ended, ongoing therapy.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE:


Most primary care physicians unknowingly or not, will prescribe 10-14 days of antibiotics which is not enough.  Insist on a minimum of 30-60 days or find another doctor!  Also, DO NOT RELY ON LAB TESTS ALONE.  The blood tests for Lyme Disease are unreliable at best.  Lyme is a clinical diagnosis and should be diagnosed based on exposure and symptoms.   What is done at this point is what can make the difference between an acute but treatable infection to a chronic and disabling one. If left untreated, Lyme disease infiltrates the heart, brain, and other vital organs causing severe medical and psychological issues. These disabling and agonizing symptoms often leave the patient unable to function normally and at times bedridden or in a wheelchair. This occurs all too frequently due to misdiagnosis and undertreatment which is why education is where we must focus!  

Through education and changing current policy so that physicians are first, trained to recognize the disease and second, allowed to treat the patient without fear of retribution,  the disease could stop right here.  All that is required is for IDSA guidelines to be changed and for the CDC to follow ILADS policy.