In the podcast below, Dr. Harris (my doc) talks about the incredibly difficult job of addressing chronic Lyme.
Below are my thoughts (italicized) and some of the key points from the podcast.
Note: Mainstream doctors are taught to rely heavily on labwork and to follow a standard, short, ineffective treatment protocol. If you’re still sick after that, they will tell you they can’t help you.
Lyme is NOT a one size fits all sickness!
Acute Lyme requires early treatment – optimally in 2-3 days, but at least within 2 weeks. IgG is the standard testing most doctors order, but it does not typically show for 3 weeks (it is looking at antibodies created to fight the disease – not the disease itself).
Most doctors prescribe a maximum of 2-4 weeks of treatment. 6 weeks is optimal (using the proper treatment and often higher doses) and is ok for 75% of patients. Ideally, you treat until symptoms are gone. However, if the Lyme is eradicated, the body is likely able to fight the co-infections on its own.
Most doctors do not understand, are not ever taught, any of this.
Chronic Lyme is different.
It likes to attack genetic weaknesses and previous injuries – making every patient different.
The Lyme spirochetes know how to use our bodies against us – how to confuse and evade the immune system. It doesn’t like oxygen so it moves away from the blood stream where the medicines go.
Lyme bacteria are spiral shaped – called spirochetes.
Spirochetes change form to avoid the being killed. (So symptoms may quiet down or change, so some doctors think they’ve addressed the infection, when in fact, it’s hiding).
Symptoms are indicators for which infection is active. It may not always be Lyme itself. Co-infections are common and include other bacteria, malaria-like organisms, parasites, & viruses.
Every system, every organ, every metabolic system can be impacted. So everything needs to be addressed.
Common dysfunction patterns include:
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Immune system
- Nutritional absorption
- Organs
- Endocrine organs
- Nervous system
- Sensory organs
- Lymphatic system
- Skin microbiome
- Tissues, joints, bones
- Blood
Adjunctive treatments are supportive to the primary treatment. Crucial to proper treatment of Lyme disease.
Alternative treatments are important and promising but are not considered standards of care (hyperbaric, ozone, energetic, Apiatherapy, etc). Can also be used as adjunctive therapy.
The order of treatment is important – so important that Dr Harris has been writing a book (soon to be released) in which he explains that his focus on treatment is often as follows:
- Decrease inflammatory response and hyper reactivity
- Allow body to start receiving treatment
- Provide nutritional support so the body is strong enough to fight
- Reduce toxic load (fungus, mold, metals, etc)
- Eradicate infection while protecting the body
- Allow body to heal – address die-off reactions – address damage (nerve, cognitive, muscle damage, etc)
You can be notified when The Order of Treatment book becomes available.
New treatments – there is a major paradigm change happening.
- Dapsone protocol
- Phage therapy
- New anti microbials
- New peptides
The biggest impediment for patients to getting proper Lyme disease treatment is the doctors and academicians who don’t believe chronic disease is an issue and who don’t look at the inter-connectiveness of the body.
Advice from Dr. Harris to chronic patients:
“You need a doctor who listens to you and who listens long enough for you to tell your whole story.”
“Trust your own experience. Trust that what you’re feeling is real.” Your labwork may look fine, and you can still be sick.
“Don’t give up and don’t be told that this is all in your head.”
“The answers are out there.”
“Don’t settle for just getting a little bit better.”
“Even if you don’t believe that you’ll get better, hope you can.”
Dr. Harris has been not only my doctor, but also my teacher and my cheerleader over the last 10 years. He roots for me. He gives me hope each and every time I talk with him. He truly listens to me and trusts my gut when I want to follow a particular path. Find a doctor like that. They are out there.
PhilippiJoy 