Scientists agree that Lyme disease appears in at least two forms in the human body – as a spirochete (a flexible spirally twisted bacterium ) and in “oval” form – and these two forms are sensitive to different antibiotics and to different lengths of treatment. There is also some debate about whether Lyme exists in a third “biofilm” (a thin, slimy film of bacteria) form that is especially resistant to antibiotic treatment, which may account for why Lyme disease becomes a chronic illness in some people.
In any event, there is extensive discussion within the medical community, about what constitutes the best protocol for treating patients suffering with Lyme disease. The root of the controversy is that physicians have a variety of opinions about how Lyme disease is expressed in the body.
One view is that, with proper antibiotic treatment, most people fully recover from Lyme disease, and only in a small subset of the population does Lyme present as a long-term intracellular illness.
The other view is that Lyme disease is always intracellular, and as such, never completely leaves the body. The implication of this perspective is that, even if a patient stops experiencing symptoms, his or her body still harbors the infection. Consequently, symptoms may reappear over time, either chronically or intermittently.
When a patient’s symptoms persist (Chronic Lyme Disease) despite treatment with a round of antibiotics, some doctors will prescribe a long-term course of antibiotics of up to 2 or 3 years. Dr. Gary Kaplan cautions patients about the risks with this approach, however, as high doses of strong antibiotics can cause imbalances in the digestive tract that can lead to diarrhea, yeast overgrowth, and nutritional deficiencies. There is also the theoretical risk of creating an antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
“We can’t just give a patient antibiotics and walk away. We must closely monitor each patient, and watch for and be ready to treat any side-effects that do appear. In fact, in some cases, the long-term use of antibiotics can cause more problems than the Lyme disease itself.” he says. Dr. Kaplan recommends probiotic nutritional supplementation during the antibiotic regimen. He also prescribes some Chinese and Western herbal remedies to alleviate some of the side effects of taking high doses of antibiotics over an extended period of time.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
“Gary Kaplan is not only a pioneer in his field, he’s a badass who is changing the face of medicine. This book holds everything I wish I knew twenty years ago about autoimmunity. It’s an incredible resource for anyone with chronic pain and illness. It will bring hope and health to so many people.”
Research increasingly tells us that depression and anxiety are not disorders in and of themselves, but rather symptoms of inflammation in the brain. Thinking about depression and anxiety in this way gives us new insight into their possible causes and how best to address them.
With that in mind, and especially if you are one for whom conventional treatment has proven ineffective, a less frequently cited yet potential reason you may not be getting better could be Lyme disease.
Lyme and other tick-borne diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent. While these diseases typically present with a wide range of symptoms, joint pain being the most common, they have also been associated with a wide range of psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and bipolar disease. The association of Lyme disease with neuropsychiatric disease has been documented since 1994 in the American Journal of Psychiatry and has been confirmed since, but the connection is frequently overlooked in the diagnosis of psychiatric illness. If you are suffering from chronic pain and depression, anxiety or another mental disorder, this diagnosis has to be considered.
Dr. Kaplan says physicians (inappropriately) are oriented to treat these conditions as diseases and not look for an underlying cause. For instance, he recalls one of his patients who had depression and sleep disturbances consistent with sleep drunkenness, but which later turned out to be Lyme disease. “Treatment of the Lyme resulted in complete resolution of symptoms.”
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
The Controversy of Antibiotics for Lyme Disease Treatment and Alternative Treatment Options
/in Conditions/by Gary Kaplan, DOScientists agree that Lyme disease appears in at least two forms in the human body – as a spirochete (a flexible spirally twisted bacterium ) and in “oval” form – and these two forms are sensitive to different antibiotics and to different lengths of treatment. There is also some debate about whether Lyme exists in a third “biofilm” (a thin, slimy film of bacteria) form that is especially resistant to antibiotic treatment, which may account for why Lyme disease becomes a chronic illness in some people.
In any event, there is extensive discussion within the medical community, about what constitutes the best protocol for treating patients suffering with Lyme disease. The root of the controversy is that physicians have a variety of opinions about how Lyme disease is expressed in the body.
One view is that, with proper antibiotic treatment, most people fully recover from Lyme disease, and only in a small subset of the population does Lyme present as a long-term intracellular illness.
The other view is that Lyme disease is always intracellular, and as such, never completely leaves the body. The implication of this perspective is that, even if a patient stops experiencing symptoms, his or her body still harbors the infection. Consequently, symptoms may reappear over time, either chronically or intermittently.
When a patient’s symptoms persist (Chronic Lyme Disease) despite treatment with a round of antibiotics, some doctors will prescribe a long-term course of antibiotics of up to 2 or 3 years. Dr. Gary Kaplan cautions patients about the risks with this approach, however, as high doses of strong antibiotics can cause imbalances in the digestive tract that can lead to diarrhea, yeast overgrowth, and nutritional deficiencies. There is also the theoretical risk of creating an antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
“We can’t just give a patient antibiotics and walk away. We must closely monitor each patient, and watch for and be ready to treat any side-effects that do appear. In fact, in some cases, the long-term use of antibiotics can cause more problems than the Lyme disease itself.” he says. Dr. Kaplan recommends probiotic nutritional supplementation during the antibiotic regimen. He also prescribes some Chinese and Western herbal remedies to alleviate some of the side effects of taking high doses of antibiotics over an extended period of time.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
Praise for Dr. Kaplan’s book – Why You Are Still Sick: How Infections Can Break Your Immune System & How You Can Recover
“Gary Kaplan is not only a pioneer in his field, he’s a badass who is changing the face of medicine. This book holds everything I wish I knew twenty years ago about autoimmunity. It’s an incredible resource for anyone with chronic pain and illness. It will bring hope and health to so many people.”
– Dave Asprey, founder, Bulletproof 360
Lyme Disease May Be the Reason Your Anxiety and Depression is Not Getting Better
/in Conditions/by Gary Kaplan, DOResearch increasingly tells us that depression and anxiety are not disorders in and of themselves, but rather symptoms of inflammation in the brain. Thinking about depression and anxiety in this way gives us new insight into their possible causes and how best to address them.
With that in mind, and especially if you are one for whom conventional treatment has proven ineffective, a less frequently cited yet potential reason you may not be getting better could be Lyme disease.
Lyme and other tick-borne diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent. While these diseases typically present with a wide range of symptoms, joint pain being the most common, they have also been associated with a wide range of psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and bipolar disease. The association of Lyme disease with neuropsychiatric disease has been documented since 1994 in the American Journal of Psychiatry and has been confirmed since, but the connection is frequently overlooked in the diagnosis of psychiatric illness. If you are suffering from chronic pain and depression, anxiety or another mental disorder, this diagnosis has to be considered.
Dr. Kaplan says physicians (inappropriately) are oriented to treat these conditions as diseases and not look for an underlying cause. For instance, he recalls one of his patients who had depression and sleep disturbances consistent with sleep drunkenness, but which later turned out to be Lyme disease. “Treatment of the Lyme resulted in complete resolution of symptoms.”
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
Additional resources:
Horowitz Lyme-MSIDS Questionnaire
Video: “Combating Chronic Lyme,” A presentation by Dr. Gary Kaplan
Doctors urged to take chronic fatigue syndrome more seriously
/in Featured Press/by Website Administrator