sf_mom

You could start by taking some Bur Bur and Bentonite 'OR' Charcoal Pills. Burbur: Work up to 10 drops in a.m. and p.m. http://www.nutramedix.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=3&idproduct=13 Bentonite Pills: Start with 5 pills in a.m. and p.m. and work up to 10 http://www.uniquehealing.com/unique-healing-store/unique-healing-body-bentonite-capsules/ Charcoal Pills: Work up to 8 per day. http://www.iherb.com/Nature-s-Way-Charcoal-Activated-280-mg-100-Capsules/1846?at=0

A-Bart or Bar-1 will help treat Bartonella but it is always worse before better. They are herbal mixes and as potent as any antibiotic I have taken. If I were you I'd start with heavy detox prior to starting treatment. That should help eliminate the current toxin load. Plus hd B-12 will help with mood. -Wendy

I should clarify in fairness to the Dr. that states IVIG immune suppressing. The individual would need to be on the right combo of antibiotics to fight LD without the use of IVIG (in this particular situation). In all of our cases the Lyme was winning even with hd/ld IVIG and single use antibotics for PANDAS treatment and why we are still here on the forum trying to get our kids well. His perspective was the Lyme was sent off into cyst form from the all the IVIGs (1 1/2 years of hd treatments), the donor antibodies were doing the job for the child and there was a dependency because the child own antibodies didn't need to work so hard. At some point, he felt the lyme would resurface and was only a matter of time if not treated properly. The current plan was to slowly stretch out intervals for treatments, pulse new antibiotic protocol and give the body opportunity to fight it on its own.... not immediately quit treatments that were helping keep the child well with very low level symptoms for PANDAS treatment. With this particular perspective you could also say the same about antibiotics..... I guess the goal 'per our Dr.' is to train the body to handle whatever ever bugs remain in the body once the bacterial load is down. So, weaning from supplements, antibiotics, IVIG.... etc. In our situation, maybe it will be the supplements for KPU that remain a lifetime but who really knows at this point in time each situation will be different. For our family, with 3 children that have very serious infections and one with heart related issues since 5 months of age.... I worry there will be one child that will have ongoing issues but can't even put that negative thought out in the world so disregard my comment. So we keep on keeping with whatever is 'currently' working for them individually. -Wendy

I have really backed our LLMD into a corner on this issue over and over. The reality is they don't know why high does IVIG or low dose IVIG does or doesn't help an individual with Lyme/co-infections. We even have mixed results among forum members. Our Dr. has typically used low dose IVIG for individuals further along in treatment with neuropathy symptoms and again there is even mixed results with those patients. I was also told by our Dr. that our twins IgG 1 and 3 immune deficiencies would resolve with treatment. We are tracking them and so far they are moving in the right directions (although still not normal). We have chosen to hold off on IVIG treatments for now but would reconsider if needed. Another LLMD has had several lengthy conversations with a mother who has treated her daughter extensively with hdIVIG for PANDAS with good result and is currently trying to convince her to stop them. His position is the IVIG is immune suppressing and is doing the work the body should be. Although difficult you want the body to learn to fight the infection. They are going to slow down the hdIVIG intervals and perhaps even stop them to train the body to deal with the Lyme. Another LLMD that has worked with many individuals that have immune deficiencies has noted those with IgA deficiencies have a much harder time recovering from LD. However, they have had success treating without the use of IVIG.... it just takes longer. As a parent, I believe it is critical to know when something is or isn't helping your child and be their best advocate because it is truly trail and error. Same goes for antibiotics and specific combos.... we've had to stop both Rifampin (high fever beyond normal herx) and Biaxin (yellowing of eyes) for older DS due negative response when others have had wonderful responses to these particular antibiotics. -Wendy

I even edited my original post..... but now you've opened the door for me to give more details: A healthy individual with a good gut should have brown, well formed, 1 1/2 inch thick, 6" or longer, twice daily, morning poops that do not float. After two years of dealing with 3 children PANDAS/Lyme I've resorted to becoming a poop expert.... Just crazy how your own anxiety/worry will drive you to read about the oddest stuff. -Wendy

Our twins 35 and 45 pounds take 1/3 cup bentonite clay daily. Older DS 54 pounds takes 1 cup bentonite clay daily. They now sell bentonite pills and 10 pills equal 1/2 cup. Bentonite will absorb the toxin in the liver bile... hopefully taking load off liver. All the other stuff supports organ detox. Burbur: Twins 10 drops in a.m. and p.m. Mondipur: Older DS 15 drops in a.m. and p.m. Clarity K Detox by Beyond Balance: Twins 10 drops in a.m. and p.m. Now that we are treating older DS for KPU we will be alternating weekly between Chlorella/Captomer. Chlorella: 10 pills at breakfast, 10 pills at dinner. Captomer: 2 pills every other day. We believe older DS has/had climbing liver enzymes due to yellowing of eyes and are waiting for blood test results but were given Hepatica which is a very strong liver detox. -Wendy

I agree.... being a 'poop watcher' myself. Documenting color change along with other potential symptom changes have been extremely helpful for our Dr. and nutritionist. In general terms: Green: bacterial, Yellow: viral, Dark Black/Maroon: blood in upper intestine, Red/Brown: blood in lower intestine, Red not imbedded in poop: internal fisher or tear, Gray: Too much bile. Soft stool might be yeast especially if taking antibiotics 'look for other signs of yeast'. Of course all of this could be impacted by supplements or what you are eating like iron 'green' or beets 'red', etc. Green could also mean its passing too quickly through intestine. Bile is what makes it brown. -Wendy

I think any combination of things could have kicked it off at 2: chronic infection/virus/vaccinations, etc.... Your son's body was able to handle 'it' until he was throttle again by Lyme. BUT, it also could have been underlying Lyme all along. Unfortunately, you will never know. We caught our twins Lyme early (2 1/2 they were put on antibiotics) due to older brothers diagnoses of PANDAS/Lyme. One twin did not have any TICs until we started treating for Lyme put picked up a shoulder shrug as a herxheimer response and has since resolved. The TICS will come and go until the hyper immune response settles as each virus or infection is cleared. It takes time 'average child' two years to recover from LD. Wishing you the best with treatment. -Wendy

Susan, This particular link is not working. By they way, DH saw the BHG for ART like testing. I had no idea he was local to us until he was referred.... DH and him made a great connection as their his real jobs are in the same industry. Wellness is now his hobby. I give him a lot of credit for putting the information out there. I have searched his website numerous times. -Wendy

Karen: My son's predominate symptoms at sudden on-set were TICs at 5 1/2 years old. Rapid eye blinking was one of his TICs. He has congenital Lyme. TICS are mostly resolved and he is currently 7 1/2 years old. If it has truly been Lyme Disease or chronic infection for your son all along TICs should resolve with treatment. It is very possible he has had chronic infection since 2 and his body has been able to manage symptoms. Our experience has been the first symptom/TIC to crop up is the last to resolve. Good luck with treatment. Wendy

Michael, very interesting. I too think I had 'babesia' like organism. Negative on all tests. Very symptomatic but having great success with treatment. I think we are on similar protocol as well. Doxy/Clindo alternating Alinia and Tindamax every three weeks. -Wendy

Sorry, just posted link in original post. KPU is essentially one's ability to detox... Video explains it well.

Susan, Yes, over the last couple of weeks we did ART or similar testing with older DS, DH and myself which showed KPU for myself and DS. We have not gotten all of DH results yet. We did not do the urine test. I've got some of the classic symptoms. Older DS most recognizable KPU symptom would be dark circles under his eyes and chapped lips. Both symptoms have come and gone throughout treatment. Most recently they have both resurfaced... typically happens with herx. They already seem improved but we've also stopped one antibiotic due to yellow of eyes and potential climbing liver enzymes. He does seem more edgy since starting but several new herbs were added too. He also had a severe stomach ache last night that I thought we were going to have to run him to the hospital. It was very scary but I am not sure if he wasn't also tired. Thankfully it passed with some Advil and Tums but I've never seen him like that 'double over and crying'. Today he is fine. Again, I think I'll have a better perspective over the next couple of weeks on how bad it can be. -Wendy

80% of individuals with Lyme will have a co-infection. Many will have more than one. Viruses/Molds/Fungus are also issues. Many of our co-infections have been diagnosed throughout the last year as we've broaden our testing and treatment and certain symptoms have taken predominance. Me: Lyme, Ehrlichosis, Mycoplasma, 4 viruses inclusive of XMRV, treated for Babesia and seems to be mostly resolved (treated since Feb), KPU DS1: Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella, Strep (resolved), XMRV, KPU DS2: Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella, Coxsackies, most likely KPU DD: Same as twin brother, Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella, Coxsackies, most likely KPU All test results are via different methods and labs. All three of our children are doing well with treatment and trending towards recovery. I would say our older son maintains in 95% recovered or above 'day dependent'.... and still is positive for all of the above. He still has 'at least' a year of treatment as we begin to focus on babesia treatment that we just confirmed him positive for recently. I feel one of the key elements to our successful treatment of Lyme et al has been the heavy detox program we have been following for the last 18 months. -Wendy

Attached is a very good video by Dr. Klinghardt discussing KPU/HPU. Some of you may have seen the video already... its long but worth the watch. Video towards the bottom of page. http://planetthrive.com/2010/04/hpukpu-protocol-for-lyme-and-autism/ Both my older DS and myself test positive for KPU via ART. Our son started treatment and will update once I have better perspective on herx response. -Wendy

Fantastic News!!!!! I'm so glad the IV antibiotics are helping. I had posted something while back about Bartonella's ability to suppress Lyme and Babesia antibody response.... once the bartonella is gone sometimes the antibody tests will convert. What it comes down to again is addressing one infection at a time 'even if its clinical diagnoses and treatment is helping'. http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=13656 -Wendy

I too had symptoms of Fibro that have improved tremendously with treatment. I started on antibiotics last August and combo antibiotics for Lyme last Oct. If you have symptoms and have any indication of positive Lyme specific bands I think it is more likely than less likely LD. AND, definitely worth pursuing Lyme treatment. All three of my children have congenital LD... got LD from me while pregnant with co-infections of Bartonella/Babesia. All of my children have made marked improvement with Lyme treatment. Older DS originally had PANDAS like sudden-on set after strep related illness. Was diagnosed and treated for PANDAS one year. He is nearing the end of his Lyme treatment and anticipated to be off antibiotics soon. His sudden on-set was June 24th, 2009 and he is currently 7. I'd watch the video 'Under Our Skin'... you'll quickly discover how often Fibro is mis-diagnosed. http://www.underourskin.com/home-store -Wendy

Temporarily using Ibuprofen is fine. It is not a long term solution though due to potential side effects. We also use periodically for rages and it helps tremendously. -Wendy

I too am excited to hear your son is making improvement. BRAVO on long hard fought battle to get your son well and finding a treatment that is finally working!!!!!! When you mentioned your son's symptoms on the PANDAS forum I definitely felt like Babesia might be an issue for him (enlarged spleen, low WBC, high liver enzyems, etc) I too am worried about my climbing liver enzymes and fearful the next step will be a IV antibiotics if things do not settle down. Again, I am being treated for Babesia but show up negative via Igenex. VERY, very symptomatic for Babesia though even have waves of 'the chills' regularly throughout the day. Wishing you continued success with treatment!!!!!!!!!!! I suspect you may get further converted results in the future if you keep testing via Igenex. Ehrlichiosis is thankfully easier to treat. -Wendy

I would call your LLMD in the morning if fever persists. We had a similar very high fever 103+ and flue like symptoms that started on day 30 through day 35 when rotated to Rifampin. We did speak with our Dr. and our son was taken off the rifampin. Dr. felt symptoms started as herx but his body didn't like the rifampin and symptoms then escalated. All the symptoms you listed could be a herx response. I would check for fever blisters especially in mouth..... my understanding of Steven Johnson is it starts with the WBC attacking skin surface so you'd see blisters/sores with other symptoms. If you see any sores stop immediately until you talk with your Dr. -Wendy

If you investigate Lyme again I would NOT test for antibodies but perhaps consider doing the Dot Blot or provocation testing that looks for DNA in urine. We have similar Lyme results and are band 41 positive only via Igenex and would have never found the Lyme via antibody testing in our children. One child does test positive of Babesia/Bartonella while the Lyme results are negative via antibody test. Tpotter is correct in saying that some antibiotics are tougher on the liver than others and so a potential antibiotic switch might be necessary. BUT, here are a couple of symptoms of Babesia that directly impact liver and may increase with treatment. I am suspected of having Babesia (Lyme is positive, Babesia is negative) and currently being treated for Babesia based on clinical diagnoses. My liver enzymes are climbing and we are watching closely. I am trying to manage 'if I can' with bile binders to help liver detox. I drink a cup of Bentonite Clay daily at bedtime. I am on Doryx/Clindomycin with pulsed Tindamax & Alinia. Spleen and/or liver enlargement Laboratory abnormalities that may include low white blood cell count, low platelet counts, mild elevation of liver enzymes, and elevated "sed rate" http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=10804&pid=114452&start=&st=#entry114452

Decent Symptom List For LYME/Co-infections. LYME DISEASE AND THE CO-INFECTIONS 07/26/2010 Lyme disease is a major health problem in the United States. Since the infective agent, the bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi, is so difficult to locate and diagnose using present-day blood tests, it often goes undiagnosed and untreated or improperly treated. Even with practitioners who consider themselves Lyme-Literate Medical Doctors (LLMDs) or Lyme-Aware Medical Practitioners (LAMPs) diagnosing this infection can be very frustrating for several reasons. There are several great books that address the controversy, the politics, the diagnosis, and the treatment, and I will refer you to them for further information. However, two of the most important reasons that proper diagnosis is so difficult is that Borrelia burgdorferi can change its shape and form as a way of protecting itself. These protective forms rarely, if ever, show up in the blood and hide away in other tissues that would require biopsies to identify them. And, second the blood labs used to identify our immune response to these organisms have not been completely refined and, at best are 70% effective and, at worst, only 30% effective. The majority of healthcare providers, not being Lyme knowledgeable, busy themselves treating the symptoms or possibly even treating the wrong disease. Lyme disease is also known as "The Great Imposter" or "The Great Imitator." It can mimic such conditions as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, autoimmune arthritis, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and many different heart and vascular conditions. From the practitioners point of view, it makes it even more difficult to properly diagnose and treat when Lyme disease is very often accompanied by any a number of, just as bad or worse, organisms such as Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Cytomegalovirus, Epstein Bar Virus, Herpes Simplex I and II, Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV 6), Rickettsia, and Mycoplasma. I have listed below some of the symptoms related to chronic disseminated Lyme disease (Borreliosis), Babesiosis, and Bartonellosis. You will notice that there are many symptoms that overlap with these three infections. Please circle (O) the bullet if you are presently experiencing this symptom and place and (X) at the bullet if you've experienced this symptom in the past. Next to the (O) or the (X), please rate the symptom on a scale from 1 - 10. Very rarely or few symptoms would be a 1 while often and/or severe would be a 10. Lyme Disease Arthritis-like joint pain and swelling (often migrating or moving from joint to joint) "Brain fog" with poor concentration, focus, and/or attention Disrupted sleep cycles, resulting in poor quality sleep, too little sleep, difficulty staying asleep, or early awakening Back pain Light sensitivity and/or blurred vision, increased eye floaters Ear symptoms (hearing loss, ringing in the ears, or sensitivity to noise or certain frequencies) Chronic and/or severe fatigue with minimal stamina Facial paralysis (especially Bell's Palsy) Chronic pain and tender points throughout the muscles of the body Walking and balance problems Headaches Impaired muscle coordination Impaired reflexes Memory loss (especially short-term memory) Muscle weakness Nerve symptoms (numbness, tingling, burning, vibrating, or shooting) Night sweats, clamminess, unexplained fevers, flushing Unexplained weight change (loss or gain) Unexplained hair loss Swollen and/or tender glands Sore throat Testicular / pelvic pain Unexplained menstrual irregularities Unexplained breast pain / milk production Sexual dysfunction and loss of libido Upset stomach with nausea and possibly pain Changes in bowel function (constipation or diarrhea) Muscle twitching of the face or other muscles Increased motion sickness, vertigo, or poor balance Tremors Confusion, difficulty in thinking Difficulty concentrating / reading Disorientation (getting lost, going to the wrong places) Speech difficulties, vocalization problems, problems writing, word block Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol Over 50% of those with chronic Lyme disease exhibit mental and emotional symptoms including: Behavioral disorders including impulsive acts of aggression and violence Extreme mood swings between depression and mania Chronic depression Dementia Eating disorders Hallucinations Mood swings Panic attacks Extreme fears or phobias Schizophrenia Personality disorders (radical change in someone's personality) Thoughts of suicide Irritability A large percentage of individuals with Lyme infections also exhibit heart and vascular symptoms including: Shortness of breath with minimal exertion Gasping for air Irregular heart rhythms (occasional irregular beats or beating too fast known as tachycardia) Chest pains / soreness in the ribs Enlarged heart Palpitations Fainting sensations Non-productive cough History of heart murmur or valve prolapse Two major clues that Lyme is the cause of the above symptoms are: the progressive worsening over time of a multi-system pattern of symptoms, and the tendency for these symptoms to wax and wane in a cyclical fashion. That is, every 3 to 6 weeks, it seems that the symptoms get worse for a few days, after which they resume the previous pattern. Babesiosis Chills Fatigue and often excessive sleepiness Night sweats often drenching and profuse Severe muscle pains, especially the large muscles of the legs (quadriceps, hamstrings, buttocks, etc) Neurological symptoms often described as "dizzy, tipsy, and spiciness," similar to a sensation of floating or of walking off the top of a mountain onto a cloud Depression Episodes of breathlessness, "air hunger" and/or cough Decreased appetite and/or nausea, perhaps vomiting Spleen and/or liver enlargement Laboratory abnormalities that may include low white blood cell count, low platelet counts, mild elevation of liver enzymes, and elevated "sed rate" Headaches (migraine-like, persistent, and especially involving the back of the head and upper neck areas) Less common symptoms are joint pain (more common with Lyme and Bartonella), anxiety and/or panic attacks (more common with Bartonella), lymph gland swelling (more common with Bartonella and Lyme), non-specific "sick feeling" (also encountered with Bartonella and Lyme) Dark urine Enlarged lymph nodes Significant memory changes Struggle organizing Profound psychiatric illnesses Significant fatigue, daytime sleep urgency despite nighttime sleep Waves of generalized itching Balance problems with dizziness Severe chest wall pains Random stabbing pains Weight loss Sensitivity to light Sleep in excess of 8 ½ hours per night Sore throat with unproductive cough Bartonellosis Fatigue (often with agitation, unlike Lyme disease which is more associated with exhaustion) Low grade fevers, especially morning and/or late afternoon, often associated with feelings of "coming down with the flu or a virus" Headaches, especially frontal (often confused with sinus) or top of head Eye symptoms are common and include blurred-vision episodes, red eyes, dry eyes, depth perception problems, retinal problems, and light sensitivity Ringling in the ears and sometimes hearing problems (decreased or even increased sensitivity known as hyperacusis) Sore throats that are recurring Swollen glands, especially neck and under arms Anxiety, panic, or worry attacks; others perceive as "very anxious" Agitation, irritability, rage, impulsivity, or aggression Episodes of confusion and disorientation that are usually transient (and very scary), often can be seizure-like in nature Poor sleep (especially difficulty falling asleep), poor quality sleep Joint pain and stiffness (often symmetrical, as opposed to Lyme which is often unsymmetrical and often migratory) Muscle pains, especially in the calves; may be twitching and cramping also Foot pain in the morning involving the heels or soles of the feet (sometimes diagnosed as plantar fasciitis) Nerve irritation symptoms that can be described as burning, vibrating, numb, shooting, tingling, and so forth Tremors and/or muscle twitching Heart palpitations and strange chest pains Episodes of breathlessness Strange rashes recurring on the body, red stretch marks, peculiar tender lumps and nodules along the sides of legs or arms, and spider veins Gut symptoms, especially acid reflux Shin bone pain and tenderness Fainting Bladder pain, irritation, infections Genital disorders Obesity and body swelling The list of Borreliosis, Bartonellosis, and Babesiosis symptoms were borrowed from Joseph Burrascano, M.D. (Checklist for Lyme Disease 2008), Kenneth Singleton, M.D., M.P.H. (The Lyme Disease Solution 2008), and James Schaller, M.D. (Bartonella: Diagnosis and Treatment 2008 and The Diagnosis and Treatment of Babesia 2006) http://www.drchuckcochran.com/articles/lyme-disease-and-the-coinfections/

It could be Bartonella/Babesia.... I've just posted a great list of symptoms for TBI co-infections over on the Lyme forum. Babesia will have cyclical patterns of fever while Bartonella will have low grade fevers. Low grade fevers, especially morning and/or late afternoon, often associated with feelings of "coming down with the flu or a virus" http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=13848

LYME DISEASE AND THE CO-INFECTIONS 07/26/2010 Lyme disease is a major health problem in the United States. Since the infective agent, the bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi, is so difficult to locate and diagnose using present-day blood tests, it often goes undiagnosed and untreated or improperly treated. Even with practitioners who consider themselves Lyme-Literate Medical Doctors (LLMDs) or Lyme-Aware Medical Practitioners (LAMPs) diagnosing this infection can be very frustrating for several reasons. There are several great books that address the controversy, the politics, the diagnosis, and the treatment, and I will refer you to them for further information. However, two of the most important reasons that proper diagnosis is so difficult is that Borrelia burgdorferi can change its shape and form as a way of protecting itself. These protective forms rarely, if ever, show up in the blood and hide away in other tissues that would require biopsies to identify them. And, second the blood labs used to identify our immune response to these organisms have not been completely refined and, at best are 70% effective and, at worst, only 30% effective. The majority of healthcare providers, not being Lyme knowledgeable, busy themselves treating the symptoms or possibly even treating the wrong disease. Lyme disease is also known as "The Great Imposter" or "The Great Imitator." It can mimic such conditions as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, autoimmune arthritis, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and many different heart and vascular conditions. From the practitioners point of view, it makes it even more difficult to properly diagnose and treat when Lyme disease is very often accompanied by any a number of, just as bad or worse, organisms such as Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Cytomegalovirus, Epstein Bar Virus, Herpes Simplex I and II, Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV 6), Rickettsia, and Mycoplasma. I have listed below some of the symptoms related to chronic disseminated Lyme disease (Borreliosis), Babesiosis, and Bartonellosis. You will notice that there are many symptoms that overlap with these three infections. Please circle (O) the bullet if you are presently experiencing this symptom and place and (X) at the bullet if you've experienced this symptom in the past. Next to the (O) or the (X), please rate the symptom on a scale from 1 - 10. Very rarely or few symptoms would be a 1 while often and/or severe would be a 10. Lyme Disease Arthritis-like joint pain and swelling (often migrating or moving from joint to joint) "Brain fog" with poor concentration, focus, and/or attention Disrupted sleep cycles, resulting in poor quality sleep, too little sleep, difficulty staying asleep, or early awakening Back pain Light sensitivity and/or blurred vision, increased eye floaters Ear symptoms (hearing loss, ringing in the ears, or sensitivity to noise or certain frequencies) Chronic and/or severe fatigue with minimal stamina Facial paralysis (especially Bell's Palsy) Chronic pain and tender points throughout the muscles of the body Walking and balance problems Headaches Impaired muscle coordination Impaired reflexes Memory loss (especially short-term memory) Muscle weakness Nerve symptoms (numbness, tingling, burning, vibrating, or shooting) Night sweats, clamminess, unexplained fevers, flushing Unexplained weight change (loss or gain) Unexplained hair loss Swollen and/or tender glands Sore throat Testicular / pelvic pain Unexplained menstrual irregularities Unexplained breast pain / milk production Sexual dysfunction and loss of libido Upset stomach with nausea and possibly pain Changes in bowel function (constipation or diarrhea) Muscle twitching of the face or other muscles Increased motion sickness, vertigo, or poor balance Tremors Confusion, difficulty in thinking Difficulty concentrating / reading Disorientation (getting lost, going to the wrong places) Speech difficulties, vocalization problems, problems writing, word block Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol Over 50% of those with chronic Lyme disease exhibit mental and emotional symptoms including: Behavioral disorders including impulsive acts of aggression and violence Extreme mood swings between depression and mania Chronic depression Dementia Eating disorders Hallucinations Mood swings Panic attacks Extreme fears or phobias Schizophrenia Personality disorders (radical change in someone's personality) Thoughts of suicide Irritability A large percentage of individuals with Lyme infections also exhibit heart and vascular symptoms including: Shortness of breath with minimal exertion Gasping for air Irregular heart rhythms (occasional irregular beats or beating too fast known as tachycardia) Chest pains / soreness in the ribs Enlarged heart Palpitations Fainting sensations Non-productive cough History of heart murmur or valve prolapse Two major clues that Lyme is the cause of the above symptoms are: the progressive worsening over time of a multi-system pattern of symptoms, and the tendency for these symptoms to wax and wane in a cyclical fashion. That is, every 3 to 6 weeks, it seems that the symptoms get worse for a few days, after which they resume the previous pattern. Babesiosis Chills Fatigue and often excessive sleepiness Night sweats often drenching and profuse Severe muscle pains, especially the large muscles of the legs (quadriceps, hamstrings, buttocks, etc) Neurological symptoms often described as "dizzy, tipsy, and spiciness," similar to a sensation of floating or of walking off the top of a mountain onto a cloud Depression Episodes of breathlessness, "air hunger" and/or cough Decreased appetite and/or nausea, perhaps vomiting Spleen and/or liver enlargement Laboratory abnormalities that may include low white blood cell count, low platelet counts, mild elevation of liver enzymes, and elevated "sed rate" Headaches (migraine-like, persistent, and especially involving the back of the head and upper neck areas) Less common symptoms are joint pain (more common with Lyme and Bartonella), anxiety and/or panic attacks (more common with Bartonella), lymph gland swelling (more common with Bartonella and Lyme), non-specific "sick feeling" (also encountered with Bartonella and Lyme) Dark urine Enlarged lymph nodes Significant memory changes Struggle organizing Profound psychiatric illnesses Significant fatigue, daytime sleep urgency despite nighttime sleep Waves of generalized itching Balance problems with dizziness Severe chest wall pains Random stabbing pains Weight loss Sensitivity to light Sleep in excess of 8 ½ hours per night Sore throat with unproductive cough Bartonellosis Fatigue (often with agitation, unlike Lyme disease which is more associated with exhaustion) Low grade fevers, especially morning and/or late afternoon, often associated with feelings of "coming down with the flu or a virus" Headaches, especially frontal (often confused with sinus) or top of head Eye symptoms are common and include blurred-vision episodes, red eyes, dry eyes, depth perception problems, retinal problems, and light sensitivity Ringling in the ears and sometimes hearing problems (decreased or even increased sensitivity known as hyperacusis) Sore throats that are recurring Swollen glands, especially neck and under arms Anxiety, panic, or worry attacks; others perceive as "very anxious" Agitation, irritability, rage, impulsivity, or aggression Episodes of confusion and disorientation that are usually transient (and very scary), often can be seizure-like in nature Poor sleep (especially difficulty falling asleep), poor quality sleep Joint pain and stiffness (often symmetrical, as opposed to Lyme which is often unsymmetrical and often migratory) Muscle pains, especially in the calves; may be twitching and cramping also Foot pain in the morning involving the heels or soles of the feet (sometimes diagnosed as plantar fasciitis) Nerve irritation symptoms that can be described as burning, vibrating, numb, shooting, tingling, and so forth Tremors and/or muscle twitching Heart palpitations and strange chest pains Episodes of breathlessness Strange rashes recurring on the body, red stretch marks, peculiar tender lumps and nodules along the sides of legs or arms, and spider veins Gut symptoms, especially acid reflux Shin bone pain and tenderness Fainting Bladder pain, irritation, infections Genital disorders Obesity and body swelling The list of Borreliosis, Bartonellosis, and Babesiosis symptoms were borrowed from Joseph Burrascano, M.D. (Checklist for Lyme Disease 2008), Kenneth Singleton, M.D., M.P.H. (The Lyme Disease Solution 2008), and James Schaller, M.D. (Bartonella: Diagnosis and Treatment 2008 and The Diagnosis and Treatment of Babesia 2006)

Anita it is very possible that your son has Lyme induced Autism. http://www.lymeinducedautism.com/ A couple of things stick out in my mind. 1. Adverse reaction to prednisone. Kimballots post is correct.... steroids can give chronic infection the leg up causing adverse effect. 2. Your son responded so well to flagyl. Flagyl it a very powerful antibiotic that commonly used to treat Lyme in its cyst form. 3. Urinary frequency - Lyme loves the bladder and is often a symptom 4. Coughing - unproductive 'coughing tic' is often a sign of Babesia/Bartonella which are co-infection to Lyme. Please explore possible chronic infection with your Dr. or LLMD 'Lyme LIterate Dr.' recommended through ILADS. They are having great success helping children with Lyme induced Autism. -Wendy