Balancing Act

[sf_mom]

I think point number one addresses why some children might not do well post IVIG when the right infection isn't addressed properly with antibiotics.

 

 

The Balancing Act of Treatment

 

Factors in treatment that must be balanced:

 

Support and improve the immune system

Kill the Lyme in all three forms

Kill each co-infection

Control toxicity produced in response to the die-off

Control symptoms made worse during the die-off

 

Examples of the balancing act:

 

Support the immune system vs. kill bacteria—Attention to supporting the immune system is necessary, since Lyme undermines the immune system (1)(9). However, if boosting the immune system is emphasized in the absence of killing the infection adequately, the immune system will continue to struggle with the immunosuppression produced by the bacteria, and can ultimately succumb to a sudden stressor (9), allowing the Lyme infection to relapse or go to a whole new level of severity. Stressors include things like mononucleosis or other infections, physical overexertion, emotional trauma, surgeries, and injuries.

 

Kill the Lyme vs. kill the co-infections—A common experience is for a doctor to treat a patient for Lyme using only medications targeted at the Lyme bacterium, and the patient initially improves, but several months into treatment either stops improving or suddenly worsens (1)(5)(9). The culprit is often an untreated co-infection (9) that is able to take the lead role once its Lyme competition is lessened. LLMDs address this problem in different ways. Some LLMDs, for example, approach the problem by treating Lyme and the primary co-infections all at the same time.

 

Kill the bacteria vs. avoid toxicity---Since the immune system responds to die-off by producing pro-inflammatory cytokines that produce worsening of symptoms, avoiding toxicity means also avoiding getting well! An antibiotic that makes someone feel better right away is probably only suppressing Lyme, not killing it. Too much toxicity can become a stressor, however, and hinder improvement, so it must be managed skillfully (9). (Detox, holidays, chemical bridges.)

 

Control symptoms vs. kill the bacteria—Medications and other therapies to control the symptoms produced by chronic Lyme are a great idea! There’s no reason to be any more uncomfortable than necessary, and achieving as much well being as possible supports the immune system (1) and removes stressors (9), which helps treatment a lot! However, durable wellness means using medications, diet, supplements, etc…not only to feel better, but also to allow the patient to endure the necessary toxicity and discomfort produced by Lyme die-off (9).

[KeithandElizabeth]

Great info Wendy:

 

I have often read that the toxins from the die off of the spirochetes are sometimes more harmful than the disease itself.

 

Our doctor has said that the detoxification during lyme treatment is so important and he said that initially, you need to focus on detoxifying the liver. Then you need to focus on detoxifying the kidneys. Finally, during the final stages of lyme treatment, he finds it is really important to focus on the brain.

 

Elizabeth

[smartyjones]

thanks sfmom -- good info.

elizabeth -- interesting. very similar here. we didn't find much herx with prior treatments aimed at detox. have had incredible herx with brain treatment. mellowing now and hopeful we're on a good path.

 

 

[H Mom]

Good summary - thank you for sharing.

[justinekno]

How is this done?

 

Finally, during the final stages of lyme treatment, he finds it is really important to focus on the brain.

 

[KeithandElizabeth]

Well, our doctor focuses on the B vitamins and a product called phosphatidyl Choline for the brain food.

 

Elizabeth

[philamom]

I think point number one addresses why some children might not do well post IVIG when the right infection isn't addressed properly with antibiotics.

 

 

The Balancing Act of Treatment

 

Factors in treatment that must be balanced:

 

Support and improve the immune system

Kill the Lyme in all three forms

Kill each co-infection

Control toxicity produced in response to the die-off

Control symptoms made worse during the die-off

 

Examples of the balancing act:

 

Support the immune system vs. kill bacteria—Attention to supporting the immune system is necessary, since Lyme undermines the immune system (1)(9). However, if boosting the immune system is emphasized in the absence of killing the infection adequately, the immune system will continue to struggle with the immunosuppression produced by the bacteria, and can ultimately succumb to a sudden stressor (9), allowing the Lyme infection to relapse or go to a whole new level of severity. Stressors include things like mononucleosis or other infections, physical overexertion, emotional trauma, surgeries, and injuries.

 

Kill the Lyme vs. kill the co-infections—A common experience is for a doctor to treat a patient for Lyme using only medications targeted at the Lyme bacterium, and the patient initially improves, but several months into treatment either stops improving or suddenly worsens (1)(5)(9). The culprit is often an untreated co-infection (9) that is able to take the lead role once its Lyme competition is lessened. LLMDs address this problem in different ways. Some LLMDs, for example, approach the problem by treating Lyme and the primary co-infections all at the same time.

 

Kill the bacteria vs. avoid toxicity---Since the immune system responds to die-off by producing pro-inflammatory cytokines that produce worsening of symptoms, avoiding toxicity means also avoiding getting well! An antibiotic that makes someone feel better right away is probably only suppressing Lyme, not killing it. Too much toxicity can become a stressor, however, and hinder improvement, so it must be managed skillfully (9). (Detox, holidays, chemical bridges.)

 

Control symptoms vs. kill the bacteria—Medications and other therapies to control the symptoms produced by chronic Lyme are a great idea! There’s no reason to be any more uncomfortable than necessary, and achieving as much well being as possible supports the immune system (1) and removes stressors (9), which helps treatment a lot! However, durable wellness means using medications, diet, supplements, etc…not only to feel better, but also to allow the patient to endure the necessary toxicity and discomfort produced by Lyme die-off (9).

This is good information... I plan to bring this to our appointment with Dr J. I'm strongly reconsidering my daughter's IVIG at this time.

[sf_mom]

I had a good discussion with our LLMD today... I'd go at underlying infections first and follow-up sometime in the future 'if needed' with hdIVIG. It really takes a very long time for things to settle out from all the stirring up of stuff.

 

-Wendy

[justinekno]

Can you tell me where this came from? I am preparing for an upcoming LLMD appt and thought this might be handy to take with me but wanted to be able to say where it came from.

 

I think point number one addresses why some children might not do well post IVIG when the right infection isn't addressed properly with antibiotics.

 

 

The Balancing Act of Treatment

 

Factors in treatment that must be balanced:

 

Support and improve the immune system

Kill the Lyme in all three forms

Kill each co-infection

Control toxicity produced in response to the die-off

Control symptoms made worse during the die-off

 

Examples of the balancing act:

 

Support the immune system vs. kill bacteria—Attention to supporting the immune system is necessary, since Lyme undermines the immune system (1)(9). However, if boosting the immune system is emphasized in the absence of killing the infection adequately, the immune system will continue to struggle with the immunosuppression produced by the bacteria, and can ultimately succumb to a sudden stressor (9), allowing the Lyme infection to relapse or go to a whole new level of severity. Stressors include things like mononucleosis or other infections, physical overexertion, emotional trauma, surgeries, and injuries.

 

Kill the Lyme vs. kill the co-infections—A common experience is for a doctor to treat a patient for Lyme using only medications targeted at the Lyme bacterium, and the patient initially improves, but several months into treatment either stops improving or suddenly worsens (1)(5)(9). The culprit is often an untreated co-infection (9) that is able to take the lead role once its Lyme competition is lessened. LLMDs address this problem in different ways. Some LLMDs, for example, approach the problem by treating Lyme and the primary co-infections all at the same time.

 

Kill the bacteria vs. avoid toxicity---Since the immune system responds to die-off by producing pro-inflammatory cytokines that produce worsening of symptoms, avoiding toxicity means also avoiding getting well! An antibiotic that makes someone feel better right away is probably only suppressing Lyme, not killing it. Too much toxicity can become a stressor, however, and hinder improvement, so it must be managed skillfully (9). (Detox, holidays, chemical bridges.)

 

Control symptoms vs. kill the bacteria—Medications and other therapies to control the symptoms produced by chronic Lyme are a great idea! There’s no reason to be any more uncomfortable than necessary, and achieving as much well being as possible supports the immune system (1) and removes stressors (9), which helps treatment a lot! However, durable wellness means using medications, diet, supplements, etc…not only to feel better, but also to allow the patient to endure the necessary toxicity and discomfort produced by Lyme die-off (9).

[cobbiemommy]

I'm confused. Do you think HD IVIg is a good treatment to support the immune system while dealing with Lyme? We had great results (at first) from the IVIg. We did not know that we were dealing with Lyme at that time. Ds's doc put him on choline for the herx. It is supposed to clean out the liver as well.

[sf_mom]

We also had good results from the hdIVIG treatments. However, our son was on a stronger dose of Azithromycin post treatment. I know others had a much different experience and felt the IVIG really stirred things up or created an extended Herx (they are not sure). However, once the IVIG treatments were stopped and proper infection was addressed with antibiotics their children did much better.

 

Our LLMD does not regularly use IVIG for Lyme/co-infections.

 

-Wendy