How to Navigate through the Lies about Lyme's Disease

There is so much confusion about Lyme disease, especially in Australia.

Does it exist?

Is it chronic fatigue syndrome, MS, autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia (diseases that mimic Lyme's Disease)?

Can it be treated by antibiotics?

Can you ever cure it?

So many questions, so little answers!

I was told that I didn't have Lyme's Disease after a below sub standard test, conducted in Australia, came back with a negative result.

This was even though I had been bitten by around 40 ticks, got sick shortly after, and presented with most of the typical symptoms of the disease!

At first I was told it was anxiety - in other words, it was in my head!

When I finally convinced a doctor I was actually SICK (pain, fatigue, nausea, double vision, tinnitus, rashes, dizziness, etc...), I was misdiagnosed with CFS/Fibromyalgia.

Unfortunately this is a common outcome in Australia because Lyme Disease isn't fully recognised.

After three years of treating the wrong illness I FINALLY got a positive result.

It should have been a scary moment, but I was more relieved than scared as I finally had an answer.

I had spent years seeing doctor after doctor, just begging for one of them to give me a clinical diagnosis, for a disease that I intuitively knew I had.

Didn't I know my body better than anyone?

After being on a wait list for 9 months I got in to see a Lyme doctor for treatment.

I thought I was FINALLY on the right path, however I sadly discovered that treating Lyme Disease is not easy. Not when it's chronic and long-term.

It's terribly complex and confusing.

To say the very least!

If it's caught early, which wasn't the case for me, it is possible that antibiotics may nip the problem in the bud.

However, this is rarely the case, if Lyme Disease is detected at all - don't forget I went around and around in circles and finally came back to the same answer, but only after spending thousands and thousands of dollars and being extremely persistent.

A lot of people aren't so lucky...

Second, the oral antibiotics are usually administrated in a 4-to-6 week period, meaning that once treatment ends, the Borrelia (Lyme bacteria) will make a comeback, causing the patient to relapse.

Furthermore, the antibiotics do not strengthen the immune system and do little to address the co-infections, the secondary infections, the neurotoxins or strip away the protective biofilm, which is a sludge produced by the bacteria to protect itself from antibiotics.

Sometimes people are encouraged to take supplements with their antibiotics.

I have worked in the natural healthcare industry for over 13 years and have been educated and skilled to know that this, along with a whole-food diet, holistic therapies, and plenty of rest and exercise, is a necessity if you want to win the Lyme battle.

Many people take their doctor's recommendation, after all aren't they supposed to be the experts?

By taking supplements (IV vitamins, minerals, etc) the infection will be brought down a little and the supplements will slightly increase the immune system.

However, even if the immune system is completely established and all the infections are brought down to lower levels, relapse can still occur.

The Lyme disease complex typically involves a multitude of infections that may also include other complications such as mold, chemical and heavy metal toxicities.

I have read extensively about Lyme and all the different ways to treat it, from Advanced Cell Training, Cowden's protocol, antibiotics, herbs and supplements, hyperthermia, rife machines, infrared saunas, and the list goes on and on...

I have tried most of these treatments with varying degrees of success.

If you really want to nuke this bastard, meaning Lyme disease and its co-infections, it's ideal to have a combination of immunotherapy, hyperthermia, natural antiviral, anti-fungal, IV antibiotics, and bio detoxification.

However, all of this treatment is EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE and NOTHING is covered by Medicare.

When it is provided by a properly trained integrative doctor via a customised treatment plan, these therapies may help bring you slowly back to health.

But the same, it is still very complex, and did I mention EXPENSIVE!

Over the past six months I have traveled to Queensland for hyperthermia and ozone therapy treatment. I now have $20,000 less in my bank account. Hopefully, it will pay off. For some it does, for others it doesn't.

Only time will tell.

Desperate times call for desperate measures...

And finally, you need to ensure you are on a Lyme's diet that is free from gluten, dairy, nightshades, and most of all sugar to avoid feeding the spirochetes and suppressing the immune system.

Here are my top nutritional tips for Lymies (also works for chronic fatigue, leaky gut, and other infections):

• Avoid pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, chemicals, chlorine, etc. This means eating organic food where ever possible and drinking alkaline filtered water. Aldi now does a large range of certified organic produce so there are no "organic food is too expensive" excuses.

• Eat lots of garlic as it helps oxidise heavy metals into a water soluble form. This makes it easier for the body to remove heavy metals from the body, which biofilms have a tendency to cling to. Heavy metals can really damper the immune system, which is something a lot of Lyme literate doctors address during treatment.

• Avoid eating nightshades, which includes eggplant, capsicum, potatoes, goji berries, and my favourite tomatoes. Nightshades can flare up inflammation, which is a common symptom in Lyme Disease. Keeping inflammation low will help enhance your immune system to help fight the infection. Now, if you love the Mediterranean diet like myself, it takes commitment. However, there are plenty of other tasty vegetables out there, and when you're feeling well you can start to introduce them again.

• Eat organic (homemade is best) sauerkraut. Consuming this fermented cabbage in salt on a daily basis has huge benefits for the digestive tract and the body as a whole.

• Eat organic lemons or put a few drops of lemon oil (DoTerra is a pure brand) in alkaline water. Lemons are excellent for detoxing and reducing a herx. The high vitamin C content in lemons makes them highly appropriate for assisting the immune system. Lemons are also beneficial when it comes to reducing joint pain. A simple recipe includes butter squash, parsley, and lemon zest, or you can combine lemon zest with cinnamon and garnish pineapple and blueberries for dessert. The part we tend to not consume is just as beneficial - the rind. The lemon rind itself contains more vitamins and minerals than the juice. DoTerra lemon oil contains the lemon rind, and aids in liver detoxifcation.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, MS. autoimmune disease, or Lyme disease, please pass this article on.

The best prescription is education.

Additionally, if you have any questions about related diseases, or are looking for treatment or a holistic protocol, please feel free to contact me at amy@mummy-mojo.com.au.