Have you heard the myths about Lyme disease? There sure are a lot them – myths about how you get it, how you treat it, and what a diagnosis might mean for your quality of life.
Until recently, antibiotics were the only treatment for Lyme. And since antibiotics don’t work for many people, it’s no surprise that there’s so much confusion surrounding the causes, symptoms, and treatment of the disease.
Today, we know more than ever about how Lyme affects the various systems of the body. At Anatara, we also know how to create customized treatment plans to manage Lyme in each individual patient – often without antibiotics. Here are 5 surprising facts about Lyme disease that everyone should know.
Fact #1: Antibiotics are not always the answer
The most common treatment for Lyme disease involves multiple rounds of antibiotics. Doctors often prescribe a variety of different types of antibiotics to attack and kill the bacteria that cause Lyme. For some, this type of traditional therapy is effective. But for many, antibiotics remain ineffective and other forms of treatment may be more effective.
Fact #2: Lyme disease can go undiagnosed for years
If you notice a tick bite, a bull’s eye-shaped rash, and a sudden onset of flu-like symptoms, you need to get tested for Lyme disease.
But what if you don’t notice a bite or a rash? For many people, the symptoms of Lyme remain latent for years – or seem to mimic other conditions altogether. When symptoms do finally emerge, they sometimes imitate the symptoms of other diseases, including:
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Autoimmune disorders
- Neurodegenerative disorders
- Regional and systemic pain disorders
If you think you might have Lyme disease but don’t remember a tick bite or rash, or if you’re not sure if it’s Lyme or another condition, contact Anatara Medicine.
Fact #3: Every case is different
The reason antibiotics don’t work for everyone is because Lyme disease manifests differently in people based on their genetic regulation of the immune and detoxification systems. And since Lyme symptoms contrasts from person to person, Lyme diagnosis and treatment should vary from person to person.
At Anatara, we begin by diagnosing Lyme disease using advanced laboratory testing. We then order additional lab tests to assess your immune, hormone and detoxification functions, inflammation levels, and more. Finally, we perform in-depth interviews via detailed questionnaires that help us understand your symptoms, lifestyle, overall health and quality of life.
All of this in-depth diagnostic information helps us develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.
Fact #4: Lyme disease can be treated with Integrative Medicine
Instead of trying to directly kill the bacteria that cause Lyme – a technique that often is very difficult to achieve – our targeted, cutting-edge treatments work to strengthen and optimize your innate defense and repair systems. This helps the body’s immune system fight the infection and alleviate symptoms.
Some of the most effective alternative treatments for Lyme include:
- Ozone therapy
- IV therapies
- Ultraviolet light therapy
- Microcirculatory enhancement therapies
- And more!
These treatments help to detoxify the body, reduce inflammation, reverse nutrient deficiencies, and improve adrenal, thyroid and digestive health – all of which help fight Lyme.
If you’ve already been treated with antibiotics for Lyme disease there is still a lot that can be done! While we, at Anatara Medicine do not often prescribe antibiotic therapy for Lyme, we often work with patients currently on antibiotics or who’ve taken antibiotics in the past.
Fact #5: Treatment can (and should) change over time
Once you begin treatment for Lyme disease, monitoring changes in your body in order to optimize your treatment plan over time is crucial. Throughout any course of treatment, regular interviews and questionnaires help us monitor your individual progress
We monitor:
- Adrenal health
- Thyroid function
- Digestive health (Leaky Gut, Candida, SIBO, etc.)
- Heavy metal toxicity
- Nutritional status
- Inflammatory markers and immunogenetics
Based on these results, we continually adjust your treatment plan to help your body fight the Lyme organism’s disabling symptoms of Lyme disease.
If you’re looking for Lyme relief and antibiotics just aren’t working, we can help. Learn more about alternative therapies for treating Lyme disease. Contact our office for a complimentary 15-minute telephone consultation today!