Dealing With Lyme Disease

I have witnessed the ravages of Lyme on countless occasions. I see patients who have been sick with Lyme disease for more than two years without a positive test. I also have patients who have been sick for more than six months because they were not aware that fatigue, poor memory, irritability and poor sleep could be symptoms of neurologic Lyme disease. I have treated teenagers who were too sick to attend school leaving them with home tutoring as the only way to complete their education.

Hope For A Cure

Lyme disease recurrence is commonplace, and often a source of worry. Months to years after the first diagnosis and treatment, it's possible to have a recurrence of symptoms. LymeProject has created a Lyme disease surveillance database and Lyme Disease Retreatment Study to focus on recurrent Lyme disease, dedicated to the elimination of the chronic Lyme disease epidemic.

From early studies, detecting Lyme disease at the time of a reach can reduce recurrence risk. However, despite recent over 6000 peer review articles on Lyme disease, so far no therapy can reduce the relapse rate to zero. And when Lyme disease recurs, no retreatment can guarantee a cure.

Lyme Disease Recurrence

When you were first diagnosed you may have felt optimistic, determined to face the treatments head-on. If your physician tells you that you may be facing a recurrence, you will need to address the emotions that come with the diagnosis. A recurrence can shatter your sense of optimism and well-being and leave you feeling vulnerable and insecure about the future. Maintaining a positive outlook in the face of bad news can be very difficult.

A recurrence will challenge you to approach your disease in a new way. Don’t be afraid to share these feelings with people around you. Allowing people to show you how much they love and care for you may give you the strength you need to keep fighting.

Continue reading here: Lyme Disease Treatment Guidelines Development

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