An Australian Lyme story, about a patient who got relief by going to Bali and getting some serious treatment, including IV ozone. Seems to have worked for her very serious neural symptoms
http://youtu.be/dWaKOBu50tU
http://youtu.be/dWaKOBu50tU
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Monday, December 3, 2012
About the Advanced Labs Spirochete Culture test.
There is a new test on the block for confirming active infection with borrelia. Until this test appeared, even the best testing (such as through Igenex) looked only for the antibodies that Lyme infection would trigger the immune system to generate. In a way, it's like looking for an echo of an infection, rather than for the invading critter itself. Furthermore, if your immune system is really not functioning correctly, it may not have the strength to mount an adequate defense, so antibodies may not be created, and an antibody test may have false negative results.
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests are more accurate, because they look for actual pieces of DNA of a pathogen such as borrelia. That's more like looking for a fingerprint at a crime scene. You know for certain someone has been there, and recently. See this Wiki aabout PCR for more detail:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerase_chain_reaction
Before a PCR test, the patient will take a batch of antibiotics in hopes of killing some borrelia bacteria. This would, theoretically, result in breaking up the bacteria into bits and pieces. These remains will be excreted through various means (if the detox pathways are working well enough), such as through urine. The patient collects some urine and sends it to a lab for processing.
Getting a positive PCR result from the lab has been the gold standard for diagnosing Lyme. It proves that borrelia (Lyme) bacteria are present in the patient NOW, not an echo of a past infection. However, getting a positive PCR is difficult because borrelia spirochetes are crafty and can hide out in internal organs, cysts and biofilms where antibiotics can't reach.
This is where a new test, developed by Advanced Laboratory Services, comes in. It is a 'culture' test. This new test is a blood test that, theoretically, can find even more of a 'smoking gun' than the PCR does. Instead of finding bits and pieces of dead borrelia, it actually tries to grow borellia in a lab dish that is filled with a sample of your blood. Using various tests, such as looking at smears of the blood under a microscope, the lab can tell you if the blood sample actually has living, functioning borellia spirochetes in it.
The following is a description from Advanced Labs, explaining how to get the test.
-Bob
SPIROCHETE/BORRELIA TESTING: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How may I obtain a blood collection kit for the Spirochete/Borrelia test?
We will provide blood collection kits directly to physicians' offices. We ask that interested patients contact their doctors in order to obtain kits from Advanced Laboratory Services. There is no initial charge for the collection kits, and kits cannot be sent directly to patients.
What is the cost for the test, and how may I pay for it?
Advanced Laboratory Services charges $595 USD for the Basic Spirochete/Borrelia test - this is in addition to any collection and processing fees the practitioner may charge. The test is paid for by the patient (check or credit card), and may be reimbursed partly by some insurance carriers. The requisition form supplied in the blood collection kit includes all payment information.
Where is the test available?
Advanced Laboratory Services is pleased to announce that the Borrelia Blood Culture is now available for clinical use in 49 states.
Please Note:
It is NOT yet available in the state of New York- currently applications have been filed and are pending. Unfortunately, international samples (including Canada and Mexico) cannot yet be accepted. We hope to offer testing to Canadian patients in the near future, and will issue a press release as soon as this is available.
Why Do A Culture?
A culture is a direct test. It will tell you whether the infection is present, and is more accurate than a serology (ELISA and Western Blot), which is not a direct test and at best can only indicate prior exposure. For example, in diagnosing a urinary tract infection, do you test the blood for antibodies to E. coli, or do you culture the urine? The obvious answer also applies to diagnosing infection due to Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). Cultures are more useful and give more information.
Who may order this test?
Based on the laws of Pennsylvania where we are located, it must be ordered by a medical practitioner defined by them as an MD, DO, CRNP, PA-C, and Certified Nurse Midwife. If you are an ND, and even if you may order tests in the state in which you practice, you still will need to have the test ordered by the type of practitioner on Pennsylvania's approved list. Note that it also cannot be ordered directly by the patient. The practitioner must request a blood drawing kit from Advanced Labs, and once the specimen is drawn, it must be received by us within 24 hours. Please refer to the collection guidelines, below.
What are the guidelines for blood collection to ensure the highest culture yield?
Patients should be antibiotic-free for at least 4 weeks prior to collection.
Have symptoms and/or signs of active disease at the time of blood draw
Patient samples MUST be drawn and shipped Monday - Thursday. Do NOT send any samples on Friday or Saturday as the lab is not open on weekends!
Blood must reach the lab within 24 hours of being drawn!!! Be sure to send the specimen out the same day it is collected, and use the FedEx overnight mailers we provide in the kits.
It is suggested that the blood draw be scheduled for the afternoons if possible because that is when spirochetemia is more likely. However, be sure that FedEx will do an afternoon pickup for you.
Does the laboratory participate in clinical research?
It is the position of the lab that our function is to provide these incredibly useful tests, and to refine them continually over time. We are aware that the availability of this testing method opens up new avenues of clinical research that may help answer the many remaining questions that clinicians and patients face every day. If a well designed and powered study were to be set up, then the lab would be most cooperative in assisting as it is able.
Have a question? Let us know.
http://www.advanced-lab.com/
http://www.advanced-lab.com/faq.php
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests are more accurate, because they look for actual pieces of DNA of a pathogen such as borrelia. That's more like looking for a fingerprint at a crime scene. You know for certain someone has been there, and recently. See this Wiki aabout PCR for more detail:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerase_chain_reaction
Before a PCR test, the patient will take a batch of antibiotics in hopes of killing some borrelia bacteria. This would, theoretically, result in breaking up the bacteria into bits and pieces. These remains will be excreted through various means (if the detox pathways are working well enough), such as through urine. The patient collects some urine and sends it to a lab for processing.
Getting a positive PCR result from the lab has been the gold standard for diagnosing Lyme. It proves that borrelia (Lyme) bacteria are present in the patient NOW, not an echo of a past infection. However, getting a positive PCR is difficult because borrelia spirochetes are crafty and can hide out in internal organs, cysts and biofilms where antibiotics can't reach.
This is where a new test, developed by Advanced Laboratory Services, comes in. It is a 'culture' test. This new test is a blood test that, theoretically, can find even more of a 'smoking gun' than the PCR does. Instead of finding bits and pieces of dead borrelia, it actually tries to grow borellia in a lab dish that is filled with a sample of your blood. Using various tests, such as looking at smears of the blood under a microscope, the lab can tell you if the blood sample actually has living, functioning borellia spirochetes in it.
The following is a description from Advanced Labs, explaining how to get the test.
-Bob
SPIROCHETE/BORRELIA TESTING: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How may I obtain a blood collection kit for the Spirochete/Borrelia test?
We will provide blood collection kits directly to physicians' offices. We ask that interested patients contact their doctors in order to obtain kits from Advanced Laboratory Services. There is no initial charge for the collection kits, and kits cannot be sent directly to patients.
What is the cost for the test, and how may I pay for it?
Advanced Laboratory Services charges $595 USD for the Basic Spirochete/Borrelia test - this is in addition to any collection and processing fees the practitioner may charge. The test is paid for by the patient (check or credit card), and may be reimbursed partly by some insurance carriers. The requisition form supplied in the blood collection kit includes all payment information.
Where is the test available?
Advanced Laboratory Services is pleased to announce that the Borrelia Blood Culture is now available for clinical use in 49 states.
Please Note:
It is NOT yet available in the state of New York- currently applications have been filed and are pending. Unfortunately, international samples (including Canada and Mexico) cannot yet be accepted. We hope to offer testing to Canadian patients in the near future, and will issue a press release as soon as this is available.
Why Do A Culture?
A culture is a direct test. It will tell you whether the infection is present, and is more accurate than a serology (ELISA and Western Blot), which is not a direct test and at best can only indicate prior exposure. For example, in diagnosing a urinary tract infection, do you test the blood for antibodies to E. coli, or do you culture the urine? The obvious answer also applies to diagnosing infection due to Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). Cultures are more useful and give more information.
Who may order this test?
Based on the laws of Pennsylvania where we are located, it must be ordered by a medical practitioner defined by them as an MD, DO, CRNP, PA-C, and Certified Nurse Midwife. If you are an ND, and even if you may order tests in the state in which you practice, you still will need to have the test ordered by the type of practitioner on Pennsylvania's approved list. Note that it also cannot be ordered directly by the patient. The practitioner must request a blood drawing kit from Advanced Labs, and once the specimen is drawn, it must be received by us within 24 hours. Please refer to the collection guidelines, below.
What are the guidelines for blood collection to ensure the highest culture yield?
Patients should be antibiotic-free for at least 4 weeks prior to collection.
Have symptoms and/or signs of active disease at the time of blood draw
Patient samples MUST be drawn and shipped Monday - Thursday. Do NOT send any samples on Friday or Saturday as the lab is not open on weekends!
Blood must reach the lab within 24 hours of being drawn!!! Be sure to send the specimen out the same day it is collected, and use the FedEx overnight mailers we provide in the kits.
It is suggested that the blood draw be scheduled for the afternoons if possible because that is when spirochetemia is more likely. However, be sure that FedEx will do an afternoon pickup for you.
Does the laboratory participate in clinical research?
It is the position of the lab that our function is to provide these incredibly useful tests, and to refine them continually over time. We are aware that the availability of this testing method opens up new avenues of clinical research that may help answer the many remaining questions that clinicians and patients face every day. If a well designed and powered study were to be set up, then the lab would be most cooperative in assisting as it is able.
Have a question? Let us know.
http://www.advanced-lab.com/
http://www.advanced-lab.com/faq.php
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Meditation Tip
We all have read that meditation is good for many reasons such as lowering blood pressure, improving sleep, improving clarity of thought. It has even been shown to raise IQ and to slow the aging process. Unfortunately, there are many different schools and styles of meditation, each with a different approach, form, and technique. This is confusing to people who are interested in learning to meditate.
Since we are programmed in the West to believe that learning a new skill requires effort, concentration, and that if we don't succeed, we should "...try, try again," we are almost guaranteed to run into self-defeating thoughts about meditation. Sadly, I have met many frustrated would-be meditators along my path who gave up their meditation practice claiming that it's too arduous, nothing 'happens' when they meditate, they get headaches, they get frustrated because they can't make their thoughts stop, and so on. There is a belief in spiritual circles that all raods lead to Rome. I think this may in part be because we are well aware that it's better not to talk about loaded topics such as religion and politics at the dinner table (and anywhere else, for that matter). These topics are too personal, and it's easy for such topics to lead to arguments. I do this, too. But life is short and I feel like speaking up a bit more about this one particular area of spiritual endeavor.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Mayo Clinic Reveals Study on MS Which Supports Chronic Lyme Disease.
From Jenna's Video Lyme Blog
Dec 1, 2012
Mayo Clinic Reveals Study on MS Which Supports Chronic Lyme Disease.
New research shows MS, an auto-immune disease to likely be caused by another infectious disease. Could this be why so many people are diagnosed with MS and are later diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease?
According to information released by Mayo Clinic last year, Dr. Claudia Lucchinetti, M.D., co-lead author of the study (which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine) shows startling results at odds with what was previously believed.
Researchers have not known precisely what causes MS, but it has traditionally been thought to be its own autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys its own myelin. Th e resulting symptoms are very similar to Lyme disease and can include blindness, numbness, paralysis, and thinking and memory problems.
"Our study shows the cortex is involved early in MS and may even be the initial target of disease," says Claudia F. Lucchinetti, M.D. , co-lead author of the study and Mayo Clinic neurologist . "Inflammation in the cortex must be considered when investigating the causes and progression of MS", she says.
Study authors say current therapeutic options may not even address issues associated with the cortex. Understanding how the cortex is involved, therefore, is critical to creating new therapies for MS. "Measures of cortical damage will enhance enormously the power of clinical trials to determine if new medications address tissue changes of MS in all regions of the brain," says co-lead authorRichard Ransohoff, M.D. , a Cleveland Clinic neurologist.
These measures are important because disease accumulates in the cortex over time, and inflammation in the cortex is a sign the disease has progressed.
The research is distinct because it studied brain tissues from patients in the earliest stages of MS. "What's unique about the study is, and the reason the National MS Society funded this international team of researchers, is that it offers a rare view of MS." says Timothy Coetzee, Ph.D., Chief Research Officer at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society . "Colloborative studies like this, that deepen our understanding of the sequence of nervous-system-damaging events, should offer new opportunities for stopping MS disease progression and improving quality of life for people with MS."
The findings support the understanding that MS is primarily a disease of inflammation, not neurodegeneration, as some studies have recently suggested. Co-lead authors Drs. Lucchinetti and Ransohoff conclude that it is "overwhelmingly likely" that MS is fundamentally an inflammatory disease, and not a neurodegenerative Alzheimer-like disease.
Read the entire article at http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2011/12/05/ms-study/ and/or listen to this interview explaining the importance of this study via You Tube.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Lyme Success Stories!
Discouraged? People DO get better
Bob
Bob
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Bob Cowart
Email: bob@cowart.com
Phone: 510-540-6667
Psychotherapy: www.newtherapy.vpweb.com
Facebook: bcowart1
Twitter: @bobcowart
Sunday, November 18, 2012
NY Newspaper and Videos about Lyme controversy
I picked this up off of the California Lyme listserv today. Apparently, a reporter for a newspaper in Poughkeepsie, NY (a major endemic Lyme area) has been working on a series of articles about the Lyme controversy. The whole panoply of issues around Lyme is being examined, e.g. underreporting, problems with patient care, co-infections (babesia and the national blood supply), and so on. The reporter's name is Mary Beth Pfeiffer. The newspaper is the Poughkeepsie Journal. Also, look out for part two of our special report on Lyme disease will continue in Sunday's Journal. (Sunday Aug 19, 2012)
-Bob
Have you ever been diagnosed with Lyme disease? If so, how long did it take before you felt better? What treatment(s) was/were used? Let us know about your case.
The author interviews Pat Smith, Drs. Fallon, Horowitz, Liegner, Pam Weintraub, Congressman Gibson, Assemblyman Miller and many others including Drs. Baker and Wormser.
1. Video Interview of chronic Lyme patients
http://www.poughkee
2. Exposé about the seriousness and underreporting in NYS as started in
CT and spread to WI - Where next?
http://www.poughkee
3. About the seriousness of Babesia
http://www.poughkee
http://www.poughkee
Get online to tell her your story: what is going on in the south, CT, CA,
the IDSA.
There are only a few comments, and hardly any tweets or FB entries, as of this posting. Let's encourage this courageous reporter.
Letters to the Editor should be addressed to letters@poughkeepsi
Letters to the author should go to: mbpfeiff@poughkee.gannett.com
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Poughkeepsie-Journal/68903794473
-Bob
SPECIAL REPORT:
In 2010, 94% of Lyme disease cases were reported from 12 states: New York being one of them with nearly 2,385 diagnosed cases. The Journal conducted an in-depth analysis of treatment options, # of cases and severity of Chronic Lyme disease in our region. Look up Friday's Journal to see what we found out about cases in the Mid-Hudson Valley – in particular Dutchess, Ulster, Columbia and Greene counties. You might be surprised. http://pojonews.co/R4ScczHave you ever been diagnosed with Lyme disease? If so, how long did it take before you felt better? What treatment(s) was/were used? Let us know about your case.
ABOUT THE SERIES
With this article, the Poughkeepsie Journal begins an intensive look at Lyme disease and its repercussions in the Hudson Valley, a region with the nation’s highest rates.
The author interviews Pat Smith, Drs. Fallon, Horowitz, Liegner, Pam Weintraub, Congressman Gibson, Assemblyman Miller and many others including Drs. Baker and Wormser.
1. Video Interview of chronic Lyme patients
http://www.poughkee
2. Exposé about the seriousness and underreporting in NYS as started in
CT and spread to WI - Where next?
http://www.poughkee
3. About the seriousness of Babesia
http://www.poughkee
http://www.poughkee
Get online to tell her your story: what is going on in the south, CT, CA,
the IDSA.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
There are only a few comments, and hardly any tweets or FB entries, as of this posting. Let's encourage this courageous reporter.
Letters to the Editor should be addressed to letters@poughkeepsi
Letters to the author should go to: mbpfeiff@poughkee.gannett.com
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Poughkeepsie-Journal/68903794473
New Lyme test available in Europe
 |
| Borrelia spirochetes |
11/17/12 10:54 Filed in: Lyme Disease Tests
A new test that detects the Borrelia infection is now available in Europe. I hope to find out whether this novel test will become available in the US anytime soon.SpiroFind was developed in Mellrichstadt, Germany by the European subsidiary of BoulderDiagnostics, a privately owned company in Colorado that focuses on diagnosing diseases that are not reliably diagnosed.
The SpiroFind test detects Borreliosis through each stage, from early to late or chronic manifestation. It works by measuring the immune response to the Borrelia bacteria. Europeans may now contact the clinical laboratory, which is accepting blood samples for testing.
The effectiveness of the SpiroFind test was confirmed in a clinical study at the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in the Netherlands. Conclusions of the study have been submitted for peer-reviewed publication and presentation at a conference in Berlin, Germany in April 2013.DNA Test in US Available
Another new Lyme disease test, which tests DNA, became available in the US in 2010. I talked to Dr. Sin Hang Lee about this test, which is available in Milford, Connecticut. Patients and physicians interested in information on this DNA test may call George Poole, manager of Milford Medical Laboratory, at 203-876-4496.
New diagnostic tools give us hope for earlier and more effective treatment.
The SpiroFind test detects Borreliosis through each stage, from early to late or chronic manifestation. It works by measuring the immune response to the Borrelia bacteria. Europeans may now contact the clinical laboratory, which is accepting blood samples for testing.
The effectiveness of the SpiroFind test was confirmed in a clinical study at the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in the Netherlands. Conclusions of the study have been submitted for peer-reviewed publication and presentation at a conference in Berlin, Germany in April 2013.DNA Test in US Available
Another new Lyme disease test, which tests DNA, became available in the US in 2010. I talked to Dr. Sin Hang Lee about this test, which is available in Milford, Connecticut. Patients and physicians interested in information on this DNA test may call George Poole, manager of Milford Medical Laboratory, at 203-876-4496.
New diagnostic tools give us hope for earlier and more effective treatment.
The web site for
http://boulderdiagnostics.com/wp/our-spirofind-lyme-disease-diagnostic-test-is-now-available-in-europe/
This article posted with permission form Lyme Disease Research Database at:
http://www.lyme-disease-research-database.com/lyme_disease_blog.html
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Some Books about Lyme
Here are some more books about Lyme disease and treatment:
- The Lyme Disease Survival Guide: Physical, Lifestyle, and Emotional Strategies for Healing - Connie Strasheim
- Coping with Lyme Disease: A Practical Guide to Dealing with Diagnosis and Treatment - Denise Lang
- Beating Lyme: Understanding and Treating This Complex and Often Misdiagnosed Disease - Constance A. Bean
- The Lyme Diet: Nutritional Strategies for Healing from Lyme Disease - Nicola McFadzean ND
- Insights Into Lyme Disease Treatment: 13 Lyme-Literate Health Care Practitioners Share Their Healing Strategies - Connie Strasheim
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Lyme test bands - Western Blot
Here's a little info about Lyme disease testing. This appeared on the CA Lyme Disease listserv, Nov 13, 2012.
The Western Blot documents immune response to a specific bacteria. In this
case, it is the response to Borrelia, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
Some bands will react with more than one bacteria, such as Band 41. It will
react to any bacteria that has a flagella. Band 31 is specific to Borrelia.
If you immune system is reacting to an antigen specific to Borrelia, that
indicates exposure to Borrelia. An immune system has to be pretty healthy
to respond with 5 bands; so if your immune system is stressed or the
bacteria is in hiding, there may not be a strong enough response to show an
official positive result. If you react on any one band that is specific to
Borrelia and you have symptoms consistent with Lyme disease, a knowledgeable
doc will diagnose you with Lyme disease. A less knowledgeable doc or one
who has his head somewhere besides medicine will say you don't have Lyme
disease because you don't have enough bands.
That is why a culture is very good at showing the less knowledgeable docs
direct evidence of infection. If you can culture the bacteria directly, you
have proof of infection; whereas a Western Blot is indicating a response to
an infection that may or may not be present. Somebody could theoretically
get bitten by a tick and have a strong immune response and clear the
infection; yet test positive on a Western Blot because the immune response
was strong enough. Such an individual would probably not have any symptoms
of illness.
If you want more evidence, get a culture done by Advanced Lab in New Jersey.
Anne Mears, RN, MSN/IH
The Western Blot documents immune response to a specific bacteria. In this
case, it is the response to Borrelia, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
Some bands will react with more than one bacteria, such as Band 41. It will
react to any bacteria that has a flagella. Band 31 is specific to Borrelia.
If you immune system is reacting to an antigen specific to Borrelia, that
indicates exposure to Borrelia. An immune system has to be pretty healthy
to respond with 5 bands; so if your immune system is stressed or the
bacteria is in hiding, there may not be a strong enough response to show an
official positive result. If you react on any one band that is specific to
Borrelia and you have symptoms consistent with Lyme disease, a knowledgeable
doc will diagnose you with Lyme disease. A less knowledgeable doc or one
who has his head somewhere besides medicine will say you don't have Lyme
disease because you don't have enough bands.
That is why a culture is very good at showing the less knowledgeable docs
direct evidence of infection. If you can culture the bacteria directly, you
have proof of infection; whereas a Western Blot is indicating a response to
an infection that may or may not be present. Somebody could theoretically
get bitten by a tick and have a strong immune response and clear the
infection; yet test positive on a Western Blot because the immune response
was strong enough. Such an individual would probably not have any symptoms
of illness.
If you want more evidence, get a culture done by Advanced Lab in New Jersey.
Anne Mears, RN, MSN/IH
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