Lyme Disease: A Complex Illness

"Most medical professionals, when speaking of Lyme disease, are typically referring to an outdated and over-simplified version of the disease that was once taught and believed that the main causative agent being dealt with was the borrelia spirochete. We now know there are many agents involved."

Borreliosis Complex for Lyme disease is a better term than just Lyme Disease. We now know there are many agents involved and much Neuroendocrine involvement due to not only Borrelia, but viral activity and damage to the Methylation cycle (KREBS CYCLE). It is so good to see the two groups learning from one another. Initially the group of Lyme researchers were looking at only Borrelia the causative agent for Lyme disease but as time went on they discovered many other agents. The CFIDS doctors were looking at damage to the Methylation cycle, Diastolic Heart Dysfunction and so much more in their research endeavors. It appears one group was looking for the AGENTS and the other was looking for the DAMAGE. It is so gratifying to me, not only a researcher but a victim of these issues, to see the two groups coming together. There are Researchers in the Lyme community and in the CFS/Fibro Community who are looking at all the above and below issues Although, I prefer the name Neuroendocrine System disorders to CFS as this is what happens to all of the victims regardless of the diagnosis: Much needed change is slow in all research but the two groups are coming together and sharing their findings. We will all benefit form this cooperation. Not all Patients with a CFS diagnosis have Borrelia (Lyme) Complex but as you can see from below, many of us share some of the causes and some of the damage. Some on the Lyme disease side believed the organisms to be the only problem. Some of the CFS/Fibro side felt and many still do that if the damage is corrected the infections may go away on their own. We have a long way to go but in working together hopefully we can come up with answers that help all of us to live healthier and more productive lives.


A simple explanation of Lyme Disease is not possible, as Lyme Disease is not a simple disease. It is not just an infection with Borrelia burgdorferi .... the causative agent of Lyme Disease. We are dealing with an illness complicated by multiple infectious agents; many of them being immune suppressive. The Immune system has difficulty in detecting the organisms due to multiple factors, pleomorphism (Changing it's morphology in order to survive is one of it's best tricks). From the moment it gets into the body, it has the ability to clock itself in our own DNA Proteins. When hit by anything that might threaten, it can go into Cell Wall Deficient (CWD) stages or into the Cyst stage, a very protective stage. An activated Immune system where the body is trying to find an enemy and can't, leads to reactivation of Herpes Virus one through 6 and autoimmune issues.

Many patients given a CFIDS Dx, Fibromyalgia Dx, Gulf War Illness or Neuroborreliosis Complex (Lyme disease) are dealing with not only a spirochetal disease that causes multiple damage to the host but a very complex organism that causes multiple damage to the host, It is indeed a very complex organism within itself. Borrelia burgdorferi is one of the players in Neuroborreolosis Complex. It has 132 lip proteins genes and more genetic material than any other bacteria. Ninety percent of the genes are not related to any other bacteria. Perhaps making it the most complex organism known. Syphilis, by comparison, has 22 lipoproteins in its genetic make up, making it look like a wimpy cousin of Borrelia burgdorferi.

Some of the other NeuroSystemic Infections, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Schlerdoma, Pneumonia, Bronchitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Kikuchis Johnson syndrome, MS, ALS, and Parkinsons and most likely many more have been found to harbor many of these infections that are very capable of being Stealth pathogens.

- Mycoplasma fermentans (Incognitos strain and various other strains.

- Human Herpes Virus-6a (HHV-6a) which is a very immune suppressive virus found in Neuroendocrine Disorder, Lyme, HIV, CFS as well as others diagnosis.

-Chlamydia pneumonia (Chronic Chlamydia pneumonia). Charles Stratton, M.D. out of Vanderbilt University has come up with a protocol to deal with this very complex pleomorphic infection that is present in so many patients with the various diagnosis. His protocol can be found at cpnhelp.org

Other pathogens found:
-Mycoplasma pneumonia
-Mycoplasma hominis
- Ureaplasma urealyticum
-Mycoplasma penetrans
- Borrelia burgdorferi(Chronic Late Stage Lyme) and may also trigger Fibromyalgia
-Brucellosis (Chronic Brucellosis)

Rickettsia Diseases:
Rickettesia ricketessi
- Coxiella burnetii (Qfever,"Post-Q-Fever fatigue Syndrome")
Staphylococcus and Streptococcus

Viruses:
- Epstein- Barr Virus (EBV) reactivation
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation
- Coxackie B Virus (1-6) chronic Coxackie infection which may cause/trigger CFS, Myalgias and other diseases).
Parvovirus B-19 (Chronic Parvovirus infection "may cause/trigger Fibromyalgia/CFS, arthralgia, arthritis
Hepatitis C (Chronic Hepatitis C" may cause/trigger Post-Polio Syndrome non-Paralytic Polio," Chronic inflammatory muscle disease, Fibromyalgia/ CFS)

A simple explanation cannot cover the complexities of the many organisms or the diseases and complications they cause.

Lita Mattman, Ph.D., Alan Macdonald, M.D., Ph.D. are studying the pleomorphic stages of many organisms. I studied under Dr. Mattman...The studies and live photos show the organisms ability to evade detection by anti-microbrials and the patients own immune system. Again this leads to auto immune issues, among other things, in many of us.

Physicians on both coasts, California and Connecticut, have found many of these same organisms in blood sucking insects. There are many others we are not aware of as yet. Eva Sapi , Ph.D of the University of New Haven, Dept. of Biology and Environmental science, found many of the same pathogens in ticks on the east coast that were found on the west coast. The bottom line is that many of us are dealing with an immune system that has been driven into Humeral Immunity (overdrive) and is staying activated, due to the inability to find and destroy the enemy within and the neuroendocrine damage that results.

Again, As both groups work together, sharing information and research. we will hope for a better future for all who suffer from Neuroendocrine Disorders.

Carol Fisch, Adjunct Professor Emeritus of Laboratory Science,Researcher, Medical Laboratory Advisor for Tick Born illness testing and education to others regarding Tick Born illness. Well, versed in Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology with an excellent understanding of Cell Wall Deficient Organisms (CWD) - Stealth Pathogens
Researcher, Teacher, Advocate and Activist for those suffering from Stealth Pathogens and Neuroendocrine disorders.