“Hi, Mrs. Combs.” Ronnie Newsome, a tall lad with piercing dark eyes twirled a football in his hands the way she’d seen Matt do it.
Apparently, the young quarterback was taking advantage of his mentor. “How are you?”
“I’m ready for the big game. Go, Christian High Raiders.” He gave the victory sign. “Say, I heard you’re a coach too.”
“Sort of, in the summer The Sun Dial gives me every Monday off for six weeks to conduct stroke clinics for the kids on the Okaloosa Dolphins Summer League Swim Team.” Suzie couldn’t help but smile. “The paper counts it as community service, and of course, I attend all of the meets. They’re in the evenings.”
“I’ve heard of them. They’re a force to be reckoned with. You two are really busy with Coach working here and as a consultant for the Parks and Rec Department.”
Suzie glanced at the blackboard filled with football plays behind Matt’s desk. A shelf to the right held books about football greats, such as Knute Rockne, Vince Lombardi, Paul W. “Bear” Bryant, and Bobby Bowden. Above them sat two trophies inscribed with “Christian High Raiders State Champions.”
Matt leaned back in his black office chair. “We are busy, but we love what we do.”
Ronnie gazed at Matt then Suzie. “I don’t think this small room’s big enough for all of us. See ya- later, Coach.”
Matt stood, hurried around the desk, and hugged Suzie. “Yes, Mrs. Combs, we’re having lunch to celebrate your latest report from Dr. Granger?” Matt rubbed the top of his head. “I’m so grateful you’re finally well.”
Suzie’s heart thumped with thankfulness for Matt. He’d stuck by her like glue. This past Wednesday, when she’d seen Margaret, no bacteria had shown up on her scan. Dr. Granger had cautioned her, though. It was possible some could be hiding and appear later. If it did, he’d treat it aggressively.
Matt put his arm around her waist, and they trekked down the hall past the administrative offices and lockers and stepped outside into the bright Florida sunshine. “Let’s go to the Open Window then take a short stroll on the beach.”
Suzie would never tire of the shore. “I’d love that. We’ll eat fast, so we can beach-comb longer.”
Matt chuckled as he let Suzie in his car then slid into the driver’s side. Within five minutes, he’d driven to the restaurant, and the two of them sat at a rustic, wooden table, an ocean breeze puffing through the Bermuda shade.
“Hi, I’m Jared. What would you like?”
Matt sat straight up. “We want something you can bring right away.”
“How about the daily special, fried amberjack fingers? They’re ready to serve.”
“Sounds good.” Matt glanced at Suzie.
“Fine with me.”
In a couple minutes, the waiter set two steaming plates on the table and left the check.
Matt laid his hand on the bill. “Great idea. Thanks.”
The waiter grinned. “You’re welcome.”
Matt and Suzie shoveled in their lunch without talking. Then Matt left cash beside his plate, and they charged to the shore.
Suzie removed her sandals and ran toward the water, Matt following. She stood at the edge of the sea when Matt caught up to her.
He draped his arm over her shoulder. “Remember that evening when you saw the sharks?”
“Yes.” They laughed and Suzie peered down at the waves lapping around her ankles. She bent down and scooped up a handful of the salty sea, letting it trickle through her fingers. She remembered it all. That was when she’d struggled each day, living barely above water. But now... She glanced at Matt then lifted her gaze to a flock of seagulls...her spirits soared as on wings.
Unraveling the Mystery of Lyme and Chronic Lyme Disease
As a Chronic Lyme disease patient, I learned very few people have an interest in the disease. Some even deny it exists. Yet, Chronic Lyme disease often impacts those suffering with it in many negative, unhealthy ways. Since it attacks the entire body, it can wreak devastating results most anywhere, inflicting pain and sometimes rendering its victims helpless. Some ill with Chronic Lyme disease don’t realize they have it, not because they aren’t sick, but because no one has identified the problem. It’s very difficult to diagnose. Others know they have it, but can’t find help or answers. I am one of the fortunate ones. With the care of David Lee, D.C., Ph.D., C.Ad., and Raphael d’Angelo, M.D., I have a very active life. I asked Dr. Lee and Dr. d’Angelo to share some of their knowledge, not only for individuals who may have Chronic Lyme Disease, but also to familiarize the general public with the disease. They graciously agreed.
David G. Lee, D.C., Ph.D, C.Ad, runs Wellness Revolution Club in Woodstock, Georgia and Daytona Beach, Florida.
Raphael d’Angelo, M.D., runs ParaWellness Research Program in Aurora, Colorado.
From Dr. Lee…
A Surprising Origin
In addition to ticks, any insect that bites and carries the bacteria for Lyme has the potential to transmit the disease, especially mosquitoes and spiders.
The Bull’s Eye Rash
A bite from a tick carrying Lyme disease does not always form a bull’s eye. Some Lyme disease patients never suffer a rash at all.
Why Some Get Bites, Some Get Lyme, and Some Get Chronic Lyme disease
Some believe that nearly every person may have been exposed to Lyme. Many infected people may be stuck in the incubation phase and never express classic symptoms.
All disease, like Lyme, starts with a shock, trauma, or surprise, then it goes into a two-step pattern. The first is the Conflict (or incubation) period. During this time there are absolutely no signs or symptoms.
The body will only move forward into the second or healing phase of the disease, when it perceives the shock, trauma or surprise is no longer in control. When the Healing phase begins, symptoms appear and are expressed.
Everyone may think, oh my goodness, that person’s sick and needs a doctor, while his or her body is actually saying: “I’m ready to push the bad out now.”
The longer the body stays in the Conflict (incubation) phase; the bigger and tougher the Healing phase may be. Treating symptoms alone may lead to stopping the Healing and return the patient to the conflict phase over and over again; making matters worse in the long run.
How to Identify Lyme
The symptoms of Lyme disease can be confusing and differ among infected persons both in nature and severity. Unless a person suffers from the Babesia bacteria, it’s not likely to show up in a blood test. Some people may have no symptoms at all, even though a blood test might indicate Lyme disease.
Also, whether or not someone gets Lyme disease could depend on the capacity of his or her immune system. Say a person must cope with many adversities, physical, emotional and chemical. At some point a person’s immune system may not be able to endure any more. Like water running into a bucket, it will only hold so much before the water spills out.
The disease progresses through different stages with varying and sometimes overlapping indicators.
Initial Symptoms
These typically occur within 3-32 days of a tick or other insect bite. Many infected people first notice a red rash, known as erythema migrans (EM). Typically, the rash goes away within four weeks. Remember, not all infected persons develop a rash, or they may have one without the bull’s eye pattern. It’s also possible for one to develop in a place a person doesn’t usually see. If a person has other symptoms that might be due to Lyme disease, he or she should see a doctor and not wait for a rash to appear.
From Five to Twenty-One Days
Muscle and joint aches, headache, fever (100°-103°), stiff neck, swollen glands, and fatigue may occur with or without the rash.
Secondary Symptoms
Multiple EM lesions may appear in several places on the body. An EM lesion is an uncommon rash precipitated by an infection or in some cases a drug.
Arthritis – sometimes joint pain is the first symptom noticed. Other joint problem
s include stiffness and swelling, particularly in the large joints, such as the knee, elbow, and shoulder.
Nervous system problems – the bacteria can affect the brain, spinal cord, and other nerves of the body. Symptoms of this include:
Weakness and drooping of the face and eyelid on one side (may mimic Bell’s palsy) – it may also occur on both sides of the face.
Wide-spread numbness, tingling, and burning
Impaired motor coordination
Persistent headache
Stiff neck
Mood changes
Difficulty concentrating or sleeping
Generalized weakness
Eye problems – redness and inflammation
Other body systems – affected areas may include the heart, liver, lymph nodes, testes, and eyes.
Note: All symptoms of early manifestation usually occur with the first rash or within about six weeks of it. They may go away on their own within a few weeks or months.
Chronic Symptoms
Joint pain – painful inflammation of the joints, as well as intermittent or chronic arthritis
Chronic nervous system problems – these may include:
Memory problems, including dementia
Depression or other emotional problems
Sleep disorder
Nerve pain or problems
Chronic skin problems – can include thinning, thickening, or discoloration of the skin, usually of the hands and feet
It’s now been fairly well-established that chronic infection is an underlying factor in many prolonged illnesses. Diseases such as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue may all turn out to be expressions of chronic infections.
Diagnosing Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose using conventional tests. And there’s great variation in the presentation of the disease as well, depending on where a person contracted it, and whether or not he or she has any other coexisting infections.
The Culprits
There is a group of seven or eight microbes that are the most common. The worst ones are Babesia microti. At least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus borrelia cause the infectious disease. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is the main cause of Lyme in North America and Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii are more prevalent in European cases. The type of bacteria involved are called spirochetes, known by their long, helically-coiled shape. Most spirochetes are free-living and anaerobic.
When the microbes and the associated immune reactions are situated in the connective tissue, the infection presents as a “vague, dispersed pain,” which oftentimes ends up being labeled as fibromyalgia by conventional doctors. The immunological expression of Lyme covers a wide variety of immune system disorders, typically with some aspect of autoimmunity.
A Controversial Disease
The essence of the controversy of autoimmune vs chronic infection is cause for debate. The gastroenterological presentation, where you have constant stomach problems, constipation, recurring stomach ulcers and/or indigestion, is very common, especially with the Babesia infection. This is sometimes the direct outcome of pancreatitis or hepatitis, but it can also be due to parasites acquired after contracting Lyme disease. In these cases, aggressive treatment of the parasites typically resolves the problem.
Insomnia is one of the key symptoms in many cases of Lyme disease, along with neurological symptoms such as headaches and a wide variety of pain syndromes. But you cannot diagnose Lyme disease on symptoms alone, because they’re so varied.
Most commercial tests designed to detect chronic infections are based on measuring your immune reaction—the presence of antibodies—to the invading microbe. However, the white blood cells themselves get infected with Lyme spirochetes, and this is a bit of a game-changer… because if your white blood cells are infected, they lose the ability to produce antibodies.
Also, the Flourescence in Situ Hybridisation, or FISH test, which looks at the genetic material of the cells, is done on blood for Babesia. But Babesia lives in the central nervous system, joints, and connective tissue. It doesn’t live in the blood stream, at least not in significant amounts, so it can easily be missed when analyzing blood. Since Lyme is bacteria transmitted via an insect/tick bite it is not thought to be contagious from person to person. Varied symptoms and presentations may be as varied as the victims.
How to Cure or Control Lyme Disease
The healing is correlated with the building blocks of the body. Humans are made of three types of cells: Endoderm, Mesoderm, and Ectoderm. All cells have their origin from one of these original types. We may divide them into: Structure, Emotion, and Chemistry. Structure is defined as your DNA; what traits are from your ancestors? Emotion is your subconscious thoughts while you are sleeping, downloaded from your hard-drive brain based on all of your life experiences. Chemistry is based on what you eat, drink and breathe.
The Christian perspective may be based on the same “three sided” model. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Taking note that scripturally it is impossible to separate the three parts of the Christian faith; it is a true trinity. So I have concluded that it is impossible to separate the three sides of the human body; Structure, Emotion, and Chemistry. Each third is an equal part of both health and disease.
The diaphragm of the body is like the equator of the earth. Everything below the diaphragm has a matching scientific set above it. For example, there are four valves in the heart and four valves in the colon. Two sides to the brain and two kidneys. Each of the body parts has a Structure, Emotion, and Chemistry. If we do not heal the emotional and chemical problems as well as the structural, we do not have complete healing.
Why so Many Different Symptoms and Treatments
The characteristics that define the disease must include the Structural, Emotional, and Chemical issues for each victim at the time of exposure. They must also incorporate future internal and external environmental problems that occur during both the Conflict (incubation) and Healing phases.
Traditional medicine usually includes long term antibiotic therapy with a primary goal of reducing the symptoms. But there are alternatives out there. I encourage people to find and work with an expert in the field. In my case, I have found that a combination of natural approaches produces a better long term result. This integrative approach includes the Three R’s principle.
Re-Fuel the body
A.Kangen Water® – a brand of water with correctly sized alkalized particles for optimum health. It contains beneficial minerals and hydrates more efficiently because the water molecules are small enough to enter our cells rather than just wash them from the outside.
B. Food that is patient specific for efficiency
C. Supplements to re-build from the cellular level upward, based on comparing blood labs to a healthy person (not the average person)
Re-Charge the body
A. Hour-long sessions three times a week for one-hundred twenty days on the P.E.M.F. (Pulsed Eletro Magnetic Field). This therapy delivers radiation-free, non-thermal, magnetic pulses into the body’s cells allowing healing energy to safely pass through them. Damaged cells are rebuilt and dead tissue released into the body. This therapy re-charges every cell completely, so our bodies function properly like our re-charged cell phones.
B. Combinations of detox, or getting toxic substances out of the body. These include sound therapy and infrared light therapy that empowers the body to heal itself. I also use the cold laser (LLLT) to promote healing along with footbaths, which use ions to rid the body of toxins. In addition I use a low-impact exercise machine.
Re-Store the body
A. Body work, Exercise/Chiropractic/Cranial Sacral (adjustments)
B. Balancing the body’s nutritional needs by using biofeedback balancing to discover them then prescribing homeopathics to supplement them
C. Emotional Clearings. Using computerized biofeedback one can find the connection between a particular emotion and the organ it’
s affecting adversely. Then by implementing scientifically programmed music combined with a patient’s thoughts, the process eliminates the cause of that specific trauma from the sub-conscious.
The natural/integrative approaches may actually create more awareness of symptoms for short periods; since they are enhancing the Healing phase much more than a traditional medical approach which may be returning the patient back into the Conflict phase by fighting symptoms only. An example of a natural/integrative approach: It is ugly to vomit, but it may be exactly what it takes to rid the body of bad food.
The best Lyme patient is the educated Lyme patient.
Most Lyme patients seeking integrative healing find their help through word of mouth. Most holistic doctors do not advertise themselves as treating Lyme or any disease. Our office moto is to “spread the good news with such abundance, that any bad has no place to survive.” In other words, we do not treat disease or even diagnose. We treat the whole body for people that used to have a medical diagnosis of some disease process. The traditional medicine will do all the “killing” of things, while we will focus on supporting the good healthy cells with abundance.
The first thirty-one years of practice have humbled me to say: “I don’t know” most of the time. But I have learned that if we do not heal all three parts (Structural, Emotional, and Chemical) of the body together, we do not heal that body.
David G. Lee, D.C., Ph.D, C.Ad
From Raphael d’Angelo, M.D.
Dr. d’Angelo describes the tiny perpetrators he studies as coming in many forms. “Some are actual worms such as tapeworms and roundworms. Others are flukes. Many are single-celled protozoa. Even fungi such as yeast and mold may act parasitic in excess. In some cases, even bacteria and viruses could be considered parasitic because they fulfill the criteria that part or all of their lifecycle requires the human host for protection, nutrition or reproduction.”
Lyme and Chronic Lyme Disease patients often exhibit symptoms caused by parasites. This may be due to a biting insect or from parasites that already were present in small amounts inside their bodies that multiplied as the immune system became overwhelmed by the Lyme organism.
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