Hi Sweet Friends,
So far, we’ve talked to my trusted pal and doctor Kenneth Bock, Integrative MD about adrenal fatigue and basic supplement recommendations.
Today, we’re chatting about Lyme Disease, which is especially important this time of year whether you live in the Catskill Mountains or Palm Beach.
Recently, I was faced with the seriousness of this condition when my dog Lola was bitten. She’s doing well now, but this scary, first hand experience woke me up to the big health implications of a tiny tick bite. I strongly suggest talking to your veterinarian asap about how you can protect your fur-kid from those little buggers.
Every time I walk through my yard or take a hike I immediately check my skin and Lola’s fur and skin for ticks (and I often find a couple on both of us!). This simple precaution prevents what could be a big health issue. And the good news is that there’s a lot we can all do to stop Lyme Disease before it starts or to treat it effectively.
So let’s get this tick-busting party started and review what we’ll be exploring in today’s video.
In this video, we’ll answer these questions:
- What is Lyme disease?
- How can you identify a tick bite?
- What are the signs of Lyme disease?
- What tests should you get if you think you have Lyme disease?
- How can you treat Lyme disease?
- What is chronic Lyme disease?
- What’s a positive long-term perspective on living with Lyme disease?
If you’d like to learn more about Lyme disease, check out Dr. Bock’s website. And to find out where ticks are most prevalent, take a look at these geographic distribution maps. You might be surprised about their abundance in your neighborhood!
Update: Additional Tick Tips & Recommendations
Thank you for sharing your Lyme disease resources and supporting each other in the comments below. I read through every one of your thoughtful words and pulled together the following tips, websites, blogs, videos and educational tools to help guide you on your journey to wellness.
(Please note that these are suggestions from my readers.)
Tick Bite Prevention
Helen’s Tips:
- Wear light-colored clothing. It makes ticks easier to see and remove before they can attach to feed.
- Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Wear closed footwear and socks. Tuck your pants into your socks.
- Put a tick and flea collar on your pet and check them for ticks periodically.
- If you frequent the areas where blacklegged ticks are established, examine yourself thoroughly for ticks. It is important to do this each day. Pay special attention to areas such as groin, scalp and armpits. Use a mirror to check the back of your body or have someone else check it.
Elisabeth’s Tips:
- For pets: In addition to checking your pet regularly, you need to use repellents, vaccine, keep hair short and avoid “at risk” places. Also, your pet can collect a tick and then give it to you.
- For humans, I recommend avoiding “at risk” places (tall grasses, bushes, forest border, for example) … Take a shower when you come back and use a fine comb on your hair (especially the neck line).
Tick removal:
Meg’s Tips:
- The best way to remove un-embedded ticks without exposing ourselves to them is to catch them with the sticky side of a piece of transparent tape and then quickly close it. Then we can look at the insect and also discard it safely. It’s easy to carry gift wrapping tape with you on a hike or to the beach.
Helen’s Tips:
- Using fine-tipped tweezers, carefully grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible. Pull it straight out, gently but firmly.
- Don’t squeeze it. Squeezing the tick can cause the Lyme disease agent to be accidentally introduced into your body.
- Don’t put anything on the tick, or try to burn the tick off.
- After the tick has been removed, place it in a screw-top bottle (like a pill vial or film canister), and take it to your doctor or local health unit … Establishing the type of tick may help to assess your risk of acquiring Lyme disease.
- It is important to remember where you most likely acquired the tick. It will help public health workers to identify areas of higher risk.
- Thoroughly cleanse the bite site with rubbing alcohol and/or soap and water.
Additional Education & Lyme Disease Resources
Education
- Lyme Disease Association
- UK National Health Service
- Ontario Canada Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care
- Canada Lyme Disease Foundation
- Books & DVDs: Lyme Disease Educational Resources
- Blog: Living Lyme
Testing
Infrared Sauna Therapy
Your turn: Have you had experience with a tick bite or Lyme disease? Share your insights and experiences in the comments.
Peace & skin/fur checks,
Eight months after a number of tick bites I nearly died. I was in hospital for a week with no diagnoses and only the offer of anti-depressants. Thankfully I met and was treated by a natural health scientist who saved my life using herbal teas to cleanse my kidneys and liver. It was the liver cleanse that I really needed. Yes, two cups of Alfalfa leaf tea a day saved my life!
Symptoms persisted and I found great relief using Dr Hulda Clark’s protocol – http://www.drclark.net and I removed over 1000 stones after doing her liver flush every 2-4 weeks for over a year. Although some uncomfortable symptoms persist, I go surfing regularly. Twenty years of chronic fatigue is gone as are my food allergies and many other symptoms!!! I’m surfing some of the biggest and best waves of my life! What joy!
I am reluctant to take antibiotics for fear of losing the good health I do have. But due to the discomfort that I still experience, I will if need be. Its been over four years so I’m in the chronic category! Lyme in Australia is very controversial but I had all the symptoms and the bullseye which I thought was ringworm that wouldn’t respond to treatment. I now know better. The tests that I had the week after being bitten seem only useful for the paper they were printed on which could be used for one thing. (Excuse me for that suggestion!) But before trying antibiotics, I am now awaiting shipment of my Dr Clark Varigamma/zapper which can be set to the specific frequency of any parasite, bacteria, virus etc including the Lyme bacterium, to electrocute them!
I need ideas for a new website so I came to have another look at your site Kris which looks great and seems very functional. I was so surprised to see your talk with Dr Bock and all the tips on Lyme Disease. FANTASTIC!! Many thanks. Good on you, you’re doing such great work. An inspiration!
Lyme Disease is one of the most stubborn, treatment-resistant infections in the world. It is also spreading rapidly on all continents. Recent research indicates that, in addition to tick bites, Lyme Disease may also be transmitted by sexual contact and bites from other insects.
I just saw this video on Lyme, so I’m a little late to comment. I am in the midst of intense IV treatments for Lyme by a fantastic Lyme Literate MD. The emotional trauma just trying to obtain a diagnosis, let alone suffering the actual symptoms are enough to make you feel crazy. As a psychotherapist and writer, I’ve decided to document my journey on my blog. It’s a working journal for this experience, and I hope it will serve to make others feel less alone and be a reminder that you are NOT crazy. I don’t have to re-iterate to my other fellow Lymies out there it takes an extraordinary amount of strength to soldier on through this illness. I hope one day that everyone can get the proper treatment we deserve!
Thank you for posting this valuable information. I have a four month old boy and I always worry when we are on our outside walks. I see bees and other bugs flying around and my paranoia kicks in. I guess I’m not too far off in my worries. A small bit can cause extreme health issues so it’s important to be aware of the signs. Keep up the great work, I love reading your blog.
Kris – Thank you so much for this terrific video on Lyme disease and for mentioning infrared sauna therapy as a supplemental treatment option. As you know, we are big fans of a holistic approach to health and wellness and of functional/integrative medicine. ~The team at Sunlighten infrared saunas
Lyme disease (LD) is an infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a type of bacterium called a spirochete (pronounced spy-ro-keet) that is carried by deer ticks. An infected tick can transmit the spirochete to the humans and animals it bites. Untreated, the bacterium travels through the bloodstream, establishes itself in various body tissues, and can cause a number of symptoms, some of which are severe.
My 12 year old daughter has Chronic Lyme Disease, she got them from mosquitoes in Yosemite CA. I just wanted to make you aware that you can get it from mosquitoes as well. She did 6 months of IV antibiotics and now we are trying to build her immune system. She is so much better but still very sickly. Thanks for making people aware. Here is her website
I think it’s so important to continue educating on Lyme’s disease. It is misdiagnosed so often.
Although Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of a tick, (See http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/transmission/index.html ) knowledge of any given tick bite is not helpful to predicting whether or not you may have Lyme disease: the majority of individuals that contract Lyme disease will not remember the tick bite. Also, only 2% of tick bites result in Lyme disease. Late spring and early summer are the highest risk season for Lyme disease, when the nymphal stage of the ticks emerge. Adults ticks are present year round and can be feeding any time when temperature exceed 40 degrees. Although both genders and all ages are susceptible, Lyme disease is most common among boys aged 5-19 and adults 30 or older.
I have been diagnosed with Lyme’s…and live in California and cannot find the right Dr…do you have a referral or perhaps be treated long distance from someone in Northeast?
thanks
My 12 year old daughter has Lyme, it took me a while to find a doctor. We live in Orange County, our Doctor is Lyme literate, she is amazing and has helped so many people. Her name is
Dr. Chitra Bhakta and she is in Santa Ana CA
801 N. Tustin Ave. #405
Santa Ana CA 92705 714 667 5222
Good luck
I’ve had Chronic Lyme Disease since 2006. I was bitten by a tick, pulled it out, & got the classic Bull’s eye rash 10 days later. My life basically stopped at that point. I have been to so many doctors in the past and still do, get shots in my back (I have Lyme Arthritis) & take approximately 14 medications with no hope in sight. I’m praying for a cure.
What state do you live in?
I had Lyme Disease last year and I can’t stress enough how important is to be pushy with your Doc. I started out with an EXTREMELY itchy rash, which is a pretty rare symptom, apparently. Because of the rash, my Docs were unable to see the bullseye mark. Because my Mom is a nurse, she kept pushing me to go back when the steroids they gave me didn’t do anything. Thank goodness she did because it turned out I had already moved into the second stage of Lyme Disease. Some of my other symptoms were fatigue, elevated blood pressure and flu-like symptoms.
I still suffer from the fatigue, which I might have for the rest of my life. Thankfully, I have a great support system who understands when I just have to nap, even if I don’t want to! Pay attention to your body and if it doesn’t feel “right”, seek treatment quickly!
The interveiw with Dr. Bock is one of interest for me as I have been treated and suffered with chronic Lyme Disease for years. I will contact Dr. Bock as I live in NY near Hudson Valley. I am also interested in purchasing the book you have about juices for health. I wish I had purchased it @ the conference in NYC “IGNITE”. Thank you and have a good day. Sincerely, Janet Bacon
Thanks so much for spreading awareness of tick borne diseases. Many of the pathogens are chronic. Brucellosis, Q fever, Mycoplasmal and Chlamydial infections can all be chronic as well. The ticks are injecting a myriad of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasites into us. We do not even have tests for many of the pathogens. We see lyme patients show up with compromised immune systems and coming down with the opportunisitic infections of AIDS patients. We need research to understand and eradicate these pathogens and we do not need to spend valuable tax payer monies on a vaccine that will not be able to address all the pathogens.
This is so timely for me and my household. Even though it is still snowing here in MN, my puggle’s diagnosis was just confirmed today as being Lyme positive. I took him in yesterday as I suspected Lyme – she agreed and started him on an antibiotic and a pain med. Today he can walk again and is eating and drinking (which he wasn’t yesterday – and that was the scariest part). With today’s confirmed diagnosis I learned that he will be on antibiotics for an entire month and we will need to do more blood work in 6 months to make sure the antibiotics worked. I’m very grateful for my vet’s knowledge and for this video so I can keep a closer eye on myself and my kids (they are 3 & 5).
Thank you so much, Kris & Dr. Bock!
xoxo
I teach young children and we have found that the best way to remove un-embedded ticks without exposing ourselves to them is to catch them with the sticky side of a piece of transparent tape and then quickly close it. Then we can look at the insect and also discard it safely. It’s easy to carry gift wrapping tape with you on a hike or to the beach.
I’m so appreciative that you are spreading awareness on this issue. Everybody needs to know what to look out for and what to do if bitten. Everybody! One bite and your life can change. Mine sure did. Prevention and early detection + treatment is key, or things can become very, very complicated.
I’ll be posting this on my Lyme Community page.
Everybody is welcome to visit and be a part of the discussion.
Thanks again, Kris!
Thank you for sharing this! I am another one in your thread here dealing with Lyme along with my entire family. I am so thankful you are shining some light on Lyme. One thing that really made the difference for me with Lyme disease was tracking my symptoms and those of my kids.
My passion is empowering people on this Lyme journey to reclaim their health and get themselves back on the road to recovery. I created a site for Lyme to help people get better faster. We’ve done it…after over 10 years we are putting Lyme and it’s symptoms behind us. We struggled so much at first and it took keeping track of what we were doing, feeling, and who we were seeing, and observing what was really working for each of us…to be able to make the decisions about how to spend our precious resources in the best way possible. Recovering from LYme can be SO expensive…but it doesn’t have to be. Anyway – I hope if anyone reading this has LYME they will take heart and NOT give up. It feels amazing to be on the other side now…and I just KNOW this awareness video piece and others will provide the information to lead you to what will work for YOU. Much love & gratitude, amazing Ms. Carr. Thank you thank you!
I almost died from Lyme Disease, please circulate these 2 National PSA’s on behalf of the many people that are still suffering!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77FZmH_BYAw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMNl6C7-Z-E
I am praying for everyone and a rapid solution to this horrific disease!
Rosa
I really enjoy your site – bought your book and am trying to live by it! I had tests for Lyme disease that showed I had it- and all the symptoms were there. My doctor said she had to treat me as though I had Lyme disease beacuse of the postive test results “even though she did not believe that Lyme disease is real”. Yes. You heard me. I went to a second doc who had the same mind set. I now see a functional medicine doctor and am getting the care I need. If your doc does not think Lyme disease is “real” leave them. Find a doc who will listen to you. Thanks for this post.
Hi Kris
Thanks SO much for bringing awareness how to prevent and treat this disease.
Glad you pointed out at the 3.5 minute mark (compared to the beginning when he said you have a rash always), that to know that only 50% of the time (give or take?) the bullseye rash occurs. Often the baby nymph ticks are not even seen, nor is there always a rash. FYI.
Also if you see a tick on your dog use tweezers! Don’t touch it to get it off.
Also hope is available, there is a great Ayurvedic Dr, Dr. Naram from india that helped many get symptom free when western meds and all other lyme MD’s did not. He goes to the USA 2x a year.
Healing to all.
Namaste.