What do allergies have to do with Lyme?

I was probably the one that posted it. The main concern with cats is many of them carry bartonella and you wouldn't even know it. They usually don't show the signs but it can be transmitted to humans via scratch, lick, bite or from fleas. I'm not saying to get rid of the cats but they could pass it to a human and the symptoms for bartonella alone could easily be just like lyme. Something to take into consideration.  

According to the typical medical system. Bartonella is another one of those "hard to get and easy to treat", they even go as far to say it usually does not require treatment. I have to disagree. I think most doctors don't even understand it.

I found the paper, I will just write the results, it maybe be easier :P If you aren't familiar, usually allergies wheals are measured by mm, but some of mine were so large they had to be measured in cm. I was supposed to start shots, but never did. I may in the future. Not sure what this has to do w/ Lyme, but I heard people tend to be allergic to things, also like I mentioned above, someone in another post asked if the poster owned cats. (I have never been tested for food allergies, although I think I am gluten/casin allergic as well.)

Trees (these were the only ones I was tested for and I was allergic to all of them):
4x4 mm - Birch mix
7x7 mm - Elm
1.5x2 cm - Hackberry
3x3 mm - Juniper
1x1 cm - Maple Mix
1x1 cm - Mulberry
1x1 cm - Oak Mix
3x3 mm - Pine Mix
1x1 cm - Russian Olive
1x1 cm - Walnut, Black

Grasses (these were the only I was tested for and I was allergic to both):
1x1 cm Brome
8x8 mm Kentucky Blue

Weeds (same thing again, these were the only I was tested for all was allergic to all):
1x1 cm - Lamb's Quarter
1.5x1 cm - Marsh Elder
1x1 cm - Pigweed
4x4 cm - Ragweed

Mites negatives
Molds negatives

Animals (I was only tested for cats and dogs, my cats wheal was soo large it ran into the dog test and they couldn't tell if I was allergic to dogs :P):
3x3 cm - Cat

Hi Dowa,

Yes that makes since, and I do know that it takes a toll on me. I can't let them touch me w/ their nose or I have major problems, it happened just last night actually and had a huge fluid sac on my wrist from it :/. It started like a welt, then it progressed to an edema like fluid pocket under my skin, it was about 2in diameter. I will do shots, but I feel like my body isn't strong enough for it right now...also since I haven't been diagnosed yet, I don't want to "monkey around" with anything until I get some stuff straightened out. I have an appt w/ a LLMD on March 30th and am just trying to make it till then as I am having a lot of problems right now.

Post Edited (Thea_ls) : 1/29/2009 11:45:00 AM (GMT-7)

Sulma,

I think it has to do with the TH1/TH2 balance in the immune system. Lyme has the ability to shift the balance one way or another, and a boost in one naturally suppresses the other. So if Lyme shifts someone's immune system balance towards TH2, then they'll have lower response to other infections and more response to allergens. If Lyme shifts someone's immune system balance towards TH1, then they'll have anergy to allergens and will over-respond to various infections and possibly also develop autoimmune conditions.

Take care,

TH1 and TH2 are different pathways in the human immune system. TH1 is cell-mediated immunity (inflammation), TH2 is antibody-mediated immunity (allergy).

Hi All,

Reading this just made me realize that I never had allergies until I was in my early 20's.  This is around the time the doctor thinks I was infected (based on symptoms I had that I didn't even know could be from LD).  Very interesting! 

KO

Beth: I am so glad your allergist didnt recommend that you find a home for your dogs. That often happens. I had two golden retrievers for years that meant the world to me and I could not part with them no matter what. I did the drops also for years but shots are offered out here in Dallas. I got relief from both of them. The LOVE we get from out fur-babies is so important!! D