Posted 5/28/2012 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
Michael,
Over the past 9 months as my stage 2 Lyme disease has progressed to stage 3 Lyme Borreliosis complex disease, I, have experienced TMJ as well as bone loss throughout my entire body including my teeth. Because spirochetal bacterium are scientifically proven to invade and cause disorders in all soft body tissue/organs, tendons, ligaments, soft bone marrow and especially joint areas, dental professionals are now beginning to explore the theory that some dental issues including TMJ may be a condition of chonic and late stage Lyme Borreliosis complex disease.
Fortunately, my dentist has a brother whom once was an avid deer hunter until his health spiraled downward approximately five years ago so my dentist is open minded and willing to learn more about chronic and late stage Lyme Borreliosis complex disease and how it affects dental health. Because his brother’s progressive health issues were repeatedly misdiagnosed his brother has suffered with progressive and multiple health issues for many years.
In September 2010, after I was fortunate enough to be correctly diagnosed with Lyme disease by an Alabama Lyme Literate MD, Ph.D. (five months after acquiring a mystery summer illness in May 2010) I wrote an informative news article for our local newspaper to educate and spread awareness that Lyme disease did exist in the southern states since local physicians that I had seen for my mystery illness refuted that Lyme disease existed in Mississippi (the state I currently reside). In my news article, I shared the chronological order of the progression of my Lyme disease symptoms as well as symptoms of late stage Lyme disease.
In my news article, I also shared that ticks not only thrived in wooded environments but also in shaded foliage, gardening areas, fishing areas and quite common in shaded wild blackberry patches since ticks like magnesium which is found in blackberries. I unknowingly acquired Lyme disease while picking wild blackberries in an overgrown ravine during April/May 2010 which I later discovered was tick breeding season.
Since ticks feed during breeding season, blackberries are a common vegetation source for ticks to feed during breeding times until ticks are fortunate enough to drop off and feed on preferred mammal sources. Because my tick bite was on my scalp covered by long hair, I did not realize that I had been bitten by an infected tick until September 2010 when I was correctly diagnosed with Lyme disease. I then recalled picking an unusual clunky scab from my scalp that I thought was the result of a large blackberry vine that had become entangled in my hair/scalp.
As my dentist’s brother read my informative news article he realized that he had many of the early and late stage Lyme symptoms that I included in my news article. He had two back surgeries in his thoracic section of spine in the previous years but within months of both of his back surgeries, the muscular spasm pain returned. Fortunately after reading my article, my dentist’s brother made an appointment with the same Lyme Literate physician I was seeing and he was correctly diagnosed with late stage Lyme Borrelia disease.
Even though I have been on several variable antibiotic protocols over the past 20 months, have consumed a healthy diet limiting refined sugars and processed foods, included daily exercise into my lifestyle as a fitness instructor at our local club, had sufficient rest periods day and night taking mid afternoon naps, Lyme Bb is so virile that it has procured resistance to the long term oral antibiotics by forming cystic, granular as well as biofilms areas all over my body to protect it’s spirochetal community within the spirochetal matrix so that the antibiotics that I consumed on a daily basis were unsuccessful in penetrating the spirochetal cell wall.
Prior to acquiring Lyme disease in May 2010 I had optimal health and instructed 8 fitness classes per week at our local private country club that included pilates, weight resistance and high intensity spin classes. I also competed and played singles tennis at our local club as well as at our state-wide USTA tennis championship.
Cystic areas located in my jaw joints as well as other major joint, anterior and posterior muscular and lymph node areas all over my body have an inflammatory impression that is tender to the touch and can be visually seen by a trained eye. I am also a Certified Professional Photographer whom is quite familiar with my physical characteristics before and after acquiring Lyme disease since the use of Photoshop has allowed photographers the benefit of enlarging facial and other body parts much larger than life size.
In the past 9 months as my stage 2 Lyme disease has progressed to stage 3 Lyme Borreliosis complex disease, I, have experienced multiple body system disorders affecting my muscular system, nervous system, endocrine system (hormonal), circulatory system which consists of both the cardiovascular system and lymphatic system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, reproductive system and lastly my integumentary system (skin).
There is a lot of skepticism pertaining to chronic and late stage Lyme Borreliosis complex disease. However, most of the skepticism is generally from either physicians whom have never experienced first hand the debilitating effects that chronic or late stage Lyme Borreliosis complex disease can have on a personal family member or skepticism occasionally comes from a Lyme disease victim whom was fortunate to locate the infected tick embedded in their skin or discovered the erythema migrans (bulls-eye rash) and sought antibiotic treatment early which was successful in eradicating the spirochetal bacterium.
In my opinion, the ones whom can truly educate others, especially the medical community whom are often not adequately educated in Medical School on this debilitating and virile disease are the Lyme warriors whom proceed with a valiant effort to fight each of the individual battles that are encountered with chronic or late stage Lyme Borreliosis complex disease exemplifying a positive as well as perceptive attitude and whom are willing to share their insights as well as their Lyme disease experiences for educational and awareness purposes.
OK I know that my post is lengthy, however, I wanted to validate my post by sharing my personal Lyme experiences as well as Lyme disease knowledge that I have gained through persistent research.
Knowledge is Power!
Connie
Lyme Warrior and Lyme Awareness Advocate
Lyme Bb began May 2010 and currently perseveres as I valiantly strive to conquer Bb