Do you think the term Lyme can get confusing?

As most of us know, by definition Lyme Disease is an illness caused by infection of the Borrelia Burgdorferi bacteria. In most contexts, the term "Lyme" specifically means Bb or the bacteria itself. Sometimes it means the entire illness in some texts.

We know that the disease we experience is mostly part of a much bigger picture that just Lyme. Co-infections, metals, detoxification, etc.

Through my year and a half of research, I still occasionally get confused when I read the word Lyme because I don't know it's referring to the organism itself or the disease surrounded by it. It creates a lot of confusion in my opinion. I believe the terminology for Lyme bacteria and the illness should be clearly separated because it can distort the message that is being communicated. I often type out Borrelia instead of Lyme if I'm referring to the infection.

I think Dr. Horowitz's MSIDS model is a more appropriate name and model for dealing with this disease. Hopefully this will catch on and become the standard name for TBD's and the associated problems including "Lyme".

Does anyone else occasionally get confused on the context of the word Lyme sometimes?

Superj50. I'm with you...I'd definitely prefer to call my illness "MSIDS". MSIDS is more descriptive, and the general population remains so clueless about chronic Lyme.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but horawitz' MSIDS assumes that a tick borne disease component is present.

Girlie, I too was fine, active, fit, healthy til sudden onset of my illness nearly a year ago. Although my tests aren't crystal clear, I too blame Borrelia bordorferi and whatever co I may have!!

In Under Our Skin 2: Emergence, Dr. Alan MacDonald says we should let the IDSA keep their term "Lyme disease" and starting calling it "borreliosis" instead. He makes a great point!