Video on COVID+Lyme

Five Lyme docs weigh in on COVID-19. Some interesting tips, including melatonin as a possible treatment that prevents the severe complications.

https://www.lymedisease.org/five-lyme-docs-covid19/

Calmlittlebuddha, I believe they were referring to CVID, not MTHFR. CVID is low immunoglobulin levels.

Please give some notes on what they say. Im sadly a bit overworked for the moment and no time to watch it.

The inability to clear infections here just refers to the immune system's lack of resources, I believe - immunoglobulin, various white blood cells, NK cells, etc. (A MTHFR variation can be involved but not necessarily.) These docs were confirming that those with Lyme should be considered higher-risk than the average person when it comes to being able to fight off COVID-19 and/or avoid complications when we do contract it. The cytokine storm a few days into the virus is what causes the life-threatening symptoms, and cytokine storms are an over-reaction by the immune system to an invader. Many of our Lyme symptoms also are caused by cytokines, and as we know they can cause a lot of damage, especially in large numbers. When a person has Lyme, their underlying immune dysfunction makes it more likely that their body will over-react to COVID-19 as well, especially considering that so many in the general population have the same problem with this particular virus. Long story short, the mechanisms that make this virus dangerous for regular people are especially likely to occur with Lyme patients. So we are in the high-risk category.

I watched two videos the morning that I posted this, both good, and I can't remember which one offered the following advice, but here are a few things mentioned for prevention and treatment:
Planequil is showing promise, along with azithromycin (lots of posts about these lately).
Zinc is very important, as is vitamin C, especially IV vitamin C.
Honorable mentions to glutathione and elderberry.
Probiotics, vegetables, fiber, taking excellent care of your gut will help your immune system.
Various herbs (already covered in some great recent posts here)
Masks, hand washing, and staying home are essential.
Melatonin seems to help (kids make more melatonin, so that's one theory as to why they are getting less sick with this).
Anything that calms down allergic or inflammatory processes, including MCAS - (avoid exposure, air purifiers, curcumin, quercetin, bromelain, whatever you do to manage allergies and MCAS) - needs to be done so that your immune system is not starting from a taxed condition.
Avoid mold, address parasites and yeast, etc. (Obviously we're all already doing our best with these things!)
SLEEP.
REDUCE STRESS.

Here's MR's page about cytokines: https://www.treatlyme.net/guide/cytokines

Part of why this video spoke to me is that I am prone to these cytokine storms following seasonal viruses. A cold moves through and I recover from the cold symptoms, but then BOOM - my Lyme symptoms all roar in and I'm in bed for weeks or months. Sometimes it's freaky stuff like paralysis or heart problems. (I say my "Lyme" symptoms but really it's cytokine symptoms, inflammatory symptoms, neurological inflammation, etc. It's the reactivity my body has because of its history with tick-borne infections.) It doesn't surprise me that people's neuro issues and breathing trouble begins several days into COVID-19 infection, but it does freak me out that this is happening even to people in average health.

My "post-viral syndromes" have annoyed the heck out of my doctors, and what they recommended was usually liposomal glutatione, liposomal or IV vitamin C, curcumin, Researched Nutritionals Multi-Immune transfer factor, and Cytoquel. I never used the transfer factor because I never understood how amping up my flipping-out immune system was going to help me, but my doctors have been unconcerned about that.

Anyway, hope people get something out of this. We're all just trying to figure this stuff out....

Yes I forgot to mention immunoglobulins, they talked about the different classes of IgG's which was interesting and informative. Can't remember....sry.

sunny40 said...
Calmlittlebuddha, I believe they were referring to CVID, not MTHFR. CVID is low immunoglobulin levels.

CVID : Common Variable Immune Deficiency

astroman said...

riverlee said...
.

Perhaps you missed this detailed post about our immune system:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=4192792

To answer your question, usually a low measured immune cell volume is temporary during lyme, but not always. Sometimes it stays that way..for years after feeling well.

Maybe forever, more research is needed, but if people "feel well" no research will get done.

Thanks for all of the information astroman
And when I say "feeling better", I should say not as sick. I haven't gotten too far into treating my lyme, but I am much better now than in 2018. I just will hope that my immunoglobulins are higher and that what I take helps. this makes me nervous.

Well I rarely get sick - and this was the case prelyme too.

My husband was sick with Covid (not tested but clinically diagnosed)
and I didn’t get it.

astroman said...
Horowitz mentions 75-80% of lyme patients have some subclass immunoglobulin deficiencies.

Horowitz' mentioning the future importance of subclass immunoglobulin analysis done on lyme patients as a whole. So far, as ive ranted in the past, none of the leading lyme Drs have been talking about this; its LONG OVER DUE!

I agree! I mean CD57 is something, but I wonder if the IgG subclasses paint a more detailed diagnostic picture for a knowledgeable (LL)MD...do they? I don't know. We could only hope that more MDs besides Dr. H might know this.

And in addition to learning about immunoglobulin subclasses I'm starting to learn about pharmacogenomics/pharmacogenetics. Pretty fascinating stuff.

I'm still wondering if an "LP" is a good idea...lumbar puncture a.k.a spinal tap. Another MD (Dr. R) mentioned it as useful for late stage neuroborreliosis. Isn't there a risk, however slight, of paralysis? or severe pain though?

I still have my MD Lab kits because I went with IgenEx and couldn't afford more tests.
And I wonder what would come up on a Galaxy, DNAConnexions or ArminLabs...

sry for off-topic...

Okay back on topic.

I seriously I may have picked up Corona Virus at the grocery store a few days ago. No joke. I was coughing up some yellow-greenish phlegm onto a paper towel one or two days after that. (I have pictures if you don't believe me, TMI...I know). I had no mask or latex gloves unlike most of the other shoppers. Went early in the morning too, more elderly people I noticed. Over the next couple days, I had a dry cough, and could taste white blood cells (pus?) in my saliva whenever I coughed, reminded me of when I got pneumonia. Anyway, wiped everything down with isopropyl, showered finally, took some Zinc and 2.5X Vitamin C (not the fancy liposomal or Meyers cocktail...I wish) and slept for 10-12 hours one day, and then another 10-12 hour sleep-a-thon so I think I've shaken it. I had a massive panic attack somewhere in there too with some uncontrolled shaking.

I tend to think we are more vulnerable, so naturally I'm extra-cautious.

Post Edited (borrelioburgdorferii) : 4/4/2020 12:45:12 PM (GMT-6)

astroman said...
riverlee - one thing noted on that video, these Drs have not yet noticed their lyme patients getting covid19 anymore than others.

Personally after speaking to three immunologists, they all emphasized that these tests check immune cell volumes not strength. All three asked me repeatedly if I get common colds ect, which I dont. Their response: "good".

These immune Drs I saw separate their low immune patients as 1)those who dont get sick more and 2)those always sick with very cold and virus out there non-stop. Both groups have low immune cells but both dont get sick all the time.

Those who are constantly "sick" with colds ect- should be even more cautious today.

This is why they need antibody tests for this NOW. Many here might have had it and fought it off - would be good to know if we are immune to it or not.

thanks again astroman. I am glad that volume does not necessarily equal strength. I do not get normal sicknesses often, though in Feb (right after flying to j clinic in DC) I got sick with what was ultimately diagnosed as a sinus infection. I am somewhat suspicious, though the augmentin did seem to help (or it was a coincidence)

I am with you about the antibody test, I keep hoping it comes out soon! that is what we all need. I'm a little confused though because a couple days ago I read that no one's antibody test has yet proved accurate enough to use(UK was almost ready to roll one out to people, they thought) , then later that day I read that the FDA approved one.