Another charming feature of Lyme disease!!!

Everyone, please read this and take it seriously...this post is meant to be a warning and call to action!

It literally took me months and months and months to get serious about testing for hypercoagulation (i.e., "thick blood"), after our good friend, bucci, urged me to do so.....but sure enough, I've got it! One LLMD claims that out of 900 patients, at least 90% have had hypercoagulation issues. While only 5% of the "normal" population are dx with hypercoagulation!

The blood tests run on me were: Hemex Laboratories' ISAC (Immune System Activation of Coagulation) test panel and Hereditary Hypercoagulation test panel. My blood coagulation results were very abnormal.

What exactly is hypercoagulation? It's a condition in which your blood will clot more quickly than normal, and it causes your actual blood flow, especially through the smallest capillaries, to be slower than usual.

Why is this such a bad thing? Well, if your blood is clotting too quickly and easily, and the various clotting factor levels (fibrinogen, fibrin, thrombin/antithrombin complexes, fragment 1+2, and Factor II (prothrombin) activity) are too high, this can even lead to a stroke.

At the very least, your body will not receive oxygen, nutrients, or medications as rapidly as it would if your blood was actually flowing at normal speed. As the doctor referred to above mentions here, the smallest blood vessels (capillaries), are only about 8 microns in diameter. A 7-micron-wide red blood cell may not be able to make it through a capillary with sludge-y deposits of fibrinogen attached to its walls....this could ultimately lead to cellular anoxia, starvation and death.

And It DEFINITELY makes your heart work harder!

Apparently this is a favorite tactic of the Lyme bacteria (i.e., increasing the coagulation components in your blood); they prevent your cells from getting the nutrients they need, while creating hiding places for themselves to avoid Lyme treatments....the fibrin clumps clinging to the endothelial surfaces of the capillaries make nice little nests to hide in.

So what can be done about hypercoagulation??

My LLMD has prescribed subcutaneous heparin injections, 1 cc (5000 units) twice a day. I started them a couple of days ago. It's really not that hard to give yourself subcutaneous injections. Just type "how to give yourself a subcutaneous injection" into Google and you'll get a bunch of hits, very helpful.

Bucci has told me that the heparin shots have made a HUGE difference in how she feels.

Now, yes, there are "natural" remedies too, I believe, but I've read that they are not as effective as heparin. One LLMD claims that heparin is not only a blood thinner, it is also anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and may even be anti-cancer.

Hi Lymiegirl,

The Leiden V factor is one of the hereditary defects that are tested for in that panel I mentioned, yes. The LLMD I mentioned in my post says that about 66% of his Lyme patients tested positive for hereditary defects leading to hypercoagulation issues, as opposed to only about 25% in the population at large.

JoAnn

Interesting. I have intermittantly positive Lupus Anticoagulant (promotes blood clots) and also Factor VIII deficiency (involved in hereditary hemophilia, but I do not have Von Willebrand's) with prolonged clotting time when measured via the little poke on my arm...my guess is these two cancel each other out because I've never been a heavy bleeder, nor have I ever had a blood clot. My Brother, however, has had a blood clot, and he has Activated Protein C Resistance...a hereditary clotting disorder that makes one's blood more prone to clotting.

thanks for the info! I also know that a colder body temp will make blood "thicker". I definitely need to get on this!

One thing that struck me.....just a random thought here.

I've often wondered why some people can fight off Lyme disease without abx and others can't....or why it becomes such a terrible, even fatal disease in one person's body, and just a bad case of the flu for someone else.

I started thinking about that LLMD who said that at least 2/3 of his Lyme disease patients had hereditary "thick blood" issues, while only 1/4 of the general population actually has such defects.

Do you suppose that people who already have hereditary hypercoagulation problems naturally have a harder time fighting off Lyme disease and similar infections that cause their blood to get even thicker?

I wonder how many of us on this forum had such hypercoagulation issues (the hereditary type) before they came down with Lyme and just never knew it because normally doctors don't test for this??

Good point Bucci!! I was beginning to wonder who was healthier - my gp or myself as well!!! I think I win in this case!

I have family that lives in the Phoenix area & so I know that there has been a bit of a dip in the temps lately - soooo maybe you aren't so far off??

I also read the Townsend Letter from time to time. It can have some really good articles!

Yes, a sense of humor is definitely needed when you have a chronic illness, and bucci has a great sense of humor! :)

Nasalady,

How much does this test roughly cost? Is it something that is likely to be covered by insurance or is it more like IGENEX where you have to pay out of pocket?

Also, do you know if regular labs, such as Quest, do the test? If so, are they reliable?

Thanks for the post! I'm going to ask my LLMD at my next appointment.

Very interesting, thanks for the info. One time they had a heck of time get blood out of me, maybe this is why. Think I will get checked, better to be safe than sorry.

Nasalady maybe change the title, astroman just had a blood clot and more people need to be aware. Thanks for posting.

Oh I see, don't recall ever seeing there names before. I think we all need to get tested, being blood clots are serious.

I saw my LLMD for the first time last week. He had half a dozen orders for blood work for me which included testing for hypercoagulation, so I had this done yesterday.

The tests include:
MOCHA (infection panel)
T/AT (Thrombin/Antithrombin)
Fragment 1+2
Factor II Activity

My LLMD advises that if any one of these test comes back abnormal, that heparin therapy should be considered.