Is a disease caused by a bacteria called Borrelia Burgdorferi which can be transmitted by a tick, or mosquito, but not all ticks and mosquitos carry Lyme. It is difficult to test for Lyme and a standard test may only diagnose 30% of those people who actually have Lyme. Lyme can present with any of over 300 symptoms and mimics other illness, however anyone who is chronically ill, has fibromyalgia or persistent chronic fatigue Lyme disease needs to be considered as a possible root cause
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This can range from mild fatigue limiting external activities or being unable to socialise or do anything outside of work and home, to extreme fatigue being bed bound and unable to work and often requiring long hours of sleep or frequent naps
This is often one of the first symptoms people complain about and can be mild in nature with a dull ache or pressure experienced each day to severe pain which is more like a migraine with photophobia and visual disturbances. The headaches may get worse over time if the Lyme is not dealt with.
People often complain of wandering pain in the body that it is in one place one day then in a different place the next. This gives rise to sore muscles and trigger points for pain. Similarly the joints can feel very achy and sore limiting mobility and physical activity, this maybe related to a level of inflammation in the body.
This is a common symptom particularly in the early stages, as the body tries to fight the infection. The immune system kicks into action by increasing the body’s temperature and speeding up cellular activity. Fever also makes it harder for the bacteria and viruses that cause infections to survive. It can over time result in a remission and relapsing fever type as the body tries to cope with the ongoing infection
Live Borrelia spirochetes (corkscrew-shaped bacterium) can collect in the lymph nodes. These lymph nodes then swell up and start producing large numbers of antibodies. These antibodies can recognize the bacteria, but are unable to clear the infection.
This can make you feel as though your brain is cloudy and it is difficult to think clearly. This can be as a result of a build up of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines from mould, yeast and bacteria. If your brain fog is characterised by difficulty with word finding, confusion, poor attention and short term memory issues, this may be due to ongoing neuroinflammation driving brain dysfunction.
Most people with Lyme disease have some disruption of gastrointestinal function with issues such as SIBO, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, gas, bloating, constipation, or reflux disease, or occasional vomiting.
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The first stage of Lyme disease may begin with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, and joint pain from seven to 14 days, or in some cases 30 days, following a bite or this may become chronic.
It is typically documented that infection is accompanied by a bulls eye rash where the bite occurs, however this is seen in only 25% of cases with some people experiencing no skin reaction at all.
Often the tick or mosquito not only carries the B. burgdoferi bacteria, but can carry low levels of other bacteria and viruses such as Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Chlamydia Pneumoniae, Mycoplasma and many viruses such as Epstein Barr and Coxsackie.
From recent research it is believed that B burgdorferi alters dendritic cells which normally present proteins (antigens) from pathogens such as viruses and bacteria, to the immune system signalling the presence of foreign invaders. Unfortunately B. burgdorferi stops this from happening and may lead to the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy cells instead.
To keep the integrity of the bacteria cell wall, a matrix of proteins and sugars is made called peptidoglycan. Most bacteria recycle this but B. burgdorferi cannot do this and dumps it in its immediate surroundings which is often the joints in humans. This process fuels inflammation possibly leading to the pain and arthritis seen in joints of people with Lyme disease.
As Lyme disease is a systemic disease neurological complications often occur as time progresses these can be:-
Further neurological issues which may not appear for weeks, months, or years after a bite, include decreased concentration, memory and sleep disorders, and nerve damage in the arms and legs
These often occur if someone has Lyme disease aa the spirochetes may cause slowing of the migrating motor complexes leading to SIBO and constipation. Alternatively inflammation in the GI tract may lead to symptoms of reflux and diarrhoea. Spirochetes have also been found in the GI tract in patients with chronic inflammatory conditions such as gastritis, ulcerative colitis, gastric ulcers and Crohn’s disease which may be the trigger or driver of these diseases in some cases.
I was recommended to Helen by my osteopath. Helen began by asking about my diet history and family health, she carried out tests and on receipt of the results advised precise diets which were followed rigorously. Vitamin and nutrient supplements were just part of the regime to correct gut function and rid of excess toxins to a normal level, thus restoring health and energy for an active lifestyle. Helen’s necessary caring attention to detail and with full patient compliance is mandatory to a successful outcome. For me it’s an investment of time and money to restore health in order to enjoy life to the full. Helen has a kind approach, is a reassuring and sensitive counsellor explaining my queries and freely giving of support on related matters between consultation sessions. Together over time, we have brought toxic levels down to within normal tolerance levels. Without Helen’s advice, support and care, right now I would have been in a very different place.
Susan
Helen altered my diet and educated me about food which I will be forever grateful for as I’ll be using this knowledge for the rest of my life. Extra bloods and stool tests were taken, supplements were personally prescribed to treat me as an individual. One size doesn’t fit all and this is what Helen understands, she treats you as an individual and not as a statistic. Helen also worked with my mental health which was a very important factor on my healing journey. I was at home in isolation for months but I didn’t feel alone as I knew I had Helen, this made all the difference to me.
I was under medical supervision but in the end I didn’t require surgery for my ulcerative colitis and my inflammatory markers are now really low which is amazing. Life is good again and my ulcerative colitis at this time is in full remission. Thank you Helen Olphin.
Elizabeth
I went to see Helen because I was so impressed when she successfully helped my nephew and my twin recover from ME. Helen starts off with a detailed question and answer session, followed by lab tests and kinesiology to pinpoint the health issues that need addressing. You are then given a supplement programme, which you are invited to follow for 6 weeks before a follow up session. I arrived at Helen’s clinic in despair that I would ever heal my life long inner tension, constipation and depression. I was quite stunned when these conditions cleared up. Helen is now helping me detox from environmental toxins. Her knowledge and instinct for what makes us sick is incredible. Helen is a gifted counsellor and life coach as well. I have since brought along my mother, father and fiance. Helen is not only kind and warm; she is also brilliant at her job. I actually cannot do this testimonial justice. If you have a chronic health issue and need some extra support my advice is to immediately sign up to see Helen. You won’t regret it.
Nathalie
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As 70% of the immune system is in the gut evaluating the microbiome makes good sense. It is important to look for parasites, overgrowth of bacteria (dysbiosis), SIBO, yeast overgrowth and be able to assess digestive and inflammatory markers which are key to understanding your gut and immune health.
I work with FDX, Regenerus and Cyrex labs, to test Metabolic imbalances, Mould, Food Intolerances, Stool tests, SIBO, Environmental Toxins/Allergens and Pathogens. I also use AONM and Armin labs who use sophisticated elispot and antibody testing for a range of potential bacteria and viruses including Lyme Disease (borrelia Burgdorferi) and co-infections.
Hormones are very important in our body being the chemical messengers within it, co ordinating different functions, helping to maintain homeostasis and can in some instances control the function of entire organ.
Tests include Thyroid and Thyroid antibodies, Adrenals, Blood Sugar Regulation, Sex Hormones
Cyrex Labs offers advanced clinical tests for immune function and its dysregulation, with predictive auto-antibodies, identification of intestinal permeability, and advanced testing for wheat/gluten reactivity and many food sensitivities to name but a few.
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Here are some frequently asked questions that we get from people wanting to know more about Fibromyalgia
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The answer to this is yes but it is not a quick fix. Lyme disease and the co infections can exert significant influence on a number of systems in the body particularly the immune system and it is important to support these systems, creating stability before embarking on dealing with the biotoxin illness itself. How long you have had the disease is also a factor to take into consideration.
How long have you worked with people who have Lyme?
I have been working with people who have Lyme and other co infections for 10 years now
Can Lyme disease affect me years later?
The answer is yes it can. It maybe that up till now your immune system has been effectively dealing with the Lyme disease, however if you contract another illness or have a stressful event in your life this may affect your immune system and then you may start to experience symptom’s associated with chronic Lyme disease.
Does Lyme disease show up in blood work?
It is difficult to accurately test for Lyme and the western blot test carried out by the NHS may only identify 30% of positive cases. The elispot or T lymphocyte test significantly increases accuracy, but no test is 100% accurate, which is why it is so important to carry out detailed assessments.
