Omg...i Might Be On To Something

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Beautiful picture, Laura!

I wonder about the safety, though, of having your birthday listed--or am I just paranoid?

[jerseyangel]

I love your picture, Laura. So cute!

[AndreaB]

Nice picture Laura.

Were you still waiting for any test results? I forget. I know you got the lyme though.

[jerseyangel]

Hi Andrea! Happy New Year!

[AndreaB]

Happy New Year to you too Patti.

You're a lot closer than I am though.....we still have 5 hours.

[dlp252]

Very nice picture Laura!!!

[jerseyangel]

Yes, it's about 10:15. I may even make it to midnight this year. First time in a while

Hi Donna--Happy New Year to you

[Rachel--24]

That would be the tetanus shot--except it's "packaged" with 2 other vaccines, diptheria and pertussis.

THat just happened to be the vaccine all three of my kids had a MAJOR reaction to. After the first one, they swore up and down that the problem was the live pertussis, and that the new acellular version would not cause reactions.

As usual, they lied.

At least with my third, we waited til she was much older, and did not let her get any other vaccines at the same time.

If I reacted negatively to a vaccine I would probably feel something from its effects fairly quickly right?? Seems like the people who did get problems...even some autistic kids who were fine before the shots....the effects were pretty obviously related to the vaccines right?? It seems like things were never the same after the vaccines. As far as I know I never had a negative response to any shot or vaccine ever.

I was never a sick kid and I never had allergies of any kind...I tolerated everything and I was quick to heal from anything. A cold would last 2 days max.....NOTHING ever held me back. Even when I got my wisdom teeth pulled as a teen...my mom couldnt keep me in the house afterward. I was out and about...playing softball and staying out all night.

Nothings ever slowed me down until I got THIS crappy disease...or whatever it is that I got.

We already know what happens when Lyme is present in the body.....toxins build up. Mercury becomes its parter in crime. A person with Lyme can be asymptomatic until those toxins become more than the liver and other organs can handle and a cascade of events begin to occur.

In my research I've read alot about autism.....especially when I was doing the Feingold/Failsafe Diets since it centers around kids with Autism. Alot of the stuff I've got going on with me as far as the food chemicals, mercury, yeast, gluten intolerance, etc....is the same stuff that is focused on in treating Autism....it always comes up in my searches.

Avoidance of gluten, casein, preservatives in foods, chemicals, salicylates, chelation of mercury and aggressive treatment for candida and leaky gut.....its all being done for treating Autism....and with good results. Although I dont believe its "curing" Autism...it *is* helping these kids in alot of ways.

I've read that when studies were done.....these kids were found to have spirochetes. Check out this info....

Autism is growing at epidemic rates. (1) It is reported to be prevelant in

1-150 children, some states 1-80 children. Autism is a complex neurological

disorder with seemingly provable and many etiologies such as maternal viruses

and bacteria (2), immediate cord clamping and birth drugs (3), metabolic

insufficiency during development in utero or infancy (ie, thyroid t3 and t4)

(4), purine disorders, adenosine deaminse deficiency (5), mitochondrial

disorders (6), iron fragile metabolism (7), metallothionein deficiency (8),

oxidative stress, childhood vaccinations which act as triggers to events above

through viral persistance in gut and brain (9), and heavy metal poisoning from

additives in vaccines (10), and lastly chronic disseminated lyme

neuroborreliosis disease. Lyme disease is transmitted through a tick bite. But

it can also be transmitted through semen, breast milk and gestational fluids.

This means that a fetus can be infected by its mother. B. burgdorferi has been

proven by PCR analysis to establish a persistent infection in the mammalian host

I had read a long article about Autism in Time magazine not too long ago. It discussed the rapid rate at which children are being affected by Autism. No mention of Lyme or mercury or any of the other stuff I listed above...which is no real surprise. Of course they have no idea why Autism is increasing at alarming rates. I think it seems fairly obvious when you look at whats happenning with Lyme Disease in this country.

I'm not one to be radical about anything and I tend to be a "doubter" rather than a "believer" when it comes to alot of things.....but this really has me more and more convinced with each passing day. I SERIOUSLY think Lyme is the "missing link". I try to really think things through and get as much info as I can before coming to conclusions and I just find myself becoming a strong believer in this being a major player in the cause of Autism and autoimmune disease.

Lyme disease is the fastest growing vector-borne disease in the nation. In 2001,

the Center for Disease Control recorded 18,000 new cases, but some experts

estimate that the actual number is closer to 200,000. This is four times the

number of HIV cases per year. Autism grows as exponetially as that, and an NIH

bulliten explained of late it is seen in 1/166 children. Amongst those

statistics, is the further frightening 1-6 children now have a developmental,

psychiatric problems in the US.

Lyme disease results in underconnectivity of brain areas, defects of the

fusiform gyrus and loss of purkinje cells in the cerebellum. Recently reports

of white matter disease are prevelant in children and adults with autism

paralleling patterns in lyme disease.

(11) Late in the progression of this

disease neurological, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms predominate,

overlapping symptoms of autism, such as food avoidance, facial recognition

problems, sleep disorders, ocular symtpoms such as light sensitivity, speech and

language loss or word retrieval problems, noise sensitivity, bed wetting,

aggression, panic attacks, headaches, movement disorders, sore throats and poor

swallowing, hypofusion-poor blood flow particularly to temporal lobes, swollen

tongues and lymphs, chronic fatigue symptoms, hyperactivity, gut problems (ie,

diahrreah, constiptation, IBD symtpoms, Celiac symptoms), liver dysfunction,

thyroid problems (t3 and t4 conversions), iron disorders, heavy metal toxicity,

tics, food sensitivities, depression, serotonin uptake problems, autoimmune

brain antibodies, problems with sequencing, problems with sensory perceptions,

seizures, cardiac conduction abnormalities, illiod hyperplasia, heavy metal

toxicity, co infections of HHV6 and Mycoplasma (12), various aches and pains

masked as lyme arthritis particularly in the neck area, and zinc copper iron

imbalances.

I highlighted all of my symtoms and problems that I'm aware of having...I'm sure there are things that I have going on which I am not aware of.

What I started realizing some time last year was that my symptoms and problems matched that of kids with Autism....it never failed to come up when I searched my symptoms.....especially with regards to food and chemicals. Never once did I come across any info linking Lyme with Autism. It was all about mercury.....hence my very firm belief that I must have been poisoned by mercury.

All involved with late state Lyme disease agree there is a large amount of

inaccurate information on this subject. This disagreement exists at every level

- journals, scientific meetings, clinical practice, and media outlets. The same

can be said of autism, in which denials of it's etiologies are profusely

displayed as only genetic, and never any environmental iaotragenic factors

involved.Profusely are denials of the existance that autism is based on the

bodies response to a foreign material either of neurotoxicity, bacteria or

virus, such as lyme, such as vaccinal viruses, such as autoimmune processes

that become overabundant. Reports are clear, that parents of autistic children

seem to have higher incidences of autoimmune conditions. This is telling us

something. It is my belief, this is a sign that the parents themselves have

lyme disease-and are giving this infection to their children. Lyme disease is

prevelant in all fifty states of the union, and know no geographical areas.

However, it is interesting to note, that in states that have the less lyme,

there is more availability of selenium in the soils, which is a immune neuro

protectant against viruses and bacteria. Parents of autistic children

routinely show low levels of selenium in blood work, as well as metallothionein

deficiency, a glutathione dependent oxidant. Parents also have higher

sedimentation rates (ESR) and thrombaphilia and fibrin deposits showing

inflammation as well as thyroid TRH dysfunction. (14) They also often have

skewed hormonal balances. Lyme is capable of changing these aspects on blood

work.

I dont normaly like to post so much from one site but I find this fascinating and I believe in the future its gonna be recognized....as this problem continues to escalate. Eventually someones gonna have to take notice....they cant ignore this forever....can they??

Interestingly, susceptibility genes for autism parallel the susceptibility genes

for arthritis and other autoimmune disorders, such as HLA-B27, and HLA-DR4.

Complement immune deficiencies are common in both diseases, including C4B and

C3A. The frequency of autoimmune disorders was significantly higher in

families of the PDD probands compared with families of both the autoimmune and

healthy control probands. Autoimmunity was highest among the parents of PDD

probands compared with parents of the healthy control subjects.

Hypothyroidism/Hashimotos thyroiditis and rheumatic fever were significantly

more common in families with PDD probands than in the healthy control families.

Interestingly, reports of Hashimotos and hypothyroidism are prevalent in lyme

disease. (15) Interestingly, reports of mycoplasma are consistent with parents

having a mycoplasmal infection, and giving that to their children. (16)

Mycoplasma medications are alleviated by the self same medications for lyme

disease. Many parents report that lyme and mycoplasma are prevelant in their

children with autism. Familial association studies have also reported an

increased risk of several systemic autoimmune diseases among relatives of

patients with a systemic autoimmune disease. This association may reflect a

common etiologic pathway with shared genetic or environmental influences among

these diseases. Environmentally, there is increases in levels of heavy metals,

toxicity, neurotoxicants, mold, and most of all but not least, the prevelance of

the lyme bacterium. Prolactin may also have important immune-modulating

influences affecting the risk of autoimmune disease . The prolactin gene is

located close to the MHC region of chromosome 6, hotspots for lyme AND autism.

(17) Another protein eaten by lyme is melatonin, which may account for levels

of serotonin, prolactin and the ability to detox heavy metals. In autism,

melatonin levels are dysregulated, causing sleep disorders, and antibodies are

found against serotonin.

Recently there have been reports of short term antibiotic use to kill

clostridium and or AGBN's. Vancomycin was recently used, and reports are that

when on the antibiotic for thirty days, symptoms of autism decreased. The

Jarish Herxheimer reaction is seen when antibiotics are having a therapeutic

effect as well, as evidenced when the child is on the antibiotics. This often

scares off the weary parent of an autistic child, stopping the antibiotic for

fear it is contributing to their autism symptoms when in reality it was killing

lyme with mild to moderate reactions. Unfortunately, in these studies, the

children regressed back to autism symptoms as soon as they were removed after

thirty days. If the bacteria is not completely eliminated, the symptoms will

return. This tells us, I believe, that lyme is involved in their autism. This

reasoning has made others think of why these children respond so favorably while

on the antibiotic. It could be that it is going after the lyme bacterium

(however not it's stages due to it's short length), but also calming down the

cytokine and chemokine activity in the immune system, and having some kind of

effect on viruses which depend on cytokines and chemokines. Typically those

viruses are of the herpes CMV class. Reports of HHV6 and autism are abundant.

Many children have high herpes titres, sometimes to that of 4-6 times of normal,

often corrolating with autism symptoms or seizures. Although the American

Academy of Pediatrics recommends a three week course of antibiotics, Dr. Jones-a

pediatric lyme speclialist, has found that the bacteria that causes Lyme has

become increasingly hardy and even when the disease is caught early, it often

needs to be treated with an eight to twelve week course of antibiotics or

beyond.

Lyme has many names. Among its "symptoms" are ALL of the "ideopathic"

(unknown-cause) diseases that plague americans, too many to list here - it

affects the body by making sugar turn to lactic acid, which in turn can scar the

kidneys over time, irritate the bladder, damage the liver, and upset the

pancreas. Lactic acid causes muscle soreness and sensitive intestines/cramping

problems (nervous stomach). Interestingly, it is reported that many autistic

children have skewed lactic and pyruvate ratios. This creates a mitochondrial

disorder, oxidative stress in these children. Lyme also eats proteins, many

types. It eats myelin protein, which is known to be going missing in MS

patients. The

localities for MS hot spots exactly match the pattern of lyme disease, and I

believe it is the same disease with a different name. Myelin is what nerves are

made of - and damage to myelin, without a meat and potatos diet to replace

protein constantly, causes brain troubles (alzheimers, parkinsons, alateral

myotrophic scleroses, myocarditis), numbness of the bladder and/or muscle spasms

in the elderly mistaken as "incontinence", nerve troubles, stuttering, etc.

This corrolates nicely with what we are seeing in autism. Typically there are

myelination antibodies in children with autism, even Neural Axon Filament

Protein antibodies, and various other antibodies against brain tissue. Many

children with autism lose their ability to sleep through the night without

bedwetting. Stuttering is often seen in children with autism.

It is also reported that when these children harbor heavy metals, that viruses

and bacteria seem to live in areas of that damage. Since these children lack

the oxidant metallothionein, they cannot detox the EPA over standard of safe of

thimerosol that were in childhood vaccine series, or other environmental factors

including their mothers in utero exposure of amalgams. Unfortunately, they

still are according to HAPI, a NPO who just tested mercury free vaccines (ARI

newsletter 2004). As they work in consortium, there is a theory that the

heavy metals bind to these bacteria and viruses, and when they are eliminated,

heavy metals start to chelate out of the body. This is evidenced by EDTA

chelation which has the ability to kill nanobacteria. Observations and

biomarkers of damage are seen soon after vaccinations, but what is equally

intriguing, is that lyme may be awoken after an immune lowering event such as

vaccinations.

Recent reports show that children with autism are harboring lyme disease. The

cry for chromosomal faults are numerous, and often paid and backed to be equally

the only way you get autism. What researchers know, is that no money is funded

or researched or goes into the immune lowering/autoimmunity events that create

autism, and is simply put down. The cogent finding of lyme bacterium being a

major risk factor for autism needs to be explored. This is superimposed on the

already sustained belief, that autism is an autoimmune disorder. Many of the

imbalances of autism could be explained as the body's inability to detox and to

work on this bacteria. Lyme could also be a trigger or a circumstance that

initiate or worsening of the autistic condition. This includes milk allergies,

strep infections, mercury, dietary intolerances of wheat and milks, and

inability to deal with toxic inhibitors. Interestingly, many of the imbalances

and deficiencies can be caused by lyme bacteria.

Many of the meds used for autism seem to also slow down the lyme bacterium, such

as digestive enzymes, anti fungals, of course, antibiotics, anti parasticals,

addressing food allergies, increasing zinc, antiinflammatories and even secretin

(secretin is tied to insulin, which lyme attacks). Lately, the use of

Methylcolbalamine B-12 with folinic acid would also reduce lyme symptoms. Since

there is already evidence of abnormal gut bacteria and exaggerated production of

cytokines which result in irreversable cellular damage, it behooves parents and

clinicians and researchers to look into this paralell and seek state of the art

laboratory connections to lyme and autism. Three labs are recommended,

STONYBROOK, BOWEN and IGENEX. This may result in the first of it's kind

treatment for autism via lyme therapy

What do you think??

Obviously I dont have Autism...and I dont believe I was born with Lyme. Noone in my family suffers anything similar....autoimmune disease doesnt seem to run in my family. Somehow I have all the problems that these autistic kids have....minus the Autism.

I know I was born having been exposed to mercury since my mom had plenty of amalgams....I did fine with whatever shots or vaccines I had. The only reaction I ever had to food was a one time reaction to strawberries as a kid.

I believe I was infected with Lyme at some point.....most likely when I had my flu-like symptoms and small bite. It was AFTER that that mercury exposure set off my symptoms. My body seemed capable of dealing with mercury PRIOR to the Lyme infection....but not AFTER the infection.

I believe the Dr.'s probably know what they are saying when they tell me that mercury was the "trigger"....not the *cause*. I also think genes play a HUGE role in what happens after a person is infected.

If these kids are starting out life.....still in the womb and already infected with Lyme and accumulating mercury from the mother....there is no doubt in my mind they would enter this world "set up" for the cascade of events that occurred in my life. If they are not sick already....the vaccines would most certainly be the straw that broke the camels back.

How would they be able to develop normally at that point?? They would be dealing with all of the neurotoxins, food intolerances, yeast toxins, heavy metal toxicity.....and all of this occurring in the critical stages of development. Its no wonder that Autism is on the rise at the same pace as Lyme Disease.

If I *ever* attemp to have children I will take every supplement and safe treatment for Lyme during the entire pregnancy and I would never even entertain the thought if I still had amalgams in my mouth...and thankfully I dont.

I dont know much about vaccines and such but I know I wouldnt want my child to have any thermisol based vaccine. Is this still a *must*....are they phasing it out??? What can a parent do in this situation.....if I'm ever so lucky as to become one??

I know I definately want to be informed.

[Rachel--24]

Happy almost New Year to my wonderful Rachelville friends!!!!!!!!!

My resolution is that we will all be happy and healthy in 2007. We do pretty well on the happy part now lets just work on the healthy part. I have to hope that 2007 brings me better health than 2006, right?!

Yeah!!! Better health in 2007 for ALL of Rachelville!!!

Happy New Year....havent seen your new pic yet but I'm sure you look great.

Happy New Year Ryan, Donna, Patti, Andrea, Alison and everyone else who isnt here right now!

[jerseyangel]

Happy New Year, Rachel

[Rachel--24]

I checked out my Bioset results from initial testing and interestingly I showed no problems with vaccines...which was part of the virus panel.

She also wrote in her report to my Dr. that I have no sensitivities to radiation.

Interesting....I guess this might rule out my theory that somehow the radiation from my thyroid treatment contributed to my illness.

I dont think that I would have suffered any ill effects from *anything* ....including the mercury exposure from the dental work...had it not been for Lyme.

[Ursa Major]

Rachel, I just popped in (I do that very occasionally, and I've given up keeping up with this thread). What you just said about autism is fascinating, and makes a lot of sense.

I quit several Asperger forums, because those people were absolutely adamant that autism is only hereditary, and that trying treatments of any kind with autistic kids was abuse. I was pounced on and 'yelled' at many times for suggesting that while autism can be caused by genes, it can also be caused by vaccines and intolerances. Especially if the kid was perfectly fine before a vaccination, and suddenly went autistic after.

They'd then cite all those studies that 'prove' that vaccines were perfectly safe, and had nothing to do with autism. The fact is, that if you set out to prove something, and are adamant that you will prove it, you will. Simply because you're biased towards finding what you want to find, and will dismiss any evidence to the contrary. I particularly don't trust any studies on vaccine safety that are carried out by the people that benefit most from vaccinations, the pharmaceutical companies, and the government.

The connection with Lyme disease looks quite probable, and needs to be taken seriously.

[Rachel--24]

Rachel, I just popped in (I do that very occasionally, and I've given up keeping up with this thread). What you just said about autism is fascinating, and makes a lot of sense.

The connection with Lyme disease looks quite probable, and needs to be taken seriously.

Hi Ursula,

I know the thread is overwhelming but its nice that you popped in.

Yes, people can be very narrow-minded. I cant understand why people would close to their minds to something such as this. To me it seems *highly* plausible that there is an ifectious cause in all of this. The symptoms clearly match that of Lyme Disease and these kids are actually FOUND to be HARBORING the bacteria. This *has* to mean something.

Also, why would Autism be increasing in frequency at such a steady rate?? Vaccines obviously play a role but havent they been around for years and years.....yet suddenly children (and adults) are having problems with the vaccines at higher rates?? And all the while Lyme has silently become the fastest spreading infectious disease in the world??

Sadly, I think it will be quite some time until this gets the attention that it clearly deserves.

I understand from what the article said about kids responding to antibiotics and sufferring Herx reactions.....which obviously would scare the daylights out of any parent. Its scary for anyone....of any age. It is a WORSENING of symptoms....and understandably these parents will want to stop antibiotics. I *do* believe if they kept up with treatment with lowere doses to control the Herx reactions.....these kids have a chance of recovering from Autism.....along with chelation and treatment of yeast etc.

In my opinion they are doing *all* of the right things in treating Autism....EXCEPT they are leaving out the most important peice of the puzzle....treatment of Lyme Disease.

Anyways....thanks for your input and hope you have a WONDERFUL New Year!!

[georgie]

Just popping to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year.

2006 was the year where I solved many of my medical mysteries. Hope that 2007 does the same for you.

Thyroid was my big discovery this year, and just a reminder for folks about to get tested - make sure that Free T3, Free T4 and Antibodies are tested and get the paperwork. TSH is virtually useless as you can have a normal TSH and still be very Hypo.

[happygirl]

Wishing you all a happy new years!

[AndreaB]

I dont know much about vaccines and such but I know I wouldnt want my child to have any thermisol based vaccine. Is this still a *must*....are they phasing it out??? What can a parent do in this situation.....if I'm ever so lucky as to become one??

Rachel,

You don't have to get any vaccines if you choose not to....but if you do it is best to space them out 6 months and only get 1 at a time. My doctor's wife doesn't like any child having them before they are 2 years old so their brains have gone through most of the growth. Most vaccines don't have thimerosal anymore though, they still have aluminum.

he wants to know if he can be the "speaker of the rachelville" hahahahaha he asked if i would ask you all that

Speech, speech......

Hi Ursa.....good to see you.

[Ursa Major]

Andrea, I love that picture of your kids.

Happy New Year to all of you, too!

[AndreaB]

Andrea, I love that picture of your kids.

Thanks!

See you all next year...........tomorrow. .....in about 45 minutes west coast time.

[Rachel--24]

Good morning.....happy first day of 2007!

I'm sure I must be the only one going to work today.

Laura...of course Eric can be the "speaker".

[miamia]

HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone here !!

[Daxin]

Happy 2007 to you all!!

Someone mentioned a few pages ago that Lyme seemed to be very prevalent in Califonia lately. As I am going to the Lompoc area in April (Vandenberg, north of LA), is there anything I should be aware of?

Here in tick season, we all just wear long pants and hats. I would hate to think I am either naiive or paranoid. Also, I would not want to be wearing long pants in the spring if California if I can avoid it. Especially coming from the great white north.

[dlp252]

H A P P Y .... N E W .... Y E A R .... everyone! ! !

Yes, it's about 10:15. I may even make it to midnight this year. First time in a while

Hi Donna--Happy New Year to you

Thanks Patti, and to you as well. I made it until 9:00, lol. I DID wake up at 11:10, but fell back asleep before I saw midnight. In fact, last night was one of the best nights sleep I've had in a long time.

[dlp252]

Yeah!!! Better health in 2007 for ALL of Rachelville!!!

Happy New Year....havent seen your new pic yet but I'm sure you look great.

Happy New Year Ryan, Donna, Patti, Andrea, Alison and everyone else who isnt here right now!

Yes, Happy New Year to you too, and yes, definitely better health in 2007 for ALL of us!!

[Fiddle-Faddle]

If I reacted negatively to a vaccine I would probably feel something from its effects fairly quickly right?? Seems like the people who did get problems...even some autistic kids who were fine before the shots....the effects were pretty obviously related to the vaccines right?? It seems like things were never the same after the vaccines.

Not necessarily. What you suggest is true for many kids, but not all, certainly not mine. The MMR is often the "Trigger" , and many parents even have video proof that their kids were totally different (i.e., autistic) after it. However, my son had no discernable reaction to it.

It was the DTP that all my kids reacted to. My first had it at 2 months, and screamed (I don't mean normal baby wailing, I mean SCREAMS like I have never heard before or since, they gave me chills, they were so horrible) starting about an hour after the vaccine and lasting for over 3 hours straight. He is the one with Asperger's.

My second one had it at 4 months, and 24 hours later broke out in a strange rash all over his body. The ped sent him immediately to a dermatologist, who said it was a drug rash. Two weeks later, it had mysteriously morphed into severe blistering eczema, and the ped said not to give him anything but breastmilk til the rash resolved. 6 months later, it had not resolved. It did recede to only affect the inside of his elbows.

My third, at 6 months, had the DTaP , which the ped insisted caused no problems. She went into a very deep sleep for over 24 hours.

At any rate, the research and analysis you are doing is far more extensive and thoughtful than anything the "experts" are doing! Keep it up! You need a professional-sounding name, though--GFFLRT? (GlutenFreeForumLymeResearchTeam?) I bet somebody can come up with something better!

[dlp252]

Just popping to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year.

2006 was the year where I solved many of my medical mysteries. Hope that 2007 does the same for you.

Thyroid was my big discovery this year, and just a reminder for folks about to get tested - make sure that Free T3, Free T4 and Antibodies are tested and get the paperwork. TSH is virtually useless as you can have a normal TSH and still be very Hypo.

Happy New Year to you too, and thanks for the reminder about thyroid...I am going to ask my doctor to test me again at my annual exam and to run ALL the tests this time.