Pathogenic Infections
When an individual experiences a brain injury, the blood-brain barrier that typically protects the brain from pathogens becomes ineffective, enabling any harmful organisms in the body to access the brain. One of the most prevalent pathogens that can cause harm is Lyme Disease, frequently accompanied by co-infection and EBV. Across the country, neurologists are actively screening their brain injury patients for Lyme, including those responsible for overseeing NFL players. We have observed that 20% of those who seek help with prolonged post-concussion syndrome end up testing positive for Lyme Disease, including our director, Audrey Lambidakis. Below, you will find comprehensive information about Lyme testing, how the disease is contracted, trusted resources on Lyme, and details about bee venom therapy.
Article: Head Trauma, Neurological Symptoms, and Lyme Disease
Lyme Testing
The best explanation for why Lyme testing is so complex can be understood by watching the award-winning documentary The Quiet Epidemic.
1. The Elisa and Wester Blood blot: These Lyme tests are inaccurate, producing 60% false negatives. Unfortunately, these are the tests insurance will cover upfront. You may have to pay out of pocket to acquire an accurate Lyme test.
2. Igenex: The most accurate and recognized Lyme test is from Igenex Labs. Depending on the panel, an Igenex test costs range from $800 to $3,500. If the patient is low income and tests positive with Igenex, they can submit their receipt and results to LymeTap for a grant refunding up to 70% of the Igenex cost.
Must be ordered by a doctor
Costs (subject to change): We recommend the Culture Enhanced PCR testing panels. Ideally, one would get the comprehensive tick-borne illness panel: CETBD, $1,853.00 (as of Sept 2023)
All panels by Igenex: Click here
Offer a clinical consultant for the ordering doctor. This way, the doctor does not need to be Lyme literate.
Grants: Low-income patients can apply to LymeTap for a refund of up to 70% if the results are positive. Low-income patients can also apply for a testing grant through Lyme Treatment Foundation before testing. These testing grants are worth USD 1,000.
Podcast on Igenex:
Lyme Time: E25: Igenex Lab Test Q&A w/ Dr. Shah
BetterHealthGuy: E68: Igenex w/ Dr. Jyotsna Shah
3. InfectoLab America & Vibrant Wellness: Other Lyme tests are proving to be as sensitive as the Igenex test but do not have the gold stamp of acceptance that the Igenex test does.
The patient can order it but must be taken to a special lab for a blood draw
Offer a free 15-minute consult to go over results with the patient
Costs (subject to change): $1050 (Lyme + co-infection complete panel suggested)
Must be ordered by a doctor
Costs (subject to change): $963 (Full 2.0 Panel suggested, Lyme and co-infections)
4. The Heal Hive: An alternative to getting a straightforward Lyme test is to do the Heal Hive’s blood work bootcamp. The HH is a bee venom immunotherapy program for Lyme disease. The first section of the Heal Hive program is Lab Testing. This gives you “a comprehensive understanding of what is happening in your body and a personalized protocol to guide you through” the next steps. This includes extensive testing through LabCorp and clarity around infections, viruses, autoimmune diseases, etc.
Unfortunately, the roadmap will not be a clinical diagnosis of Lyme as they use the Western Blood Blot and Elisa. However, they also run tests that are indicators of Lyme. If one tests positive using the indicator tests of Lyme, your roadmap will say “indicates Lyme.” The reason this program is recommended is because of the comprehensive testing. We at Healing Brainwaves have not encountered comprehensive testing like this before. If a patient does have Lyme, this program is strongly recommended as the HH will catch all autoimmune diseases and other developed health issues that come from having Lyme. The Lab Testing program and roadmap are $399. You can choose to use the HH-partnered doctor, which is an additional $200 and includes the lab requisition form and a 15-minute consultation.
DNA testing: A DNA test in development is supposed to be 100% accurate. There’s no information on when these tests will be available, but preliminary tests show their efficacy.
Podcasts going over Lyme testing:
Contracting Lyme
1. Tick Bites.
A bull’s eye rash is not always present when the disease is transmitted (only 40% of Lyme patients develop a rash). Nymphal, immature ticks are smaller than a poppyseed and are the most infectious. Nymphs can bite a human undetected because of their size. For more information on tick bites, please visit Global Lyme Alliance.
2. Mother to Child
Lyme has been found to transfer from mother to child. There is a misconception that the mother must have active Lyme to transfer it to her child. This has been disproven. DNA of the bacteria has been found in breast milk as well at the placenta. If a mother tests positive for Lyme Disease, it is strongly recommended that all children be tested, whether the children show symptoms or not.
For more information and studies on Congenital Lyme, please see Mothers Against Lyme and LymeLight Foundation
3. Sexually
Lyme has been found in genital fluid; thus, it is presumed sexually transmitted. Preliminary studies have found couples carrying the same Lyme strains. Some Lyme Literate doctors recommend treating Lyme as an STD. If a partner tests positive for Lyme, no matter whether the other partner shows signs of the disease, both partners should be tested. Sexual transmission is under query.
Article: Recent study suggests that Lyme disease can be sexually transmitted
4. Blood Transfusion
Unfortunately, blood is not tested for Lyme disease and co-infections; thus, it can be passed to the patient receiving it.
Resources for Understanding Lyme
Podcasts
Podcast episodes for understanding Lyme basics:
Doing it different: 099: The Great Challenge of Lyme Disease w/ Dr. Jaban Moore, D.C.
Organizations
Movies
Bee Venom Therapy for Lyme
Bee Venom Therapy is the emerging Lyme treatment that holds promise in eradicating the Lyme spirochete from the body. Many treatments will put Lyme into dormancy; however, the patient risks the Lyme flaring later in life, developing autoimmune diseases, and developing degenerative neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s, MS, & Dementia. At Healing Brainwaves, we recommend patients seek treatment to eradicate their Lyme rather than put it into dormancy.
Podcasts:
Books:
TV:
Programs:
The Heal Hive: This is the only Bee Venom Therapy program for Lyme disease. The HH operates virtually and is open to all US-based patients. On the HH’s Website, you will find a list of studies backing BVT’s efficacy in eradicating Lyme Disease.
A note from director Audrey Lambidakis:
“The weeks following my diagnosis of Lyme, I plunged into researching all treatment options. I interviewed 30+ Lyme patients, all claiming to have healed from Lyme using antibiotics, IVs, HBOT, herbal remedies, ozone, hyperthermia, etc. I interviewed 5 of the top Lyme Literate doctors in the Bay Area and was walked through the process of going to the renowned Lyme clinic Envita.
The only Lyme patients I talked to who seemed to be healed were those who did Bee Venom Immunotherapy, specifically, those who did it through The Heal Hive. Additionally, the only treatment I found to have studies backing its efficacy to eradicate Lyme was BVT. Many treatments showed promise of positively affecting the patients’ lives but not eliminating it from the body.
I spent my entire 20s believing I was permanently brain-damaged from a hit to the head I sustained at age 18 when I had Lyme. I knew the cost of lost time, and I did not want to go through treatment that did not eradicate Lyme from my body because this left the potential for the dormant bacteria to become active later in life. Additionally, I was limited on funds, and BVT was the most affordable option. I decided to forgo all other treatment options and go for it with BVT. I started at the Heal Hive in July 2021 and spent six months preparing my body for stinging. The preparation alone had me feeling better than I had in over a decade. In February of 2022, I started stinging and have seen considerable changes in my health each month the treatment continues (Stinging lasts 2-4 years). The program, bloodwork, and education I received from the HH were unlike anything I had ever experienced after ten years of being a patient. In good conscience, the only treatment I will ever suggest for Lyme Disease is Bee Venom Immunotherapy with the Heal Hive.”
For details on Audrey’s journey through BVT, visit her social: @audrey_lambidakis