contracting lyme s disease

[exedus2]

Can Lyme s disease lie dormant in body over years ie 5 yrs ..cause rat s urine ?

[JackieCalifornia]

It sounds as though you have taken 'alternative' (non-antibiotic) treatment.  

If you are willing to try other treatment approaches and your medical insurance will not reimburse for the usual antibiotics Lyme docs often use (as mine did), there are organizations who might be able to assist financially, including;

                  -- LymeDiseaseAssociation.org --

If I had Lyme again (knock wood not!), I personally would go the antibiotic route again -- it worked very well for me and another family member.

[Lefty219]

Yes! Apparently, mine was dormant for 12+ years. My onset symptom was optic neuritis, not normally associated with Lyme Disease. I only became symptomatic after having bronchitis. At that point, my immune system could not handle both infections. My Lyme presented as Chronic Fatigue, one of many possible symptoms. Standard AMA treatment was insanely costly, with no guarantee of success nor timeframe for results, and only made me more ill. Fortunately, I was referred to a cardio-vascular physician, who uses alternative therapy (Vitamin C infusions). I might be cured (as others have been, despite being chronic), if I could afford regular treatment. Unfortunately, this treatment is generally not covered by health insurance, and so I am not able to afford regular treatment. I highly recommend that you look for a doctor in your area, who offes this type of treatment. The website to do so is: www.ACAM.ORG. Be sure to use dot ORG. Best of luck! Kathy

[grdner]

It is also possible for the immune system to be keeping the infection in check, and the person not show symptoms, until something happens.  That something might be another illness, an injury, or even unusual stress, and then the bacteria gets out of control and wham... full-blown Lyme disease.

The bacteria likes to burrow deep into tissues and create biofilms to hide behind, so the usual vector of transmission is tick bites, not body fluids.

Dr. Buhner's book Healing Lyme goes into great depth about the complex chemistry involved between the spirochete and its hosts (including the tick).

[mojogal]

Yes the lyme and coinfections can lay dormant in the body. I had mine over 20 years. For a long while I was sick but able to work, now it's not dormant and I am unable to work.

Jackie is correct, you need to get tested and start treating if positive.

[JackieCalifornia]

I don't know the answer to your specific question, but if you have any concerns, then price of a test and a doc visit is money well spent.  

Let us know what you find out --