Find a Medical Practitioner

One of the difficulties of Lyme Disease is that no two people have the same symptoms. And, on top of that, each person’s symptoms will often change. That is why the first resources listed on this page will help you find medical care. The internet is full of useful information, support & stories, but without someone to help you figure out which applies to you, it can be hugely overwhelming. Please find someone to help you.

The second challenge is that Lyme Disease is, for some reason, controversial. There is a disagreement among the medical community regarding diagnosis, treatment & even its existence at all. Be prepared that you might meet with some resistance, but, hopefully, these links will help you find help on the first try. If medical assistance is out of the question for some reason, please check the list of Support links.

Lyme Disease Symptoms

A comprehensive list of Lyme Symptoms is an impossible task. Lyme symptoms can mimic many other diseases & will often be changeable even for each individual. It is actually because of this, though, that a comprehensive list is necessary. Too many people are treating diseases that the Lyme is imitating instead of treating the Lyme itself. I have included links to general descriptions on common medical sites along with more detailed lists on Lyme-specific sites. Either way, if you suspect that Lyme is a possibility, please check the Medical Practitioner section & find someone to test you. The sooner you catch it, the easier it is to treat.

Lyme Treatment Protocols

The more you search around the internet, the more you will find that people often refer to the protocol that they are using instead of going into great detail about the specific supplements, herbs, etc. These are some that you will run into. Each of these has helped people heal Lyme Disease, but no one approach works for all people. So, I have listed all that I could think of in hopes that you find what you need.

Useful Lyme Sites

So many people have already gone through the process of creating websites rich with information. Instead of recreating the wheel, I have listed a collection here.

Support Groups

Support is support. And it is necessary. Even at a physiological level. A lack of support can increase the body’s fight-or-flight response which, in turn, lowers the immune system’s ability to regain health.

There are a combination of resources here in hopes that you can find something local & easily accessible. I also find that chronic illness can create other issues that may range from a need to learn to eat differently to problems with addictive & compulsive behaviors. This may be especially true for those struggling with the neurological effects of Lyme Disease.

I know sometimes it is scary to reach out. Maybe start slow with an online group & allow them to support you in meeting people in person or vice versa.

Every group I have listed here provides meetings & resources free-of-charge. Even if you’re not sure if they apply to you, they are a great place to meet people that might know something that could help.

Lyme Disease Organizations

Food is Medicine

One of the first thing you’ll find is that many Lyme patients have found improvement of symptoms simply by changing their diet. I know this was true for me.

If you’ve never even thought about how what you eat relates to how you feel, you may want to start by checking out a copy of the movie Super Size Me at your local library. And, while you’re there, pick up Food Matters, too.

You might be past that point & know you need to make changes, but don’t know where to start. If so, you might want to jump to the Recipes & Meal Plans section.

You might even be past that point & realizing that are many theories out there on what it means to eat “healthy”. Modern raw vegan & juice fasting vs. traditional bone broths & animal fats. Hmmmm? My guess is that there are so many theories because no one thing is right for everyone at any given time.

First, I think these overlap more than people might think. Traditional diets guru Weston Price was a fan of raw foods. He recommended that they be a substantial part of the diet. Modern raw foods guru David Wolfe states that a diet only needs to be 50% raw foods to prevent the immune system from reacting to cooked foods. Both camps tend to embrace fermented & cultured foods & drinks to improve digestion & immunity. If they’ve done their homework, they also tend to soak grains, nuts & beans in order to increase digestibility & nutrient density. The most important part is that, either way you go, you will likely be giving up refined flours & sugars & processed foods. So, just pick whichever path appeals to you most & go for it. Chances are that you will notice an initial improvement either way & then you can adjust from there as you begin to experiment with what works for you.

One note, though, on cleansing, fasting & alkalizing. All of these words are associated with cleansing toxins & other invaders out of the system & are typically associated with raw foods diets & juicing. It sounds like the perfect solution for Lyme Disease & it certainly has its benefits. It is important, though, to evaluate if it is the right time for you to take this on. Traditional healing systems recognize that there are diseases of excess & diseases of deficiency. If a person is in a severely debilitated, wasted or delicate state, these traditions would consider building the body first. This was especially true in my case where my adrenals were severely fatigued & my nervous system was extremely sensitive. Fats like ghee & nutrient-rich bone broths with protein rich meats were the building foods that I needed so that my body could become strong enough to tolerate any cleansing.

It is also important to note that people whose Lyme Disease is affecting their nervous system have a high need for fats & minerals. If you are choosing a raw foods approach, it is important that you pay special attention to these along with the B-vitamins & a broad spectrum of amino acids. Lyme can also affect blood sugar levels. This is also something to consider when choosing a route. A fruit & vegetable based diet with out sufficient protein may tend to cause further blood sugar issues.

The point to take away from this is that it might take some experimenting. There may be no “out of the package” approach that works for you. It will probably need to become a process of paying attention & getting to know yourself.

This is why most of the sites that you will find here lean towards traditional diets and not raw foods & juice fasting. This is what I needed. My brain & nervous system were craving the fats & minerals. Although, now that I am able to tolerate more raw & cleansing foods, Cafe Gratitude is my favorite place to eat. It certainly is enjoyable if that’s where you’re at in your process.

Recipes & Meal Plans

Track your Symptoms

Lyme-related Resources

Support through Supplements

Nutritional Supplements can be an important part of a Lyme Disease treatment program, but knowing which supplements are right for you can be a maze. Lyme Disease can manifest in such different ways depending on the patient, it would be difficult to create a list here. That is why I provided links to Medical Professionals, Lyme Treatment Protocols & other Lyme Bloggers.

What I do know, though, is people can be diagnosed with many different issues before the Lyme is finally detected. In my experience, working with each diagnosis can be beneficial in maintaining balance. I have included links to resources that I found helpful before the source of my issues was determined to be Lyme. I particularly like sites that provide symptoms quizzes so that you can get to know more about your personal situation. Knowledge is power. These products also helped me to maintain my sanity & functioning so that I was able to continue my search for a diagnosis.

Lyme Disease Prevention