Matthew Goss's Lyme Disease Information

Introduction

How I got it

Types of Ticks that Carry Disease

Definitions and Terminology

Symptoms and Tests

Drugs

Herxheimer Reactions

Vitamins, Nutritional Supplements, and Herbs

Bacteria and Yeast

Diet

Costs of Treatment

Is There a Cure?

Is it Sexually Transmitted?

Links

Printable Flyer

It depends upon how you define "cure."

Is it possible to kill every last Lyme bacteria (or Ehrlichia, or Babesia, etc)? The answer to that is probably, no. But that doesn't mean that you can't get well and stay well. There are many common viral, bacterial and protozoal diseases that people will carry for the rest of their lives once they are infected. And being a carrier of these diseases does not necessarily mean that you are contagious, have symptoms, or need further treatment.

Most people are exposed to the virus that causes chicken pox (it is actually a strain of Herpes virus) when they are very young, and they carry the virus for the rest of their lives. It is this same virus that causes shingles in adults. It is believed that the virus is carried throughout your life and shingles only develops if the immune system is weakened and the virus is allowed to get out of control.

Another common virus is HPV (human papiloma virus), the virus that causes warts. Over 80% of people carry one of the many (over 70) strains of this virus. Usually children will get warts on their hands because they are always touching things and are not real good about keeping their hands clean. Over time your body develops immunity to it and the warts disappear. But you still carry the virus, and warts may reappear from time to time, usually when you are stressed.

Malaria is a protozoal disease that is in your system forever once you are infected. Streptococcus (strep throat) is an example of a common bacteria that will stay in your system.

So while you can't say that you will every be completely rid of Lyme, you can be "cured" in the same sense that you can be cured of chicken pox, malaria and other diseases.