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Posted 12/7/2009 9:52 PM (GMT -5)
Just wondering if anyone else has Lyme and Crohn's Disease or any other IBD?  There are days that I don't know if the pain is the Lyme or the Crohn's or maybe even both. I know some of the symptoms are symtoms of both diseases.

For any of you who do have an IBD and a non-typical Lyme test ever have doctors tell you it's just your Crohn's and there is nothing wrong with you? I have experienced this a lot lately and I just want to SCREAM (well maybe I did at the last two doctors!) My WB test only showed bands 41 & 23 so other than the LLMD, no one believes I have Lyme and tell me "Just get used to having Crohn's". I've had Crohn's since 2001 and was just diagnosed with Lyme this past June.

Just wondering if anyone else out there has both and how you tell the difference between some of the symptoms and if there is anything you take for the pain that works? Taking Prednisone is a catch 22 for me, works great for the Crohn's but is the worst for Lyme.

Posted 12/7/2009 10:07 PM (GMT -5)
I have Ulcerative Colitis and was just diagnosed five days ago with Lyme.
I'm in a state of confusion right now but I started the antibiotics for Lyme disease today.
We'll see what happens.
Posted 12/7/2009 10:12 PM (GMT -5)
Hobo, I am still in a state of confusion!! I was dx in June but had symptosm for over a year before that. Everyone just brushed it off as the Crohn's and never thought to test me for Lyme.

I am just noticing a lot of the symptoms are the same and I cannot figure out which are from what It is also difficult taking medicine for the Lyme because my stomach is so weak from the Crohn's and I can't handle any of it but the medicine for the Crohn's is bad for the Lyme, Can't win! What are you taking for the UC and Lyme?
Posted 12/7/2009 11:13 PM (GMT -5)
HI All,
I have IBS/C & a decent case of diverticulosis. What I have done is treat the bowel issue understanding it is being somewhat 'driven', if you will, by the Lyme & other TBI's.

I don't know much at all about Crohn's, except that it can be pretty serious, so protect your bowels!! I say!!!
Hey!! A new battle cry!! - okay, sorry it's late for me tonight!!!

Anyway, really - protect your bowels, just understand that a lot of stress is put on our bodies by Tick-borne illnesses!
Posted 12/8/2009 6:52 AM (GMT -5)
NJgirl04,

I'm on Humira for my Ulcerative Colitis. I got off of Prednisone around August and right after that I got a bad pain in my left foot. Sometimes it's so bad that I can barely walk but it's only there after sitting or lying down for a while. It goes away after I walk around.
I also feel as though I've been in a brain fog for a while and my short term memory is terrible. Then I started getting achey joints.

Apparently this is common after you get off of Prednisone but I went to the Doc to have it checked out.
He tested me for Lyme and it came back positive.
I'm wary of taking antibiotics because of my UC but I started yesterday on Oxymyacin & azithromycin (not sure of the spelling).
I checked with my GI and he said that these shouldn't affect my UC but he did say that my achey joints symptom could be caused by Chron's.

That's when I really got confused. I posted my test results here and people confirmed that they are positive.

I'm starting to do research (online) about Lyme and my initial reaction is that it may be more widespread than people think.

Still very confused (maybe that's a symptom of lyme disease).
Posted 12/8/2009 10:17 AM (GMT -5)
I have both. Actually they dont know if i have UC or chrons as ive tested positive for both at different points :). Lyme can cause colitis for sure...it can trigger many different autoimmune disorders in your body. Theres a pretty good chance that once the lyme is under control, so will the chrons/colitis, or at least it will improve. And my ****** general pract told me it was 'just the chrons' as well and referred me for more treatment somewhere else. I had severe joint pain. Since chrons is an autoimmune response to something, whatever is flaring up the chrons may also be flaring the joint pain. Chrons/Colitis IMO is just a symptom of something underlying which is causing all the ailments. It never 'Just happens'. Theres a reason. 23 is specific for lyme. You have lyme. Also make sure you get checked for co-infections and heavy metals specifically for mercury. Very prominent amongst lyme people. Heavy metals can cause chrons/colitis as well.

Vin

P.S.  I am slowly improving since being treated for co-infections, being off some of the narcotics, and being treated for heavy metals.  I am starting to have some good days and the chrons/colitis has not been an issue at all.  I am stable at 50 mg of 6mp thank god.

Posted 12/8/2009 2:14 PM (GMT -5)
Hi I wanted to chime in here too, since almost five years ago I was dx with UC as well. I didn't believe it, I believe something was causing my symptoms. I've been to 14 doctors in less than five years and spent over $30,000. Today my LLMD said yes, I tested for the bacteria carried by ticks and is treating me with antibiotics, something that start with D and ends in max I believe. I also have a candida problem as well. I feel better when I take phsyllium hulls not metamucil and I'm taking Threelac for my yeast problem and that's help wonders with my energy level. My new doc has prescribed me Vit  b12 shots to do at home, nystantin for my yeast and the anitbiotic for my Lyme's. I will be totally in awh if this antibiotics works for me. I stuggle with bloody diarreah and constant urgency and accidents in my pants b/c the mucus is such a problem. I would say I have UC and mucus colitis as well. Any doctor I went to, when I mentioned UC, well they just said I have UC and take this medication for the inflammation. I wasn't buying it. I'm happy to have some answers today, although I know it may be a long road ahead. Thanks for listening.
Posted 12/8/2009 5:32 PM (GMT -5)
I was diagnosed with Crohn's in 1988, even though the symptoms I had then have never re-occurred since the initial treatment with Flagyll and Prednisone. Also, all immunomodulating/immune-suppressing medications used to treat Crohn's have made my symptoms worse instead of better (except Prednisone, which is contra-indicated for Lyme but does work very well on my allergies and gut dysmotility problems). I also have Gastroparesis, Pelvic Dyssynergia, and Dysphagia, with suspected dysmotility in my small bowel as well. It is known Lyme can cause these dysmotility problems. I've had Lyme symptoms since long before 1988, so my personal opinion is that my particular case of "Crohn's" is actually Lyme and also possibly Bartonella affecting my gut. I also have a lot of food allergies/sensitivities/intolerances also thought to be caused by gastrointestinal Lyme. Some believe there is a link between Lyme, Vitamin B12 deficiency, and Gluten Sensitivity, too (all of which I've been diagnosed with). Biopsies done at a major and well-respected medical institution could not find any evidence I've ever had Crohn's Disease, even though local GI docs insist all my symptoms are either due to Crohn's, "secondary Lupus" (whatever that means...secondary to what? They have no clue.), or are all in my head.

Here are several links that you may find interesting:

"'Bell's Palsy of the Gut' and Other GI Manifestations of Lyme and Associated Diseases"
http://thehumansideoflyme.net/viewarticle.php?aid=62

"What does Lyme Disease has to do with Digestion?"
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/blogs/nothing/what-does-lyme-diseas-4297

"Crohn's, Colitis, and Lyme Disease"
http://www.canlyme.com/crohn's.html

A book I read, called "The Homeopathic Treatment of Lyme Disease" (by Peter Alex, Edited by Doug Smith), also says that Lyme Disease can mimic Crohn's Disease.

Take care,
Posted 12/21/2009 6:25 PM (GMT -5)

I find this very interesting. I have Crohns and none of the treatments even biologics work for me. Antibiotics with prednisone seem to put me in remission for a short time maybe 3 or 4 months. Then I get sick again. about 20 years ago  I had a large very round  salad plate sized bulls eye rash on my back. At the time I was young and just never went to the Dr. as I didn't know much about lyme at the time. It was very unusual rash thats why I remember it. I have struggled with many symptoms through the years extreme fatigue, memory fog, arthritis, digestive problems. I was diagnosed with Crohns about 10 years ago. How I would I find a lyme literate doctor in my area? In N.Dakota/Minnesota and how accurate is the test? I also have a 17 year old son with fatigue and chronic migraines 3-4 a week, We have tried just about every med there is to help him and nothing has worked.  Also can lyme manifest differently for different people? What about passing on through pregnancy. I realize this is a lot of questions so if you could point me to a good resource that would help.

Posted 12/21/2009 6:43 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Yori,

There is a lot of good info in the thread at the top of the forum for people who are new to Lyme - title is "New to Lyme?....Start Here!"

Also, there is a possibility to pass Lyme from Mother to Baby during birth or through nursing.

The test is not accurate...but worth doing anyway. IGeneX lab in Palo Alto, CA (see http://www.igenex.com/ - I have no financial connection to this company/website), is one of the most accurate but because of the way the Lyme bacteria are able to evade detection by the immune system and because the tests typically rely on detecting antibodies to the bacteria, it is difficult to make a test that catches 100% of cases.

Yes, Lyme can manifest differently in different people. It can mimic over 300 diseases (including Crohn's) and is known as the Great Immitator because of this.

To find a Lyme-Literate MD in your area, it would be good to make a new thread on this forum asking for help finding a doctor in ND/MN. You can also email the Turn The Corner Foundation for help finding a doctor....their email is info@turnthecorner.org and their website (a good resource) is http://www.turnthecorner.org/

Other good resources include:

International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society - http://www.ilads.org/
Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation - http://www.canlyme.org/
Lots of links for newbies to Lyme - http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/009342.html

See also my other post on this thread (right before your post) - there are links there that discuss the GI issues Lyme/coinfections can cause.

Good luck,
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