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Connective tissue disorders and Lyme Disease

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Posted 1/21/2010 5:57 PM (GMT -5)
I was wondering if it was common to have connective tissue disorders with lyme disease. I know the symptoms are similar. Anyone have connective tissue disorders as well? Thanks~  D
Posted 1/21/2010 6:58 PM (GMT -5)
YES!
Posted 1/21/2010 7:18 PM (GMT -5)
Yes, I was diagnosed with undifferentiated connective tissue disorder and then was told it was a secondary "lupus-like" syndrome. What it is secondary to, they couldn't tell me. But meds for Lupus did nothing to help, only made me feel worse. I've later learned that Lyme can elevate the ANA and some of the other connective tissue disorder antibodies.

Take care,
Posted 1/21/2010 10:01 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you both. Do either one of you (or your doctors) believe that the Lyme caused the connective tissue disorder or it is just a "coincidence" that  suffer from both?

Posted 1/21/2010 11:29 PM (GMT -5)
In my case, my Lyme doc thinks the Lyme is causing the symptoms and labs that appear as a connective tissue disorder to non-Lyme Literate MD's. For me, the Lyme has been around a lot longer than the connective tissue disorder.
Posted 1/22/2010 1:55 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Dowa,

My Lyme has probably been around longer than the CTD....but we don't know for certain. I don't remember a tick bite and I never had a rash. I haven't discussed which came first or what's causing what with the LLMD yet (I've only had one appt so far).

My rheumy thinks that the two are unrelated and it's a coincidence. He admits that Lyme can trigger fibromyalgia (which I have as well), but says it cannot trigger autoimmune diseases. I disagree....from what I've read Lyme can both mimic and trigger AI disease.

I know that I've had celiac disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, asthma and psoriasis from childhood/teen years. All of my other diagnoses are recent...in the past 18 months or so. I think Lyme may be to blame for the majority of the recent ones.

Best wishes,
JoAnn
Posted 1/22/2010 7:34 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you to both of you. I was asking because docs here use Prednisone for CTD and I know that it makes Lyme Disease worse. My western block is negative so it all gets very confusing about what to treat and how to treat it. I dont imagine that antibiotics are much help in CTD or am I wrong about that? Did you see any relief from the connective tissue disorder with treatment for the Lyme? Thanks for helping.. D


Posted 1/23/2010 9:31 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Dowa,

Unfortunately the treatments for the CTD (immunosuppressant drugs like prednisone) are not good when you're trying to treat Lyme disease, because you need the immune system to be strong enough to fight the Lyme. The antibiotics do not help the CTD at all, as you said. Normally you have to get off prednisone (or at least taper down to a very low dosage) for the Lyme treatment to work....at least, that's my understanding.

JoAnn
Posted 1/24/2010 1:49 PM (GMT -5)
When first testing positive for LD I was asked by a Rhuematologist if I had:

Ehlers Danlos - Yes (mild)

Strep Throat - Yes (twice)

Tonsils removed - Yes

Adnoids removed - Yes

Lypomas -Yes (2 removed)


He said I was the "perfect" host for Lyme disease - Hope this helps.
Posted 1/24/2010 3:09 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you ladies for your help!  D

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