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Wrinkled skin and CD 57

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Posted 4/2/2013 10:42 AM (GMT -5)
I have been told my tests show a good possibility for lymes disease. I have been experiencing strange symptoms fort about 18 months. One of the main symptoms is loss of what I can only descirbe as subcutaneous fat around my joints and under my skin.

I've read over and over wrinkles from lymesonly happnes in Europe, and I live in the United States (Georgia). Does anyone with true knowledge of this type situation know if the skin and fat problems could be related to lymes, even in Georgia? I still have muscle, but all tissue around it is disappearing. I've tested negative for other infections, HIV, syphillis, and other infections. And my lifestyle would not make sense with those.

Finally, while I've had a WEestern blot done by IGenex, which showed possible lymes, is a CD57 test different from that and what does it show?

Thanks for your help ahead of time.

Posted 4/3/2013 10:10 AM (GMT -5)
Chrisnj,

Thanks for your response. The doctor I saw is a rheumotologist who was at Harvard when they did all the lymes studies. The doctor is very aware of lymes and understands the politics of it when going to doctors. After the IGenex tests came back, was put on doxycycline 200 mg a day. Will finish it next week, which will make a month on it.

Have not done the coninfetion test bedcause of money. This has drained me both physically and financially over the last 18 months. Guess that is the next step. Still wonder if it could be anything else. Have had other tests for infections, all negative.
Posted 4/4/2013 10:26 AM (GMT -5)
Lostman,

I have the exact same symptom as you describe.  I could not figure out why my face lost its "roundness" and is now more angular.  Every joint - from my knuckles to my shoulders to my hips - has seemed to lost its fat or collagen.  Like you, I still have the muscle, but I am wrinkled all over.  I notice it especially in my hands - they look so boney and thin!

I have had Lyme and Babesia for at least 8 years now (probably longer though)

Sinthia

Posted 4/4/2013 10:39 AM (GMT -5)
The European strains of Lyme have been in the US for quite a while now, and I too have experienced the loss of the layer of fat under the skin. There are some really good pictures of this on Dr. Charles Ray Jones' site- www.drjoneskids.com/

This is known as the Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans rash, or ACA rash. It is very much a symptom of chronic Lyme disease.
Posted 4/4/2013 11:03 AM (GMT -5)
this is interesting Traveler...

I have had erythema nodosum since I was 15 (apparently sign of Bartonella), now I read that the nodular form of ACA can sometimes be mistaken for erythema nodosum...
I'll ask my dr next week... (he'll be feeling nauseous seeing the list of questions I made up - I sure hope he'll be talkative)
thanks for the info
Posted 4/4/2013 11:05 AM (GMT -5)
LOL! Marie! Bring some extra ginger for him!! Giggle!! turn And have him drink an extra cup of coffee to get him thinking good!
Posted 4/10/2013 11:00 AM (GMT -5)
Lostman, I have also experienced the loss of fat and wrinkled skin. Over the past two years my skin has aged 10+ years. I first noticed it in my hands and arms (there was minimal fat there already) but more recently in my neck, face and body. My skin on my arms and legs has thinned and is now papery. I tested positive for LD in April 2012.
Posted 7/1/2013 12:39 PM (GMT -5)
Anyone have any updates on ACA or what you are doing for it. I have been on Doxycycline 400 mg a day for 10 days now, but the "circle" that from before atrophying skin are getting worse. Also use transfer factor, enzymes and other natural meds suggested by my LLMD. He is lost on skin manisfeestations

Getting really depressed about it all and not sure what to think. The problem is, there really is nowhere to go for help because of doctors' attitudes.

Lats year the Mayo dermatologist said my skin was just aging. You gotta be kidding me. It is a process that I can plainly see happening. A dermatologist in my town has done a biopsy and waiting for results.

I've always been very anxious since aI started taking Doxy. Any thoughts on whether I should go to IV? Is it easier to tolerate? Cyst busters other than enzymes?

Thanks and please let me know how you are doing (all of you that replied).
Posted 7/1/2013 1:21 PM (GMT -5)
Mycoplasma eats fat and collagen. Stephen buhner just released a new book about mycoplasma where he talks about this in detail.
Posted 7/1/2013 1:22 PM (GMT -5)
I hadn't heard of the CD57 test. I'll have to mention it to my doc next time I'm in. Thanks for posting that article. I couldn't get on the website, though.

I figured anything to do with my skin is just age related, but maybe not. I have some loss of pigmentation, which I've read can be from a lack of antioxidants. I have a lot of moles and other skin growths.

I've lost muscle. I thought the doc's scale was off when they said I weighed 117. That was about my weight in my late teens. That's when I found out I had put on more fat and lost muscle, so now that I'm taking enzymes, I hope to reverse that since I should be digesting protein better. My pants had gotten tighter too, so I was baffled for a while. With the size change, I should've weighed about 125 at the most.

Have any of you lost muscle?

I may try a whole body vibrator to build up muscle and bone mass since it will do it with less effort than any other exercise to do the same. My energy is on the low side.
Posted 7/2/2013 6:05 AM (GMT -5)
I have the loss of muscle and collagen and my ob/gyn said I was going through menanupose  I was 42 yrs old! Even worse, it was a woman doctor she said it went along with my other symptoms, sweating, hot flashes and cognitive problems. Some days you just have to shake your head.

Regarding oral doxy, I couldn't tolerate 200 mg and the doctor I was seeing kept cutting it back to 100mg but even that was not so great. Eventually found a new doctor and  I get 200mg I.V. and have little or no problems.

Anna

Posted 7/2/2013 9:44 AM (GMT -5)
10 days of abx of any kind isn't enough to hardly touch any of the symptoms of Lyme or any other tick-borne infection. ACA is from chronic Lyme, meaning it won't go away with just a month or two of abx.

There are all kinds of studies about Em and ACA both - some going way back, some very recent - quoted and listed on this link- scroll down to the 'response' to the first post:

/groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/sci.med.diseases.lyme/2nBlqnEnxiQ
Posted 7/3/2013 11:19 AM (GMT -5)
Lostman -- it looks as if you already had your initial testing. There's an organization that helps with initial Lyme testing at Igenix. Perhaps you could email them-- they respond immediately-- I believe their website is: www.lymetap.com - send them an email with your situation and perhaps they could help with testing co-infections. Although I have Bartonella (clinically diagnosed) it unfortunately didn't show up on the co-infection panel but I'm being treated for it. Best of wishes to you --

Also you asked about cyst busting antibiotics-- I'm pulsing (one for 2 weeks and off for 2 weeks) tinidazole (tindimax, generic).

Serrapeptase-- an enzyme made from silk worms-- melted a cyst I had on my big toe in one application-- it's inexpensive and worth buying -- the one I have is in a form that has other enzymes in it. Recommended dosage is 80,000 ( whatever the unit is) 2x per day on an EMPTY stomach.
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Lyme Testing- Patient Assistance Program

The Lyme Test Access Program (Lyme-TAP) is a nationwide patient assistance program offered by Ferndale Foundation in coordination with the Lyme Patients Assistance Group to provide assistance for initial Lyme-related lab tests to patients who demonstrate true financial need. Please click here for more information.
Posted 7/9/2013 10:02 AM (GMT -5)
Thanks to all who took the time to provide information. The link you sent, Yogi, had a lot of good information. My LLMD did not know what ACA is when I mentioned it, which surprised me. I'm beginning to wonder if the progression of it can really be halted. I've read over and over it can, but I read so much conflicting, not sure what to believe. Just know it freaks me out to see skin getting worse each day and more "circles" growing on skin.

Had to take a break from 400 mg of Doxycycline and back down to 200 mg for a day or two. It seems to be causing emotional problems. Anyone else have that type of problem on Doxy?

I am the type who does not give up, but this is really a challenge. Just seems there is no one or where to go for real help. This forum has kept my sanity. My LLMD is suggesting iv antibiotics and now wants to treat for babesia, but I have not had Igenex test for it, and ACA is more bartonella, if I am reading it right. Thoughts?
Posted 7/9/2013 4:17 PM (GMT -5)
The ACA rash in indicative of late stage Lyme disease, not Bartonella.
www.dermis.net/dermisroot/en/35111/diagnose.htm
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