Anesthesia and Lyme

This is from a Lyme group in my area. My apologies if it's a repeat.

"1. Many individuals with Lyme health deteriorate after medical or dental procedures and even testing. It has been widely believed that the cause was trauma on the body from surgery. While this probably plays a role, the anesthesia also plays a role that may be greater. Miki told of his experience with a colonoscopy that caused his Lyme to relapse and found it was not unique to himself. Also, many have had problems after dental work.

2. My Lyme doctor confirmed this. He stated that it is not surgery that is the big problem with Lyme sufferers, it is the anesthesia. I believe he then stated (Lyme brain here) that general anesthesia tends to be worse than local, and that getting a glutathione IV shortly after the anesthesia is helpful in clearing it from your body.

3. Miki's dentist believes that the epinephrine that is used with the anesthesia is what causes the problem. In procedures where the epinephrine was greatly reduced or eliminated Miki did not have problems.

4. Jennifer, Diane and other wise ones at the support meeting mentioned that epinephrine is used to prolong the active time of the anesthesia. The epinephrine (commonly called adrenalin) causes the blood vessels to constrict. This reduces blood flow to the area so the anesthesia is not dispersed in your blood stream as quickly. This also has the advantage to reduce bleeding during procedures.

5. Dentist are familiar with using anesthesia without epinephrine and can indicate this in your chart notes so it will not be used. Epinephrine free anesthesia is commonly used with those with high blood pressure as epinephrine causes your blood pressure to elevate.

6. On Monday an individual from the group had dental work done and had no problem getting epinephrine free anesthesia. He mentioned that it was nice not having your face be numb for so long after the procedure.

7. Diane has her dentist use Prilocaine without epinephrine. It is stronger but shorter lived and sometimes requires a repeated injection during the dental work.

8. Jeff had read research indicating that epinephrine and norepinephrine are biochemical signals used by Borrelia burgdorferi to up-regulate OspA. Further, there is research that OspA can cause your body to react to neural tissue in your brain and spinal cord."

Interesting information, my Lyme symptoms exploded after surgery on my foot (general). I actually thought I was having a reaction to the metal screw and later had the surgeon remove it. Needless to say, my symptoms didn't improve with the screw removed. I had a gastroscope months later and didn't notice any change in symptoms (local).

I had a endoscopy last year (trying to find out what was wrong with me) and then I had sinus surgery just a few months ago. Don't know what they put me out with but felt OK afterwards. Endoscopy I felt a little worse. Bled from that sinus surgery for a month+. Finally thought I was getting better, then the crap started hitting again.

Thank you GP for posting this, too tired to comment now but I believe I had had many issues with dental and surgery (colonoscopy).

Also I think there are issues associated with genetics and these procedures.

I think impaired ability to methylate is probably a big piece and that would cover the genetics piece in a sense due to impaired methylation, or "snaps in the gene sequence. Being able to clear the anesthesia is key, vit c helps with clearing novicaine for locals. Propofol is the least offensive anesthesia I've had thus far it has an extremely short half life.