I Get 20 Tick Bites Every Week (Lyme Disease)

Dr. Eric Berg 12/07/2024

I’ve pulled about 20 ticks off myself in a single week. I’ll be in the shower, scratching my head, and find one.

I’ve even mistaken a tick for a mole. This experience has made Lyme disease prevention a personal mission.

I understand the concern about conventional Lyme disease treatments. Antibiotics can disrupt gut health, impacting beneficial bacteria.

This is partly why Lyme disease prevention is so important. Antibiotic resistance is another factor, with potentially serious consequences like chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia.

While exploring alternatives is valid, always seek professional medical advice and consult your healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Understanding Lyme Disease

Ticks, tiny eight-legged creatures, are everywhere. Over 900 tick species exist, though not all transmit Lyme disease.

Lyme disease itself stems from Borrelia burgdorferi, a corkscrew-shaped bacterium (spirochete). It can burrow into areas other bacteria can't, evading the immune system.

These spirochetes aren't limited to Lyme disease; syphilis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever come from similar bacteria.

Not all spirochetes cause illness, a vital distinction for effective Lyme disease prevention.

The Tick Bite: What Happens

A tick bite often goes unnoticed due to a numbing agent in its saliva. This is why daily body checks, including your scalp, are crucial for lyme disease prevention.

The bacteria typically takes 36-48 hours to transmit. This timeframe provides a chance to remove the tick before serious issues arise.

A small, red bump at the bite area is a common reaction. A bullseye rash signals a stronger immune response.

While not definitive for Lyme disease, a growing rash accompanied by fever, flu-like symptoms, or joint aches warrants investigation and possible medical attention.

I’ve experienced that rash twice. I believe adequate vitamin D aided my recovery. Vitamin D is critical for Lyme disease prevention, which I’ll discuss shortly.

Beyond the Rash: Lyme Disease Symptoms

Lyme disease can impact the cardiovascular system. Early Lyme disease symptoms can include atrioventricular block (AV block).

AV block can cause lightheadedness, shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, or heart palpitations.

Some Lyme patients can also develop nerve pain, numbness, or weakness, including tingling or burning sensations in the limbs.

Neurological Lyme disease symptoms like forgetfulness, speech problems, sleep disturbances, memory impairment, and difficulty concentrating may also develop.

Additional symptoms can include skin rashes (erythema migrans or secondary rashes), headaches, or fever (without other signs of infection).

The Role of Vitamin D in Lyme Disease Prevention

I prioritize vitamin D intake. This nutrient might be why I’ve avoided full-blown Lyme disease despite tick bites. Lyme’s spirochete affects vitamin D receptors, and vitamin D is essential for immune function.

Vitamin D enhances monocytes, cells that destroy pathogens. It boosts antimicrobial peptides against spirochetes. If Lyme bacteria weaken vitamin D receptors, your immune system struggles.

Vitamin D’s Double Life: Two Systems, Two Needs

Many overlook that vitamin D functions in two separate systems. The common role manages calcium for bone health, relying on vitamin D in the blood.

The second role supports nerve function, immunity, and muscle health. It relies on vitamin D that is often not circulating in the bloodstream.

Therefore consistent intake of Vitamin D3 can be greatly reduced without the sufficient Vitamin D required to stay healthy and prevent infections like those caused by the deer tick.

Your body’s non-skeletal functions rely on vitamin D obtained from food and sunshine. It does not depend on just vitamin D found in the blood.

Optimal Vitamin D Levels

Standard 600 IU recommendations address bone health, not immune function. This immune system may require up to 10,000 IUs daily, depending on sun exposure, diet, and genetics.

If I suspected a tick bite, I’d increase my intake to bolster immune function. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your diet or adding supplements.

Vitamin D levels should be monitored through blood tests at a physician’s office. They can monitor your health and make appropriate recommendations.

Supporting the Immune System: It Starts With Oral Health

Spirochetes have been found in tissues under teeth. Tooth infections, abscesses, or improper treatment (especially after root canals) are serious concerns.

Lyme bacteria in these areas could impact overall health and immunity to diseases like Lyme disease. Regular dental checkups with a biological holistic dentist are essential.

My Approach to Lyme Disease Prevention: A Holistic Strategy

Besides vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin K2, and zinc support immune function and Lyme disease prevention. Supplements like Japanese knotweed, along with garlic and antioxidants, may also help.

Always consult your doctor and get thorough lab results to address infections. A consistent focus on vitamin D, tick checks, and proactive immune support should greatly reduce your risk of developing Lyme disease.

Remember to wear light-colored clothing, long-sleeved shirts, and tuck pant legs into your socks for additional lyme disease prevention while doing any outdoor activities.

Conclusion

Lyme disease is a serious illness, but preventative measures, prompt treatment, and immune support can reduce your risk. This information offers insights and potential strategies.

Always consult your doctor before starting new supplements or treatment protocols.

More About Ticks, Lyme & Prevention: FAQs

Can Lyme Disease Be Prevented?

Yes, Lyme disease can be prevented. Use insect repellent, pre-treat clothing with permethrin, perform daily tick checks on yourself, children, and pets. Shower after being outdoors in grassy or wooded areas. Walk on cleared trails instead of venturing into thick brush where ticks are more prevalent.

Keep grass trimmed around homes and buildings. Maintain tick-free children’s play areas by removing leaf litter and tall grass.

Can You Prevent Lyme Disease After a Tick Bite?

Yes, removing a tick within 24-48 hours significantly reduces Lyme disease transmission. However, stay vigilant for early symptoms and contact a healthcare professional for diagnostic tests if needed.

What Triggers Lyme Disease Flare-Ups?

Flare-ups, or recurring Lyme disease symptoms after antibiotic treatment, aren’t fully understood. Triggers may include emotional or physical stress, inflammation from diet or physical activity. Other contributing factors may include alcohol consumption, heat exposure and not enough sleep. More testing and clinical trials are necessary to understand triggers.

Can Your Body Beat Lyme Disease on Its Own?

While some Lyme specialists believe Lyme disease might resolve spontaneously, this is still under research. Current guidelines recommend treatment rather than relying solely on the body’s defenses.

Anyone with symptoms should get a thorough evaluation, blood tests, and guidance from a physician or specialist familiar with Lyme disease.

Lyme disease co-infections transmitted through tick bites, should also be discussed and may need proper and accurate diagnosis along with recommended medical treatments for tick-borne diseases.

Obtaining information on infectious diseases spread from infected ticks and learning what ticks carry Lyme are very important.