Lyme disease

Lyme Disease 💚

As it is Lyme Awareness Month, we wanted to share this story with you. As many of you know, Jan Jacob has been struggling with his health for a long time. Being bitten often due to his outdoor work, decades of unexplained symptoms and bouts of extreme tiredness and neurological symptoms, which left him bedbound for long periods.

He was initially diagnosed with post-viral fatigue, ME, and even depression as any tests to diagnose Lyme where failing to proof the infection. Little did we know at the time that the blood test for Lyme were and still are very unreliable 🦠

However, he always suspected there was an underlying cause and he kept up with the latest research and finally could pinpoint the pathogens via advanced blood tests abroad.

In 2022, he received a positive test for Lyme disease in Germany—specifically Borrelia and Bartonella, which explained his terrible cluster headaches. He went abroad to undergo experimental treatment, which has been incredibly tough, but it seems to be working. We’re very thankful that he is now able to work most days for a few hours. His body is still recovering from all the antibiotics and the damage caused by the infection.

With the right food and plenty sleep he has been bouncing back. There is however no tests to proof the infection is completely treated. Ongoing monitoring is required. Often Lyme is associated with Borrelia but the co-infections that go with it can be far more devastating. Especially Bartonella.

We live in an area with a lot of ticks and are always very vigilant about checking after being outdoors. Please be aware and get yourself checked if a bite looks strange in any way and later you develop unexplainable symptoms. Lyme disease can be treated effectively when caught quickly, but when it becomes chronic, it is a terrible, life-changing disease. 💚