Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is Lyme disease?
- The most important pathogens of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia garinii und Borrelia afzelii (3 bacteria strains / spirochaetes), are closely related to the syphilis pathogen Treponema pallidum.
- After the infection the body is affected in nearly all organs, including the inner skin of the joints.
- The disease is like a chameleon and poses high demands for diagnosis and therapy.
Here you will find further information (
Link).
2. Is chronic Lyme disease curable?
Lyme disease is curable, even for the predominant number of chronic cases and long-term illness patients (> 70%). The BCA article Lyme disease, the tick-borne disease is curable in most cases - We can help chronic ill Lyme disease patients suffering from Lyme disease thanks to a holistic approach to therapy – gives an overview (
Download). You can find further information about Lyme disease stages and symptoms here (Link).3. Do I really have to take antibiotics and why are “accompanying therapies” so important?
Main issue of every therapy is a sufficiently high dose of antibiotics for several weeks under the supervision of the attending physician. The Borrelia bacteria are fought in the body and the body´s defences of the immune system will thereby be supported.
According to our experience the successful treatment of chronically ill Lyme disease patients demands additional “accompanying therapies” and a “change of life style” of the patient. You will find further information
here. Please note: depending on the patient’s wish and in case of specific indications (e.g. intolerance of antibiotics, etc.), an alternative therapy plan can be offered instead of the usual antibiotic treatment and applied in the BCB (e.g. based on photon-therapy in combination with natural remedies and other accompanying therapies). If there are still symtoms after this antibiotic treatment, it is said that this is due to other chronic inflammations but not from Borrelia.
4. Why could my GP be suspicious about the long-term antibiotic treatment?
In the German medical literature chronic Lyme disease is still negated and is said to be the incurable "Post-Lyme Syndrome". The scientific community that agrees with this statement believes that Borrelia are completely destroyed after 2-3 weeks of antibiotics.
This opinion is not shared by the BCB, BCA, or the German Borreliosis Society. The rely on extensive research by the ILADS (
www.ilads.org) and their own experience and knowledge. According to their view Borrelia bacteria are "intelligent", locomotive spirochaetes, that know how to escape the body's immune defense and also some antibiotics. You might have heard that Borrelia are "persistent", which means that they can "camouflage" and "hide" themselves.
The participating physicians of the German Borreliosis Society and the BCB recommend a long-term antibiotic treatment over several months, possibly with altering antibtiotics. These physicians are experienced with the broad range of antibiotics and recommend accompanying therapies to compensate possible side effects of the antibiotics from the beginning onwards.
Both Lyme disease centres, in the North (BCB) and the South (BCA) base their diagnosis and therapy concepts on scientific research including the following articles in .pdf format:
- Counterpoint: Long-Term Antibiotic Therapy Improves Persistent Symptoms Associated with Lyme Disease (IDSA Lecture 2006), Raphael B. Stricker M.D., ILADS – option for download http://www.ilads.org/files/publications_stricker_06_2007.pdf
- Advanced Topics in Lyme Disease – Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines for Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses, Joseph J. Burrascano Jr., M.D. (16th edition, October 2008 – option for download: http://www.lymediseaseresource.com/BurrGuide2008.pdf
- Macrolide therapy of chronic Lyme Disease (2003), Sam T. Donta, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, U.S.A. – option for download http://direct.bl.uk/bld/PlaceOrder.do?UIN=141748603&ETOC=RN&from=searchengine
For further information please ask your physician, a member of staff of the BCB or view the following books/documents:
- The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) Evidence-based guidelines for the management of Lyme Disease - option for download http://www.ilads.org/files/ILADS_Guidelines.pdf
- Very comprehensively written is "The Lyme Disease Solution" by Kenneth B. Singleton, M.D., M.P.H. (ISBN 978-1-934812-00-6 / Brown Books, Dallas) http://www.lymedoctor.com
5. Why is “self-help” so important for the success of the therapy and which efforts should chronically ill patients undertake to strengthen their body’s defences (immune system)?
The effectiveness of the immune system is crucial for the success of the treatment. Activate your „self-healing capacities“ and support your body’s defences (immune system) during the healing process.
Pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements are helpful and necessary – But: Without your own contribution in terms of life style changes and the acknowledgement of simple rules you can block or delay the healing process remarkably. Futher information can be found
here.6. Why chronically ill Lyme disease patients should make use of the “Intensive treatment and rehabilitation” program in the day medical clinic in the BCA?
Our experience: Chronic Lyme disease is curable in >70% of all cases. A long-term antibiosis is a "must" in most cases. Accompanying therapies and self-help by the patient can improve the effect of the medication (antibiotics, etc.), strengthen the immune system, fight borrelia effectively and decrease chronic inflammations. For chronically ill and long-term illness patients we recommend the day medical clinic program Lyme disease "Intensive treatment and rehabilitation” for 5 days (Mon-Fri) and longer (Recommendation: min. 2-3 weeks and up to 4 months). The therapists support and coach you during the often necessary change of lifestyle (mental/activity/nutrition). If you cannot spare the time for a long-term treatment in the BCB, we will introduce you to the therapies and will instruct your attending doctor at home to continue the treatment.
Selected measures from the range of "Therapies“ (
Link) and "Accompanying therapies“ (Link) of the intensive programme within the day medical clinic are offered from 8.00 am to 4.30 pm. The programme is specially designed for chronic Lyme disease patients and for patients wishing to strengthen their immune system for better body’s defences. You can find further information
here.7. Why is the „Medical Partnership” organisationally and economically separated from the B-C-B Borreliose Centrum Augsburg Betriebs GmbH & Co. KG (structure of the BCA)?
In Saxony-Anhalt physicians are restricted to offer medical services within a commercially active operating company with limited liability (Medical Association’s professional code of conduct of Saxony-Anhalt). This is the reason for the Medical Partnership with physicians offering the whole range of medical services and private billing.
Further information about the organisational structure of the Borreliose Centrum Blankenburg can be found
here.8. What is included in the competence and service range of the Borreliose Centrum Blankenburg?
The competence and service range of the Borreliose Centrum Blankenburg includes (due to the cooperation with the Medical Partnership):
- Treatment of the Lyme disease in acute stage (i.e. immediately after the tick bite)
- The treatment of the Lyme disease in chronic progression (especially in stages of severe progression of the disease)
- Treatment of co-infections
- Pain therapy of the Lyme disease in stage II and during chronic progressions
- Mental strengthening and medical health coaching
We offer a unique diagnosis and therapy concept to the patients: diagnosis, laboratory, therapy and rehabilitation all under one roof. The treatment is offered either as outpatient/ambulant treatments or as the weekly package day medical clinic (1 up to 3 weeks and 2-4 months-programs respectively).
Further information about the range of competences services of the Borreliose Centrum Blankenburg can be found here.
9. Why does the “Medical Partnership” only treat patients on a private practice basis? What costs do I have to exoect and how much can I claim from the health insurance?
Patients are reminded that all medical services are only provided in a private medical practice and are therefore invoiced privately as well. This kind of private invoicing is necessary, because
- the treatment of Lyme disease (diagnosis and therapy) is very time-consuming and
- is by no means covered by the flat-charge of the compulsory health insurances.
- furthermore, the Lyme disease treatment demands the prescription of expensive medication for a long period (e.g. antibiotics). This has lately led to extended charges by the compulsory health insurance companies towards CHI physicians.
On demand patients are provided with an “estimattion of treatment costs”. Thus the patient can find out beforehand from his/her compulsory or private health insurance company, which costs would or would not be covered.
Note: Unfortunately, some health insurances are very restrictive about the acknowledgement of chronic Lyme disease as a disease at the moment and do not cover partial or total costs for the treatment or diagnosis (please see FAQ 4 for the scientific controversies). The physicians Dr. C. Nicolaus, Dr. A. Schwarzbach und H.-P. Gabel are active members of the German Borreliosis Society and ILADS, and campaign in terms of association work for the acknowledgement of the disease with health insurances.
You can hand the 3 scientific articles under FAQ 4 to your health insurance or make them aware of these articles. Additionally, you should recommend the following book to your health insurance:
- Very comprehensively and clearly written: "The Lyme Disease Solution", by Kenneth B. Singleton, M.D., M.P.H., (ISBN 978-1-934812-00-6 / Brown Books, Dallas) www.lymedoctor.com
Further information about the claim situation with health insurances can be found here.