Recently Joni has three seizures in one week.  Each one exhausted her.  A common symptom for Lyme patients is something they refer to as “BRAIN FOG”.  Among many infected with Lyme Disease the brain is affected.  The Bb bacteria most commonly attacks joints first but is also know to make the journey inward to affect various organs, one of which can be the brain. 

How is the brain affected? 

First of all: any infection hurts the tissue where it is located.  In the case of Lyme patients who are taking massive doses of antibiotics the affect of the Bb infection is held somewhat in check.  Since It is a hardy bacteria and it is hard to kill many patients can only be treated to try to keep it from getting out of control.

Secondly: I was reading a research article that described another way that nerves are affected by Lyme and most commonly in the brain.  The Bb bacteria releases a toxin that inhibits the functioning of nerves.  This could account for the “brain fog” that is such a common symptom.  Add to that some of the bacteria being killed and the toxicity that these dead critters have on the area in which they die and you can understand the complications that ensue and the symptoms that accompany.

In a recent “BRAIN TRAMA EXAM” Joni underwent Vestibular Cochlear testing.  These tests determine to what extent the brain stem and junction between the brain stem and brain are failing to function properly. Seizures pointe to a serious problems for Joni in this area and the tests objectively confirmed the location.  Both visual and auditory input can trigger seizure for Joni.  The doctor administering these test has produced a set of glasses that limit the spectrum of light that Joni sees through and as a result have been very helpful to relieving stress upon her brain. These glasse also limit the amount of light input to the inside and outside of her visual field also.  Each of these working together help to relievea great deal of tension on Joni’s nervous system.  The doctor expained that normally we all filter out noisesaorund use but that in Joni’s cast she is not and that leads tothe brain being overloaded and the reulting seizures.

Though this is not a cure by any means it does provide a degree of relief to every day stress that Joni endures.  And as any Lyme sufferer can attest, anything that gives you some relief is welcome.