posted
I was told by a local "specialist" that my lyme disease is gone. I thought that its something that never goes away, what are your views on the subject?
Ive been off the antiboitics for the past year, and other then a numbness in my fingertips which happens when I get cold (sometimes) I dont seem to have the symptoms I once had. I had this for years undetected. I was on antibiotics for a year and a half. Doxy and biaxion....my stess levels have dropped dramatically, causeing what I believe to be the reason the symptoms have diminished. What do you think? Is it gone?
Some how I feel misdirected in CT of all places!! Posts: 1 | From Norwalk, CT | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
I would certainly keep an eye on it! How long do you think you had it before getting treatment?
I'm a little skeptical that it ever goes away completely, unless it's caught right away.
You've made it this far, so just "go with it"!! If symptoms begin coming back, I'd find a real LLMD!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96227 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Wow, it sounds like you're in remission. That's wonderful!
Are you doing any supportive therapy with supplements?
Carol
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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lymie tony z
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5130
posted
Well J it does sound like you are in remission...that's a good thing...
If you can stay symptom free for a year I believe you can say you're "cured". However no one really knows the TRUTH.
I have been told I either did'nt have lyme or was Cured many times in the past and what I was experiencing were just residuals of having had an infectious disease/or autoimmune deficeit.
Go ahead and get on with your life but be mindful that this diseas can and does go dormant and resurfaces...stress is definitely a factor in it's resurgance. As you state yours is under control you may never have anymore issues with this disease...I hope you don't.........zman
-------------------- I am not a doctor...opinions expressed are from personal experiences only and should never be viewed as coming from a healthcare provider. zman Posts: 2527 | From safety harbor florida(origin Cleve., Ohio | Registered: Jan 2004
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lightfoot
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2536
posted
Hi smalltowngirlj!
Congratulations on a nice remission!! IMO lowering stress levels is part of the treatment so that's an area I would be very cognizant of as you get on with life.
My body has been entertainoing this organism for many many years. During that time, even before treatment, I would have more productive and better times. Every time I would start to push myself....bang....down I would go again!!!
So considering the dormancy issue....I think that the infection can become active again at any time, and more active for some of us at any time. So...the word cured is not one I would use, at this time anyway, in conjunction with Lyme.
So.....as I was told by my first LLMD....do what you can in life despite the disease. My attitude is, I'm not at war with the bugs....I'm just looking to have a life and live in harmony with it.
Take good cvare of you!!
Healing smiles.....lightfoot
-------------------- Healing Smiles.....lightfoot Posts: 7228 | From CO | Registered: May 2002
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posted
2 years ago I was told by my LLMD the same thing. So I stopped abx and thought i was cured and that the only thing wrond with my was my dysautonomia...until I ended up in the hospital 5 times that year, and had a sky high Lyme and babesia titer again.
I amo not saying that this will happen to you at all, but just make sure to watch for signs of symptoms returning.... You could very well be in complete remission...it does happen....
I am very angry with my "old" LLMD who could look me in the eyes and tell me that it was gone b/c he/she could tell just from Looking at me....
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96227 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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liz28
Unregistered
posted
If you are nervous about a relapse, and are sure you only have Lyme and no co-infections, you can try going on an antibiotic called doxycycline. Dermatologists prescribe it on a continuous basis for acne, it's totally normal (though I have no idea how safe it is), and you can stay on it for months.
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liz28
Unregistered
posted
If you are nervous about a relapse, and are sure you only have Lyme and no co-infections, you can try going on doxycycline for acne. Dermatologists prescribe it on a continuous basis, it's totally normal (though I have no idea how safe it is), and you can stay on it for months.
I believe Lyme can be cured, because otherwise there would be a lot more chronic cases. Nearly everyone in the Northeast has had it at least once, and they aren't all disabled.
But I also believe you can't trust it until you've really tested it--and also, that you are better off testing it now, while you may have the time, money, and energy to deal with it. Especially if you have any co-infections, which are notorious for causing false remissions.
The best tests, I'm hoping, are strenous physical exercise, intellectual and emotional stress. Right now I work seven days and two evenings a week, am auditing a graduate course, practice yoga daily, and jog. Plus, my bathroom ceiling just caved in, and the owner of the apartment above me has disappeared. All the necessary elements for Lyme reemergence! So far, no relapses, but this is after five years of constant remissions and relapses, and switching to some much stronger drugs than you took.
So if you are up for it, pile on and see what happens. You don't need it to come back in the future, when you may be winning the Olympic gold, running for President, or serving as CEO of a Fortune 500 company. And by the way, that really happened! There's a legendary CEO who had to step down because he had Lyme.
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Kara Tyson
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 939
posted
I believe it really depends on the person.
Some people (I believe) can get rid of it. Some people can keep the disease under control (I think I am one of those people).
So much depends on how many tbi's you have, your age, your otherall immune sytem, other medical conditions, when you got the proper treatment...there are just so many variables.
Sometimes it is hard to tell if it is the disease or is it just damage that has been done.
-------------------- Kara Tyson Lyme Disease Support Group Of Alabama--MobileChapter Posts: 6022 | From Mobile, AL | Registered: Apr 2001
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bpeck
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3235
posted
I agree with Lymetoo. If it's treated when it presents for the first time, you might be able to get it all. Plus there are people who get Lyme, and their immune systems take care of it.
The BIG question is whether some bacteria stay sequestered in the tissues - only to emerge years later... sort of like the chicken pox virus does when it lays dormant, and emerges to give some one shingles years after chicken pox.
I know people who were in remission for as long as 10 years after being treated, then relapsed.
SO, IMO, the juries out on whether one is ever 'cured'... I'll settle for staying symptom free for how ever long it lasts.
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