posted
so i'm reading here at lymenet (yes, i am doing lots of reading) about people who were put on steroids and say that it made them worse and exacerbated lyme.
so i'm wondering: 1- what is it about steroids that makes them so bad for lyme?
2- is it steroid specific, or is it any immunosuppressant? (i'm currently on immunosuppressants. been for the last 4 years... and was on steroids for 1 year prior to that. am i killing myself?!?)
Posts: 34 | From Airmont NY | Registered: May 2009
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Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16359
posted
They can be immunosuppressant. However, many lymies use hormones out of necessity. Lyme is believed to disrupt the endocrine system.
Whether using cortisol, GH, or sex hormones, I think the key is probably staying within physiologic limits and not going overboard, especially with cortisol...
William Mck. Jeffries, an early adrenal fatigue pioneer, believed that supplementing cortisol actually helped the immune system but only in carefully regulated doses...
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
More severe illness also results from other causes of weakened defenses, such as from severe stress, immunosuppressant medications, and severe intercurrent illnesses.
This is why steroids and other immunosuppressive medications are absolutely contraindicated in Lyme. This also includes intraarticular steroids.
. . . .
From page 12:
Excerpt:
. . .
More evidence has accumulated indicating the severe detrimental effects of the concurrent use of immunosuppressants including steroids in the patient with active B. burgdorferi infection.
Never give steroids or any other immunosuppressant to any patient who may even remotely be suffering from Lyme, or serious, permanent damage may result, especially if given for anything greater than a short course.
If immunosuppressive therapy is absolutely necessary, then potent antibiotic treatment should begin at least 48 hours prior to the immunosuppressants.
posted
not referring to steroids for hormonal use.
i'm on imuran - used to suppress the immune system so it doesn't completely destroy my gi tract.
(i have a crohns diagnosis, and i must say that since starting the imuran my gi symptoms have been SO much better. so i do believe that it is somehow slowing down my immune system and preventing it from eating my gut alive)
Posts: 34 | From Airmont NY | Registered: May 2009
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