I am not sure I want to know the answer to this, but I have to ask.
Is it possible to have a healthy pregnancy if you have Lyme? Can Lyme be treated while you are pregnant?
I don't have time to wait for this illness to be "cured" before I try to have a baby. I am already a bit old to be having one to start with.
I know I need to be realistic about this. I am trying to get a second opinion about my Lyme diagnosis but can't find an LLMD here in Northern Virginia that will take new patients! Until then, I can't get pregnant. aaargh!
Posted by hardynaka (Member # 8099) on :
There was a thread a few months ago about a woman that got a healthy baby, monitored by her doctor. She was taking low dose abx while pregnant, baby was healthy. Try to do a search on that.
I'm in the same boat as you. I decided not to have a baby anymore due to lyme. I'll be soon 40, and I think it's a deadline for me. I found no good dr. until now, and I'm not really wishing to take the risk.
It's a big decision, that changed our family dreams, but as I found no decent dr. here where I am to treat me, I won't take the chances. I have though a small child already (before I got lyme). I think I could think different if I hadn't got any.
Hope you find a good dr and be ready to find a lot of help during the first year of life of the child, if your energy levels are low.
Good luck! Selma
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
Our MD llmd said she already followed/treated a woman thru pregnancy with amoxicillin and the baby so far is fine.
I think this is what Dr. J. has been doing with his lyme moms to be and our llmd just followed his protocol.
Posted by Linda LD (Member # 6663) on :
Call Dr. Jones--he will treat you while you are pregnant.
my children are perfect and wonderful (except for the Lyme). I didn't know I had it, but even if I did I wouldn't have missed out on knowing them. I was lucky, we are o.k. so far--but it has been hard at times.
God bless you, Linda
Posted by char (Member # 8315) on :
vachick-
Sorry you have had a hard time getting into LLMD. And having to face these kind of choices!
There is a big lyme conference in Reston VA the wkend of April 1. Can google hopetoheal. Includes the nationally known experts. This could be an opportunity to network and find out about drs.
Are you considering traveling to LLMD at this pt>
Char
Posted by vachick (Member # 8353) on :
I currently have a doctor who is treating me for Lyme and coinfections with Ketek...but Ketek is killing me so I probably need to switch.
Anyway, I was hoping to get a second opinion about whether I have Lyme or not before thinking about getting pregnant.
I am getting married in three months, and he wants to start trying right away. I am heartbroken that I may not be able to give him a child. If there is a chance that this isn't Lyme, I would like to find out.
Or if it is Lyme, I would like to be treated by someone who knows how to do it.
Posted by believe3 (Member # 6216) on :
Hi, I hope you find a LLMD soon.
I was pregnant when I contracted Lyme disease. I didn't know it at the time so I was not treated. My son is now 2 and he seems fine.
He is very hyper and tempermental. I am concerned that this may be because of the lyme but it is too soon to tell. He has only been sick 3 times in his life so far.
My LLMD says not to test him until he starts to show symptoms. I am terrified though that I may have passed this along to him.
I love my son so much but If I knew what I know now I would not have gotten pregnant with him. I will be so upset with myself if I did pass this horrible disease on to him.
You are in a different place than I was though. You can be treated while your pregnant and your baby's chances of catching this is much less.
My husband did want to have another child and I said no way. I for one health wise could not handle it but I just won't risk transmitting this to them.
I would wait until I found a good LLMD before I made the decision to have a baby if I was you. Just to be sure that your baby will be okay.
Good luck!!
Posted by trails (Member # 1620) on :
unfortunately another thing to think about is whether your body can handle being pregnant now/in the near future. Lyme can make you feel 80---80 year olds cant get pregnant for a reason. Their body could not handle it.
But this disease is VERY different for each person.
I want to write more about this as this is very emotional issue for me too right now.
But am too tired.
Will contribute more thoughts later.
Posted by lymex5&counting (Member # 7202) on :
If it were me. I have 4 kids with congenital lyme.
I would make Dr Jones your second opinion. He will treat you. And I believe he recommends the father be on abx as well when trying to conceive.
Best wishes. I wouldn't trade my kids for anything.