I was bitten by a tick in May '05, experienced an atypical ringworm-shaped welt around the bite about 7 weeks later, and accordingly diagnosed myself with Lyme disease. I took doxy for about seven months and Biaxin for about four. Each month, my tick bite would erupt into a lump that would stay for about two hours. Finally, I went a month without an eruption and discontinued antibiotics. All my other symptoms, too numerous to list, went away also.
I was symptom-free for 15 months.
Last week I went to my MD for a systemic steroid shot. My right shoulder has been in pain (bursitis) from fishing so much (lots of casting). This pain, I believe, had nothing to do with Lyme. Three days later, my shoulder felt great. I did a full workout, lifting weights and speed-walking three miles. When I undressed to shower, I noticed that the tick bite, which is usually invisible, was inflamed, with a white lump in the middle, resembling a mosquito bite. It faded to invisibility after about 45 minutes.
I believe the steroid shot and vigorous exercise lowered my immune system and reactivated the Lyme. I'm going to see if I can fight this outbreak with vitamins, my immune system, and time. The steroid should leave my system after about a month, and that should help. If I have any more eruptions at the bite, I'll resume taking the Biaxin.
I hope someone will benefit from my experience. It shows that corticosteroids are not to be taken with Lyme and that you can never be certain that you have killed all the borrelia in your body.
Jim
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by JimMet: I hope someone will benefit from my experience. It shows that corticosteroids are not to be taken with Lyme and that you can never be certain that you have killed all the borrelia in your body.
Absolutely true, Jim! I'm sorry this happened to you! I do hope maybe you'll escape without having to go back on abx. UGH!