hi, this is my first post. i have been reading a lot here and find it useful.
i was bitten by a tick in summer 2004 in ithaca new york. misdiagnosed (not diagnosed at all actually) until summer 2006, when i was diagnosed with lyme and bartonella. went on antibiotics went off antibiotics, got worse, started antibiotics again this january and since then have improved a ton. (however this is pretty relative)
right now i feel i am battling bartonella. i am on zithromax and bactrim and i get really tense, have a lot of trouble falling asleep, ringing in ears, and i have the purplish looking stretch-mark rashes that have been coming and going like crazy lately.
most recently i have become concerned about my teeth and my skin, however. i am 25 years old but i have gotten a lot of wrinkles on my face and a friend told me that i look 40. also, when i went to the dentist i was told i had the wear on my molars of an 80 year old. fun.
so my question is: will antibiotics stop the rapid decay of my teeth or do i need to pursue some other therapy? also, does "premature aging (i.e. wrinkles and general collagen breakdown) improve after treatment, or with supplementation?
i guess i have a long road ahead of me but i feel these latest antibiotics are really working, so i am thankful for that. it was fairly earth-shattering when i "awoke" from my neuro-lyme/bart state of mind. i stil have some mental symptom herxing but before it felt like i was living in a thick black cloud.
ok. long post. sorry.
kevin
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
Hello there and welcome!
I just got dx in Dec. and my tick bite was in 2000! I have also noticed my teeth getting increasingly sensitive over the last 8 yrs. and they've been wearing away easily. I have grooves near my gumline that had to be filled and I was told I must have been brushing to hard to cause this (I wasn't). My mouth also feels like it's full of cavities and last year when I sent to the dentist he told me my teeth looked good and he saw nothing wrong other than the fact that I have an extra molar (i know, freakish!).
I've noticed my skin get dry and old looking with more wrinkles and I also look older than my age now. I have noticed my skin improve since starting treatment but my teeth are still not good. I also had 10 extra lbs. on me for no reason before getting dx and it has come off by itself since starting tx.
I think a lot of it will get better for you after being on tx for awhile but I've been wondering about the dental problems myself and think it's time to go back to the dentist. I've had some luck w/making sure I don't use whitening toothpaste and using a fluoride rinse helps A LOT! I also switched to a gel moisturizer rather than a cream on my face and noticed a big difference. It soaks in much better and doesn't feel greasy or make me break out.
So, I probably wasn't a big help but at least thought I'd let you know I can relate. Good luck! Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
oh yeah, forgot to tell you i don't know yet if i have bart. waiting for results. my lyme dx was clinical and i have mycoplasma as well.
Posted by valymemom (Member # 7076) on :
Please use the search engine and search for oil pulling posts. My teeth were loose and transparent; after following this morning ritual, my teeth hardened, whitened and no longer look translucent.
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
You may be suffering some of the toxic side effects of the antibiotics or not. I don't know the cause of your rapid aging, but it should not be ignored.
In addition to discussing this with your doctor, here are some things you can do right now that will definitely improve your teeth and skin.
1-Fresh vegetable juicing. I recommend the book "Juicing for Life" by Cherie Calbom and Maureen Keane. Both ladies have their masters in nutrition and Maureen even worked as an industrial microbiologist and research assistant at Wayne State University of Medicine.
My massage therapist still raves about the improvement in my skin since I have been juicing. As a result, she has purchased a juicer and the book.
2-Eat more fresh fruits and veggies and cut out as much sugar and processed foods as you possibly can. This will nourish your cells all over your body and you will look and feel much better.
3-Oil pulling. This tightens the gums around the teeth and whitens the teeth. I have not had my teeth cleaned for over 2 yrs now (since being sick) and do not have any plaque buildup. Just search oil pulling here and/or google it. Lots of information about it.
Luvs
Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :
Have you had your hormones checked? Lyme can really through off your thyroid and pituitary gland.
Many hormone problems can cause teeth decay and dry skin.
Feel better.
Posted by laura j (Member # 14257) on :
I just checked into oil pulling. Can't wait to try it!
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
Welcome aboard,,,
I too had rapid tooth failure,,,but GOOD news was when I started taking Citrical calcium supplement and a Magnesium (a good one from Pharmacy)suppl. It seemed the rapid deteriation ceased to happen.
Those also help with pain levels so I would say try it,,,might have to take long term to get best effect!!
DONT take wally world spring vally CRAP,,,cause its like throwing sand against a rock. Best,and lowest price sometimes has negative quality issues!!
Hope it helps as much as it has helped me!!being--just don--
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Ear ringing can be a side effect from zithromax...one that
Can possibly lead to permanent damage.
Call your LLMD and tell them about your ear ringing.
I do look older. However, I am used to people saying how "young" I
Looked prior to Lyme. I feel old. Does that count?
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
WELCOME, would you like a copy of my newbie package of 105 pages info galore includes TREEPATROL'S LINK of his archive of over 1000 links of good lyme info?
if yes, please send me a PM, PRIVATE MESSAGE, it's 2 people standing together icon asking me to send it to you. i will send within 1 day of receipt of your pm; thanks
Posted by AZURE WISH (Member # 804) on :
Welcome
I know that pain makes me clench my teeth which wears them. Are you clenching or grinding (awake or asleep)?
Also I think feeling awful for prolonged period of time can make one look aged. Scrunching face from pain can create wrinkles and being exhausted all the time make my face look floppier/saggier. Also if my skin gets too dry it looks like it has more wrinkles cuz edges of dry patches are percievd as wrinkles.
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