What does steriods due to lyme? How does it make you feel? The reason i asked i had an allergic reaction and they gave me steriods awhile back and it has been a world wind sense then?
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
My understanding is that steroids suppress your immune system, so the Lyme (or any other infection) can run wild.
I know of several people who significantly worsened after taking steroids (prior to their Lyme diagnosis), or who relapsed after taking steroids.
Posted by dguy (Member # 8979) on :
Steroids can suppress the immune system and its inflammation. They make most lymies feel better initially (that was my experience) because they suppress the inflammation responsible for many of our symptoms.
But while the immune system is suppressed, infections like Bb are attacked less and therefore can gain more ground. This is why after the steroids are stopped, infected patients often feel even worse.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
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Steroids can make lyme blossom and become MUCH harder to treat.
You say they gave them to you "a while back" - I assume you no longer take them?
If so, though, do not stop cold turkey. You would need advice from LLMD.
A note about steroid use in a life-threatening emergency. There are ways to do that but a LLMD's guidance is vital.
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Posted by pryorka (Member # 13649) on :
Amen to what dguy said. The same thing happened to me. The first few days on steroids I thought I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. Then around day four it felt like my whole body was starting to break and the longer I took the steroids the worse it got.
Posted by Cadames62008 (Member # 16275) on :
the same exact thing happend to me before I knew I had lyme they gave me a shot of steroids for what they thought was a allergic reaction, but I'm guessing my reaction was just a herx from the lyme being killed.
about 20 minutes after the shot all the muscles in my neck were extremly tight almost like my throat was closing but it was not.
Thats is when all my symtoms came in full effect and the vertigo drunk kinda feeling started.
Posted by Peedie (Member # 15355) on :
I would really like to know the true effect of steriods. My daughter was initially dx'd with Lupus and put on Prednisone (steriod). Not only did the Rx make her sick and not help - it seems her immunity system is shot. Her LLMD feels this can be reversed in time and with proper treatment. But I would like to understand - just what the heck happened. -p
Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :
One of the best LLMD's, Burrascano, actually employs the term "steroid disaster" in his discourse on Lyme.
Posted by sfcharm (Member # 9392) on :
I just saw Dr. B at the Lyme conferences here in San Francisco. I told him what steroids did to me.
A 10 day course of prednisone had me so sick I was being evaluated for ALS,at both ALS centers here in San Francisco.
I went immediately downhill for eight full months until I was finally diagnosed with lyme.
Dr. B was right, never give a suspected lyme patient any steroids.
Barb
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
What about when some lyme doctors will do it in low doses to help the adrenals for those with adrenal insufficiency? Does Dr. B think that's okay?
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
It cripples the immune system allowing the infection to spread uncontrolled.