This is topic How long sick, how long on abx? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.


To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/75306

---

Posted by Wimenin (Member # 15294) on :
 
I'm just curious..

How long were you sick before being diagnosed with lyme?

How long have you been on antibiotics for treatment of lyme?

No need for long answers or stories, ... just curious about the time frames....

Thanks!

btw..for me: 18 months to diagnose; currently on abx 7 mos..
 

---

Posted by renny (Member # 11224) on :
 
I was most likely infected in the mid '90's when I worked outside for about 9 years. I had periods of severe fatigue, headaches and depression but was diagnosed with chronic fatigue, an active Epstein Barr infection, etc. I got really sick again in Jan. 2005 after a severe intestinal virus and subsequent surgery. I was diagnosed with Lyme in July 2006 and have been on antibiotics ever since. (2 1/2 years)
 

---

Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
 
I was most likely infected when I was 14. That is when I was bitten, saw the tick attached in my arm, and pulled it out. Wasn't extremely ill with many, many symptoms until I was around 23 (and I'm 25 now), so almost 10 years later, though before that I had things here and there...

I've been on treatment (abx, herbs, supplements, etc.) for a year and a half.
 

---

Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
 
boy, those are SHORT time frames!

me, 39 years this christmas! tick off folks' live christmas tree did this to me!

35 years MISDIAGNOSED by 40-50 drs.

18 mo. antibiotics

6 mo. supplements ... off them all; on other RX meds for other body symptoms
 

---

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
42 yrs when I was finally diagnosed.

Took abx for 4 yrs straight for Lyme and babesia.

Now have been off abx for 4 yrs.

I'm now up to 50 yrs of Lyme.
 

---

Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :
 
19 months of illness

- 6 months unable to get to an LLMD on account of brainwashed
family members (I knew I had Lyme right away)
______________________________________________

13 months of treatment which has nothing to stop
the decomposition of my CNS
 

---

Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
 
18 years without diagnosis

1 year treatment.....so far, not near being well yet.

Feelfit
 

---

Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
 
2 and 1/2 years ill, 7 months in treatment so far.
 

---

Posted by ladycakes (Member # 12619) on :
 
I was sick for 6 years, with various diagnoses.

Have been treating for Lyme for the past 13 months, and this will be my first month on no antibiotics.
 

---

Posted by NMN (Member # 11007) on :
 
Symptoms for 2 years prior to diagnosis. Sick for one year prior to diagnosis. Been on treatment abx and herbs 2 years.

Much better but not well. Don't know when or how I got it.
 

---

Posted by joalo (Member # 12752) on :
 
See below
 

---

Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
 
i really don't know. could have had it since childhood since my mom had it.

but definitely had bull's eye rash in 2005, no treatment until december.
 

---

Posted by lymephobic (Member # 17556) on :
 
Wow...To all who have posted above...My heart goes out to you. I am so sick at the thought of all the ducks misdiagnosing for so long.

2 months of symptoms...July & August 2008...saw doc in Sept and luckily tested positive.

Was treated w/11 weeks of doxy 200 mg/day until I finally saw LLMD in Nov. Now on Rifampin.

On fourth month of total abx treatment so far.
 

---

Posted by ForestNymph (Member # 15109) on :
 
bettg, i wonder how many have been exposed to ticks by live christmas trees!
 

---

Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
 
Sick either since Sep-07 or late '96. It's a crapshoot and I don't trust a LLMD's "gut shot opinion" on this. No proof of tick bite/rash.

On Abx for 3.5 months....not much change yet.

Overall, this thread is very depressing. The replies so far make me question the success of long-term Abx. Everyone's on them forever and many are saying they aren't better. When i see YEARS and little improvement, it gets me down.

If I had to guess, I'd say over 50% of people on LN do not have Lyme, but obviously are ill with an unknown disease that may be positively impacted with Abx treatment. There seems to be too much variation in improvement levels to be one diease. I know co-infections come into play, but as usual they are just a LLMDs wild guess based on symptoms.
 

---

Posted by ajisuun (Member # 17658) on :
 
Tick bite Summer 2003
Started treatment Fall 2005
Still treating with only doxy and supplements.
Not well yet, but I'm much, much better than I was 3 years ago.
 

---

Posted by madge (Member # 13704) on :
 
husband bit in 99 got sick in 01..sick for six yrs until diagnosed in 06..on abx now 2 yrs and not better...even sicker...but fighting..but we know what it is now...that its not in his head..but funny thats where his lyme is..oh my.
 

---

Posted by JKMMC09 (Member # 15795) on :
 
Bitten by a tick in 2003, EM rash developed, 3 days of abx. prescribed. Many doctors, many diagnoses, surgeries, etc. Finally diagnosed w/ Chronic Lyme in 2006.

So, 5+ years infected, 2 years on abx...and counting
 

---

Posted by JKMMC09 (Member # 15795) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by seekhelp:

Overall, this thread is very depressing. The replies so far make me question the success of long-term Abx. Everyone's on them forever and many are saying they aren't better. When i see YEARS and little improvement, it gets me down.

If I had to guess, I'd say over 50% of people on LN do not have Lyme,

---