My LLMD said that because I am improving (I'm about 80%), that I should begin weaning off the antibiotics to give my immune system the chance to take over and fight the disease. He says that many of his patients improve after weaning off the antibiotics. I have read accounts both supporting and contradicting this.
Do you typically improve when weaning off antibiotics?
Posted by janet thomas (Member # 7122) on :
Most say you should be symptom free for a couple of months before stopping abx.
According to the Dr. B guidelines at ILADS you treat a couple months past the last symptom.
My LLMD tried to switch over to herbs as the symptoms were getting better, but if they got worse at all, he switched right back to abx.
I would say the answer to your question is no, IMO and experience. You have to do something to fight the infection.
Also, is he doing something to build the immune system? Herbs?
Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :
Most feel better initially when antibiotics are discontinued, because there is no more die-off.
Then they relapse.
The standard is to treat with antibiotics for several months beyond resolution of all symptoms.
This has been my experience. When I take short antibiotic breaks, I feel wonderful. Then I relapse and go back on meds.
The relapse is subtle at this point. Like you, I consider myself around 80% resolved. I plan to treat until I don't have symptoms.
All doctors are different. The most reliable indicator of wellness will be your symptoms.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
I tried pulsing for bartonella, with 4 days on and three days off. I felt really good for about a month and then began to have symptoms return. I am back on 7 days a week.
Next time I will try taking just one day off and then two etc. I was to abrupt.
I have trouble sleeping when I am on abx full time and I felt getting proper sleep would help me recover better and I would feel better emotionally and physically. I am not sure what the best choice is as I know some doctors pulse thinking it allows the immune system to kick on and work on it's own. But when those symptoms start to return, I know better than to ignore them!
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
I was SLOWLY weaned off abx more than 5 years ago and it worked for me. Switched to Cat's Claw and literally weaned off 1 pill every two weeks until I was down to nothing but the Cat's Claw. It was so gradual, I guess my body didn't notice.
I was terrified, as I felt I still had symptoms of Lyme, but in reality, most of the remaining issues were yeast and mineral deficiencies and imbalances. And it took quite a long time to tackle those.
So before you go by the ' treat until no symptoms' guideline that seems to be here, make sure those symptoms are actually from Lyme, and not the other messes caused by the infection and the long term antibiotics. Just IMHO
Posted by BackinStOlaf (Member # 23725) on :
"So before you go by the ' treat until no symptoms' guideline that seems to be here, make sure those symptoms are actually from Lyme, and not the other messes caused by the infection and the long term antibiotics. Just IMHO"
THIS is totally what I have been wondering about. Are my symptoms still from the Lyme, or maybe caused by my amalgam fillings or other issues. ugh
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Good point. I started supplementing KPU when I was finishing treatment (I was not on abx, I was using biophotons). KPU has minerals, and I was also taking mag. I still take the KPU and mag, among other things.