In a bit of a hole. New to this lyme business and afraid of medication. I don't know what to do?
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
Why don't you tell us a little bit about your situation. How long have you been sick? Have you have a positive test? Are you seeing a LLMD?
Do you have a specific reason for being afraid of taking medication? A Bb infection is much scarier than taking medication in my opinion.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
I wouldn't be afraid of medication. I would be afraid of not treating.
Posted by lada (Member # 32618) on :
Yes positive test. We think close to two years. Don't recall any bite. Have chemical sensitivity issues.
Posted by payne (Member # 26248) on :
lada, slow and sure brings your health back. this is such a tight rope, super micro manage all meds and supplements, diet etc. it is so easy to fall off the wagon, and lose months of benefits from meds. please, trust yourself, listen to your body, it will tell you much. don't dive in with overdoing meds.. slowly introduce all things so you can filter through the results of what is truly doing what... gee, just a change in humidity and heat, seeds me off into a fatique status.. there is a wealth of info in the search here, I so respect the elders that know what we are dealing with... if you can I find i self made monthly planner and charting are good referance.
Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
I think most of us were a bit scared when we started on this path. I remember coming here and doing a search on every medication change my doctor had me on.
I always wanted to know what others said about a particular medication and get worst case scenarios but I can tell you that at no time did any of my symptoms come close to being as bad as some horror stories I had read. So I would then just smile and think I got off EASY even though I was still herxing my butt off.
As long as you look at the herxing as die off and killing off those critters, you can tolerate a lot more than you think when it is working.
It really does get better but as bcb said.....I would be MUCH more afraid of letting this disease get out of control than treating it with proper medication.
Posted by lada (Member # 32618) on :
Payne, That's just it there is no sure. Thanks for your input. Td, Don't know much about herxing but it sounds serious. Have not read to much as I believe to much information is probably not a good thing for anyone. A friend of mine has Lyme and Babesia and she's had terrible reactions to just herbs, imagine that!
Posted by Beth22 (Member # 30232) on :
it can be tricky sifting through info and opinions and experiences. everyone is different, everyone's herxes are different (i've never herxed in 5 months until this week.) everyone's reactions to meds are different. so i know what you mean about too much information. but all in all, it is such a great help to know that here, there are others in your shoes, maybe worse off, maybe better off, but they are empathizing, advising, comforting, educating, praying, and now and then, even laughing (margarellons?)with you. good luck, don't be scared, be brave.
Posted by lada (Member # 32618) on :
Beth, I need BRAVE.. send me brave please. Thanks for your post. :-)
Posted by anonymiss (Member # 32018) on :
I don't think there's such a thing as "too much information" =)
But that's just me, I'm kind of an info-whore.
Posted by JeniferM (Member # 31996) on :
I just wish I could understand more of the information I'm finding. A lot of it seems to be scientific studies and I get lost in the terminology. ugh
This site alone needs a "guide to acronyms" for newbies. Like "abx", "herx", "tx", etc. I always have to stop and think "now, what does that stand for again?"
Posted by JeniferM (Member # 31996) on :
But, honestly, I would not be on this website now if it hadn't been for my endless pursuit of finding an answer to my health issues as doctors were no help. How much money have I spent in Chiropractic care of the years?? I don't even want to think about it. Although some information can be very scary (I still can't get myself to watch the UOS movie - just the previews put me in tears), I think it pays off in the long run. If it weren't for the people on websites like these, I never would have connected the dots.
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
The abr are easy. Just tx the sx with abx from an LLMD.
Yeah - with this disease you basically have to become your own doctor. I wonder if this has ever happened before on such a wide scale in US medical history.
Posted by Beth22 (Member # 30232) on :
i believe there is a "glossary" in the info for newbies, i'll look for it. lada, i know. i didn't imagine i could go thru what i have. the bravery comes from the determination to get well, i think.
Posted by Beth22 (Member # 30232) on :
Thanks, Beth22!
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Lada, I have chemical sensitivity issues too. I am currently detoxing by sweating on a far infrared biomat, and after 6 months of doing so, I am just beginning to handle chemicals and smells, which is great.
There are also far infrared tents that people can get.
Also, I did the detoxigenomic liver bloodtest through Genova Diagnostic lab in NC and that showed my doctor how well my body could detox or not in the various detox pathways. It can be useful info to the doctor to figure out how to start you on supplements.
Because we can be sensitive, I suggest that you go slowly with whatever you try, to make sure you can handle it. That can mean taking the smallest amount of anything to see what happens. That way, you stay more in charge of your treatment.
Treatment is in three categories: kill/deter the organisms, detox and fortify. So we need to evaluate all of it. It's like going to Lyme school. You can study lots here.
Jenifer - those of us here are used to the acronyms - they're like our short-hand. abx=antibiotics, herx is short for herxheimer reaction, tx=treatment, sx=symptoms.
And me too - all that chiro care. I still go, even though I know it's Lyme now. But, I tell all the chiropractors now!!
lol James, just read what you wrote - I'll add to the mx: just tx the sx with an rx for abx to fx the ix - xx - me
[ 06-29-2011, 06:36 PM: Message edited by: Robin123 ]
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Herxing means you are on your way to better health. NOT herxing (not treating) means you are on your way to a lifetime of misery. I made the right choice and I'm doing well!!
Posted by lada (Member # 32618) on :
Robin, Glad to know someone else can relate. What do you do if you have a bad reaction? Have you had any serious ones? Thanks all for your information and decoding all this Lyme language. It sort of sounds like you have to be your own doctor here with this disease.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
What I did ... If I had a really bad reaction... I backed off the meds until I felt better. Pretty simple.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Lymetoo, You mention you backed off the meds then took them again after a bad reaction? I don't under stand that? Were you allergic or was it the herx thing? Cause I would think there is a big difference right?
Posted by lada (Member # 32618) on :
Got myself to a LD. Started some meds last night. Wish me luck.
Posted by Jamers (Member # 28016) on :
I am very hateful of medications too. I wish I could get better without them but I just keep pushing through.
I have my good days and my "I think Im losing it" days and I just trudge along. In the end, your will to be healthy keeps you going. Life is about Living and getting there should be the goal.
I always have been sensitive to meds...like one tylenol PM puts me out! So when I start meds I take half of the recommended lyme dose (which is the normal dose for anyone else) and see how I do. Normally I tolerate it well and once I UP the dose then I start to Herx (feel worse initially). But then I notice that symptoms are going away VERRRRRY slowly.
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