Now the doctor wants me to take a 12 day course of prednisone....(6 pills for 2 days, 5 pills for 2 days, 4 etc. until 1 pill for 2 days)
I know we are not supposed to take prednisone...
but I need to breathe.... she also prescribed a Ventolin inhaler...
Any thoughts???
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
I had SEVERE rush me to the hospital asthma for over 40 yrs. Bronchial pneumonia from it several times and some other life threatening episodes. I had to use an inhaler all of the time.
My asthma is completely gone since I started treating parasites. Asthma can come from lungworms.
Look into treating for parasites and google parasite symptoms. ILADS has now considered parasites/worms as the number one co-infection of Lyme Disease.
Gael
Posted by canadianmama (Member # 36298) on :
One dose of prednisone made my son's neuro symptoms WAY worse.
I wouldn't do it unless you really can't breathe. I've heard others here say that steroid inhalers are safer then prednisone.
Do you have a steroid inhaler? I might investigate that as a possibly safer alternate.
Good luck.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
I've only taken prednisone once, a six day course to reduce inflammation and fluid in my ears, and I thought it was great.
My ears cleared up and I could hear again, the headaches and joint pains eased. I knew to take it first thing in the morning so that I wouldn't have insomnia, and even though I was cautioned that it could cause stomach upset, I wasn't prepared for how awful my stomach felt by the end of the week.
This was well before I found out about Lyme, but in looking back I can see that I had many symptoms, including exercise induced asthma. If I tried to run for any distance, my lungs felt tight and I could barely breathe.
Much later, I found out that Lyme Disease can cause low magnesium, and low magnesium can cause asthma symptoms.
Quote: We conclude that 40% of asthmatic patients demonstrated magnesium deficiency...
Quote: Six month supplementation with magnesium improved objective measures of asthma along with subjective measures of quality of life and asthma control. Low magnesium intake was associated with lower measures of several lung functions (including lung capacity and airway flow).
Are you already taking magnesium? You might need to change the kind or increase the dose.
Another thing that can give relief right away is a dry salt inhaler. You breathe in air that passes throught dry salt crystals in a tube. The air picks up molecules of salt, which when breathed into the lungs reduces inflammation and kills bacteria/viruses.
People in Europe can spend time down in old salt mines to help their lung conditions, but it's simpler to buy a salt pipe/inhaler.
Look for salt inhaler at Amazon.com. You can also google for information. Several people here at LymeNet have said that using a salt pipe helped them so much that they reduced the use of their inhalers significantly.
. Editing to add: Gael, I think parasites can cause mineral deficiencies. This may be why you and I are often posting on the same threads, with me explaining about magnesium and you alerting them to parasites.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- If, by chance, you've taken any acetaminophin lately, that could be the culprit. If not, be sure to avoid it.
. . . Even a single dose of acetaminophen can reduce the body�s levels of glutathione, a peptide that helps repair oxidative damage that can drive inflammation in the airways, researchers have found. . . . -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- If this is a life threatening attack, that would be one thing. Of course, if life-threatening, you may have no other choice.
First, of course, talk to your LLMD so that it can be countered with the right kind and dose of antibiotics.
I was prescribed prednisone several times over the course of years when I was so very ill and no one knew why.
During the time on steroids, I felt better but later, all hell broke loose and I've never been more ill in my life as after those times. I also never regained ground.
The "steroid disasters" in articles here sound like what I went through:
Topic: what do STEROIDS actually do to those with lyme? -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Others' replies above are important considerations and there are others, too.
My concern is that you are going to a doctor who thinks steroids are the only way to treat you. And that, IMO, is ridiculous.
You might find a LL ND who will both understand lyme (and babesia which may be involved, or other TBD, parasites, etc.) and
know all the other ways to safety treat asthma.
You might be sure to avoid DAIRY, for sure. That should help reduce some inflamation.
A few things that come to mind:
GINGER CAPSULES
HIMILAYAN SALT PIPE
Good luck.
When considering herbal / nutritional / adjunct methods:
if at all possible - because each person & each case is different - it's best to consult with an ILADS-educated LL (lyme literate) doctor who has completed four years of post-graduate medical education in the field of herbal and nutritional medicine -
- and someone who is current with ILADS' research & presentations, past and present.
Many LL NDs incorporate antibiotics (depending upon the licensing laws in their state). Some LLMDs and LL NDs have good working relationships.
When possible, it's great to have both a LLMD and LL ND and even better when they have a long-standing professional relationship.
Integrative / Holistic M.D., etc. (Be aware that those in this category can have various levels of formal herbal &/or nutritional education, perhaps even just a short course. Do ask first.)
Links to many articles and books by holistic-minded LL doctors of various degrees who all have this basic approach in common:
Understanding of the importance of addressing the infection(s) fully head-on with specific measures from all corners of medicine;
knowing which supplements have direct impact, which are only support and which are both.
You can compare and contrast many approaches.
BASIC HERBAL EDUCATIONAL & SAFETY links, -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- You might consider replacing your showerhead. Why?:
Google: showerhead, bacteria -
Posted by ArtnSoul (Member # 4561) on :
Thanks to all for the advice,
I am currently without an LLMD - as ours had their license suspended.
I have lost my job - so finances are really tight (don't know if we can afford another LLMD)
I have just recently returned to lymenet, and I'm thinking I may need to take magnesium. (I also have bruxism)
I do not take acetaminophin anymore because of issues with my liver enzymes - and a couple of ER visits from severe pain after taking Tylenol 3
I have a lot of other issues from the lyme - and neuro. issues have really affected my whole thought process...
So I can only read a little of the info at a time - it just gets "lost" in my head....frustrating
Thanks again - any more input is appreciated - I'm taking it all in as I can
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
If you need the prednisone to breathe then you need to take it. I have asthma, not die to Lyme or parasites, just inherited it from my grandmother and mom. Certain allergens, cats and rabbits set it off as do colds and viruses, which settle in my chest.
I recently had the flu, which turned into a horrible case of bronchitis. My PCP as well as my pulmonologist recommended s course of prednisone. I checked with my LLNP and she said if Iam having difficult breathing t go ahead and take it. After all she said to not take it due to Lyme and not be able to breathe will only accomplish you ending up in the hospital needing IV steroids or worse. My pulmonologist informed me just how serious asthma can be and its important to remember without treatment it can kill. The no steroids ever rule for Lyme has exclusions.
I asked to try a stronger steroid inhaler, qvar to see if that would help. They were against it, but I agreed to do the prednisone if I saw no improvement. Fortunately I improved enough on it to not need the prednisone and after 2 weeks switched back to my ad air, another steroid inhaler. I use ad air once daily which is ok'd by 2 LLNP''s as well as an LLMD.
Bottom line is you need to breathe
Posted by Jane2904 (Member # 15917) on :
just a thought... do you know what your Vitamin d levels are?
DD just came back low and I have been researching symptoms..
Asthma came up as one symptom of low Vitamin D.
DD's Dr. said levels should be over 50.
Posted by ArtnSoul (Member # 4561) on :
Thanks Ellen101 - yes, breathing is a necessary isn't it? I'm taking the prednisone - just scared what it may do to my lyme situation...
Jane2904 - I do know that my vit. D is low - I didn't know about the asthma connection...found out mine was very low because of an unusual bone fracture. I have low bone density...
Even after all these years - it still amazes me how much lyme affects the human body...
I so appreciate everyone's advice and input - Thank you!
Posted by OtterJ (Member # 30701) on :
Art, i have asthma and take cortef for lack of cortisol-- this is a hydro cortisone, and have taken steroid bursts for asthma. If you need it, you need it. Try a steroid inhaler that has flutithisone as the steroid. It gets to the lung problem and then chemically falls apart so you don't get the body levels like oral steroids. I'm on one of those too. If you can't afford it, go to the GlaxoSmitKline website and get the patient assistance form and fill this out. It is called Flovent and is expensive if you have to pay for it over the counter. Other steroid inhalers are not as good, they don't work for me, and are less expensive. If you have blood parasites like babesia and/or bartonella they can deplete your iron-which binds oxygen- and you can get air hunger symptoms as well. I have had asthma since I was a baby and inherited the gene from both parents. If you need to breathe do the steroids.