LymeNet Flash: Is it back?

This is topic Is it back? in forum General Support at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by pdivi (Member # 7690) on :

I was diagnosed 14 months ago a week after noticing the bullseye rash, headaches, fever, and general lethargy. My doctor put me on a 4-week course of oral antibiotics and I started feeling better right away. By week two, all symptoms were gone. I have lived since then without any symptoms at all.

A few days ago, I started feeling the familiar symptoms -- headache, fever, lethargy. I am hoping it's just a flu, but what are the odds that the Lyme is back? Can the bug cause no symptoms for over a year then come back?

Posted by Linda LD (Member # 6663) on :

I hadn't been bit since I was a teenager and then after my immune system tanked (when I had babies) the damn BB came on...I had had it for years but just fought it off. The critter is just waiting for your body to get weak.

Posted by pdivi (Member # 7690) on :

Linda, what was the course of action when your symptoms reappeared? Did you treat aggressively to try to "wipe it out"? Is there even such a thing as completely eradicating the bacteria? When the bacteria persists without producing symptoms, does that mean it is dormant, or is it reproducing all the while and making future treatment more difficult?

I wish doctors weren't so divided over this disease. The docs. seem to be staking extreme positions to make a point, leaving it up to us to try and find the truth in all the politics.

Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :

quote:
Originally posted by pdivi:
The docs. seem to be staking extreme positions to make a point, leaving it up to us to try and find the truth in all the politics.

A truer statement was never made!

Probably your original treatment was by a regular doc, not an LLMD.

Probably your antibiotic wasn't a strong enough dose and likely should have been for a longer period to really really eradicate it.

LLMD's believe you should be on antibiotics a couple months AFTER your symptoms resolve, just to be sure your critters are "kilt off." :-) This doesn't guarantee no relapse, but gives you at least a little edge.

I'm sorry this has come back to visit.

Can you find an LLMD in your area to go consult with so you don't have to become weary of the "Lyme wars"? Because you're spot-on right; doctors DO feel they have to take an extreme position and it's our health that suffers. All of us here have stories!!

Hope you can find an LLMD so this can be your LAST relapse!!

Michelle M

Posted by Loribelle (Member # 6293) on :

"I wish doctors weren't so divided over this disease. The docs. seem to be staking extreme positions to make a point, leaving it up to us to try and find the truth in all the politics."

ahh, yes, pdivi. i think i can speak for MOST here on this one, and say "here, here, that is what we all want/NEED".

the controversary to the point of lack of treatment of sick patients (unwilling, or just plain scared doctors).... well, it is just beyond my own comprehension. :|