Is treating chronic lyme worth the risk that the antibiotics do to your body? The herxing and all the other things. Do treatments really work or just put you in remission for awhile.. My doc told me no promises..
So discouraged
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Not understanding why people keep raising this question. If you had TB, would you treat it? If you had AIDS, would you treat it? Those meds have worse side effects, but people don't say, "Well, the medicine is worse than the disease, I think I'll just stay sick."
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Phyl,
You have received dozens of solid medical articles over the past few days/weeks. I hope you are able to sort through those.
Do you know that lyme can be fatal? It can. It can put people in wheelchairs and destroy the ability to be around others due to the damage to your brain, ears, eyes, energy level, etc.
Yes, I see that you are discouraged. I can tell you this in all certainly. You are not nearly as discouraged as you may be in months and years to come if you ignore this.
In addition to all the detail about what untreated lyme can do, you also received tons of articles and book links detailing what can help to make treatment as safe as possible.
Please look back over that. This is vre complex but there are many ways to support your body so that treatment can do what it needs to do to help you have a chance at a life.
You can run (maybe for now) but you can't hide for long. Facing this head on - walking through it with all the support possible - is the preferred way to proceed. It takes courage and it's not going to be fun or easy but we all have to face the facts and decide if we are going to run and hide or stand up and claim life.
It's good that your doctor gives you no promises. There are no guarantees as lyme is such a powerful force. However for those who have treated, most get better. As you know, there is no cure but many have achieved good, solid remissions and if they flare and get right on it, it's a minor blimp on the screen.
Please give it a chance. Believe me, borrelia, itself, causes more damage than any treatment. Go back to the ND link (in your other threads) and you will find many good ways to support your body during treatment. -
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
What's the alternative?
Giving up?
Never considered it.
Fight the good fight. Never give up.
Posted by Turtle1977 (Member # 26979) on :
That is a question that I think each person can only answer for themselves. It depends on how it has affected your life and how you are dealing with it.
As for me, I say, "what have I got to lose?" I feel like I have no kind of life right now and if there is any hope to once again enjoy some of what life does offer instead of being isolated from the rest of the world, then I am going to continue to fight for the right to do whatever it takes to make sure that hope has a chance to become a reality!
Posted by onbam (Member # 23758) on :
Unfortunately, it is the only option. Not treating, there is a promise: that you will end up utterly disabled and, there is a decent chance, dead.
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
Haven't read what the others wrote...but feel it is something each of need to decide as it is our body we are messing with.
I concluded it was after doing what you are now doing...gathering information and making your own decision.
Posted by lululymemom (Member # 26405) on :
If you are having second thoughts about abx why not try Byron White Herbs.. They are fairly new but very promising studies have come out.
Please don't be scared off by herxes and potential side effects. You were obviously sick enough to seek the opinion of a trusted doctor. You followed through with their advice to get tested. Now you know why you don't feel good. You are lucky that you know why. You have the option to treat and get better and live your life.