There is a thread at the top of General that has success stories.
Yes, there is hope. I am not in remission yet, but once in a while I have a really good day. That has been after two years. Everyone's story is different...but faith in God and hope is the key to healing, IMHO.
-------------------- God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there.
Billy Graham Posts: 1967 | From California | Registered: Oct 2010
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I have been sick for at least 10 years and have treated off and on for 7.
I get feeling very close to 100%, go off abx.s, and at about 3-4 months I relapse and/or get re-infected.
With that said, even during relapses I am better now then I was years ago, but still seem to only get 4 months max. before I need to be back on abx.
I do alot of complimentary stuff as well for yeast, parasites, detox etc... so I do not know what else to do but get another opinion.
When I have those good months I do have faith and hope but it is hard to keep it when you get sick again..a rollarcoaster ride.
Posts: 151 | From North East | Registered: May 2011
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posted
i'll know soon enough i guess. i stopped abx 2 weeks ago. waiting on my cd 57 test now. however, i was only sick for 6 months before i started treatment, that makes a big difference. i was on abx for 8 months.
Posts: 236 | From Zionsville IN | Registered: Jan 2011
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
I haven't taken antibiotics or any other type of treatment, supplement, etc. for over 6 1/2 years.
When the doc said my treatment was complete, that was it. I am still symptom-free, enjoying my life after all this time.
The doc you are going to puts folks on "maintenance antibiotics" as he calls it. He has them take meds one week per month for 2 years after his 2 years of full-time antibiotics. He also doesn't believe that lyme can be cured.
He has his own protocol which is quite different from the Burrascano protocol. With a Burrascano type doctor, the goal is to complete treatment. However, a few folks will have to stay on meds forever, like the 1 week per month. But, with Burrascano, the vast majority of patients finish antibiotics at some point and are done with treatment.
I have 3 other friends who went to Burrascano type doctors that I recommend and they completed their treatment a number of years ago and don't take any meds anymore either.
Only one of my friends has to take meds forever, 1 week per month. Her case was long-standing and earned her Social Security disability benefits in her early 50s.
So, the answer depends an awful lot on the views of the doctor and the doctor's protocol. I believe in aiming to finish treatment and go on with your life at some point.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Actually, mine ended me before I ended it - it stopped working after five years. Now I'm doing Buhner herbs and liking them.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Faithful's doctor is my doc as well and I don't believe he thinks that lyme cannot be cured. He told me he believes I will be in treatment 2.5 - 3 years. Of course, he can never guarantee that, but based on his experience with his thousands of lyme patients, I tend to think he can make an educated guess. He also gets the sickest patients that even Burrascano-type doctors send to him afer they cannot be of help. So perhaps out of that group of people (the sickest of the sick), a cure might be harder for him to achieve.
I have a handful of neighbors that claim he saved their lives and they are no longer on antibiotics, loving life. It took them quite a while though to come off antibiotics fully. One took 7 years of treatment (extremely ill) and a few others took 5 years. I know a little boy who went to him and he was in treatment for 3 years and is now off antibiotics and doing great. He seems "cured" to me. In addition, Mandy on UOS is no longer on antibiotics and is doing great because of this Dr.
Therefore, our Dr. sees cured or pretty close to it patients all the time. He sees tougher cases too that will require maintenance antibiotics of 3 days per month for life.
It is a journey and it can be easier for some to recover, but I believe (for me and my friends who are still struggling too) it will end happily. The power of positive thinking can do wonders. Even if I have to take 3 days of antibiotics per month for the rest of my life, but am feeling normal or close to normal, I will be so grateful!
Posts: 618 | From NC | Registered: Oct 2009
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posted
I am grateful to faithful's dr. I was in the hospital all of last October and suffering from gastroperisis and pancreatitis. I was basically starving to death bc I couldn't eat. I would of died without this dr. I was in really bad shape. I never gave up hope and you want to know something this dr. J has never given up hope as well.
If I need abx for a long time for my children to have their mom back.....I will gladly take them. I couldn't lift my head up, think, , eat, function.....and you I am now a new person. I woke up this morning and drove them to school.....a task I couldn't do this time last year.
I am almost T the top of Mt. everest.... I am getting there.
Faithful....I am thinking and praying for you.
-------------------- gatorade girl
"I still have Mt.Everest to climb, but I have traveled across the world and arrived at the mountain". Posts: 633 | From baltimore | Registered: Mar 2010
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
Yes, you do eventually get off if you find all the intricate details that are keeping you as sick as you are. You'll find there is a transition period where you'll no longer need antibiotics but your health may not be good -- the issue is whether going without antibiotics makes you sicker. Once you come to that spot, you may find there are details like Heavy Metals, or infections with parasites, or adrenal, thyroid, or hypo-pituitary issues, etc.
So yeah, eventually, but that can be anywhere from a couple years to a decade or more. It depends how fast you move through all the treatment options.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
lyme in Putnam
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11561
posted
My fault. I did Iv, stayed on orals, when in a great place, got off thinking that was it, it was over. That was on nov. 09. Have desperately trying since, doing same thing and got worse. If I have to take antibiotics, provided I get in remission, I'll take them for ad long as I'm around rather not to get in this place again. I value life too much and thought I was free. I was wrong.
-------------------- He took u to it, He'll you through Posts: 2837 | From NE. | Registered: Apr 2007
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Brussels
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13480
posted
It took me 4 years to get to full remission. Of course, lots of trials and treatments but I'm glad to have reached where I am. My dauhgter, it took her about 3 years but she relapsed, then now again in remission for about 1.5 year. No meds, no lyme treatment.
Killing only will never put your lyme in remission for very long. At least, not for us. Lots of other things must be addressed to keep lyme in remission, in my opinion.
Teeth, heavy metals (KPU), cavitations, toxins, emotional trauma, scars, other infections, leaky gut or similar conditions, hormone disfunction, allergies... At least, I did that hoping that I won't relapse again. It is working so far (as I'm aiming my 3rd year treatment free, symptom free).
Keep on going, never give up, just be open to new ideas as unexpected treatments can give good results. Posts: 6199 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
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Lauralyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15021
posted
I've been off abx for a year and I am feeling well. I am still treating parasites with herbs though.
-------------------- Fall down seven times, get up eight ~Japanese proverb Posts: 1146 | From west coast | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
Don't know. I had IV rocephin for 3 mo. pulsed with flagyl. Insurance cut me off. Had a few months of oral ceftin prior to IV. No treatment for several years. Then I had oral biaxin+sometimes doxy sometimes mino for 4 years straight. After the 1st year and 1/2 I started getting better and better, then I got worse and doc wouldn't change my regimen or anything. I stuck with it and continued worsening. SO, I stopped all abx for about 2 weeks.
Wow, my joint pain was horrific, so I went back on mino. I recently ramped up on a version of salt/C as well. I am now feeling as good or better than I was taking biaxin/doxy/valtrex/lots of supplements.
I don't have the answers, just sharing my experience. I need a new doc but really can't afford it.
-------------------- One day at a time Posts: 409 | From TX | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
I heard that some LLMD's leave their patients on a maintenance dose of antibiotics. They prescribe one week of abx a month as a preventive measure.
Glad to hear that many actually do get off abx.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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