Topic: Who has asked their LLMD if they can take a break from abx?
Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
I am considering doing this.
I know people who see a certain LLMD take breaks as part of the protocol, but I am not talking about that kind of a thing.....just talking about an indefinite break from "treatment fatigue."
What did your doctor say? I had one LLMD that was supportive of this idea when I brought it up. Don't know what my current one would say.
Basically, I am not doing well on my new set of antibiotics....getting worse by the day. It doesn't seem like a herx. So I figure it can't get any worse. And then why would I go back on what was helping before.....if I was on it so long and this is what happened when I went off?
I would continue the slew of herbals I'm on....a combo of Buhner, Cowden, and others.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Anyone?
I am also thinking of just trying to go back on what antibiotics I know help me, and then staying on them a little longer, then stopping them. Not much logic there, but I can't just keep doing what I am doing.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
Yes! I did it with our LLMD, Hoosier. Well, I didn't ask him, just told him really. He is very laid back and ok. I'm sure he'd be fine with it.
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
CD57,
Thanks! That is good to hear. Was this recently, like within the last 6 months or so? Just wondering...I haven't heard much about how you are doing.
How did the break turn out? Is that the point when you switched LLMDs?
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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BoxerMom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25251
posted
CaliHoos - You need to do whatever it takes to continue treatment until you are well. If that means a break from antibiotics, then take one.
Your microbes will multiply. That's what they do. But you won't lose much ground in your treatment with a short break.
And, you won't be herxing as hard, so fewer toxins to clean up. You'll probably feel significantly better.
I've taken several short abx breaks during my treatment. None were recommended by my LLND. I think two were because of side effects of meds. Two were by choice because I was travelling.
All were much-needed "mental health" breaks from intense med/supplement regimens and exhausting herxes!
It's always difficult to ramp up on meds again after a short break, but I always do it. And I don't think my progress has been hampered at all.
You've been at this long enough to know what works for you. I know you have a new doc, but you know best what works for you.
What makes you think you are getting worse and not herxing?
Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Does your doctor know how bad you are feeling?
I would definitely talk to your doctor about this and about wanting to take a break.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
my 2 cents Hoosiers.....I have been in tx for 3 years...recently is the best i have felt after having taken over a one month break from abx.
and then continuing with pulsed therapy...I am pulsing IV Invanz/ Tindamax.. 2 weeks on 2 weeks off.
On the off weeks i have the choice of doing nothing, de-yeasting or treating with levaquin/rifampin.
the only consistent thing is the Invanz/tindamax.
this past week i have done more activity than i have in 3 years! PHYSICAL.... i feel better!
the oddest part is that emotionally I am a wreck, not from this illness..
I thought that b/c of the emotional upheaval i would go down hill physically, not so.
So, for me, the abx break seems to have worked...fingers crossed. tomorrow i may be singing a different tune...
I think at times our immune systems need to see what they can do on their own...plus giving our filtering organs a break.
best, Feelfit
[ 08-01-2010, 09:20 AM: Message edited by: feelfit ]
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Thanks for the replies. I am thinking it all over. You guys are helping me just bounce ideas around.
BoxerMom,
Good point. I really don't know it's not a herx. In a way, I think I was secretly hoping I'm done treating Lyme. (wouldn't be nice if that was just a matter of hoping?)
But now I'm starting to consider more deeply it could be a herx. I didn't really get headaches, which is my typical herx tell-tale symptom, so that's why I was thinking not.
But then, I'm just noticing today that my bad dark circles around my eyes are slightly better.....which also happened with Levaquin, which I had to stop for tendon issues. So I'm wondering if the Factive could be thanked for that. So maybe something good is happening.
Overall though, I feel worse.....but I think I'm just going to have to give it more time. AND, I am going to ask my LLMD before making any decisions. But getting you guys' input has been good.
Feelfit,
So sorry to hear. I'm glad the breaks are working out for you, but sorry you are going through a rough time. You'll be in my prayers.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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BoxerMom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25251
posted
CaliHoos -
I am going through the same process - hoping to be done or nearly done.
I just went through a med change and am herxing like crazy again. Lots of pain, which is not typical for me. Headaches and fatigue, which are very typical for me. And my apnea, which was much improved, is worsening.
Who ever knows when we'll be done with treatment? We're done when we're done.
posted
Hoosier, My LLMD and I agreed I was due for a break, even though I had not plateaued, and wasn't symptom free.
I went on maintenance: Samento/Cumanda 12 day switch off, plus grapefruit seed extract. The symptoms continued to improve for awhile, and my energy improved, and then, slowly, the symptoms started coming back. I'm now on minocycline with the grapefruit seed.
I have 2 detox blockages: methylation and sulfuric. I'm seeing that my struggle will be to keep the toxins flowing out, no matter what treatment I'm on. My husband tests positive for lyme, but has remained healthy for years.
The more I work at detoxing, the better I feel. I hope this 2nd round of ABX will be my last, but having said that, it hasn't been bad at all for me. I hardly herx. I think it's because the infections are at a low level, and my body is able to keep the toxins that are released moving on out.
Also, I'm on a softer ABX than before, or I should say, I used to be on multiple ABX, plus meds for Babs, and Bart...
BoxerMom is right, who knows what road we all need to take? Even the most experienced LLMDs are still learning off the seat of their pants.
Wish I could hand out "improvement" gift cards to you all...
Posts: 552 | From New Mexico, USA | Registered: May 2007
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
I pretty much treat myself - the GP gave me a years worth of abx and said I didn't even need a liver test. . .
I was having a lot of trouble sleeping so I decided to take breaks from the abx so my body could rest. Insomnia is a side effect, not a herx. I did the abx four days a week with three days off. I did this for about 6 weeks and then started to feel the bart coming back on again, starting with headaches. So this week I am using the abx full time.
You might try little breaks to see how you respond. For the most part I could be well but I know I'm not. I had muscle twitching the other day which I haven't had in months, and also pain in my bladder. You have to be very careful when you take breaks from bart treatment because you relapse so quickly. I don't think the herbs do any good, not for me anyway.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
I took 8 days off antibiotics to get my candida under control. I felt pretty good for a week since I was no longer having nausea from doxy, and then on the last day or two, I started to feel Lyme symptoms again.
I got back on doxy right away, and expected a possible herx on the third day but didn't get one. Within a couple of weeks, I had the 3 best days I've ever had since I got sick. I had tons of energy and ran around town shopping and did a bunch of cleaning at home, and didn't crash afterwards.
The next day after that, I woke up in pain and I've felt pretty bad for the last 8 days in a row. Not severe crash bad, though. Maybe mild herx bad. Today is better than it was, so maybe it's about over.
I was afraid that the 8-day break might set me back, but I think it has actually given me a little advance. I would ask your doctor first, though.
-------------------- Don't forget to laugh! And when you're going through hell, keep going!
Bitten 5/25/2009 in Perry County, Indiana. Diagnosed by LLMD 12/2/2009. Posts: 756 | From Inside the tunnel | Registered: Jan 2010
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Your LLMD is very good at coming up with soltions. Why not discuss it at your next appointment?
Take input from LLMD and then decide what is best.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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