Today is the day that I stop Doxy. The photosensitivity has been really bad and my children are so excited that I will be able to be outside with them again.
How long before the photosensitivity is gone?
Thanks!
Lily
Posted by lymie tony z (Member # 5130) on :
Sorry to tell you dear that photosensitivity is a lyme disease symptom and you're not going to get rid of it by NOT taking your anti-biotics.
Changeing your family of ABX will alter your SUN SENSATIVITY...which is probably what you meant in the first place.
Right?
zman
Posted by Lily (Member # 13158) on :
I did not have the photosensitivity prior to treatment although the Lyme was present. The burning when in the sun started literally the day after I started Doxy. LLMD said that it was the Doxy causing it.
All Lyme symptoms are gone and have been for a little while. We are stopping the ABX this week. Doxy is the first to go.
Anyone have this photosensitivity with Doxy? Did it end when you stopped it? How long did it take?
I'm sure some experience the photosensitivity simply as a result of the Lyme. For me, however, it seems directly related to the Doxy.
Lily
Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
Lily,
Yes, Doxy is one of the abx that is sun sensitive. I've been on a few of them during my treatment protocol and know that's why most LLMD's will only use Doxy and sun sensitive drugs during the winter months.
I'm glad you will finally be getting off it and only writing to say that yes, it is indeed sun sensitve, but I personally don't know how long you have to go to have it out of your system.
I'm on it currently and would like to know the answer as well.
I know that someone will be along very very quickly with the answer on this one.
Cathy
Posted by joysie (Member # 11063) on :
My hands, lower arms and face still burned, with sunscreen, 3 weeks after being off doxy. I felt like it took about 5 weeks to return to normal.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
My PA had me get off my minocycline for three days before I went to Florida. I think it's a matter of days for it to get out of your system.
But, keep in mind Josie's experience! Test it for yourself.
Congratulations on being symptom-free and getting off the meds!!! I'm getting closer myself .... Posted by Lily (Member # 13158) on :
Hi Cave,
Don't worry...LLMD told me to get off of Doxy! Thanks for the concern. I've been on it for 3 months. Actually, we are stopping all antibiotics. I am, in fact, symptom free I will also stop amox. a few days later.
It has been hard, being in Florida and being so photosensitive. My kids play soccer and swim on a competitive swim team. Me, well, I can burn just walking to the car to put on my mask and gloves! So, you can imagine how excited I am!
Still, if LLMD said to stay on it, I would.
Lily
Posted by Lily (Member # 13158) on :
sixgoofykids,
I hope my experience takes as little time as yours (the doxy/sunlight experience, that is). However, I will keep in mind the previous post.
I hope you get off the meds soon!
Lily
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
This is a good post as my husband wants to go to Florida, but I told him I can't because I'm on doxycyline.
Lily, I'm so glad you are much better. If I remember, you were a patient of my LLMD, Dr. C., too. So, he could possibly have me off of ABX after 3 months. However, I'm still herxing and having symptoms. I don't think I'm doing as well as you. He started me on zith, and I'm getting worse. I could never tolerate much of the amoxicillin. We're all different.
God bless, CherylSue
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
The half life of doxy is 24-36 hours.
You should be able to go out in the sun without getting burned by tomorrow.
Make sure you are taking something else.....don't just stop treatment.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Lily (Member # 13158) on :
Thanks Geneal,
I hope my sun tolerance returns that quickly. I was burning with big hats and sunblock. I resorted to a mask. Looked like I was robbing a bank!
Actually, I am stopping treatment as per LLMD.
Were you meaning natural remedies?
If so, I'm open to suggestions.
Thanks,
Lily
Posted by sparkle7 (Member # 10397) on :
I decided to go off abx for a while. I'm not cured by any means.
I haven't completely ruled them out but I'm just not convinced that they are the answer for me.
I am going to start the Cowden protocol soon. My doctor is working with me to do a limited version.
I think many people have good results with it & it's easier to follow than the other herbal protocols.
You can purchase all the herbal preparations from one site & it has all the directions on how to do it.
The herbs are separate. You can stop taking them if you have a bad reaction to any of them individually.
I've never heard that people get photosensitive from Lyme.
Maybe it's harder to see due to light sensitivity from Lyme affecting your eyes but not getting a sunburn easier.
I guess it's possible but I haven't heard or read anything about it.
It's probably a good idea to use a "natural" sunscreen. They put alot of chemicals in most commercial varieties that are not tested for safety.
my sun sensitivity seems to have diminished with time. The first year I sunburned in February through the car window. I'm careful, but I can now garden in summer without gloves for a while without getting burned. Mostly I cover up, though. almost 20 years on doxy this year.
Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :
Congratulations, I hope the wellness stays with you! The LLMD I've recently been going to had recommended Stephen Harrod Buhner's book - Healing Lyme. It has a lot of herbal stuff in it.
I haven't finished reading it or implemented anything yet, but I really was impressed by his research and the info provided in the forward, introduction and the first chapter.
He believes that ABX are needed with Borrelial infections (he's usually anti-antibiotic unless infection would result in death or disability, Bb certainly qualifies ), however he believes herbs can also be helpful.
I believe I was just getting to something in there about herbs for prevention, so I'd imagine there's probably a recommendation somewhere to prevent relapse. (don't know for certain yet)
TonyZ- I'm not sure, but I think you might be confusing photosensitivity with photophobia?
I used to do that a lot, until Doxy burned the heck out of me this summer (blistered the skin right off my fingers just from driving), then I started getting them right. I only had this on Doxy.
Photosensitivity = easily sunburned, even through windshields (UVA/UVB makes no difference). (Neutrogena makes SPF 70. It was the ONLY one that kept me from blistering and I think I tried about 10 before I found it .
Well, I guess there is not one answer. For me, it appears that the photosensitivity is going away or it may even be gone.
I took my mask off while driving and I did not burn. I am still wearing the heavy sunblock. However,I was burning even with the sunblock if I was not covered. I stayed outside for 10 minutes yesterday and did not burn.
So, I am going to wait for the longer exposures as I keep tryin gthis out. But, it may in fact be gone. The burns were just so bad that I do not want to chance it.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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), however he believes herbs can also be helpful. ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
(blistered the skin right off my fingers just from driving), then I started getting them right. I only had this on Doxy.![[Cool]](cool.gif)
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