I'm in day 3 of being completely covered with hives. The regular doctor prescribed me 5 days worth of prednisone, but I've read that use of steroids is very bad for lyme due to suppression of the immune system. I stopped all antibiotics and supplements, so I'm afraid of unleashing the lyme now. I don't want my immune system to take a break!
Is five days of steroids ok, just to get rid of the hives? I'm not sure if it's worth it, but I don't know what else to do.
And I don't know what caused the allergy. I thought it was mold or B12, but now I'm suspecting Suprax. When will it be safe to be on antibiotics again?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
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Call your LLMD.
Especially since you've stopped all your abx, steroids could make lyme blossom and much harder to treat. Even ONE steroid shot or pill can cause some real damage from the lyme.
Is this a life-threatening situation? If so, of course, steroids may be the only way. But you need protection that only a LLMD would be able to guide you on.
More severe illness also results from other causes of weakened defenses, such as from severe stress, immunosuppressant medications, and severe intercurrent illnesses.
This is why steroids and other immunosuppressive medications are absolutely contraindicated in Lyme. This also includes intraarticular steroids.
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From page 12:
Excerpt:
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More evidence has accumulated indicating the severe detrimental effects of the concurrent use of immunosuppressants including steroids in the patient with active B. burgdorferi infection.
Never give steroids or any other immunosuppressant to any patient who may even remotely be suffering from Lyme, or serious, permanent damage may result, especially if given for anything greater than a short course.
If immunosuppressive therapy is absolutely necessary, then potent antibiotic treatment should begin at least 48 hours prior to the immunosuppressants.
Corticosteroids can last in the body for months, usually around 6 months. In many bacterial infections such as LD, damage can be done.
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Posted by backintherain (Member # 14385) on :
Thank you! I've been sitting here staring at the first pill wondering if I'm desperate enough to take it. But this isn't life threatening; just really really itchy.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
I agree that you should call your lyme doc and ask if you can take this med. I wouldn't take it if I were you.
Docs always give prednisone for hives. I had hives a lot in my lyme days. Before lyme, I only had them once. What's up with that?
Anyway, the prednisone gave me blurred vision so I couldn't even drive. So, dermatologist doc told me to take benedryl instead.
I took so much benedryl in the years I treated my lyme disease, I should have had stock in the company!
I also noticed that rough material made it worse, so I just wore the softest clothing I had. Dermatologist also gave me some anti-itch cream to use. I put it on constantly. It helped a little.
So, I survived all-body hives for months until I found out what the offender was.
Hope this helps you. I know how you are feeling. Send me a private message if you want to talk more about hives and what caused my various episodes.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
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Along the lines of what TF says about soft fabrics, all cotton is best. Synthetic fibers will be hot and not allow air circulation.
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Bendadryl sounds like a reasonable option.
Be sure whatever cream you might use is NOT a steroid cream. Even creams can get into the system and be detrimental to lyme patients.
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If you have a health market you might ask them about Stinging Nettle capsules as that can help calm an allergic reaction for me.
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For topical application:
Aloe gel (not with oil in it, though) can be soothing. Keep it in the fridge for that nice cooling touch. As long as you can keep the hives covered with aloe, they won't itch as much. You might even cover them with an aloe-moistened gauze or band-aid.
You might also check out "Sting Kill" - topical application: wipes or a capsule-like tube with a swab that you break open. It numbs the skin with benzocaine.
I would not use it on any skin that is open but if the skin is not, you might try it on one small area first. Keep the cotton tube around - it's good for a few hours if you keep the swab covered and moist.
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If at anytime, your breathing becomes labored or your heart beat does a dance, go to the ER. There are some emergency treatments that do not involve steroids.
Do not start back on Suprax - or any other abx in the same family - until you talk with your LLMD.
Also, do go over recent exposures that might be the key such as mold or a new food (or ingredient in food). Even a new toothpaste, or exposure to paint fumes, etc.
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From: The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook (Tillotson, et.al.)
I would not call it hives, but I get terrible itching too as part of my herx cycle. Rather than steroids, I apply a topical creme such as Lanacane. The itch doesn't go away, but it becomes tolerable.
Posted by paulieinct (Member # 17514) on :
Applying ice packs to the skin can help with intense itching.
Posted by backintherain (Member # 14385) on :
Thank you all for the advice! I'm finding the itching manageable with benedryl and distraction. I'm also trying quercetin.