My LLMD wrote me a script for this to take down a previous herx reaction. I made it out without it. I real feel terrible right now with severe neck tightness/swelling, head pressure, ear issues, etc. even after being off my Clindamycin/Quinine for 2 days.
I'm ready to pop the Prednisone and hope for relief. Any others do this for just 3 days? My LLMD's office said this is fine and they use this steroid therapy frequently.
Posted by dguy (Member # 8979) on :
I have, but only before I knew about the infection. It was the only time in the past 10 years I felt fairly well. If you are suffering with an immune system stuck in overdrive, steroids will turn that down, and you'll feel much better... meanwhile the infection will be allowed to grow/spread. I'd do steroids again only if the inflammation was so great that I was in danger of permanent damage from it.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Hmmmm. My LLMD encourages benadryl elixer (12.5mg) every four hours.
He also advocates backing off a bad herx.
I don't think prenisone is a good "alternative" for herxing.
I wouldn't take it.
There are other anti-inflammatories that don't have steroids in them (NSAIDs).
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Wow, scary. My LLMD is a world-class doc so I'm very surprised. Not sure what to believe. Treatment is SO frustrating!! Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
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Yes, your doctor IS a world-class LLMD. However, when a patient sounds like they are about to die with symptoms, it is safer for a doctor to err on the side of caution there and give you what might help
You are on potent antibiotic treatment - as Rx by this doctor. If you decide not to do that abx, do not then add the steroids.
Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions to the letter. Don't decide to stop this or that and then also take the steroids as you will not be protected.
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Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
What do you mean Keebler. My LLMD recommended to get off the Abx and take the Prednisone before.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
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Before - when? Have you done this at other times?
This LLMD that you've seen for just a month now, or the one you saw previously?
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Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
If backing off the abx gives you enough relief, personally, I'd stick with that.
Also, you might ask your LLMD about the Prednisone and talk about how it's usually counter-indicated in Lyme patients and pass on what he says. I'm sure he's educated on the matter and has some reasoning that might help us here.
Posted by lundeliz (Member # 10806) on :
Can someone please explain what sort of "permanent damage" can occur from taking steroids?
I was on Prednisone for 6 mos. for hypersensitivity pneumonitis. I was also on Zithromax. I wonder how I would know if I suffered any permanent damage?
I knew steroids were not a good idea, but I couldn't breathe! And my doctors at the time wouldn't give me any guidance, so I went with the pulmonologist's recommendations. It scares me when I think about it.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
Avoid the Prednisone at all cost. Let's put it this way. If the steroid is strong enough to substantially reduce your symptoms, then you know what it's reducing right? Your immune system. Your immune system is what is hyper-reacting (causing symptoms) to the trigger (dying bacteria, toxins etc).
So, avoid it at all cost. Use detoxifying treatments instead, and or stop treatment all together if it's just for the Lyme Disease.
Posted by AndrewInCA (Member # 2010) on :
I will NEVER NEVER NEVER take Prednisone again.
Taking some in January 2007 (I can't remember the dosage, but it was a short taper) brought out my Bartonella and Lyme after I was pretty much in remission and almost killed me. I am not exaggerating. The Prednisone Rx was for pain from an inflamed disc.
I went through one full year of hell, then six months of doing OK (barely), then relapsed again six months ago.
The Prednisone started it all. I can't believe your LLMD would write you an Rx for it.
There are many other options to reduce herx symptoms - charcoal, Benadryl, smilax - some LLMDs prescribe Trental for herxes.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Message well taken. I'm not going to question my LLMD. I'm going to try Benadryl (never have) and high-dose Ibuprofen. Charcoal (2 capsules daily) does little to nothing.
I've taken 2 500 mg tablets of Chlorella daily too and it does little to nothing.
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
well there you go.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
quote: Message well taken. I'm not going to question my LLMD. I'm going to try Benadryl (never have) and high-dose Ibuprofen. Charcoal (2 capsules daily) does little to nothing.
I've taken 2 500 mg tablets of Chlorella daily too and it does little to nothing.
Let us know how you do -- whether you take the Prednisone or not. I hope you feel better. Posted by cleo (Member # 6646) on :
What makes lyme so different from syphilis, whipple, tuberculosis or any other intracellular infection? All of these are sometims co-treated with prednisone to get the inflammation down to.. a. help the antibiotic get past the inflammation and into the cells. b. help the patient avoid serious damage.
History has shown that treating pneumonia with prednisone and abx help clear pneumonia. I agree not to take it for long periods of time without antibiotics. It just seems to me that short courses combined with abx would let patients stay on protocols that they otherwise could not handle.
Posted by dguy (Member # 8979) on :
Cleo - because there are other methods of reducing inflammation without turning down the immune system with steroids such as the -one meds and vitamin D.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
wow, a llmd who would prescibe steroids.
i wouldn't take those puppies unless i was bleeding out on the highway and even then if i was conscious, i'd tell them no....
i would really question my llmd if he told me to take those and then i'd just flat out tell him, no way.
done it before with other meds he prescribed and i'd dang sure do if he tried to give me steroids.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
In MY opinion....
A 3 day prescription for steroids is ok in this situation.
If you will read Dr. B's literature... and other stuff... it tells us it is not good to be on long term steroid use if we don't need to be.
And IF taking steroids... antibiotics should be done in conjunction with them.
Since Seek has been on antibiotics... some are still in the system.
Three days to bring down the inflammation and repair some of the herx damage that could be happening is a reasonable thing to do.
What if someone got poison ivy in their eyes? Or breathing was labored?
There are times when they are needed.
Would I take them?
No. Been there, done that.
But... I would also back off the meds hopefully before getting so bad I might need them.
Remember, herxing can kill... and it has.
If a doctor prescribes a medicine like that... it isn't really "cool" for any of us to tell their patient not to take it.
Each of us is different. As we want to be treated on an individual basis, so should we allow others to be also.
Just my opinion.... and I have a magic mirror.
Posted by pab (Member # 904) on :
I agree with Tincup. A 3 day script for steroids prescribed by a good LLMD should be OK.
My LLMD Ok'd my son taking 3 days of steroids when his wisdom teeth were surgically removed. He took one dose and it increased his intracranial pressure and he didn't take the rest.
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
The patients final choice should always rest with their own discretion. I never give opinions unless asked -- and everyone knows I'm not a health care provider.
Posted by jt345 (Member # 19638) on :
Hi
If Your Doc say's it's ok,then I 'd do it. But 60mgs,that is alot of pred. Are You sure it is 60?
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