I was bitten by a tick in late June. Got symptoms 10 days later, was tested positive for bb, was given 3 weeks of doxy. Symptoms went away in 2 days.
Since then I decided to see a LLMD just in case my symptoms retured. Even though I was symptom free at the time of my office visit, the LLMD gave me a prescription for a strong abx. I took it for a short period of time and quit, worried about what it would due to my system.
My ? is this: I do herbals, supplements, epsom salts baths, aerobics, and things to support my immune system. Should I expect more symptoms to resurface in the near future? Thanks
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(Breaking up your post for easier reading for many here)
[ 09-16-2015, 05:43 PM: Message edited by: Robin123 ]
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
There is a possibility that your lyme will resurface since you did not complete the full course of treatment ordered by your lyme doctor.
You don't say how long you took his treatment. "a short period of time" sounds like it was a pretty short period of time. So, you could definitely be in trouble later.
I say this because Dr. Burrascano, the #1 lyme doctor in the world before he retired, says that undertreated lyme infections will INEVITABLY resurface. See this quote from his Lyme Treatment Guidelines:
"GENERAL PRINCIPLES
In general, you can think of LB as having three categories: acute, early disseminated, and chronic. The sooner treatment is begun after the start of the infection, the higher the success rate. However, since it is easiest to cure early disease, this category of LB must be taken VERY seriously. Undertreated infections will inevitably resurface, usually as chronic Lyme, with its tremendous problems of morbidity and difficulty with diagnosis and treatment and high cost in every sense of the word. So, while the bulk of this document focuses of the more problematic chronic patient, strong emphasis is also placed on earlier stages of this illness where closest attention and care must be made." (page 3)
So, I would advise you to complete your treatment if at all possible.
The 3 weeks of doxy that you got initially from a non-lyme specialist is only half the dose that Burrascano says is needed to eradicate lyme. ( I am assuming that you were given 100 mg of doxy twice per day for 3 weeks. That is the standard treatment non-lyme docs are taught to give. Burrascano wants you to take 200 mg of doxy twice per day.)
And, 3 weeks is half the length of time Burrascano recommends for a case of lyme that is caught right away (like within the first week or so of the bite).
See pages 19 -20. Because you had symptoms other than the bulls eye rash (called "constitutional symptoms" in Burrascano), you are categorized as having disseminated disease. You fall under the category of "early disseminated." You were supposed to treat for 4 to 8 weeks beyond the point at which your symptoms went away. See this sentence:
"1) Adults: oral therapy until no active disease for 4 to 8 weeks (4-6 months typical)"
So, you got lousy lyme treatment at first, and then you stopped your good lyme treatment after a short period of time. That isn't good.
Burrascano's Guidelines tell you how to protect your gut. You take very high quality probiotics a few times per day (always 2 hours after antibiotics), and you eat the anti-yeast diet so as to avoid yeast overgrowth.
Also, the lyme doc can prescribe diflucan if you happen to get a yeast infection from the antibiotics. Jump right on that if it happens and the yeast infection should go away in a few days.
Do these things and you will not have to worry about your gut. I assume that is what you meant by "worried about what it would do to my system."
If you have not already done so, you really should study the Burrascano Guidelines to educate yourself about the disease that you have.
I would not take the chance that you took in stopping treatment early. Chronic lyme is so horrible, it is just not worth risking it.
Hope you can get back on track.
Also, aerobics are NOT the type of exercise to boost your immune system. Read it in Burrascano. It must be non-aerobic. Aerobics lower your immune system for too long a time. Read it in Burrascano starting on page 31.
Instead, he says the patient must do one continuous hour of weightlifting every other day. It must be a full body workout each time. This is what boosts the immune system. It definitely worked in my case.
Herbals and supplements may help you. Epsom salts baths help if you are low in magnesium.
Posted by matildabay (Member # 46661) on :
Yes I was given the 100 mg of doxy twice a day. I quit the harsh abx from the LLMD because being a senior I was concerned about liver, kidney and heart issues that were provided on the warning label. I did take a probiotic while on the abx.
Taking herbals from my acupuncturist she has seen an approvement when she checks my wrists for spleen activity. When she initially checked my tongue she did not see a whole lot of redness which she said was a good sign in the lyme patients she treats.
I did read Dr B's guideline, but somewhere else I read that aerobics were good for lymes because the spirochetes hate heat. I do weights as well along with yoga.
I am still following all of the LLMD's list of no bread, sugar, etc, lots of lemon water, detoxing with ginger root, cucumbers and mint, staying active, etc. magnesium malate and grapefruit seed extract are two of the supplements I am taking.
I am under the assumption that when lyme does resurface it can be months or years depending on ones immune system. I may or may not live that long to see this happen.
Thanks for your input.
Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
This is a tough question to answer since no two people are the same.
With that said, you were one of the lucky ones that KNOW when you were bitten and you got your treatment early on.
Most of us here, probably don't even remember the tick that got us and were sick for many, many years before finding out it was lyme and co's.
With that said, if you are symptom free...I would focus on eating right and staying active, which is sounds like you are doing.
Sadly if we all started worrying about the "what ifs", we would make ourselves crazy.
Everyone's immune system is different and perhaps your early detection makes you one of the lucky ones.
Good luck to you and do drop by now and then to keep us posted on how you do.
BTW, it is "Lyme"...no "s". Hugs to you!
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
The dietary rule of no bread, sugar, etc. is just when you are on antibiotics (which kill gut flora) so that you don't get yeast overgrowth in the gut.
Since you are not on antibiotics, you don't have to follow the anti-yeast diet. Read that page in Burrascano and see the reason for the diet.
Lots of lemon water is to detoxify you when you are killing lots of germs, such as by taking antibiotics.
If your acupuncturist has cured many people from lyme disease, then it might make sense to trust your health to her. If not, I would trust the lyme doctor.
It sounds like you are a person who cannot bring yourself to take antibiotics. I hope it turns out well for you.
Posted by Brussels (Member # 13480) on :
Many people cannot take antibiotics and still heal from very bad lyme disease. I'm one of them, and so is my daughter.
The damage some antibiotics do may take much longer to heal, believe me. Particularly candida, that can be very handicapping and mimic almost ALL of lyme symptoms, just to a milder degree.
Only acupuncture will not cure lyme in my opinion, but it will support the body much better than simply giving your body antibiotics, that kill as colateral damage, all the good bacteria that were exactly trying to PROTECT you against lyme and other infections, parasitic infections and helping you digest food.
I also use antibiotic only as a last resource.
A high dose of antibiotic will not warrant success, as they simply turn into cysts, then you need cyst treatment, then you need biofilm treatment, then candida comes and anyway, messes with your immunity, and your nutrition absorption.
I don't appreciate this policy of fear, some people implying sufferers must feel guilty for their decisions.
I did use antibiotics , and so did my daughter, after first bite. For my daughter, it took me months to recover her gut health after that. Months of pain.
I was dumb enough to do it again on her, after another bite. Just because of the policy of fear. Everybody said: that's the only way to avoid chronic lyme. And she got again same awful pains.
And she of course, got chronic lyme.
No way. That recipe does not work for everybody.
Now, we still get bitten, we never touch abx anymore. And we're lyme free, for the last 6 years.
So nope, don't feel guilty, just keep treating as you feel may help! Follow your gut!
Posted by matildabay (Member # 46661) on :
Brussels, I have to totally agree with you on this. I am not saying antibiotics work for some that have been misdiagnosed years ago, but I feel that alternative remedies are the way to go at my age. My LLMD now offers the BW herbal drops formula if I want to go that route if symptoms return. I am following my gut by still eating gluten free, sugar free foods and aerobic exercise daily even though I am not on antibiotics.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- matildaby,
As you are inclined to consider various options, if at all possible, please consult with an ILADS educated LL ND so you have a wider range of options than just the BW drops.
Now, those may be fine and good for some, yet it is important to work with someone trained and skilled beyond just this set.
When considering herbal / nutritional / adjunct methods, because lyme is so very complex & unique, as are possible coinfections:
if at all possible - because each person & each case is different - it's best to consult with an ILADS-educated LL ND (lyme literate naturopathic doctor) (or similar) who has completed four years of post-graduate medical education in the field of herbal and nutritional medicine -
- and someone who is current with ILADS' research & presentations, past and present, and has completed the ILADS Physician Training Program (see: www.ilads.org )
so they really know all they can about the science of lyme . . . how lyme (& other TBD) act and what we can do about that in various ways.
Many LL NDs incorporate antibiotics (depending upon the licensing laws in their state). Some LLMDs and LL NDs have good working relationships.
When possible, it's great to have both a LLMD and LL ND and even better when they have a long-standing professional relationship.
Herbal Safety considerations & reference books; etc.
Links to many articles and books by holistic-minded LL doctors of various degrees who all have this basic approach in common:
Understanding of the importance of addressing the infection(s) fully head-on with specific measures from all corners of medicine;
knowing which supplements have direct impact, which are only support and which are both.
You can compare and contrast many approaches with links to articles, books, methods . . .
BODY WORK methods / links (and why anyone who works on your spine MUST be LL to the degree they at least know to never suddenly twist neck or spine. Never. Ever. And that we should never be advised to do neck / head / shoulder stands.) -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- 1. Heat
You say that you "read that aerobics were good for lyme (omitting the "s") because the spirochetes hate heat." (end quote)
Heat can be very, very damaging for those with lyme. Even if you are symptom free, do not push heat. Spirochetes hate heat, yes. But this will trigger them to literally spring deeper into the body to avoid heat and also go into cyst form.
Do not push the heat, please. A human body cannot safely reach the temperature at which spirochetes would die, anyway.
If lyme may resurface, heat could be trigger.
Low heat infrared sauna - at the low heat intended can be excellent as can be warm & cozy baths for up to 20 minutes. Just do not get overheated.
2. aerobic exercise
Since you say you are symptom free, and you addressed lyme early (even if just with the IDSA issue doxycycline) . . . you may be one of the lucky ones.
It's good you consulted with a LLMD and do keep either / both LLMD / LL ND in your circle.
My note here is that you say you do "aerobic exercise daily"
Since you are symptom free, this may be very good for you. However, if at anytime, any symptoms pop up, lay off the "aerobic exercise" as that can be very dangerous for someone with active or persistent active infection.
It would then need to be non-aerobic exercise such as "weights as well along with yoga" that you already do. Just not power or that hot yoga. Gentle is good. Consistency is what matters most.
Just wanted you to have this key piece of information, just in case. Hopefully, with your attention to the situation - and with luck - you may be just fine from here on out. Hope so. -