posted
Hi everyone...I haven't posted for a while, but I get on here often just to keep up.
I have a question: I had a really bad case of poison ivy back in March
not just limited to my face but that was the worst....my right eye ended up swelling shut,
was trying every thing possible OTC but finally gave up.
My LLMD wasn't in to ask him about taking steroids even though... I can't really say that I had any Lyme symptoms. Some suspicious, but you know how you just chalk it up to getting older.
So I went to an urgent care and he did what I thought he was gonna do and prescribed Prednisone.
So after taking the prescription as directed...and after all the side affects I had with taking it...I still had poison on mostly my arms.... my face was back to normal.
So I did make an appointment with my LLMD. He said having poison as bad as I did on my face, I was between a rock and a hard place.
He perscribed a steroid cream to settle the poison on my arms.
So to make a short story long , I've been getting the same pains, the last week or so as I did during the early stages of being treated for lyme.
especially, the pain in between my shoulder blades and the left shoulder blade. Never had that type of pain before Lyme.
And was wondering if anyone thinks that it's because of the steroids?
And that now it has stirred everything up by suppressing my immune system.
I haven't been on Doxy since 2007.After many months on it.
Just wondering if anyone else had a similar experience. And wondering if I should go back on Antibiotics or if maybe try seeing a Alternative Lyme Practitioner?,OR maybe both.
your thoughts.
Posts: 158 | From PA. | Registered: Jul 2006
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- As you "between a rock and a hard place" and your eyesight was at risk - and the rash was voracious, of course steroids were important.
However, it will be absolutely impossible to know the answers to your questions about if steroid use might be causing a resurgence of lyme until you see a LLMD for their advice.
that you know the symptoms were before unique, that is a clue but, again, it's hard to know if it's because of the prednisone or it would have happened anyway. You did the only logical thing at the time, considering the situation.
Now, I hope you can get back with your LLMD to help you figure out what kind of actions you need to take now. Be sure to remind him of the prednisone & cream use . . . so he can better assess the symptoms and choices from here on.
If you have a sense that the prednisone / cream did affect you, keep that in mind and ask him what you might do if faced with a similar decision in the future. Along with certain lyme treatment, steroids during emergencies can work out okay.
And, it is still best to have on hand in in your mind other options, too. You might find a good LL ND to set up an emergency kit of sorts for if you come in contact with poison ivy again . . . to use immediately, etc.
Learn all you can about poison ivy, too, how it can spread . . . never burning it, etc. You may be more susceptible (not sure) so find out now. This kind of preparedness can also spread out to help with other things. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- You asked about whether to go back on antibiotics or see an alternative lyme practitioner.
For assessment, I would first go back to your LLMD as they got you better the first time and know your history, etc. You might also see if there is a good LL ND near you.
You might also consider some body work -- as the pain you describe could have other causes. But ONLY - ONLY - someone who is LL should touch you. Scroll about 3/4 of the way down in this thread to find the BODY WORK detail and why I say that is so very important for whomever works on your body to be LL.
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 . . . . -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Agree with Keebler.
In situations of extreme allergic reaction, sometimes steroids are the only way to prevent more serious injuries from occuring.
Best to seek your LL's advice regarding the return of old symptoms.
Perhaps the stress on your body from the inflammation caused by the poison ivy, was enough to cause a relapse.
Then the steroids on top of everything...
Def time to see an LL to put a stop to the return of the familiar symptoms.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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, I've been getting the same pains, the last week or so as I did during the early stages of being treated for lyme.
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