Topic: Question about being off of all abx for YEARS
Just Julie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1119
posted
Hey all, I have not posted a medical question, or a question asking about taking antibiotics, in oh, probably 3-4 years now.
But---I think I'm going to be looking at taking an antibiotic in one form or another, come Tuesday, after the holiday.
I have an ahem, "female problem", ahem, "down there". It is noticable, and upong looking it up on the internet, as I have been trained to do for the past 7 years now (lol), I am probably going to be told by my gynecologist (sorry guys, no need to read further if you've gotten this far) that I will need either zithromycin, Flagyl, or doxy.
Can't wait. not.
My question is: if I do take some antibiotic of one form or another, do you think, or has anyone else had this experience, where, they've not taken ONE SINGLE ABX for YEARS, and then taken one type for something unrelated to lyme, and had a flare up of old symptoms?
I think this type of question is one that hasn't been asked, or addressed, at least lately. I'd do a search, but my question is pretty specific, and kind of multi-faceted.
Put another way: (maybe more sucinctly;)
If I take a short course of an abx for my "female problem" do you think I'll have a flare up of old lyme symptoms? Will taking abx, CAUSE old lyme symptoms to return? I am currently pretty symptom free. Only thing I have that has never left me is muscle twitching, and that is not an everyday thing.
HOpe this makes sense. Thanks everyone.
-------------------- Julie Posts: 1027 | From Northern CA | Registered: May 2001
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Just Julie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1119
posted
Anyone? I'm hoping it's just that everyone's gone for the holiday weekend (no replies). Thanks!
-------------------- Julie Posts: 1027 | From Northern CA | Registered: May 2001
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cantgiveupyet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8165
posted
I was just put on doxy 100mg a day for 14 days for another infection. I wasnt on abx for a year, still have symptoms. I havent herxed at all, and when I was very sick in 2005 i couldnt tolerate doxy.
Im not sure what to make of this myself.
I know usually the dose for other infections is lower than a lyme dose, so you might not stir it up.
-------------------- "Say it straight simple and with a smile."
"Thus the task is, not so much to see what no one has seen yet, But to think what nobody has thought yet, About what everybody sees."
-Schopenhauer
pos babs, bart, igenex WB igm/igg Posts: 3156 | From Lyme limbo | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
I'm almost sure your lyme bacteria will be affected. You'll get your symptoms back as they are getting damaged.
I would ask for abx which is as least effective for lyme as possible (Maybe lower dose too?). Your other bacteria will be killed much easier (Unless the bacteria is especially tough?) than the lyme. You should try to take advantage of that fact to try and selectively kill off your other infection(s) first?
I took abx before I knew I had it (Lyme)...got real sick trying to kill off a different illness.
Posts: 269 | From Valencia, CA | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
I didn't know I had Lyme for about 30 years. In 2003 I had a few symptoms, but not enough to realize I was sick.
I got sick with something else, took 21 days of doxy, and never got better, except from the other, acute illness.
I was also under a lot of stress at the time, and stress had triggered symptoms in the past, too, so I don't know which one stirred up the Lyme.
Maybe there's an alternative for your female problem?
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
This is from before treatment, not afterwards, but it might give some light.
I was undiagnosed for 17 years. For a large period of time, my Lyme seemed to be in a natural remission.
I had been on abx many times during that period of time, for upper respiratory infections and UTIs, and never had what I would look back on as a flare. In fact, each time, the abx made me feel better.
After a few months off abx, I had a clear Lyme herx from Cipro. But my symptoms were increasing already anyway, and it was clear I needed to be on abx.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
I know that for Babesiosis I was worried about that when I went to India for a month for fun and knew I would be taking LARIAM!!! But it was absolutely side effect and ysmptom free- no side effects- at all- which makes me wonder if they are Herxes for most people- no nothing!!!
Re Lyme I don't know- but for me with Babs- no problem*)!!!!!!!!!
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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Just Julie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1119
posted
Thanks you guys. Really!
I was telling myself when I saw no replies at first today, that maybe that is my "answer". Maybe I would get kinda wiggy if I found a clear cut yes or no.
but, gave it some time, and look, now there's some replies, and I appreciate you all for taking time to help me. This board has always been like that for me---I'm always in wonderment when someone else, somewhere, has an answer (not a yes or a no one either, just AN ANSWER)that corresponds to what I need.
Did I ever mention that every single symptom that I've ever had, someone else has posted to having too? That is also such a comfort!
With my internet doctor education (google) I found that I may be offered doxy, zithromax, or the dreaded FLAGYL. I took Flagyl, and got peripheral neuropathies with it, and that wigged me out. Because it didnt' go away for sometime after stopping taking it.
I can't take doxy, I think, after 3 different go-rounds taking it, I developed extreme sun poisoning (red, bumpy rash on knuckles of hands, in the winter, from driving) and severe head pressure.
So, maybe that will leave me with taking Zitromax, I can't remember what/if that did to or for me. I hope I have a choice! I guess the lab pathology on my "female thing" will dictate what my gynecologist will have to say will fix me.
Incredibly, I have not had an illness (garden variety) such as upper resp. infection, infection from cuts, etc. that have had me be required to take abx for in these past 3-4 years of taking NO ANTIBIOTICS AT ALL and neither have either of my 2 sons, who have/had lyme as well, and took abx continuously for 3 years.
In the back of my mind, this situation always came up in my thought processes, like what would I do? Tough it out, not take any abx, or take them and hope for the best?
In this case, it looks like (from my reading) thata I will need to take them.
I'll try not to get too freaked out, and I will definitely post my results, maybe it will help someone else out.
Thanks Sarah, I appreciate your detailed feedback on Lariam and babs, hope this won't result in my having to make any trips back to Dr. S!
-------------------- Julie Posts: 1027 | From Northern CA | Registered: May 2001
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Julie,
I want to thank you for posting, because I'm hoping, five years from now, I can say I've been of abx for 3-4 years.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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and have had to take abx for 2 or 3 sinus infections during that time.![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
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