posted
So many of you know I have had an extreme weight loss. After speaking to my Rheumy he "sort of" suggested I try taking a week off abx to see if I would feel better.
Now I know its not my LLMD suggesting this bu he is near impossible to get ahold of, so I think I will just go ahead and do it and see what happens.
I was wondering what any of you think about this? Is it stupid to attempt, or maybe will it do me some good? Been on Biaxin ER 1000mg and plaquenil 400mg daily for 5 months now.
Will I be taking a big step back by stopping for a week or does this sound OK?
Son's blog born at 24 weeks. Posts: 356 | From massachusetts | Registered: Jan 2009
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Cindy Ss
Unregistered
posted
Hi Erika,
I'm new to this Lyme thing and only on abx for 5th week but I just reread all of my ino from LLMD and it stated that the Lyme grows so slowly that taking 3-6 days off abx for your body to catch up is better than keeping your body in the run down.
I thought the same thing but had to stop my abx for just 2 days until I felt better. I just startted it yesterday and if I feel bad again I will give it another rest for a day or more.
According the LLMD this is called pulsing and I feel like it is a good thing. Especially since you have been on abx for so long.
HOpe this helps, just my thoughts, we will see what other more experienced folks say...
posted
I don't think taking a few days off to see what's bothering you will affect you negatively. Use it for a time of detox.
Cindy, be careful stopping and starting like that. The abx need to get up to full potency when pulsing so that you don't encourage resistance. For example, I couldn't tolerate the full dose of zithromax, but my LLMD didn't want me to break the pills in half. Instead, he had me take it three days in a row to build it up, then stop for four days.
Taking meds for one day like that might not get them up to a high enough potency in your system. You might want to run that by your LLMD. His "3-6 day break" may not mean it's okay to stop and start like that.
Abx will make you feel bad in the beginning before you start seeing improvement. Really focus on detox.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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Son's blog born at 24 weeks. Posts: 356 | From massachusetts | Registered: Jan 2009
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
Definetly take a break! I have been in treatment for 15 months. I took a 1 month break after treating for 4 months. Then I recently just started back on treatment after taking an almost 3 month break(that is a long story and not really relevant to this). 3 months is a bad idea!
I was not in remission either time. But I feel better when I first get off antibiotics. However, it takes a couple of weeks to get them out of your system, so 1 week most likely won't be long enough. I usually feel better after being off of them about 2 weeks.
Of course everyone is different. Some people swear they feel worse in a day or two, but I have not experienced that.
I also just skipped my doxy for 3 days due to throat and esophagal issues. I didn't notice feeling any change for the better or the worse in those 3 days.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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Cindy Ss
Unregistered
posted
Yes thanks I will run it by LLMD again, I only spoke with nurse and she told me to take a few days off but I had been on DOxi for 4 weeks and had begun Ceftin with pretty severe anxiety herx after 4th day.
I did take 2 days off and am continuing the ceftin. It feels like elctricity is running in my body and xanax really doesn't help relieve too much.
I have received so much information from my LLMD that it all runs together at times. That was what I got out of it was tht as long as you were taking them if you had to pulse it was fine.
Maybe he was only speaking of the really tuff abx to take. Haven't gotten their yet...
Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
B12 IM really helps with the electric feeling. It works fast and a big relief for me.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
erika this has been my worst symptom, loss of appetite, and i think it has caused the anxiety and depression that has seemed to come around in the last 2 months.
i have lost 15 pounds in 3 weeks. i do force myself to eat and seem to be able to maintain this lower wegith right now.
i too think about stopping my abx every day(iv zithromax) but then still do it(been only 2 weeks) i sometimes think the abx are the root of my problem(was on amoxy for a month, doxy for a week and cedax for ten days pprior to the iv)
there is nothing more scarey and depressing than not wanting to eat.
goodluck, i will follow your posts to see how you do off the antibiotics.
oh, in the last 2 months the only time my apppetite got better was when i was off the antibiotics but i always went back on following drs orders. still question it.
-------------------- rjf Posts: 62 | From pt pleasant nj | Registered: May 2009
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posted
The first time I tried to take a break (after 3 years of abx) I felt awful. Within days I had headaches, joint pain, fatigue. By the 3rd day the brain fog was so bad I went right back on abx and was fine. My LLMD assured me I would not have a huge slide back during a break. If I felt bad and resumed I would pick up where I left off. This was however after years of treatment.
After another year of treatment I tried a break again and was fine. I have ben off abx for almost 1 1/2 years. When symptoms start up a short course of abx does the trick.
I don't think breaks are a good idea early in treatment.
Once when I tried to add doxy to Plaquenil & Biaxin I felt so awful I had to stop the doxy. I kept going with P&B and a few weeks later added the doxy back in and had no trouble.
Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
I have taken 2 small brakes. One for 3 days and one
for 5. Doc said if I got sick do it. I had temp.
and felt I had to. I felt better went right back
and do not feel like I had a set back. Do what you
feel is best for you.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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