I've been in treatment for Lyme Disease for about two months now, so I figured it was time for an update on my experience.
I began with six different vitamins back at the beginning of December and slowly built up an antibiotic to taking three pills twice times a day. The antibiotic is called Doxycycline, and I actually took it in Cambodia to prevent getting malaria. Then Jan 1st I began taking a stronger second antibiotic called Biaxin.
When I was on the doxy, I felt fine. I just ate a few rice crackers before taking it and never had a problem. I wasn't so lucky with Biaxin. It makes me really sick. After much trial and error I realized I have to take it in the middle of my meal, and my meal must be a full meal. If it take it too early or too late, or don't eat enough I'll know pretty soon. In the beginning I had unbearable nausea as well as a sour stomach and it gave me a horrible metallic taste in my mouth. My work was so nice and let me work from home on the days it made me really sick. Once I figured out how to mitigate most of the side effects, it wasn't too bad.
I just had my follow up appointment with my Dr. It has hard to tell her how I was feeling as I feel worse on the medicine then I did before I started taking it. I was kind of hoping that after about two months I'd be done with treatment.
No such luck. She actually told me I have 2-3 more months of treatment. She told me that the lyme bacteria build barriers around themselves to prevent the antibiotics from killing them. She's changing my biaxin to another antibiotic that's similar, but supposedly has less side effects. And she's added in another prescription, and three other vitamins that together are supposed to break down the barriers around the bacteria and treat a possible coin infection.
Currently I take 15 pills a day, and it will be moving to over 20 days with the new vitamins and prescriptions.
I was really discouraged after my appointment and hearing that I have to continue treatment for what feels like forever. But as I thought about it, I realized a lot of my actual lyme symptoms have subsided. My infection on my hands is gone, I don't have arthritis anymore and my fatigue has lessened a lot.
Another silver lining is that I have to continue my yeast free, sugar free diet and I've dropped a pant/dress size since I started treatment. I thought cutting out carbs would be a lot harder than it turned about to be. I never thought I'd be able to do it, but I noticed I felt a lot better when I wasn't eating yeast.
I'm excited, but a little hesitant to start all of my new pills next week. Here's to hoping I can start feeling better while on the pills than I did before.
I began with six different vitamins back at the beginning of December and slowly built up an antibiotic to taking three pills twice times a day. The antibiotic is called Doxycycline, and I actually took it in Cambodia to prevent getting malaria. Then Jan 1st I began taking a stronger second antibiotic called Biaxin.
When I was on the doxy, I felt fine. I just ate a few rice crackers before taking it and never had a problem. I wasn't so lucky with Biaxin. It makes me really sick. After much trial and error I realized I have to take it in the middle of my meal, and my meal must be a full meal. If it take it too early or too late, or don't eat enough I'll know pretty soon. In the beginning I had unbearable nausea as well as a sour stomach and it gave me a horrible metallic taste in my mouth. My work was so nice and let me work from home on the days it made me really sick. Once I figured out how to mitigate most of the side effects, it wasn't too bad.
No such luck. She actually told me I have 2-3 more months of treatment. She told me that the lyme bacteria build barriers around themselves to prevent the antibiotics from killing them. She's changing my biaxin to another antibiotic that's similar, but supposedly has less side effects. And she's added in another prescription, and three other vitamins that together are supposed to break down the barriers around the bacteria and treat a possible coin infection.
Currently I take 15 pills a day, and it will be moving to over 20 days with the new vitamins and prescriptions.
I was really discouraged after my appointment and hearing that I have to continue treatment for what feels like forever. But as I thought about it, I realized a lot of my actual lyme symptoms have subsided. My infection on my hands is gone, I don't have arthritis anymore and my fatigue has lessened a lot.
Another silver lining is that I have to continue my yeast free, sugar free diet and I've dropped a pant/dress size since I started treatment. I thought cutting out carbs would be a lot harder than it turned about to be. I never thought I'd be able to do it, but I noticed I felt a lot better when I wasn't eating yeast.
I'm excited, but a little hesitant to start all of my new pills next week. Here's to hoping I can start feeling better while on the pills than I did before.
4 comments:
Girl you are so strong! I don't know if I could do the no carbs and no sugar! Bread is my main source of food!!! Keep strong, you are doing amazing!!! <3 <3 Praying for you always!
I'm so glad you're getting relief even if the treatment can be frustrating. I just sent up a prayer for you and your health! <3
I can't imagine how frustrating all of this must be. You're a champ! I'm glad some of your symptoms are going away even if you medication is replacing it with some new ones :(
You are such a sport, girl. You have to be I know, but I am so proud of you going through with this! I'm glad you got new meds that hopefully make you feel better or at least have less ugly side effects.
You're so strong, Sam.
Hugs!
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