I began having a bulls-eye rash and lyme disease symptoms (flu-like, mentally spacey and forgetful, moody, reallllly tired) about 10 days after I theorize I was bit by a tick (never saw the tick.) after going to 2 doctors I was diagnosed with lyme and given 6 weeks of antibiotics. What I want to know is how long should I be feeling sick? I'm 2 weeks into my antibiotics and feeling much better, but still very far from feeling like myself. Mostly depressed, lathargic, stiff and unenergetic. I've read that some people say 3 days, some say 2 months, some say up to 9 months. does anyone have any answers? when will I feel like me again?
Lyme disease is controversial in the medical world. There are two competing sets of guidelines regarding treatment of Lyme. The one from the group considered the most powerful (the Infectious Diseases Society of America) says three weeks of antibiotics is all you should ever be given for Lyme, no matter how sick you are and whether or not you feel better. (Does that make sense to you?) The other one, the International Association of Lyme and Associated Diseases Society favors a more individualized approach. that group recommends treating until all symptoms are gone, and then continuing for a while past that, just to make sure. Guess which set of guidelines the insurance industry prefers? Yep. They want to cut you off after three weeks, no matter what.
In self-defense, you need to learn as much as you can about this miserable, complicated disease.
Good sources of info about Lyme disease:
canlyme.com
lymenet.com
lymeinfo.net
lymediseaseassociation.org
ilads.org
betterheatlhguy.com
publichealthalert.com
It can last for a while, you'll probably not feel like yourself for another month. It can last for 6 months for some though
Jennifer, it all depends on what 'stage' of the disease you are in. If you started the abx within ABOUT 3-4 weeks of the bite, when the ring was still clearly visible, you will likely be doing quite well by the 5th week as it would be in the 'early' stage, but STAY on the abx thru the 6th week! If all is not cleared up by then you would be best to return to the doc for a re-evaluation… AND full blood work (titer & Western blots- by a reputable lab like IgeneX) to see if you were exposed PRIOR to this last bite. If so, disseminated Lyme requires a much longer abx protocol. A few months, anyhow. Did you "herx" to the abx a day AFTER you started on them? this may indicate a more serious infection than just "early" (localized) BB infection. {Look up 'herx' as "Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction"}. Good luck! & don't forget to check with local Lyme groups for more guidance. – M
P.S: Don't forget to take probiotics- away from the abx & stay OFF the sugar (and alcohol, etc.)