Scared to take antibiotics for this long… suspected Lyme disease

Take them. Yes it's three weeks but they are extremely effective at treating Lyme's disease and the long term consequences of that untreated can be horrendous. I know someone who is now unable to work (extreme ME fatigue symptoms, too tired to do much at all) because of undiagnosed Lyme's and it means their other half is the sole earner. Has really affected them both. I took them when I had suspected Lyme's because I was scared of what happened to my friends. I had no side effects from the antibiotics. It's annoying that the blood test result doesnt confirm if you have Lyme's until after the antibiotics but it just isn't worth the risk. I did have Lyme's and thankfully am totally fine now.

I’ve had 12 weeks off doxycycline and also erythromycin in the past . Just get on with it, you will be fine.

Hi OP. I really don't like taking antibiotics either.

Recently had a miscarriage and shortly after ended up in hospital where I had IV antibiotics twice, oral antibiotics on top while in hospital and then a week of two different kinds - one 3x a day and one 4x a day. If you need them, you need them. It's not ideal but remember is also literally lifesaving.

To help my gut I've been making smoothies most days with kefir (my favourite is plain kefir, a banana, some frozen pineapple whizzed together). Kefir is great for gut health. I had one day of watery diarrhoea but not like a stomach bug, just went to the toilet normal time. Since then it's been fine. Eat probiotic food such as kefir or probiotic yoghurt (look for it saying 'billions of cultures' or fermented food, as well as plenty of veg.

Much better not to get Lyme disease.

S'ok🙄😀

WHAT ! of course not for her "
gut health because of the antibiotics !

Would you prefer Lyme disease? Why did you bother going to the dr if you’re not going to take the meds?

You do NOT want Lyme disease. Taking unnecessary antibiotics is foolish. But sometimes they are necessary and health and life saving. This is one for those times.

Take the antibiotics then do lots and afterwards to restore your gut health - probiotics, prebiotics and fermented foods, lots of different fruits and veg. It’s not unfixable.

I only have one observation, to all the pp's who have taken antibiotics, did you all have symptoms, or are you taking them as a precaution? I wouldn't take them as a precaution just because I had been bitten. I've had loads of bites but no symptoms but only took them once when I scratched one out by mistake and left the head in. Otherwise I would be on them constantly!

As gently as I can make it, three weeks of feeling a bit sick, getting some diarrhoea and maybe a bit of thrush is a far better outcome than having untreated Lyme Disease.

My son had to take them after a tick bite. Apart from being sick one day, because he took them before eating, he had no other side effects. I bought him probiotic drinks as well.

I've just finished a week long course of Doxi after being bitten by a tick.

I was so grossed out I could not get the first antibiotic in fast enough. I'd almost downed it before leaving the pharmacy.

No gut issues or side effects.

They get used quite a lot in Rescue packs for people with lung issues.

My DH is on them regularly since he got cancer.

Aspirin and ibuprofen cause more issues really, but you could always ask for a lansoprazole prescription to help.

I’ve been on twice daily Doxycycline for over two years now and they don’t seem to have had any negative effects on my gut. I always take them after food with a full glass of water. Just make sure you take them with plenty of water and stay upright (standing or sitting) for half an hour after you’ve taken them,

My son had Lyme disease. It was absolutely horrific. Take the antibiotics!

No, to help the gut bacteria which antibiotics affect.

I had a tic bite and a big target, I took the antibiotics and I felt fine. I drank an actimel every day just in case though.Take them, it's better than having Lymes disease.

Oh for goodness sake, just get them down you. They are antibiotics, millions of people all over the world are currently on a course. I've had quite a few and did not die once.

Oh @Coffeeishot - sorry, I think I just got what you meant 😄🙈.

Say what - to protect against Lyme disease?

Please take them! I didn’t take them in time and had long term lymes that took ages to get rid of and many more antibiotics and treatments and expense! I take lamberts probiotics with them that you keep in the fridge

Do not worry about the antibiotics. Worry instead about Lyme disease. Chronic Lyme disease can be a life-changing, disabling condition. Gut upset by antibiotics is easily resolved by taking probiotics and temporarily adjusting your diet.

Take the antibiotics.

I had a really nasty case of Lyme 10 years down the line. I was hospitalised twice whilst they figured it out. They thought I had a brain tumour as I was having lots of odd neurons symptoms.

I had a long course of doxy after that. Make sure you wear lots of spf it makes your skin really sensitive to sunlight. I got mild sunburn on a relatively overcast day in October in Scotland.

I think nowadays people have lost perspective on diseases vs side effects of treatment. Possible death vs possible temporary gut problems. Easy decision.

Exactly this. The risk from antibiotics is not what is does to you but what it does in creating antibiotic resistance. You gut can be recolonised.

I had Lyme Disease recently and was on doxy for four weeks. I was extremely ill for two weeks and only able to drag myself out of bed to feed myself. I couldn't stay awake either, lost eighteen pounds in two months and my hair started falling out. I took a max strength pro/pre biotic capsule daily (50 billion live cultures, Boots 3 for 2 atm) and had no gut problems.

You do not want to get Lyme disease @Yesssi . It has permanently weakened my immune system. Yet I'm lucky. Some people end up in a wheelchair.

Have a look at the support group posts on reddit. Scary.