Scared to take antibiotics for this long… suspected Lyme disease

[Yesssi]

I’ve been given a three week course of doxycycline for suspected Lyme disease. I feel ok but I had it after being bitten in a very heavy Lyme disease area. I’m dreading taking them as apparently it can affect gut health and I’m feeling sorry for myself taking it even though it’s not 100% certain I have the disease (though likely).

Just wondered if anyone had taken them or had any advice or reassurance!

If you’ve been recommended this a course of treatment by a GP then I’d take it
If you’re worried about gut health then take a probiotic

@rubyslippers been advised to take it as the area we were in is common for Lyme disease

I rarely take antibiotics and I’m panicking a bit

You must always finish a course of antibiotics.

@Fanxjanx yes I know that

I had to do the same after having a tick bite with a bullseye ring round it. No side effects for me , felt fine.

I'd much rather do that than risk Lymes disease.

Hey op I'm on them for two weeks for a breast abscess so far have had no problems with them. I was also anxious about taking them but so far so good hope that puts your mind at ease a little, remember to wear sunscreen when out in the sunshine as they can make your skin very sensitive to the sun
X

Just take a probiotic even yoghurt Is fine,

I had to go on so many antibiotics after birth - it took 4 different rounds to clear the infection in the end including one extended course.

Highly recommend symprove for probiotic to help your gut microbiome repopulate. Theres loads of others out there, biokult etc if you prefer tablets.

Also look at eating as much prebiotic food as you can, lots of veg and fruit for example. And things like natural yogurt, kefir, kimchi/sauerkraut and anything else fermented. Theres stuff you can do to mitigate the effects, but if you need the antibiotics you need them!

Lyme requires a long course to total eliminate the bacteria studies have shown this. Doxycycline is the drug of choice.

My DH has to take antibiotics twice a day for life. For always. For ever.

This is after cancer treatment that left him with functional asplenia.

Oh yes sunscreen I forgot that.

It's fine. I had the same after a bullseye rash.

You can buy Optibac for antibiotics. Stops you getting thrush etc.

I was on doxycycline for over a year for a non healing wound (on other antibiotics before that as well)most anti biotics will have some effect on your gut, I took probiotics, ate live yogurt and drank kefir and I coped fine (and I have a very sensitive bowel). And the effects are not permanent. especially with a relatively short course like 3 weeks.

Certainly if I had suspected Lyme disease I would do anything to treat it, it is a horrible illness.

DD had antibiotics regularly and I have this concern so I give her a probiotic at the same time, there are special ones to take during an antibiotic course, but that might just be marketing

There have been a couple of times when DP was prescribed antibiotics as a precaution and he decided not to take them (which I didn’t agree with) due to similar concerns and he was fine. But I honestly wouldn’t mess about with the possibility of Lyme Disease hanging over me. Unless you are otherwise immunosuppressed, I wouldn’t see how taking an antibiotic would be a bad idea. Even then, who wants to risk untreated Lyme Disease? As others have said, take a probiotic to replenish your gut bacteria and try not to overthink it.

Of course you should take the antibiotics! You would rather risk a chance of nasty long term illness for the sake of some probiotics to stop stomach upsets? Don’t be daft.

i had a bullseye bite once and had to take the antibiotics, no issues at all.

Just take the tablets as will be better than having a disease.
Pull yourself together and make sure you use sun cream and cover up.

I had to do the same as I grew up in a lyme disease heavy place. My only tip would be to make sure you use lots of sun cream while you're on them! I become very very sun sensitive when on Doxycycline. Hope you get better quickly!

I am terrified of antibiotics as I have suffered with daily IBS for 30 years, I have gut dysbiosis and SIBO. I avoid antibiotics whenever I can as it always makes things worse.

BUT I've had to take doxycycline a few times over the years and I can say they've never caused me any extra issues.

I have been on Doxy for about 5 years for Ocular and facial Roscea.

Take a good prebiotic and follow the instructions such as don't lay down for 30 mins etc.

Good luck

Have you researched what untreated Lyme disease can do?

Seriously, ABs for a few weeks is nothing to avoid that!

I was on three different antibiotics at the same time for three months last year for an infected heamatoma/sepsis. I also have ulcerative colitis and even a short course of antibiotics screw my bowels up at the best of times. But I had no choice, it was that or die. And in your case it’s antibiotics or live with a disabling disease. Lyme Disease is horrid. You’ve got no choice but to suck it up and deal with the side effects (if any).

Any moments or doubts - you’re weighing up potential Lymes disease, vs a bit of gut rebalancing.

Read up on Lymes, then buy some optibac or Yakult. And a hat, and summer weight trousers. And long socks to tuck your trousers into.

Maybe you should be talking to your GP/ pharmacist about such concerns, rather than a bunch of unqualified randoms.

A short term impact on yoru gut can be very easily mitigated. Take a good probiotic and make sure you'r eeating a wide variety of fruit and veg and fibre.

Lymes disease.... less so.

I don't understand this sort of ridiculous fear and inability to manage risk so I'm sorry if I seem unsympathetic but really, do what you need to do to remove the risk of a serious disease, and then do what you need to do for any minor possible side effects.