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!

I've literally just finished that course yesterday for Lyme disease. They're actually really gentle on the stomach, as long as you eat with them, you won't know you're taking them.

I'm on doxy currently for a chest infection. Had them many times and all I would advise is to remain upright for at least half an hour after taking them and staying out of the sun!

I had to take doxycycline and metronidazole for 14 days for a badly infected cat bite. I was initially worried about both, but I had no problems at all.

I'd tried to avoid antibiotics for years, after having horrible side-effects from erythromycin (which is why the bite infection took hold in the first place), but I really shouldn't have worried.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Say what - to protect against Lyme disease?

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

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.

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.

No, to help the gut bacteria which antibiotics affect.

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

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,

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 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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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

S'ok🙄😀