Saw my LLMD yesterday and told him that during my 4 weeks of being off all ABX (so far) I've felt pretty good.....but was ready to do another blast of meds if he thought that was in order.
Interestingly, he suggested I continue without them and see how it goes. He didn't want to "stir things up" by reintroducing antibiotics. In other words: my immune system needs to be left alone to work.
That made sense.....and I was happy to hear him say that small setbacks are OK and should not be considered as a relapse-- so long as I get over any setbacks very quickly.
For example: my hands still tingle on occasion but the episodes are short lived. I get a pain here and there, but again it will disappear quickly.
Lingering symptoms would be bad!!! ....as would the return of brain fog, memory loss, major fatique etc....any of the BIGGIE symptoms that can really knock us Lymies down.
Apparently, once antibiotics are stopped, the body/immune system does go through a period of readjustment where certain symptoms can flare slightly.
Just as treatment makes you feel worse before you get better, so does non-treatment once you really feel you've beaten Lyme back enough to stop ABX. Sort of the reverse of 'The calm before the storm'.
I truly do regret NOT seeing an LLMD once I suspected I had Lyme. Had I taken the right path from the get-go, I might not have had to take ABX for a full year to get as well as I am at this point.
At the end of the day, my best advice to all newbies and to anyone who suspects they might have Lyme+Co......is to see an LLMD before any other doctor.....or at least in tandem so as to explore all possibilities.
Lyme really is the great immitator! It had me fooled! And it continues to fool me because I don't know which aches and pains are dwindling or flaring Lyme symptoms.... and which are legitimate symptoms from exercising too intensely and/or just plain getting older!
I'll update my progress of course.....and happy, swift healing to ALL !!!!