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College Student with Lyme

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Posted 2/28/2016 5:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, I'm using my mom's account for a lyme question. I was diagnosed with lyme last year. I'm in my second semester of college, and I have been feeling much worse from lyme recently, so I finally went to an ILADS specialist. The appointment went really well and I really think he's going to make me better, but I'm super overwhelmed by all of the medicines I have to take and all the tests I have to do. He told me that this next month is going to be a really hard one for me.
Do you guys have any experience with this? I've been having such a hard time... I was thinking about quitting school for the semester and starting up again next semester once I'm better, would anyone recommend this? And would I lose the money I paid for the semester if I did this, or could I be refunded?

Post Edited By Moderator (Girlie) : 2/27/2016 11:10:12 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/28/2016 6:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hi - welcome to our community!

I'm glad you reached out here for advice.

Lyme treatment can be difficult - as when you start treatment, often symptoms get worse from the die off of bacteria (herxheimer) - the severity of the herxheimer is different for each person...depending on several things - how long you've been sick, how well you detox, etc.

Eventually, as treatment continues, we start to see symptom improvement and better days.

I think it's wise that you are thinking about maybe postponing your studies. If I were you I would discuss this with your mom.

I don't know about what's required to get a refund from the school - maybe the LLMD would be able to help with that. Maybe there's a form that can be filled out stating you are too sick to attend classes.
Posted 2/28/2016 6:24 AM (GMT 0)
I edited your post just to give the thread a title.

I also deleted the duplicate threads you started (in case you're wondering where they went)
Posted 2/28/2016 6:29 AM (GMT 0)
It would be helpful for you to read the "New to Lyme?...Start Here!" Thread at the top of the page. There's a lot of good information in there.

Something you could start doing now is detoxing. Effective detoxing will help lessen the severity of herxheimer reactions that happen when the toxins are created from the die off of bacteria.
Posted 2/28/2016 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Once you pass a certain add/drop date in the semester you will not be able to get refunded. Best to talk with your enrollment office. If you provide them with a docs note maybe they will let you drop and get a refund.
Posted 2/28/2016 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure why you would be told the next month would be really hard - no one can know that if you have been able to function well enough to go to college. No one can tell you how easy it will be for you either. No one can know until you get there.

Do YOU think you can continue with classes if you feel any worse? That's who you need to ask - yourself. I would suggest that you find out what date is the last time you can add/drop classes, as Oatez said. Then maybe it's time to talk to someone at the school since this is a medical issue. Depending on your college's stance on medical issues, you may find that they will work with you.

Are you detoxing a lot?

What did the LLMD prescribe you?

Did they tell you to start the meds off very, very slowly and work your way up to the proper dosage? These are all things that can really help you get started with your treatments so that they will be the easiest on your body.
Posted 2/28/2016 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
Traveler makes an excellent point. Every person knows their threshold for discomfort. No one else can tell you that. That was pretty presumptive of your LLMD.

I was/am on the same boat Lymemama's daughter. I start treatment soon and of course the effects of it made me have to think about these things too. Can I still be productive at work? I even looked into my medical leave options just in case.

But back to your concern.....I actually got to experience some herxing back when I was on an antibiotic back when I didn't know what I had (but the regular MD knew it was a bacterial infection of some kind). He actually prescribed one of the many antibiotics that are actually used to treat lyme and bart. Hey, even a clock is right 2 times a day.

So I was herxing but at the time didn't know it. I also didn't detox and didn't take the necessary steps to boost my immune system. Even with all that said, as crappy as I felt, I was still able to go to work and be productive. Was I productive with a smile on my face? No. But I got it done.

So this gives me confidence that I can handle it (especially with proper detoxing, supps, and nutrition helping me).

So you very well can too. But only you know your own personal threshold.
Posted 2/29/2016 6:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all so much for your help. I am much more hopeful today after reading all of your responses and feeling your support. I am going to talk to my doctor tomorrow, and also to the school to see if I could still drop this semester, and ask how badly it would effect me. It is scary to hear people say that I am the only one who knows how I feel, because having had lyme for so long, I sometimes think I am exaggerating my symptoms. I do know that I can do it though, so I will stick with it if I see that that is best. Thanks so much.
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