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loss of muscle tone

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Posted 4/22/2016 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
For the most part my treatment this time around is going well. The first time I was on treatment for 6 weeks and this time about 2 months. The symptom I am having the most trouble with is the loss of muscle tone over my entire body. I try to rest as often as I can but I also try to get some light exercise in everyday to try and stay fit. My husband and I farm and remodel houses so I was very active before lyme disease. Lately I struggle to do light work and I always hurt after any form of exercise.

Is this a common symptom and can it be reversed after treatment?

Should I continue to be active or just take it easy? I dont want to prolong treatment by over doing it.

As always, thanks for your thoughts and suggestions!
Posted 4/22/2016 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
I'm dealing with something similar, but a little different. I also have loss of muscle tone and a lot of weakness. But when I have to do physical work, somehow the strength is there to do that. I get a little sore after hoof trimming or moving hay, but its really the fatigue that gets me.

I used to be in a lot of pain after doing similar things, but the amount of pain has decreased a lot. I'm a little stiff and achy for a day or two after (used to be bed ridden for a couple days after, and up to 2 weeks to recover before). I am 2 years into my 2nd round of treatment. Lyme and bart are pretty well under control. Babesia is a big problem, but better than it was.

I did persist in pretty heavy daily work for most of the past 2 years, but more because I had no other choice. I was able to cut back a lot 5 months ago, and I think I've come the farthest in that time. Striking a balance between things I need to do vs resting as much as I need to is still something I struggle with. I wish I had an answer, but I don't.

It really is hard having to step back after being so active.
Posted 4/22/2016 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
I personally do best if I over do it a LITTLE....but not too much. If I can get a good sweat going, all the better but that's not too much of an issue because thanks to Lyme I perspire a whole lot. There was a time in my treatment that going to work and coming home was all I could do...nothing on the weekends except sleep and the mandatory stuff like laundry and shopping for food that was easy to prepare but I even had to do that in little pieces...it would take me the whole weekend to do three loads of laundry.

I think you just have to listen to your body and everyone is different. I'm in Phoenix where it's hot and for the most part I do best if I got out and got some sunshine and exercise by gardening but there was also a time that the sun burned me - not just my skin but my eyes, scalp, hands, etc. so I had to wait it out. I don't know if it was the meds or just the cycle of Lyme, but it was about a month that I could only go out and do a few minutes at a time.

Everything cycles, so that's the good thing....the bad thing is that you have to honor the cycle and wait it out sometimes. Just listen to your body, don't over do too much and see how you feel the next day.

I have also lost almost all of my muscle tone - I'm a big blob now, but I know this, too, will pass and one day I'll have my muscles back. Little by little, you will get better but it doesn't happen quickly, unfortunately.

I hope that helps!

Jenny
Posted 4/22/2016 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
Sayyadina, I definitely have the fatigue you mentioned in your post. Today I did some cleaning at a rental house from 9 to 3. I was so exhausted mentally and physically I had to go home and take a two hour nap. I also missed my girls softball game because I couldnt overcome the fatigue. This is pretty common especially if I over do it. I try to balance my days so my body doesn't shut down for a day or two after work but it is hard to shut down when I am feeling good. I have so much work to do. I did hire a friend to help out here and there. She does more of the physical things. This has helped.

Jenny, thanks for sharing. It always makes me feel better knowing I am not alone in this journey. I think you are right, I need to pay more attention to my body. I can usually make it 4 or 5 hours of light work or office work without too much trouble. Maybe I just need to force myself to slow down at that time and remember tomorrow is another day.

Good luck to the two of you and thanks!
Posted 4/22/2016 6:44 AM (GMT 0)
Amy - I had the muscle atrophy, along with weight loss...happened very quickly.

That was summer of 2013. I was doing walks just about daily that summer, but it didn't help. I didn't have the fatigue, though.
i started to exercise on an elliptical machine - every other day, along with arm weights...and other strengthening exercises, but it didn't make a difference...I couldn't even flex my biceps...there was nothing - the muscles were flaccid.
Summer of 2014 I finally was diagnosed and started treatment.
I slowly started getting my muscle tone back....I'm still not there yet...but it's getting better.

You will get your tone back...but I wouldn't overdo it...you don't want to break your body down and deplete it.
Posted 4/22/2016 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
Listening to your body is paramount when dealing with these infections. It's horrible that we have to limit ourselves but it's really the only way to heal....and it does get better.

It's all about pacing ourselves even when we feel good. I found the following link to be quite helpful in explaining what we go through and how to get through treatment:

www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/

No matter how frustrating things get, I do hope you'll continue treatment for two months past complete resolution of symptoms. That is what ILADS recommends.

I don't know about you, but after ALL the time I put in towards healing from these blasted infections, I'm sticking with treatment at least until 2 months after complete symptom resolution.

Slow and steady wins this marathon.
Posted 4/22/2016 1:23 PM (GMT 0)
Take a look at my profile....same thing.

The tone,muscle is very slowly coming back.

Changing the way I eat,sleep,workout,stress levels....


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