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Lyme and antibiotics

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Posted 3/25/2017 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
I've been ill for over two months and I think I have Lyme disease. A dermatologist prescribed Lymecycline antibiotics for the prolonged swelling I have had which he put down to rosacea. I started taking it today but would like to get tested for Lyme and I'm wondering how taking antibiotics might affect the various tests for Lyme. I was thinking of starting with borrelia burgdorferi
Posted 3/25/2017 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Moe, welcome to the forum. I'm going to get this part out of the way, we encourage new members to read over our intro "New to Lyme?......start here". It's the first topic.


Is rosacea your only symptom? It can be a symptom of Lyme but am curious if you have had any other unusual symptoms that made you think of Lyme.
Posted 3/25/2017 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
First of all, welcome to the board! Someone else will know more about this than I do, but I would strongly suggest seeking out a LLMD (Lyme Literate Medical Doctor). Regular doctors, of any specialty, have this pesky belief that Lyme doesn't really exist and won't treat for it, or won't treat for it properly.

To find an LLMD, you can start a new thread titled, "Need LLMD in City, State." Enable your email so that people can contact you with doctors names, as we don't post them on this board. But an LLMD is the best place to get tested and have your test interpreted.
Posted 3/25/2017 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Taking antibiotics won't keep you from testing positive, it actually might help.

If you get tested keep in mind that a negative test does not mean you don't have it, it just means that it didn't see any antibodies, or very many of them on enough bands. This is largely due to the bacteria's suppression of the immune function so that it isn't detected.

That and a combination of faulting testing methods and miss-read results.
Posted 3/25/2017 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Moe,

Glad you found our group. I found there is so much helpful support and very knowledgeable members here.

Take care, Jo
Posted 3/25/2017 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks very much for the welcome!

I have lots of unusual symptoms. I've had weird sensations in my face, burning, tingling and numbness. My arms tingle and feel numb as well sometimes. When all of this started my face was making crackling/popping sounds, now it feels like something is very stretched and snapping under my skin. My neck has been making a lot of noise as well. I've got a small area on my face that goes cold. This also happened to my knee once. My head and face contract very tightly especially after I've been out in the cold. My throat, ears and eyes start to close up to the extent that I sometimes find it difficult to swallow, I have trouble hearing and I can't always focus properly. I've become a bit confused. I've started getting imprints in my skin from glasses, clothes, plasters etc that last for ages. I was told I have dermographism. My teeth feel different and my bite has changed. I've suddenly got dandruff. I have become sensitive to light, sun, heat, smells, medications and skin creams. I've lost muscle tone all over. Those are the main ones I can think of at the moment.

Thanks for the advice about antibiotics. I'm still trying to figure out what's wrong. Are there any particular tests you recommend?
Posted 3/25/2017 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
I would really recommend finding a LLMD. There are tests that can be run, but traditional doctors are going to use labs that are historically very inaccurate. So there would be like a 60% chance that the test will be negative, but you really do have it. So, since the test is negative, the doc won't treat for it. In the meantime, the bacteria are in your system, multiplying away. A LLMD will use a better lab and do a better interpretation of the results. For example, your regular doc can order the test, you can test positive for a few bands of Lyme, but they will still consider that not positive enough, and not treat for it (ridiculous, I know).

I would also recommend getting tested for mold. A lot of your symptoms sound as though they could be that ass well. Most LLMDs are well-versed in testing for mold exposure as well.
Posted 3/26/2017 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum. I'm so sorry that you are here, but I'm glad you found us.

We ask new members to read our first thread New To Lyme?... Start Here! It is full of great information, symptom lists, helpful links, etc. You will find a list of possible detoxing methods here: www.tiredoflyme.com/detox-methods.html

You can email the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance at [email protected] for LLMD referrals and you can go to tbdalliance.org to learn more about these infections.

You can go to The Lyme Disease Association and search for LLMD's 3 times in a month. You have to register first. Here is the link:
www.lymediseaseassociation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277&Itemid=74


ILADS has their own referral system as well:
ilads.org/ilads_media/physician-referral/

Also if you run into an issue of a doctor not wanting to test, there are a few that you can do on your own if need be.
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