Ruby
well done on getting more antibiotics - 2+3weeks sounds like a reasonable plan
i am not a doctor so i would recommend you find one who is knowledgeable in the subject before changing anything in your medication.
however i notice Azathioprine is an immunosuppressive drug used for RA and IBD etc and wanted to make you aware of the following so you could look into it more and discuss with a suitably knowledgeable doctor.
In lyme disease our immune system is being suppressed and disrupted by the microbes - the robustness of our immune system prior to infection is one of the main factors that determines the severity of illness and is the main reason those with chronic lyme struggle to recover.
Because of this, immunosuppressive drugs are generally regarded as a risk factor for developing chronic lyme - or more severe symptoms.
however, be aware that main stream conventional doctors are likely to dismiss these concerns out of hand.
this is another of these areas where there are different schools of thought in the medical profession and the patient often finds themselves in the middle - confused and distressed.
The truth is conventional doctors do not know what causes RA, or Lupus or IBD and they don't know how to cure it - all they can do is suppress symptoms.
so they make this "the standard of care " and call suppressed symptoms a successful outcome.
They do not tend to welcome anyone questioning this approach.
other medical professionals point out that under this regime the patient often has ongoing symptoms, reduced quality of life and actually has new mortality risks due to the lifelong immunosuppression.
This is a tough spot to be in - especially with two poorly understood conditions that in the UK the current conventional medical paradigm for is somewhat lacking.
my thoughts are that you may wish to speak to a integrative health or functional medicine doctor to see if there are other ways or managing or treating the IBD.
Post Edited (Garzie) : 9/6/2021 9:21:10 AM (GMT-6)