Exercising during Lyme treatment?

I am using nothing but exercise(and nutrition and herbs), though I did do a month or so of azithromycin last year. When I first got sick back in 2004 I didn't know what I had(and didn't find out until 2008). By chance, in about March 2005, for reasons of pure vanity, I embarked on an exercise program and was feeling absolutely back to 100% because of it. I then ended up cracking a bone in my arm and wrist 2 months into it, and that constituted my excuse to stop exercising. It took 6 more months, but eventually, after ceasing the exercise, the lyme symptoms came back with a vengeance about Nov 2005. I then spent from then until Feb 2008 mysteriously ill again, and finally ended up learning about Western Blot(instead of just ELISA), which came back positive, and doing a month of azithromycin in March 2008. I felt a little better after that and I planned to start exercising and utilizing a healthy diet again after that month of abx, but I kept putting it off again and again until June this year. I'm hoping I can get the same results now as I did back in 2005 but it has only happened by about 40% this time. Probably because I spent so so long without exercising, and at the same time, eating chicken parm sandwiches, burger king, pizza, drinking 2 liters of pepsi, every single day- it's gonna take a while to get back this time.

In your case, if you're only going to be on abx for 21 days, then I'd say just ask your doctor and do what he says. Even if he indicates not to exercise, it's only 21 days. The key is, don't let 21 days turn into 21 months.

Hi tpup, welcome to the board!

What dose of Ceftin are you taking?  Twenty-one days is not long enough treatment especially if you have been infected for three months.  It is my understanding that six weeks of the proper dose antibiotic is the minimum treatment time for an infection caught within two weeks of the bite.  A longer infection needs longer treatment.  Please do whatever is necessary to ensure you get proper treatment as soon as possible.  Early infections are the easiest to cure.

Below is a Lyme symptom list.  You can have any combination of symptoms.    

Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing
Unexplained weight change--loss or gain
Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina
Unexplained hair loss
Swollen glands
Sore throat
Testicular pain/pelvic pain
Unexplained menstrual irregularity
Unexplained milk production: breast pain
Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido
Upset stomach
Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea
Chest pain or rib soreness
Shortness of breath, cough
Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block
Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse?
Joint pain or swelling
Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back
Muscle pain or cramps
Twitching of the face or other muscles
Headache
Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain
Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity
Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity
lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Tremor
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration, reading
Forgetfulness, poor short term memory
Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places
Difficulty with speech or writing

Mood swings, irritability, depression
Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening
Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol 

It is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor.  Many doctors do not understand Lyme and treat with outdated protocols.  Besides Lyme, ticks can also transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, two types of Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma.  Many people who have Lyme are co-infected.  It may affect treatment choice and progress.  It is important to be tested for these by a Lyme reputable lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA.  Have you been tested for these?

If you need a doctor recommendation, you can email me at [email protected]

Exercising when possible is very beneficial for Lyme.  It oxygenates the body and increases body temperature which are two things detrimental to the Lyme bacteria.  It is also important to eat healthy, get enough rest, detox, and take appropriate supplements including high-quality acidophilus.  They replace the good bacteria and help prevent yeast overgrowth.  The best ones to get are refrigerated and have a high culture count.  Most health food stores have them.  Wait at least two hours between taking the antibiotics and acidiphilus.

It is also important to learn as much as possible.   I recommend reading Dr. Joseph Burrascano's 2008 Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines For Lyme and Other Tick Borne lllnesses  at http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf  He is one of the top Lyme doctors in the country, and many Lyme doctors follow his protocols.   He discusses antibiotics and doses starting on page 18.   I also recommend the books "Everything You Need To Know about Lyme Disease Second Edition" by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner and "The Lyme Disease Solution" by Kenneth B. Singleton M.D.

Good luck with your treatment.

 

tpup, You may want to go to the Newbie section and look over Dr. Burr's guidelines. In it, he says exercise is important, but says 'no aerobics!'. Your infection may be newer than what he had in mind when he said this, I don't know.

But it is my belief that exercise does build the immune system and in the past, I know that I kicked certain illnesses w/ exercise and my supps.

I do agree w/ Dr. B, that once we've gotten so run down w/ the older infections, that heavy duty stuff, like running and pushing our bodies, is not very good for us or the disease. I'm sure someone has found a 'happy medium' there.

In your case, maybe you will be able to figure it out on your own -- if your workout seems to make you feel better, then that's an answer. If it makes you more tired and rundown, and if you have to push yourself too hard, then that's an answer too.

That rebounder looks like a good idea....but a lot of the reviews on sports authority and dick's sporting goods for the mini-trampolines say they don't last long under adult weight....and while I'm shooting for 200 I'm 225 right now....know of any sturdier manufacturers?