Help

I had Lyme back in 2008 and caught it quickly and had a full recovery. Last September, I was bit again (from the same area) and started Azithromycin to prevent infection. Twenty one days later, I started having problems but nothing severe like the first time. I had to stop weight training because of it. I continued the Azithromycin. In late November, I hurt my shoulder picking up a boat and I finally got an MRI in Feb. It was chronic arthritis and bursitis. I hadn't touched a weight and I had never hurt this shoulder before. I went back to my Lyme specialist and he clinically diagnosed me with Babesiosis. He said the Azithromycin probably killed the Lyme and started me on Mepron/Azithromycin. This was a miracle combination and by the 3rd dose, I felt like I was completely cured. I went back to the gym and it was great. After the first week of therapy, my symptoms started to come back. By the 3rd week, I could no longer lift weights. I am now taking a second course of Mepron/Azithromycin and the same thing is happening. The first week was great, but now my symptoms are coming back. If anyone knows what is going on, I'm all ears. I hope someone knows what I've got or has some insight. My physician has never seen anything like this before and he's been treating Lyme and co-infections for 25 years. Here are my symptoms:

1. Joints are popping but no pain. When I had Lyme in 08, they popped but with pain. Never before have any of my joints popped. An interesting note, when my symptoms start coming back while on the Mepron/Azithromycin, my neck and wrists are what start popping first.

2. Sleep disruption: I can fall asleep with no problem but wake up anywhere from 12:45 to 2:30 am. The first week on Mepron/Azithromycin, I slept until 5 or 6am like I used to. As the course continues, I once again wake up at 2:30 am. This is every night.

3. I cannot weight train aerobically. I've lifted weights at a fast pace for several years and was in great physical shape. Whatever my condition does, it prevents me from lifting aerobically. I can still lift weights as my muscles are strong, but if I increase the pace of the workout, I have to stop. The first week of therapy with Mepron/Azithromycin, I can do my workouts with no problem like I always have. It is almost like some kind of toxicity (carbon dioxide elevation) or it could be hypoglycemia or hypotension. At any rate, the workouts can not continue.

4. I have never had a shoulder problem and have not done anything to have chronic arthritis/bursitis in it. The first week of Mepron/Azithromycin, the pain I have had every day for months was gone. Working out was fine and it was still strong. After 1 week of therapy, I could feel the tightness coming back and by the end of the 3rd week of therapy, the pain had returned. While off the medication and between Mepron/Azithromycin courses, it began hurting like it had before. I'm currently on my 2nd week of the 2nd course of Mepron/Azithromycin and the pain is starting to come back. I am not weight training this time.

Hi Georgia Hunter,

Welcome to the forum!

When Lyme combines with co-infections and the make up of your individual constitution, you come up with a unique situation that doesn't necessarily respond to standard treatment. I know in my case, it took many combinations of antibiotics and herbals to get rid of my infection.

You say your doctor has 25 years experience, but has he been ILADS trained (International Lyme and Associated Disease Society)? Their guidelines call for treating Lyme and coinfections for two months beyond the cessation of symptoms. It doesn't sound like you have had that thorough a treatment.

 

Hi Georgia,

This will not eliminate Lyme or its co-ifections, but have you tried cutting nightshades out of your diet?  Due to their solanine content, they act like neurotoxins on the body and often cause arthritic symptoms, even in individuals who don't have Lyme.  I get arthritic pain in direct proportion to the amount of nightshades I eat.  Here's a link with more information: http://www.noarthritis.com/