How do you know when to get off antibiotics?

I came off antibiotics too early and paid a heavy price. You really want to be totally symptom free and then continue with treatment for 4 months after that to be sure you are out of the woods.

Look what you did, you came off antibiotics, traveled, stirred things up with sports and generally challenged your system. That is ideal for the bacteria that are in "hiding" to venture out. Come Monday you started up antibiotics again and by Wednesday you felt terrible. The antibiotics are doing their job, IMHO.

I know you don't want to be taking them. I don't either. Just hold on a little longer. Goodness, just one and a half symptoms! Me, too. Don't undo all the good work you have done.

Would your doctor be okay with you pulsing for a bit? Right now I'm pulsing 3 weeks on, 3 weeks off. It has definitely stirred a lot of bugs up.

I'd say stay on them a bit longer!  Hang in there!  You might want to consider just pulsing for example 1 pill of minocycline every other day?   Best to talk to your LLMD about it.  But one thing for sure it is ultimately your own decision. 

I ended my bartonella treatment prematurely because I was feeling good and I felt like the abx were just making me feel sick.  Plus I was getting yeast, esspecially on my tongue.  Anyways I kind of regret that now.  Even though I'm not nearly in as bad shape as I was way back when the disease was really bad, the bartonella definitely came back a bit.  My immune system has a pretty good control on the infection and it doesn't cause the same anxiety, insomnia, and psych issues that it once did.  But one thing for sure is the infection is still there and I feel it. 

If I remember right, you are on minocycline, septra DS, and tinidazole?

Maybe try just taking out the tinidazole for now, and substituing in GSE?  Well we had the topic the other week about GSE being toxic too.  I don't think GSE is nearly as toxic as tinidazole.  Maybe even just try mino and septra DS? 

I think in the end it's ultimately upto you.  I have to agree one thing is for sure it's very tough to know when you can safely pull the antibiotics!  Really it is a leap of faith and sometimes you just have to do it.  But sometimes the harsh reality is abx are pulled prematurely.  Some remaining symptoms you have could simply be nerve damage, toxicity of abx, or even something like yeast. 

But if you have until September.  I would say at the very least pulse them.  Also I would suggest having the banderol and samento ready for when you join the Police Force.  Congratulations and good luck with that!

Tbrown2, I almost at the point where you are as well. My plan is to begin replacing the antibiotics with natural herbs and supplements such as Samento and Banderol. I will begin to take less and less while adding more and more supplements.

I believe that the antibiotics have done their job well and now that the infection is under control, I can begin to take natural stuff. I have seen others (like Opugirl) who have done this before and has worked well for them.

In my opinion, I can continue with the natural stuff for the rest of my life (if I need to) to keep the infection from coming back without causing my body the type of damage that abx does to it.

The infection has changed my eating habits, my way of life and how I treat my body. For this reason, I think that the infection will have a harder time coming back than it did when I wasn't eating well or taking care of my health as well as I do now.

I do agree with those above that stopping the abx too soon will have consequences. Pulsing is also a good idea since it eases you out of the medication instead of stopping cold turkey.

Post Edited (Healing98) : 7/25/2014 8:57:03 AM (GMT-6)

I was thinking what healing98 said, that maybe you could switch from the abx to herbs? I have heard from many people that they did this when almost symptom free and had success.

It's what I'm doing with my son(4). He's about 95-99% symptom free now. And, he's been off of abx now for 6 weeks.
What happened was 6 weeks ago, we (llmd and I) realized yeast was an issue and so he went on fluconazole (which some studies show actually inhibits lyme also) and while on fluconazole for a month he took a break from abx. And did better, b/c like you mentioned, I think he had more abx side effect symptoms (and for him yeast too) than lyme.

anyway, done with fluconazole now for the past two weeks and we're starting herbs next week. (the interim time with nothing is b/c we've been on vacation and I didn't want to start herbs, something new to him, while on vacation since he was doing so well anyway.)

That's my story (well, my son's) and my two cents. Maybe ask around and read as much as you can about herbs, b/c I'm very happy to be starting my son on them next week after the positive things I read and heard myself.

Good luck and I hope your symptom free very soon!

Can you get in touch with your LLMD?

I see your point about not wanting to start something new when you have to be strong coming up and you're not sure how you're going to react.
I put off starting my son on herbals while we've been on vacation for that reason, just in case he herxed a lot from them, not knowing how it will be for him (although, I'm thinking he'll do great).
So, yeah, that's a hard one to know what the right thing for you is.

That sounds terrible Reba

Update : day 6 back on abx feel terrible. Slept like crap. Have the anxious feeling yet lethargic. Too tired to stay up yet to anxious to lay down. Skipped the gym today for the first time in two months. Something is definaltly up.

Tbrown - read my new post - it may help you make a decision.

I am coming off antibiotics in 6 weeks

Are you on any herbs at the moment?

Ok well did you read my post?it would just be easier for me so I don't have to repeat my story.

Forgot that I was supposed to be taking cholesteramine, last night couldn't sleep due to that anxiety feeling ending up taking some then slept like a baby. Maybe I have a detox problem...