I can't do this :-(

[MeganY24]

This is only my 3rd day on abx and I'm debating taking a hammer to my left hand just so I can get drugged up in the ER.

I've been searching through post trying to figure out how long I have to take all of the meds and I keep reading 2-5 years!!!!!

No way! I'm not doing it. I would turn into a junkie on the streets if I had to feel like this for 2+ years!!!!

[cave76]

Don't give up. It won't be easy, it may take a lot longer than you hope. But things can get better.

Don't compare yourself (in terms of time, what meds, herxes etc) to anyone else on this forum. This is not a contest but you will win when you find the right antibiotic for your particular case.

[Murphgolf]

I guess we have all felt some or all of what you are feeling. For me, there are days I want to give up, but that only means staying like I feel at this moment, which is not acceptable.

As a track and cross country coach, I teach runners to "take pain for a ride." In this case you can substitute misery for pain. But the goal is to beat it. And that's what we have to keep looking for. Keep moving forward after getting hit. Not easy, but it's better than staying where you are at. You'll make it, even if it isn't easy.  

[mojogal]

I understand how frustrating it is. Your doctor has made mistakes. Its also hard to go to specialists that don't understand anything. I think that is why unless its a huge emergency, I hate going to the ER since they don't know anything.

I wish you luck.

[MeganY24]

My doctor is a complete moron! He's had me on 6000 uL's of vitamin D3 since my lab work showed I was deficient, but come to find out he asked for the inactive D level, not the active level! I know that doesn't seem like a big deal but vitamin D is a hormone... And that's just the tip of the iceberg of all the things he's done wrong :-(

It would be nice if I could find a Lyme literate neuro so I didn't have to worry about what each specialist wanted to do to me, but that probably won't happen :-(

[mojogal]

It does get better. I was unable to walk the first few months of treatment and now I can.

after 18 months I switched to herbs but I feel better over all. I still have a ways  to go but it is worth it.

[Ricobord]

The beginning is the worst.  (Although for me, the herx after my first Bicillin shot was worse than the herx after my first oral meds)   It gets better, I promise!  It's worth it to get better.

Take detoxing seriously.  Take anti-inflammatory supplements and epsom salt baths or magnesium (sulfate, malate, orotate, not magnesium oxide).  Eat healthy, especially lots of veggies, avoiding processed food.  It might seem overwhelming to try to do all this but it really does help.

[wonko]

I spent about 3.5 years on antibiotics, at times through serious discomfort, and I would do it again in a heartbeat since it was that treatment that allowed me to get a life back.

[nutrinut_bob]

I hate to use this cliche, but under the circumstances, I've found it to be true, no pain, no gain.  "Spent months trying to get you healthy enough for abx".  Let me guess, vitamins and such.  I made the mistake of feeding my microvermin megadoses for a number of years, hope your LLMD didn't make the same mistake with you.  If so, well, you can't have that taken back out of you can you.  6 mo of feeding them is nothing compared to the amount of time I fed mine. The pain will subside in time, keep after them, you've likely found something effective, they want you to stop it!

[MeganY24]

I have bartonella and babesia. I was diagnosed a year ago and it took me 6 months just to find an LLMD in Texas and after I finally found one I was in horrible shape so he spent months trying to get me healthy enough to start abx.

This is just overwhelming. I just thought I felt awful before but I was wrong! This is agony!

[Elleon_arual]

Hey,

I definitely understand how you are feeling. We are around the same age and being this young and having to deal with this stinks so bad.  All my friends are out doing exciting things and I'm just laying in bed.

Trust me, it gets better. My first week on the antibiotic was awful. I literally felt like something was trying to push it's way out of my shoulder blade. The Lyme is definitely in my muscles there and it was awful.  

I think the length of time of antibiotics all depends on how you react to them. I've read about people who felt better in 6 months, a year, or more.  Hopefully, you will be one of the quicker ones.

I've been on doxy for about 4 months now and I am definitely seeing improvement. Most days, I am almost symptom free (except for heart issues, the worst!)

I start to think like that too, like no way I am spending years doing this stuff but hey, living is important to me so if it's helping me live and live a decent life, I'm okay with taking the antibiotics.

Also, you need to get checked for co-infections and treat those. I definitely have some co-infections not being treated that are rearing their ugly heads now.