Overwhelmed

[Sunshine989]

And that's the best way to put it.
I recieved a second opinion and was diagnosed with chronic lyme by two doctors now, an LLMD and a LLND.
The first one said oral antibiotics themselves are how he would treat and the LLND wants to use herbals, antibiotics, IV infusions of supplements and put in a PiCC line and use IV antibiotics at the end of treatment.

Needless to say, I'm very upset and scared and don't want to try anything because I'm scared of a reaction. I read how so many people have been having reactions to antibiotics.

Since I recieved this diagnosis I've been having nonstop heart palpitations , panic episodes and severe anxiety. I'm also having trouble sleeping due to all the heart palps.

Has anyone just not treated the chronic lyme with anything but diet and exercise and boosting their immune system to put the symptoms into remission?
Because as I understand it, lyme is not something you ever get rid of if you have it a long time but just hope to keep it at bay...

[mojogal]

Ditto what Jackie said.
What I can tell you is that I went 25 years misdiagnosed and therefore didn't treat the Lyme and I am paying a high price now. I have serious heart problems, I needed my right hip replaced because the bugs love eating cartiledge. So I would not do nothing. I have leaky gut now and with trying many different things, I lucked out and found something that worked so please start treating. It's not easy but you would be much worse off you don't treat.
We are here if you have more questions. Good luck.

[JackieCalifornia]

"Overwhelmed" is a perfectly reasonable way to feel.  

One effect of Lyme disease is how it messes with the whole hormonal/endocrine system, which manages the emotions.  Then when the doctor appointment aspect piles on ... well, a lot of us would react the same way you have.  You're not alone that way.

You say:  "I received a second opinion and was diagnosed with chronic lyme by two doctors now, an LLMD and a LLND.  The first one said oral antibiotics themselves are how he would treat and the LLND wants to use herbals, antibiotics, IV infusions of supplements and put in a PiCC line and use IV antibiotics at the end of treatment."

Those reactions from the docs sound consistent with the views of each of their views:  LLMDs do antibiotics; LLNDs do herbs and may also use antibiotics. Each doc should explain to you why his/her approach is the right one for you and what the reasons are (for and against) in each approach.  Then you get to decide which way to go.

You say:  "Needless to say, I'm very upset and scared and don't want to try anything because I'm scared of a reaction. I read how so many people have been having reactions to antibiotics."  Some people may have reactions to antibiotics, but not many people do, and you can ask your doc(s) whether it is likely that you would react to the antibiotics they are proposing.  I would think it is not likely and do not recall hearing about that happening with the meds usually used to treat Lyme, but talk with each of the docs and ask what the chances are of problems with the meds they are recommending.  (My guess would be that reactions are not common unless you have a particular sensitivity to them.)

You say:  "Since I recieved this diagnosis I've been having nonstop heart palpitations , panic episodes and severe anxiety. I'm also having trouble sleeping due to all the heart palps."  Was this happening before you got the docs' recommendations, or is this a new event?  Lyme disease itself messes with the hormonal system, and can cause the symptoms you describe.  Have you talked to the doc(s) about these reactions?  

One possibility is that you are low on magnesium:  the Lyme bacteria use up the mineral magnesium in your body, and the result can be anxiety and irregular heartbeat.  If you have not talked to one or both of the docs about this symptom, think about calling one or both of them to report the symptoms and see what they say.  Then when things calm down and you are feeling better, you can perhaps be in a better frame of mind to decide which doc to use for treatment.

You ask:  "Has anyone just not treated the chronic lyme with anything but diet and exercise and boosting their immune system to put the symptoms into remission?"  Maybe some people have tried that, but it's not just a matter of exercise and diet.  If you had an infectious disease other than Lyme, then diet and exercise alone would not work, because bacterial infections like Lyme need antibiotics to wipe them out.

You say:  "as I understand it, lyme is not something you ever get rid of if you have it a long time but just hope to keep it at bay... "  I have heard others say this, but the bacteria can be killed either early or (if necessary) later on.  However, it is far better to kill the infection early so that the bacteria do not burrow in and do possibly permanent damage to your heart and other things.  

Lyme is caused by certain bacteria, just like (for example) strep throat is caused by bacteria.  Sometimes the body can beat down a bacterial infection without using antibiotics, but Lyme is particularly tricky and really does need antibiotics, just as you would take antibiotics for strep throat or an ear infection.  

One trick that Lyme bacteria has is to hide in your body in slimy shields (called bio-films) where your immune system cannot find the bacteria to kill them.  To help the antibiotics work properly, Lyme doctors know to give a Lyme patient not only antibiotics, but may also give other medicine that can get through the bio-films where the Lyme bacteria hide in your body, so that the antibiotics can then kill the Lyme bacteria.  

About what you may have read or heard was about a Lyme patient whose treatment was not effective because the right medicine was not given:  Not all MDs understand about the need to break through the biofilms so the antibiotics can reach the Lyme bacteria and kill them, which would then allow the Lyme bacteria to stay in your body and keep you infected.

You ask:  "Has anyone just not treated the chronic lyme with anything but diet and exercise and boosting their immune system to put the symptoms into remission?"  Perhaps they have tried, but it is unlikely that it would succeed, because (1) Lyme suppresses your immune system, so the bacteria get a free pass to stay in your body and keep you ill indefinitely, and (2) "put[ting] the symptoms into remission" just allows them to hide in your body and keep making you ill.  

Lyme will not go away by itself, and treatment is needed.  The most common approach to treating Lyme is with antibiotics and other medications needed to assist the antibiotics in reaching through the biofilms where the bacteria are hiding.

Lyme is definitely treatable, as long as the right medication is given for the right period of time, all depending on what infections the Lyme ticks brought with them -- there can be several such infections, and your doc will test to see which infections you have before deciding what medications to give you and for how long.

I have had Lyme, and so did someone in my family.  We both were tested for the infections that were suggested by our symptoms, and we were then treated with antibiotics targeted to the two infections we each had (Lyme and another infection called babesiosis).  It took a several months of treatment, and then it took a bit longer to really feel good again, but we are both well now and have been for several years.  

Sorry this message is so long, and if it doesn't make sense or you have questions, let us know.  Best wishes to you --