Are these related to Lyme or just my poor health?

I stopped Lyme treatment after about 1 1/2 or 2 years - I had IV and oral treatment and felt about 90 percent better, but had to stop due to intestinal problems and also my kidneys were showing signs of stress. Aside from my extreme anxiety/panic (which I have had for over 20 years) and intestinal problems I have been doing okay until a few months ago. I started having the brain fogginess w/ some dizziness again and now my migraines are back, but that I am familiar with those. Here are some newer ones for me: Hair loss (I have lost hair before but not for this long a period of time) - It falls out in small handfuls in the shower and my brush is overflowing every morning - lucky to have thick hair to start with. Next is dry lips (VERY chapped and sometimes to the point of bleeding) for the past two months no matter what I use on them and also dry eyes that sometimes burn. I have also noticed a psoriasis type rash on my chest and arms (I had mild psoriasis on my face last year and it looks a little like that). I used the same cream the doctor gave me for that and it helped a little.

I am don't feel "sick enough" to start treatment again b/c the antibiotics would really agitate my current intestinal condition that I am dealing with. If I did anything I would have to go natural and I don't have the money to do that right now. I go back to see my infectious disease doc in a couple of weeks, but even if he thought that maybe the Lyme was coming back there is no way he would put back on meds (or I would want to go on them) due to my kidneys and issues right now.

I just wondered if this sounded like it could be Lyme related or not. Could it possibly be auto immune type thing? I don't know if I should go to my primary doc to be checked out too. Just wondered if you guys had any of these symptoms with your Lyme.

Blessings,
Leah

Post Edited (ashleyf3) : 11/12/2008 8:54:45 AM (GMT-7)

It does sound like some of your lyme symptoms are returning. Can you exercise? This is a natural remedy that can help keep symptoms at bay and keep you healthy since you are doing about 90% better. I was in the same boat as you. I got well after 2 1/2 years on treatment. I stayed well but used exercise to keep me there. Once I stopped working out, my symptoms slowly started to creep back and after a few months I found myself in a relapse and back on medicine again. In my case, I waited too long to see if the symptoms would go away on there own before I started meds again. I did get well again on them, but I also had major stomach issues due to all the meds and having a weak stomach all my life anyway. I would say keep track of your symptoms and see what your doctor says in a few weeks, but if you can exercise in the meantime I would. The rash sounds like non-lyme and maybe you could be a little dehydrated (the dry lips). I was pregnant last year and beyond dehydrated and the ER could tell just by looking at my lips.

I do cardio about 3 to 5 times a week and have lost about 55 pounds since January (praise GOD!!). I have started feeling the dizzy feelings again though after I do heavy exercise and really push myself like I use to. This scares me also because I use to get this also with the Lyme. I still make sure to do something to get my heart rate in a the low level range like riding my stationary bike or walking away the pounds DVDs, but have to be careful b/c of the dizziness coming and going again.

I will see what my doc says, but I really think my only choice is to go to a natural doctor and I just don't know if we can afford that right now. I will just pray that it isn't a relapse.

Blessings,
Leah

Wow, that's great. This happened to me at first too with exercise. I would herx afterwards and it would bring out my lyme symptoms, but I knew that was a good thing as the exercise was working like abx do. I just keep with it and eventually I would be able to exercise without feeling bad afterwards. I eventually got to the point where I worked out 2 hours a day 6 days a week and had a personal trainer. It sounds like you may still have some lyme left, but I imagine if you keep up the exercise you should continue to do well and get even better.