Guide To Living With Lyme Disease

By Beryl Dalton


If you suffer from Lyme disease, you know just how much suffering it can cause. Living with Lyme disease can be hard, but it is possible. You do not have to live completely shut in your home all the time. There are things you can do to help prevent a decline in your quality of life and increase the number of days your symptoms are in remission.

It is common for many people with the disease to experience sensitivity to sunlight. This is not actually a symptom of the disease but rather a symptom of the medications used in treatment. Try to avoid the sunlight as much as possible, especially during the hours in the middle of the day. When exposure is unavoidable, remain covered with pants and long sleeve shirts. Be sure to wear sunglasses and a hat as well.

Probiotics can be very beneficial, especially while taking antibiotics. While you are taking antibiotics, the bacteria in your intestines are killed. Probiotics help to perform the job the bacteria would normally do. The probiotics can work to prevent certain digestive conditions, such as clostrium difficile infection, and help maintain a better digestive cycle.

Be aware that people with Lyme disease are more likely to suffer from co-infections. A co-infection occurs in conjunction with this disease. These infections must be addressed and properly treated. If they are not, the immune system can be further depressed and not be able to effectively use the medications. The body may also suffer from permanent damage if a co-infection is not dealt with properly.

While taking antibiotics and for a period after, you should pay close attention to your diet. In particular, you should be avoiding sugars and foods that contain high sugar content. Since the antibiotics are killing a substantial amount of good and bad bacteria in the digestive system, the remaining bad bacteria will thrive off the sugars and continue to grow out of control, ultimately causing digestive troubles.

Sufferers will more severe cases or who are unable to tolerate oral treatments may require a different method to receive medications. An IV catheter and port is often the solution. This method relies on an IV catheter with a port that allows for the administration of medications through the blood. You will need to have your dressings changes once a week at your doctor's office. It is important to look for signs of a clot or infection. Clotting can be evident if your arm changes to a blue, gray, or purple hue and infection may be present if the site is red or if you are running a fever.

Take time to seek out individuals and create a support network. Choose family and friends that you know will help you get through both the good and bad days. It may also be helpful to join a support group. Regardless of how you choose to go, you need people that will help you through every step, including treatment and remission.

Remember that you will have days without symptoms while you are in remission, but you will also have days where the symptoms can be unbearable. The goal is to ensure that there are more good days than bad. Even if you feel okay, you should still be taking measures to ensure that you are promoting continued remission, including staying away from individuals who have been ill.




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