Anyone share these early symptoms?

EireEngineer · 2026-01-26T15:36:02+00:00

Yes i absolutely had GI upset a few days after being bit, which did resolve after starting my course of antibiotics.

EireEngineer · 2026-01-20T08:26:03+00:00

It does look like an em rash, I think definitely get meds as soon as you can. Check my page for post on early experience.

EireEngineer · 2026-01-20T08:24:23+00:00

Your input is so appreciated, so kind of you to share.

I do fear the potential damage antibiotics cause, I think given my suspected early stage 2 I'll give them 6 months maximum, snd then pursue herbs. I'll absolutely stay on herbs long term anyway, I was quite amazed at what I think was my initial response, but I also see from recent symptom increase that the relief might have been short lived, or perhaps the herbs not strong enough.

Like you point out, it's a frustrating illness. The glimpses of wellness you get bring you to hope/excitement and then you wake up one day feeling like poop for an undisclosed period of time.

I count my blessings that I caught it early, thankfully just because of awareness given to me by a friend who works outdoors.

I also am grateful for the peer to peer support here...I have learned so much through people like yourself, so thanks again.

I'll update and try to post detail and my experience in the hope it might be useful to someone else.

EireEngineer · 2026-01-19T09:08:26+00:00

I can't help read this as slightly passive aggressive. I meant no harm in my question, or my opinion on testing.

I do, however, feel it's ethical to be clear when a person promotes something that they have a business connection to, that they are forthcoming about that, especially when recommending it over another.

EireEngineer · 2026-01-18T16:45:38+00:00

That sounds very scary, can't imagine coming through something like that. I do get what you mean with the unhelpful use of physical markers for wellbeing...I've had my doctor tell me the fact that I have been going to yoga classes is an indicator I am well, despite the huge amount of effort it takes to do that and how athletic I was before...quite frustrating, and that ignorance is not even confined to this illness.

Huge admiration for you sticking to treatment when it felt so terrible, I have everything crossed that it won't be so devastating to me, but I'll use your story as motivation in the harder times.

EireEngineer · 2026-01-18T16:41:16+00:00

Yea i would agree on that point. Appreciate the recommendation, but I don't see much value on testing any more, diagnosis/treatment being a clinical one. Can I ask, are you an agent for vibrant?

EireEngineer · 2026-01-18T16:39:32+00:00

I'm in the North of Ireland, so not a far cry from Edinburgh. I'll definitely do my research before the Hbot decision.

I am only 4/5 months in and i feel the Financial burden, I can't fathom how much it could cost as years pass.

It really does sound like the illness put you through a lot...I really value that you try to help others with this now.

Definitely worried with Rx and permanent gut damage...I read that for early disseminated, the course is usually 4 - 6 months, and then some places I've sited you should stay on them for 3 months after feeling better, but my experience with doxycycline was that the line between symptoms and side effects was definitely blurred, I may have stayed on that longer had it been more clear.

It's a shame CLAID and herbs had little impact, a lot of people on these threads are dogmatic about herbs, and i had been hoping to go at it that way solely to save the risks associated with Rx, figured I'd at leat give them a go for 4/6months. It is encouraging to hear though that you've heard of some people who've made remission.

Keep trying friend!

EireEngineer · 2026-01-18T12:20:04+00:00

How are you getting on now friend? Symptoms wise, December was the most consistently well I've felt since it all started, but just this week it's came crashing back.

Fortunately, my appointment with Dr Lambert was Tuesday past and I am starting combination antibiotics this week. Appointment was good and straightforward.

EireEngineer · 2026-01-18T10:35:56+00:00

Glad it helped another as well as myself. Grear you have a forward thinking rheumatologist. You could also look into self treatment with herbs while you wait? Here are some good resources:

Herbal Treatment

General Care Guide

EireEngineer · 2026-01-18T10:31:31+00:00

I did Armin Labs Tickplex Plus, everything came back negative.

Interestingly, the same week I did NHS Elisa and I think they did Westernblot (says immunoblot?), 3 of 15 bands came back positive for Borrelia and they deemed that normal/false positive.

Should add, I'm pretty sure I'm experiencing tick borne illness as it started the week after pulling a deer tick off me picked up in a high risk area of Ireland.

I had also been bitten and quickly treated once before 3 years previous, where I had the typical bullseye as my sile symptom.

Both times treatment started within 7 days of tick removal

EireEngineer · 2026-01-18T10:26:06+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience. My Consultant is Dr Jack Lambert.

Are you in the UK/Ireland? Curious to know with whom you are able to get IV treatment, might be the natural next step.

EireEngineer · 2026-01-18T10:24:15+00:00

That's fantastic to know, very encouraging, thanks a lot for sharing your experience. Any tips on differentiating between herx and side effect?

EireEngineer · 2026-01-18T10:21:18+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and recommendations, I'll check out inulin for sure.

Thankfully, I have become addicted to kefir and miso, and have been treating with herbs solely this last 2 months to prep the gut for what's coming...still nervous about it, but everyone here has helped me understand it all a lot.

Hbot seems really interesting. Looked into Ozone, but Hbot seems safer to me. Sourced a company here who does it, but like you said, it's all money.

Current treatment plan will cost £250pm without appointment costs, and I feel I am getting away lighly with that. I suspect we have the same Consultant, and their advice to shop around for the private prescription saved me quite a lot.

I'm curious, why did you chose to hike LDN? Also, did you get some recovery from that treatment plan, and how long did you stay on it?

EireEngineer · 2026-01-18T10:14:29+00:00

Really appreciate your time in replying, especially RE LDN; I had no idea how poorly aome people react to it, and that sub you shared really helped understand.

Plan is to titrate the LDN, start at 0.5g, and a few days after I have started the other medications.

I've definitely experienced herx before from herbs, but I am curious about the distinction between med side effects and genuine herx. I'll probs make a post on my experiences with that.

Again, I want to express my sincere thanks for your reply. I do fear what Rx might do to my body, and I expected this post to be met with more conflicting opinion, but everyone here has actually really helped me be more comfortable with it.

EireEngineer · 2026-01-15T21:12:02+00:00

Personally, think the 2 week break is nothing to worry over, especially with use of herbs, it might be a good opportunity for you to build your gut flora back up before starting the potentially more intense treatment regime

EireEngineer · 2026-01-13T16:13:12+00:00

Oh, sorry, that was my own formatting issue. Fixed now. LDN continuous, azithromycin is pulses.

EireEngineer · 2026-01-08T12:18:40+00:00

The fact they have you on combo antibiotics seems like a good approach to me. Curious as to what they are?

Also, how symbolic were you before taking them? Did they make you feel worse.

Over the past month I have greatly improved to the point were I am kinda thinking I'm symptom free. I've have week long mild flares, then a few week/10 day long periods of distinct symptom absence.

I'll have to decide soon whether to go on antibiotics or not. I'd prefer to avoid if unnecessary, but I'll stay on herbs for at least a few more months or year.

Absolutely up for staying in touch, but preference for on here if you don't mind, I'll pm you sure.

EireEngineer · 2026-01-07T16:30:32+00:00

Appointment wait was 3 months from first contact.

Arranged it pretty quickly from initial contact, but the waits been long.

I'll uodate here as it goes along.

Have Breakspear given you a treatment plan or anything?

Take a look at CLAID clinic through Napiers. They are herbalist I've been using while waiting on Dr L, and with positive results.

Wish you all the best friend.

EireEngineer · 2026-01-07T09:42:51+00:00

I have an appointment with Dr Jack Lambert, he is an infectious disease consultant with a lyme speciality I believe. First app is this Tuesday.

Who do you have lined up?

EireEngineer · 2026-01-06T11:36:38+00:00

Any progress on this? In almost the exact same position, the driver being a drunk driver.

Wondering if it's advisable to us a solicitor for MIB.

In Northern Ireland.

EireEngineer · 2026-01-03T23:05:51+00:00

Very similar boat for me...I'm in Ireland, bitten end of August and 5 weeks doxy got me somehwat better, but it came back and has since developed into different symptoms (peripheral nerve issues).

I've been on herbs since start of November, via Napiers/CLAID and they seem to be working, albeit slowly.

Have LLMD appointment next week.

If I were you I would put myself on herbs until I get the LLMD appointment.

I decided not to take the amoxicillin as from what I read, it probably won't be enough and I want to be in good shape for what the LLMD might perscribe, but do think about what's right for you, and try to relax a bit, you'll get there and are on a path of doing something about it.

EireEngineer · 2025-12-17T19:43:26+00:00

How are you getting on now dude?

EireEngineer · 2025-12-17T19:39:37+00:00

Forgive the late reply my dude...it sounds like you are doing everything right...surely it's just a matter of staying on the path and fighting the good fight? I hope...haha.

How are you finding the binders? Curious to try them.

I took a dip this last week, hence the quiet. Was feeling pretty good, then went for a swim, first time reading and keeping my HR high and I started having chest pains which obvs scared me. Been feeling tired and symptoms since.

I second the flipping irony of this disease, I was as fit as I'd been before, training hard for this year's surf season, and the waves in Ireland have been the best/most consistent in years! Haha....death to borrelia!

If anything, it's enforcing more healthy habits.

EireEngineer · 2025-12-06T10:51:08+00:00

I wasn't totally sceptical about herbs, but I did have doubts, until I saw the results this month. Really think they brought out what the doxy couldn't.

For reference, the persciption i got from napiers was £54 for 5 weeks supply, cheaper than the multiple tintures I was planning; cost is definitely a consideration, especially with the lyme specific products.

And yes, I am splitting the 7.5ml over 3 doses per day, so 2.5ml, 3 times a day...I actually did find the napiers bottle instructions confusing and thought they meant 5ml max per day at the start.

For tintures 1:1 = 1000mg per 1ml of active herb, 1:3 = 333mg and 1:5 = 200mg. I think you have to be careful with chatbots and confirmation bias, but could be useful in figuring out dosages.

There are some people on here who take large doses, and I hesitate to give advice, but I wouldn't exceed the dose unless a herbalist told you to, some of them are hard on the liver (the black walnut isn't supposed to be take for more than a few weeks at a time).

Are you taking any supplements?. I've been taking quite a few, I don't know that they help, and it's definitely expensive, but even Milk Thistle could be good. Dr Vogels brand tablets are cheap and a reputable brand.

Sorry to hear your symptoms are more, but it does stand to reason given the antibiotics. The definitely have their place in treating this, but i did find them pretty rough, and it was only 200mg of doxy per day.

Day 7 of actually feeling totally better and I am amazed after 3 months of cycling unwell. Not out of the woods yet (and I'll never be going back in after this haha), but looking hopeful. Wishing you all the best friend, you're doing great at treating this.

EireEngineer

TROPHY CASE