What does a Lyme flare-up feel like? Ask the Lyme Doc.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that can lead to unpredictable disease flare-ups and remissions. The best know flare-up is called a Herxheimer reaction. A Herxheimer reaction was first identified in patients with syphilis and occurs when the body reacts to endotoxin-like products released by the death of bacteria in the body after starting an antibiotic. A flare-up may occur following a trigger or as part of the illness.

When a Lyme disease flare occurs, patients will notice a return of the symptoms they have experienced before or a worsening of existing symptoms. Some patients may also develop new symptoms. A flare-up can come and go and vary in intensity.  What does a Lyme flare-up feel like? The symptoms of a flare-up can include:

• an increase in fatigue
• problems with memory and concentration, sometimes referred to as ‘brain fog’
• extreme sensitivity to bright lights, heat, cold, and noise
• muscle stiffness
• mood changes (including irritability)
• poor quality sleep
• dizziness
• numbness or tingling in hands and feet
• widespread muscle pain
• blurred vision
• general body pain

What triggers a flare-up?

One of the best ways to prevent a flare is to determine what might be causing it in the first place. These causes are called triggers. Triggers for Lyme disease vary by person, but they can include:

• emotional stress (such as a divorce, death in the family, or accidents)
• physical stress to the body (i.e., surgery, physical harm, concussion)
• life stress or stressful events
• infections, colds or viral illnesses
• exhaustion
• diets including processed sugars and alcohol
• menstrual period
• lack of sleep
• traveling and/or changes in schedule
• changes in treatment

How do you prevent a flare-up?

There are ways to help prevent a flare-up but most importantly, patients need to listen to their bodies and identify triggers that set off a flare in symptoms. Following are several ways to prevent a flare-up:

• Treat your Lyme disease
• Reduce your stress
• Get enough rest and sleep
• Stay away from foods that make you feel worse, including alcohol and processed sugars
• Learn to pace yourself to avoid doing too much when you are feeling well
• Keep up your health
• Stay hydrated
• Work with your doctor to get your symptoms under control
• Some people find ‘positive thinking’ helpful
• Try focusing on the things you can do, rather than those you can’t
• You might find a mental health provider helpful

Editor’s note. What does a Lyme flare-up feel like?  Ask the Lyme doc sponsored by Dr. Cameron