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

What does a Lyme flare-up feel like

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

 

233 Replies to "What does a Lyme flare-up feel like? Ask the Lyme Doc."

  • Rhonda Howdyshell
    09/05/2023 (1:43 pm)
    Reply

    I was so happy to feel amazing after taking the protocol prescribed by my LLMD. I enjoyed nearly 5 years of remission? cure? Then last spring, I experienced debilitating symptoms of Lyme again. After visiting my Lyme Literate Medical Doctor – and doing the Western Blot.. I had very high positives (all) in the IgM and only 3 in the IgG (Negative by CDC?) confusing, but I think it indicates I was rebitten? I was so happy to be Lyme symptom free for 5 years. Thank you LLMD and the protocol that was so cheap and non-herxing!

    • Dr. Daniel Cameron
      09/12/2023 (7:25 am)
      Reply

      I have had patients whose IgM western blot have been positive during Lyme disease exacerbations without evidence of a new infection. I have had to approach them a a new infection while considering the IgM may be related to a previous infection.

  • Tamara
    08/27/2023 (10:52 am)
    Reply

    You should address this question with my office at 914 666 4665 in New York. You should also work with your primary doctor to rule out other conditions.

    • Dr. Daniel Cameron
      08/28/2023 (6:41 am)
      Reply

      You should address this question with my office at 914 666 4665 in New York. You should also work with your primary doctor to rule out other condidtions.

  • Kelly-Anne
    07/11/2023 (8:57 pm)
    Reply

    Have you ever heard of tickborne illness flare ups that occur 4 or 5 times every day? (I’ve had Lyme since 1978, dx 2010, tx 9 yrs. Borrelia burgdorferi, babesia microti, bartonella henselae, multiple other likely reactivated infections. Prior to tx and during, I had afternoon flares in symptoms. Moderate improvement after 5 mos IV abx (for meningitis) followed by herbal/supplement regime to quell inflammation). Now flu symptoms for 6 mos, every day, about every 4 hours. I had a Lone Star tick bite a few days before this new illness. The tick tested negative for any pathogens, but I’ve read that a bite can mobilize existing residual Lyme. Some symptoms may be from LPR, as Lyme has affected my gut. But the periodicty of it, not meal-related, has me stumped.

    • Dr. Daniel Cameron
      07/12/2023 (7:52 am)
      Reply

      I have patients with periodicity but the pattern differs from person to person. It is unclear why.

  • Shelley L Skogen
    06/29/2023 (2:21 pm)
    Reply

    I had Lyme disease @ 20 years ago with the classic symptoms and was treated for it at that time. Thirteen years ago I acquired an insect bite and ended up in the hospital for 14 days with a developed bacterial meningitis. The report that I read basically said that the insect bite triggered dormant lymes in my system resulting in the reaction. Just recently, probably the last 2 weeks, I am experiencing the same symptoms that I had thirteen years ago with stiffness of joints, limited mobility, fatigue and a mild headache. I spend a lot of time outdoors and have acquired several mosquito bites in the last month. I am wondering if there is any connection with mosquito bites and dormant lyme disease.

    • Dr. Daniel Cameron
      06/29/2023 (5:09 pm)
      Reply

      I have not seen any good information on mosquitoes. I would advise my patient to include a Lyme disease evaluation rather than focus on the mosquito.

    • Dr. Daniel Cameron
      07/03/2023 (4:51 pm)
      Reply

      They have not done many studies on Mosquitoes. Most of my patients never saw the tick. I advise my patients with a return of symptoms to include a doctor with experience treating Lyme disease in their list of doctors.

  • Jason
    06/27/2023 (11:59 pm)
    Reply

    I am to the point of ending it all so sick of being sick … decades of it

1 5 6 7 8 9 11

Join the Lyme Conversation
(Note: comments are moderated. You will see your comment after it has been reviewed.)

Some html is OK