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
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Rhonda Howdyshell
09/05/2023 (1:43 pm)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
I am to the point of ending it all so sick of being sick … decades of it
Dr. Daniel Cameron
06/28/2023 (7:44 am)
Suicidal tendencies have been described in Lyme disease. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5546819/ You should see a doctor or the ER. You could also call the suicide hotline https://988lifeline.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=onebox