Lyme Disease and TTC

RobinR91 · June 2011

Hi girls,

My Dr just called, I tested positive for lyme disease (woohoo, right?) I just have a rash, and maybe some lethargy, but not joint pain or headaches, so that's good. She recommended Doxycycline, which cannot be taken while TTC. So I reminded the nurse that I was TTC, and she asked the doctor for another one, and my Dr said Ammoxocilin would work too. The nurse seemed a little sketchy on if she was SURE it was equally as effective, so I called back a little later. Another DR was there, and he was EMPHATIC that I not TTC for 6 months after being treated for lyme disease. Obviously, I'm heartbroken if this is the case, but my DR knew I was trying to conceive and said nothing. I've looked online, and I see where untreated lyme disease can cause some serious complications or death, but nothing when it is treated.

Do any of you have Lyme? Were you told to wait 6 months?! That seems like forever, and I can't find any research to support such a claim.

Any ideas on this? Obviously, I have a call in for my DR to call me personally tomorrow, and I'll see my OB on Tuesday, but I'd love to hear what you have to say.

TIA for your time!

TrendyTina · June 2011

I know absolutely nothing about lyme disease, but I just wanted to say that I hope you get better soon and everything works out with TTC.

Oem617 · June 2011

I really do not have any advice for you, but wanted to say sorry that you have lyme disease and hope you get better soon. My mom has had lyme disease in the past and I know it can be painful. Hopefully you can get TTC again shortly.

misstrish521 · June 2011

I know nothing about lyme disease, but I just wanted to say GL. I hope you get better and things work out for you!

alf005 · June 2011

My mom tested positive for Lyme's a few years ago. It can be a VERY serious thing. There were days she couldn't leave her bed at all to do anything she was so sick.My parents actually went to a lecture by a specialist that dedicated his whole life's work to increasing awareness and trying to get insurance companies to take it seriously. I wish I knew his name off hand, I would share.

You're lucky you tested positive actually. From what I understand you can often test negative for Lymes even though you have it just because of its "cyclical" nature ( i dont know if thats the right term). The indicators of it may or may not show on a blood test for whatever reason. A neighbor of mine was tested twice and didn't get a positive til the 3rd test. She was incredibly sick to the point where she had to have her MIL and mother move in for periods of time to help her take care of her kids.

I'm not sure how the treatments do or do not affect TTC. I would suggest based on my own observations or the disease that you get treated ASAP. I don't imagine that you would want to be pregnant and uncomfortable on top of Lymes symptoms (if they present) for the duration of a pregnancy and then if you're planning on breast feeding, the length of that time as well (if you can't be treated while BF). It just seems too risky if you ask me.

Sorry for the long story! Good luck with your decision and I'm curious to see what the Dr says!

RobinR91 · June 2011

alf005:
My mom tested positive for Lyme's a few years ago. It can be a VERY serious thing. There were days she couldn't leave her bed at all to do anything she was so sick.My parents actually went to a lecture by a specialist that dedicated his whole life's work to increasing awareness and trying to get insurance companies to take it seriously. I wish I knew his name off hand, I would share.
You're lucky you tested positive actually. From what I understand you can often test negative for Lymes even though you have it just because of its "cyclical" nature ( i dont know if thats the right term). The indicators of it may or may not show on a blood test for whatever reason. A neighbor of mine was tested twice and didn't get a positive til the 3rd test. She was incredibly sick to the point where she had to have her MIL and mother move in for periods of time to help her take care of her kids.
I'm not sure how the treatments do or do not affect TTC. I would suggest based on my own observations or the disease that you get treated ASAP. I don't imagine that you would want to be pregnant and uncomfortable on top of Lymes symptoms (if they present) for the duration of a pregnancy and then if you're planning on breast feeding, the length of that time as well (if you can't be treated while BF). It just seems too risky if you ask me.
Sorry for the long story! Good luck with your decision and I'm curious to see what the Dr says!

Oh heavens yes! I hope my post didn't make it sound like I wasn't going to get treatment. I'm actually on my way to get it now!! I just can't find any data that says if women get treated, they need to wait 6 months before TTC. I totally get that its a serious serious thing, I feel very thankful to both know about it, and not have the pain/sickness that I've seen others have. I just can't substantiate the 6 months--which is why I'll talk with my DRs this week.

THANKS all for your replies! Keep 'em coming!

alf005 · June 2011

RobinR91:
Oh heavens yes! I hope my post didn't make it sound like I wasn't going to get treatment. I'm actually on my way to get it now!! I just can't find any data that says if women get treated, they need to wait 6 months before TTC. I totally get that its a serious serious thing, I feel very thankful to both know about it, and not have the pain/sickness that I've seen others have. I just can't substantiate the 6 months--which is why I'll talk with my DRs this week.
THANKS all for your replies! Keep 'em coming!

I'm glad! I couldn't tell if you were thinking of forgoing treatment if you had to wait the 6 months, so I just thought I'd throw it out there.

I did a little googling in the mean time and it appears as though Dr Google is undecided. But I did see this from the mayo clinic (link below, sorry not clicky) it says amoxocillin can be taken by pregnant & breast feeding women for treatment, so I would think taking that while TTC would be okay too according to them. It seems the issue with doxycycline is that it works by blocking the formation of some proteins, which would make sense for not taking if you would become or are pregnant.

https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lyme-disease/DS00116/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

Hope that helps out some, or maybe will help generate some questions you could ask the Dr when he calls.

efs83 · June 2011

I have just been lurking on this board because we will be ttc #2 soon, but I figured I should contribute on this one...

When I was 31 weeks pregnant with DS I removed an engorged tick from my thigh, I went to my general practitioner right away and was tested for Lyme. I was relieved when the test came back negative, but was told to come back in a month to be re-tested since the blood test is not always accurate. I had no rash or symptoms, so I wasn't worried at all when I went in for my second test. I was shocked when the second test came back with a slight positive. Since I was pregnant I couldn't take deoxycyline, and I'm allergic to ammoxicillin, so I had to take a different antibiotic, I think it was cephalexin or something like that. My GP told me to consult with my OB in regards to the severity of being diagnosed with Lyme while pregnant. Obviously, I was a nervous wreck, but my OB assured me that since it was just a slight positive, and that I wasn't displaying symptoms that as long as I took all of my medication everything should be fine.She seemed to think that I has a false positive test. I ended up going into labor the very next day, and my baby boy was born at 35w3days. Luckily, my ob and the pediatrition gave me the ok to breastfeed. I consulted with DS's pediatrition about the need to test him for Lyme, and he said that it wouldn't be necessary unless a problem arose in the future. DS is a happy and healthy baby, and although this ordeal was awful, everything turned out okay. I would definitly speak with your OB, and do what she advises. I can see waiting until you are finished with your medication and free of symptoms to start TTC, but 6 months seems a little extreme! Best of Luck to you, I hope you are feeling better.

OrganicTeacher · June 2011

I know nothing about Lyme Disease - but I hope you feel and get better soon!

Etchylee · June 2011

There is a poster on BOTB who has gone through something similar. I would suggest you go there and page Unwritten (I believe that's her name). She may be able to help you more. I know nothing about it myself, I just want to wish you good luck!

Edited to be a little more coherent.

adamstodrake · June 2011

My BFF has Lyme (she is Sunnykra on here I believe), but she has had the diagnosis for quite a while now. 6 or more years I think. Lyme is not something you want to mess with. Please please please take any action you can against the Lyme now, it is not a disease you want to mess with!

Patches08 · June 2011

I have a complicated case of Lyme disease... full of joint pain, knees, elbows and wrists. I contracted it sometime as a child and started having severe pain about 6 years ago. Took 4 doctors and multiple rounds of exploratory testing but I was finally diagnosed at the age of 21. I'm glad you're getting treatment now! I unknowingly had Lyme during my first pregnancy and it never bothered me.