The Proactive Approach To Treatment

Taking prescribed antibiotics is only part of the treatment for Lyme disease. So many patients think if they take their medicine, keep their doctor appointments and rest a lot, that's all it will take to arrest the infection. Most treating physicians hand out sheets of information about diet, nutrition, exercise and supplements and too often Lyme patients read them but don't follow the suggestions for a myriad of reasons. Some physicians have the time to impress the importance of the patient doing their part beyond taking the medication, but most don't have the luxury of time to walk each Lyme patient through the specifics.

Lyme disease attacks all areas of the body so a multi-faceted treatment approach includes a change in diet, daily aerobic exercise and stretches and supplements. This means a low fat diet, lots of vegetables, no caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes and vitamins. If any or all of that means you will have go make major life style adjustments, consider how Lyme disease has effected your life and make the commitment to do your part by making these changes. Any illness is a battle and needs your full attention.

Some suggested supplements are a multivitamin with minerals, acidophilus(to replenish the good bacteria that antibiotics kill along with the bad bacteria), magnesium; calcium citrate with magnesium is a good choice (this will stop twitches, muscle spasms and muscle weakness like lower back pain) and Echinacea(to build up your immune system). All the above are available at discount prices from various vitamin catalogs and online sources. Stay with the known brands and don't take more than the recommended amount before checking with your treating physician. More isn't always better and can cause damage to internal organs.

Acidophilus is the exception to the more is better rule because all the good bacteria is killed with antibiotics. This allows yeast infections and diarrhea. Find the highest potency milk-free acidophilus and one that preferably does not have to be refrigerated. Why? Because the possibility exists that the supplement was not constantly refrigerated and the live bacteria died. Yes, you can eat yogurt to get acidophilus, but you will have to eat a lot of it to get the same results as a capsule with two billion acidophilus cells in it. Take one capsule in the morning and one in the evening, but if you are still having problems, ask your doctor how much more you can take on a daily basis. It will make a profound difference with the two major problems that accompany antibiotic treatment.

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