antihistamines and lyme

February 17, 2010

So I can't remember if I heard it here or somewhere else, but with lymes, we all

pretty much have allergic reactions or allergies because of our immune system,

and I got a lot of good info from you guys awhile back, but my question is this,

if I take an over the counter antihistamine, is that going to mess up my

recovery? I have heard something about when you are having an allergic reaction,

it's something about your body trying to fight it off but if you give yourself

an antihistamine it messes with the body's natural response, I read this

somewhere and with my lyme brain I just cannot remember where or what was said,

so if anyone has any insight on this that would be wonderful!!!!

Bridget

Oh, I can't do the allergy shots, been there, done that, long story

February 18, 2010

I take claritin daily and get allergy shots it hasn't affected my recovery and I

am doing well

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[ ] antihistamines and lyme

So I can't remember if I heard it here or somewhere else, but with lymes, we

all pretty much have allergic reactions or allergies because of our immune

system, and I got a lot of good info from you guys awhile back, but my question

is this, if I take an over the counter antihistamine, is that going to mess up

my recovery? I have heard something about when you are having an allergic

reaction, it's something about your body trying to fight it off but if you give

yourself an antihistamine it messes with the body's natural response, I read

this somewhere and with my lyme brain I just cannot remember where or what was

said, so if anyone has any insight on this that would be wonderful!!!!

Bridget

Oh, I can't do the allergy shots, been there, done that, long story

February 18, 2010

Here is my experience relating to an 'antihisamine of sorts'

A few days ago we sort of 'over did it'. With about 2 feet of snow on the

ground and trying to 'get out' again, we did a lot of snow shoveling. On top

of that we were keeping two 'wood stoves' stocked with wood. Anyway, last

Thursday I began to feel conjestion in my nasal passages - runny nose at

times and other times my nose stopped up type of symptoms. Since I have had

many allergies for many years I tend to try to be careful what I use, even

with a seeming cold. Anyway, one of my home 'remedies' that has helped me

in the past, seemed to be one of the best choices this time as well. I

peeled off the papery part of a clove of garlic and put it in my mouth. I DO

NOT bite it (most of the time anyway). (To me garlic is stronger tasting

than I care for). After a few hours I would replace that clove with another

one.

Long story short, as long as I had the garlic in my mouth my head seemed to

stay rather clear. Yesterday I did 'leave it out' and I seem to be getting

back to normal and not needing it, for which I am grateful.

Olive

On Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 4:55 PM, bridget <blueyes7648@...> wrote:

>

> So I can't remember if I heard it here or somewhere else, but with lymes,

> we all pretty much have allergic reactions or allergies because of our

> immune system, and I got a lot of good info from you guys awhile back, but

> my question is this, if I take an over the counter antihistamine, is that

> going to mess up my recovery? I have heard something about when you are

> having an allergic reaction, it's something about your body trying to fight

> it off but if you give yourself an antihistamine it messes with the body's

> natural response, I read this somewhere and with my lyme brain I just cannot

> remember where or what was said, so if anyone has any insight on this that

> would be wonderful!!!!

> Bridget

> Oh, I can't do the allergy shots, been there, done that, long story

>

--

Olive

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. (unknown)

Your can lead a person to a fact, but you can't make them think. -

(a friend)

February 18, 2010

Hi, Bridget.

This is just my opinion as a severe allergy sufferer, not a Lyme expert (I also

have Lyme brain), but I can't see how taking an antihistamine could be bad.

Allergy symptoms are caused by the release of histamines, a response to the

insult of an allergen. Antihistamines stop or reduce production of histamine,

hence the reduction of allergy symptoms. What we call " allergies " are a response

to something that shouldn't be a threat, but our bodies for some reason treat it

that way. I would think taking some of the non-threat response out of the

picture would help, rather than harm, your body's attempt to fight off Lyme.

Again, I could be totally in the wrong field and not even playing the same ball

game with my thoughts, but that's how I look at it. My immunologist put it to me

like that so I have no problem taking a Zyrtec every morning and singulair every

night. I'd be covered in hives and coughing all night without them -- not a good

way to be at top form for daily life. LOL.

>

> So I can't remember if I heard it here or somewhere else, but with lymes, we