Running and Lyme

[magik611]

I am currently on 14 days of antibotics for lyme. I am a runner and have not run on over 2 weeks doc said exercise was ok. I wanted to know if anyone has run while on antibotics for lyme? I am a marathon runner.

thanks

[regula22]

No, i don't suffer fatigue, my symptoms are occasional shooting pains in fingers and toes, eye ticks, burning felling in tongue, eye flashes, depression and bad memory. My physical state is otherwise very good. Guess i am lucky.

[wonko]

Do you currently suffer fatigue as one of your symptoms?

I would suggest that you test your ability to exercise before diving in to your traditional routines.  Maybe start off with much shorter runs, or alternate running with walking, and then wait a day to see if there are any adverse effects.

I'm not much of a runner, though I did complete my first-ever-in-my-life 5 K AFTER getting sick.  I typically work out 5 times a week doing cardio for up to an hour, and I believe this has been crucial to my recovery.  However, at times I've experienced fatigue to the extent that I had to put exercise on hiatus until I was well enough to resume.

Basically, you may need to "budget" your energy until you are well or over the hump.  For me, if I can work out OR get to work, but not both, then I need to prioritize work.  Kinda annoying to not be able to do all that you want, but this is a reality for many people who are chronically ill.  

Whether or not you can run really depends on how sick you are, what your symptoms are, and what other obligations you have.

An interesting take on this is the so-called "spoon theory,"  an analogy written by a sick person trying to explain their limitations to a healthy person:

http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory-written-by-christine-miserandino/

If my link gets edited by the "powers that be," then simply perform an internet search on "spoon theory" and it's sure to turn up near/at the top.

Good luck!

[regula22]

I am active cyclist, i did ask my doctor that can i do cardio and cylce like 30 km on day and she gave green light - even when she know  that have borrelia having party in my blood and arrhtymias on EKG. Weird...

[magik611]

thanks.  yeah i still holding off on running prob swim I know I am not 100%

[JackieCalifornia]

I don't know if we have any marathoners who post here, but if your doc says it's all right, then as long as you feel up to it, then I'd give it a try.

I've been told and read from posts here that exercise is often recommended in Lyme, but not to overdo it.  For someone accustomed to vigorous exercise, it might be just fine.

Some of the concern may be that Lyme can affect the heart muscle.

I'd suggest that you go to ILADS [dot] org, click on the tab 'About Lyme' and go to Burrascano's 'Treatment Guidelines.'  I believe the ones dated 17 Dec 2008 is the most recent.  It is a pdf file, so if you search 'exercise' within that document, it will take you to specific statements about exercise.  The recommendations are generally favorable toward exercise, but have some points to make that you may wish to consider ... and then clear it with your doc.

After two weeks on hiatus, you must be getting itchy to lace up the shoes!