For example: I got my hair loss under control after being in Lyme treatment for a couple/few years to where it wasn't falling out in clumps anymore. Then I would have bouts of severe of hair loss. I finally figured out that both my Vitamin D and Vit. C supplements were causing the spike in hair loss. So, while originally the Lyme/AF were the cause, it was now that I was 'allergic' to the Vit D and C ( or more likely, the fillers in the tablets). It was like flipping on a switch when I took either vitamin: the next day I thought I would go bald.
I am still on Adderall, which causes it's own set of symptoms. I rarely have symptoms that are obviously from the Adderall, but some of the symptoms I am blogging about *could* be a side effect, although they are the same as my Lyme symptoms. One of it's side effects is dizziness. Another minor and very random allergic reaction I have is swelling and itching of my eyelids; blepheritis. For years, due to Lyme/AF I used to get it very regularly ( during PMS-every month) horribly. I looked like an old hag, with crusty, sagging eyelids. I hated it. Gradually, with my Lyme treatment, it went away and I rarely have that anymore. However, the Adderall can cause that exact same effect. I know because I tested it. I would go off the Adderall for a week or two and it would go away. I'd go back on Add and it would immediately flare up again.
Blurred vision is another possible side effect of Adderall, although I don't think it has effected my vision at all, it's possible. I will be 43 in a couple weeks ( they say things get blurry at 40 and they do!). Prior to Lyme, I had perfect 20/20 vision. The Lyme brought on severe light sensitivity ( so painful to be in even the pale, winter sunlight!) and the floaters in my vision as well as this crazy, fast eyeball twitch. Those symptoms are greatly reduced or gone, but I do have more trouble focusing. Again: Is it my age, the Adderall, or the Lyme?
I think Adderall suppresses the immune system... just my feeling due to some new symptoms that have come up since I started taking it about a year and half ago. The symptoms were 'growths' on my face. I woke up one day with a painful bump between my eye and my nose. It felt and looked like a spider bite, but very painful. There was general swelling around the area. Over a period of two weeks, it doubled in size to look like a crusty wart. I was panicking. I called and made an appointment with the dermatologist, convinced I had cancer. Before I could get in ( it was at least a month) it fell off. It had started to get cracked and bleed some, and I was putting Neosporin on it. Then one day, it just fell off and healed. That has happened about 4 times since I started the Adderall. When I described it to the dermatologist, he said it was just a 'cyst'. ? Ok.
And... if that's not complicated enough, the Lyme-N caused my Adderall to be less effective. So now that I am off the Lyme-N I noticed the Adderall seems more potent.
I also periodically take an anti-viral medication for the swelling, pain and mild bells palsy in the left side of my face, cold sores during PMS and other viral like cysts that randomly come up. That has side effects as well, but I rarely take it because after being on it for 6 weeks straight, I had the most horrible stomach pain of my life and was very ill and nauseous for about 3 days. I couldn't eat and I had horrible diarrhea. I am careful now to only take it for a day or two. If I feel any sort of pain at all, I stop.
All this is to say that just because I have a certain symptom, that does not mean it is caused by the Lyme coming back, or that the Lyme-N has not worked. I just want to make clear that it's much more complicated than jumping to a certain conclusion about the cause of a symptom.