Is there anyone out there who has been taking Rulid for an extended
period of time. I've been on it  for about 6 months and I am beginning
to have peculiar side effects, but I am not sure if they are due to
the antibiotic. I've been losing my hair and gaining wieght. I've also
been extremely tired lately and my menstral cycle is off balance. If
you've been taking rulid and you've been experiencing any of these
symptoms, please write to me. Maybe we'll be able to give each other
peace of mind. Good luck to all and be well.

Sincerely,
Lori

Hi Lori,

I am hypothyroid with Lyme, but have never been on Rulid, although I think
Biaxin may have helped to slow my thyroid down as well as the Lyme, but just my
opinion.
All my thyroid tests are normal, both before and after taking thyroid. I take
an above average dose of Armour.  Apparently the levels in my {*filter*} stream are
fine, but for some reason  I'm not utilizing my own hormone.  There are docs
who can make a clinical diagnosis of hypothyroidism and will try medication.  
For tons of info and docs check out this site
http://www.***.com/

Susan

You might want to ask your doc to do a test that measures anti-thyroid
antibodies.  My "regular" thyroid tests were all within normal limits, but when
a test was done for the antibodies, it was very positive.  Armour thyroid
helped the symtoms.  I never took Rulid, but one of the effects of my Lyme
seems to be a hyper-activation of the immune system.
Kat

Hi, just found this group this p.m.;  bitten in spring of 1987 in a
mid-Michigan county where there had been no Lyme disease diagnosed
previously; not diagnosed until fall of that year.  Much controversy among
the professionals about whether it was actually Lyme; within weeks, several
others diagnosed as a result of my rather high-profile case (nurse in the
local hospital, and hospitalized myself after finally having to throw in the
towel and unable to go on duty one night).  My case helped prevent the
others, including children, from going on as long as I had w/o being
diagnosed.  Three weeks of IV antibiotic. Interesting that now I have
fibromyalgia and an auto-immune hypothyroidism that sent my antibodies roof.
But hey, I can now work full time again after giving up nursing to fly a
computer for a great employer, (insurance company of all things), write full
time after work, and otherwise 'keep going' best as a body can! I am
grateful to the nurses and physicians who knew me well enough to realize
that 'something' was wrong, even though they knew not what for sure when I
was admitted with cardiac anomalies one time, 'exhaustion'
another--really--and that whole kaleidoscope of waxing and waning symptoms
that some so casually and arrogantly write off as 'in your head.'