How long should it take to know if treatment is working?
Posted by Bartenderbonnie (Member # 49177) on :
What does your treatment protocol look like? It is important that you are being adequately prescriped the proper doses and combination meds, herbs, supplements, and detox therapies.
Here is Dr B's diagnostic guide for Tick Borne Infections. You will need to reread and refer to this often as it has so much information.
It took me 3 months till my AWLFUL morning hang-over feeling finally left, at 6 months was feeling very hopeful, and at 8 months was smiling. You will probably not notice yourself getting better as the gains are so subtle and small at first. Like not dropping things or being able to boil an egg or talk on the telephone. But slowly each day gets better and better.
Stay in the battle. Soon you will be saying "Gez, I must be getting better because I couldn't do what I did today yesterday."
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Months .. don't expect miracles.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I think it depends on what strain and symptoms we have. I started on clindamycin antibiotics when I found out I had Lyme, and my pain was at zero in a week's time!! I think I was a lucky one here. Most take awhile longer to get their symptoms down!
Also, I just have Lyme, no co-infections.
If you care to say a little more about what your symptoms are and which infections you have, people might be able to respond to your question better.
Posted by marie (Member # 3980) on :
I was treated by a LLMD with 2 oral antibiotics and added a 3rd at the end with no response for 1 1/2 years-she discontinued treatment and indicated she didn't know what I had. She told me she didn't have any other patients that she couldn't figure it out or cure. All the other patients & even co-workers who went to her or knew someone-were cured. They didn't even know if they had Lyme at all. I was bit & had bulls-eye in 1996 & treated with doxycycline & then had some neurological symptoms 4 months later and then flu etc 4 months later-chronic symptoms & flare ups combined. I had short term oral antibiotics when I was out of work sick over the years. No other treatment. No other diagnosis. Saw many specialists-some several times.
Posted by Rivendell (Member # 19922) on :
Marie, I hope you found another LLMD. Sounds like she gave up too quickly. She should have tried other antibiotics. Tests aren't accurate and other co-infections were probably involved.
Also, sounds like she was trying to make herself look good, instead of looking for answers for you.
Buhner's approach helps so much with inflammation, which causes most of the symptoms. Stopping the inflammation makes it harder for the infections to survive in the body.
Functional Medicine may help as well.
Try some of the Buhner herbs, if money is a problem. You can buy the herbs in bulk, put them in capsules or tincture them yourself.
Posted by mariel21 (Member # 35881) on :
Been down that road with about 10 LLMDs- keep going. You will find someone to help you.
Posted by marie (Member # 3980) on :
I am now scared of all the costs involved not covered by insurance and no doctor with insurance to cooperate. I don't want to start treatment and not be able to continue. If I do the herbs on my own-I don't have a doctor to run blood work.
I had a tick bite & bulls eye rash in 1996. Positive IGM ELISA. Treated w/ standard doxycycline. Had some neurological symptoms 4 months later. Then 2 months later-flu & ongoing symptoms. Consistently sick and bouts on top of it taking me out of work for months at a time. Only had antibiotics short term when out of work other than LLMD 1 1/2 years-no improvement. Struggling every day to do minimum.
Last few years-don't know when but no symptoms except low functioning & tired. This June I was suddenly sick again the next day after cavity filled at dentist. Now rashes,tingling, burning, numbness, tender spots and joint pain. Trouble with words, slurred speech, trouble walking, crying spells and severe anxiety. 28 days doxy & NSAID for 30 days. Symptoms have toned down now very tired, pain with touch to skin, joint pain, anxiety, fear. Had elevated RBC, iron & HCT. 2nd blood work normal. Lyme negative both times. PCP referred to rheumatologist but haven't gone yet.
Could this be fibromyalgia caused by Lyme. Read a study by NIH-lyme can cause fibromyalgia but can't be resolved with antibiotics.
Dr. H-stated he can get some into 2 years remission. Is this all we can get after paying for our own treatment.
Posted by Catgirl2.0 (Member # 51843) on :
Did you have an amalgam put in? I saw Dr. H, unfortunately he couldn't get me there.
I'm rarely back on this forum, but for some reason something told me to look today. I'm an old member here, but changed my email so unfortunately it looks like I'm new, lol. I posted on one of your other posts. Consider EM, it's amazing! eminusmirus.com
Posted by marie (Member # 3980) on :
I had a tooth that already had a filling. Another cavity was filled. Yes. I have a lot of cavities done over the years I've been sick and no problem. The novocaine was fast acting but stronger that usual. Not sure which nerve was treated with novocaine. Could it be from novocaine; nerve triggered; mercury? I read on the internet-J.D. Scott-brother of Property Brothers-1st had an infection & now they are stating mercury poisoning and problems with antibiotic. He had burning skin & trouble with heat. Is there anything I can do on my own which is where I am now?
Posted by Catgirl2.0 (Member # 51843) on :
So they put another metal filling in? If so, that might explain some of it (stirs up lyme and company). I crashed after I had a metal filling replaced with another one. I didn't know much about them back then. I had to get rid of all my metal fillings (amalgams) and replace them with composites. I felt much better at the Dr's office immediately after they were removed.
There is a lot of info here on Lymenet on amalgam fillings & mercury. Dr. K says his patients cannot get better until they get them out (he gets some of the sickest patients). I had to get rid of the mercury.
There are things you can take such as clays, I think I took Pectasol C back then, but the fillings, you should do a search here on Lymenet. Someone even posted a video of a filling off gassing mercury. They off gas mercury 24/7.
My LLMD d/c my 3 antibiotics last week. After 4 months and no improvement she was "concerned" I was feeling sicker which I assumed was part of the herx process, right? I was taking breaks too. I see her again in December and we will go from there about possible bicillin injections. She told me to stay on the transfer factor-lyme plus pills because I have high EBV titers. Its been rough esp the last month, flu like symptoms and headaches on the daily. Im taking a ton of activated charcoal to detox, but it's not enough. My anxiety and depression has been through the roof, at an all time high in 10 years....I refuse to go back on psych meds. I see a therapist every 2 weeks that I'm *slowly* starting to warm up to. It's not easy doing that, but she gets it. I dont know what "normal" feels like, haven't in almost 21 years and I'm absolutely terrified for the future.
Posted by Bartenderbonnie (Member # 49177) on :
I had no functioning immune system. My LLMD told me you can throw a boatload of antibiotics at Lyme but if you don't have a functioning immune system, you will never get well.
Get to an Alergist/Immune specialist. Insurance covered. Get your IgG subclasses 1 - 4 tested. Could be you need IVIG.
Posted by Catgirl2.0 (Member # 51843) on :
Krystyn, you might check out EM, it helps with anxiety and depression too. It's surprising how many things it hits.
Posted by Bartenderbonnie (Member # 49177) on :
OH, I forgot. . .
Dr H says; "If patients adrenal function is low (low cortiso) they will not respond to antibiotics."
You can ask your doctor to order you a test kit through Pharmasan Labs. 1888 342-7272. It's called the Endocrine Health Basic Saliva test.
You have to spit in little plastic tubes 4 times through-out 1day. Place back into box and ups mail it.
They test for cortisol, DHEA, estradiol, estrone, progesterone, and testosterone.
It costs around 200.00 but they participate with many insurances including Medicare but not Medicaid.
Hopefully your doctor will order this, some can't be bothered.
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