posted
I think any illusions I may have had that indeed everyone was right I am a hypochondriac and all it will take is a little time on biaxin and things will be fine, is fading. One of the hardest things about lyme is just that -- having been convinced yourself that you just can't trust yourself because you don't know what is going on with you and not only that but if you express the truth of how deep it has actually gone into the neuro and into the psyche, well, we may just have to set you loose in the woods like the old days and what they did with those 'insane'! Then you can have tea parties with all your tic friends!!
How silly I was to think that jeez after two years of not being able to read and hosts of other things, and having this in my system for three decades...I would poof then be all better!
Currently I am awaiting a result from penicillin allergy test and if it is workable will try to desensitize myself with it with an allergist so that I can go on that drug of choice, in addition to two others simultaneously. I am also waiting to rule out definitevly the babesiosis parasite. It came negative at MDL but now llmd is sending to another lab because of my symptoms.
My main question at this point is does anyone know what is the difference between IV and shots??? Why choose one over the other? How are they effective differently?
...hanging in there with the best of us. Somehow what seems a cruel fate will want to be transformed into a gift and I think it is wise to believe in that so that's what I am trying to do no matter how challenging it is right now or how challenging it may become.
Oh! And for a bit of comedic relief...imagine me walking my coffee cup to the bathroom water faucet for a refill.. (Yes, I do still have coffee once in a while, not good for the stomach but seems to work well bor brain swelling in some instances).
minoucat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5175
posted
As far as I know (which is not as far as, say, Timbuctu), IVs are most often used in cases of severe, recalcitrant LD; when there are significant neurocognitive issues; or when the gut cannot tolerate orals. IV reaches higher peak concentrations, faster, than any other methods of delivery. And there are more drugs available in IV than IM.
There aren't many IM options that I know of -- just Rocephin and Bicillin. Bicillin is a preferred IM abx because it maintains a continuous dosage over a long period (over 5 days for the LA) -- so fewer shots, too! It's relatively easy to administer, and also relatively cheap.
Insurance companies don't put up near the fuss about IM as they do for IV, (some make it impossible to get IV) and IM is safer in terms of possible things that can go wrong (like, IV lines failing or getting infected). And IV can be extraordinarily expensive.
Don't feel like the lone stranger -- we'd all rather be hypochondriace rather than really sick, and getting negative bloodwork when you're actually infected bites the royal weenie. That's me -- negative for everything, but I respond wonderfully to treatment. If you're symptomatic for babs and have a likely history of exposure to it, I hope your LLMD treats for it.
I sort of pretested myself and the hubby for it by taking 300 mg Nutricology Artimisinin 2x a day for 3 weeks before seeing the doc. We had such a magnificent reaction to the artemisinin that the LLMD treated us for babesia based on sx and history alone. Made a big difference after all the previous years of unsuccessful treatment for Bb alone.
And if it's any comfort, coffee doesn't seem to be all bad:
Coffee's Perks by Laurie Tarkan
Java delivers so much more than a morning jolt.
Turns out your favorite brew is much more than a tasty vehicle for a caffeine fix. Recent studies are finding that coffee is rich in antioxidants and contains hundreds of pain-relieving and antibacterial compounds. That doesn't mean you can sip with impunity--you know what happens when you have too much. But it's good to know that a cup or so might actually be doing more than getting you going in the morning. Here are some of the benefits.
Sharper focus Regular coffee makes you a better thinker. Caffeine, often described as the world's most widely consumed mood-altering drug, competes with a calming body chemical called adenosine--and produces the opposite effect. Studies show coffee keeps you focused, particularly when you're doing tedious work. In the sleep-deprived, says Harris Lieberman, PhD, a leading caffeine researcher with the U.S. Army, caffeine improves scores on a range of cognitive tasks, such as decision making, memory, learning, and attention. Coffee can also boost your mood, probably by making you feel more energetic, Lieberman says.
Less jet lag French researchers recently found that a small group of volunteers who took caffeine pills for 4 days after an eastbound, cross-Atlantic flight felt less sleepy than people who took melatonin supplements (or a placebo). The researchers advise drinking 1 cup of coffee every 2 to 3 hours, beginning at breakfast and stopping 4 to 6 hours before going to bed. (But feeling more alert may have a price: The study's caffeine takers didn't find sleep all that satisfying.)
Better workouts A new study shows caffeine can help reduce exercise-induced muscle pain, allowing you to push yourself harder and longer. For the most relief, you'll need to down a 16-ounce cup of coffee before exercising. Smaller amounts may work, but less noticeably.
Tougher teeth A tall latte may keep you out of the dentist's chair. In lab tests, researchers in Italy recently found that coffee's antibacterials slow the growth of Streptococcus mutans, the culprit in tooth decay. Coffee also contains compounds that keep bacteria from sticking to tooth enamel. Studies are under way to see if all this equals fewer cavities.
No more stones It's no secret that coffee makes your bladder more active. While that can be bothersome, it can also help reduce the risk of kidney stones, according to the Nurses Health Study. Women who drank the most coffee had the lowest risks. Caffeine increases the flow of more diluted urine, which lowers the chance of a kidney stone forming. Prefer decaf? No problem: It was shown to have similar effects.
Steady hands New research shows that just 1 cup of coffee a day can halve your risk of Parkinson's, a brain disease that causes tremors and affects movement. One in 50 women is likely to get the disease in her lifetime. Caffeine's adenosine-blocking power may protect the brain cells typically lost to Parkinson's, explains Alberto Ascherio, MD, associate professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. (Women on hormone therapy don't seem to benefit, however. Estrogen may dilute the effectiveness of caffeine.)
Blood-sugar benefits If a woman downs about 3 cups a day, she can reduce her risk of type 2 diabetes by 20 to 30 percent, recent research has found. Experts suspect that coffee's antioxidants, such as chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid, deserve the credit. Coffee may help promote the delivery of insulin to the tissues. When that happens efficiently, explains Frank Hu, PhD, associate professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard University, insulin resistance--a major risk factor for diabetes--is less likely.
Cancer defense Japanese researchers reported earlier this year that people who drank coffee every day over 10 years were half as likely to get liver cancer as those who didn't drink it at all. And the more you drink, it seems, the lower your risk. It's not clear whether caffeine is responsible. But that hardly matters, right?
posted
Thanks for the information minoucat, that's good to know about the safety and insurance of IM.
Got some more news today about the CD57 level is way low. I'm trying not to be angry that the proper diagnosis was missed for so long all this time I thought maybe I had bone cancer.
So, now await babesiosis test and hope it's negative although llmd thinks i have it based on symptoms so...and how long does THAT one take to treat??
I think there are some mighty lessons in this for someone who has reached such chronic states and that is the lesson to listen to yourself when you r body is screaming and no one else believes you and western technology is too slow to keep up with the the bacterias....so now if we decide to colonize mars....we better beware...tha bacteria was there first!!!!
Just wanted you to know,that in my house,the coffee is in the refridgerator went with empty cup one morning straight to the milk to pour a cup of coffee. When I grabed the milk something clicked in my head and I stood there contemplating.....
The info you both provided on IV IM is very helpful as I start serious treatment. An educated patient is a safe patient.
And to you Minoucat, thank you, thank you, thank you, on the coffee article Dosesn't take much to make us happy
Red Deer
Posts: 22 | From usa | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
That's funny Red Deer! Gosh what a wonderful name and so appropriate too!
Well...I do wonder what you may have been contemplateing, and maybe you wondere too?!
I was started a bad neuro herx there with that bathroom water faucet attempt for a refill, well all I can say is I'm glad I didn't go to the kitchen to pee!!
Yes, coffee is like, a saving grace to be able to have a few good hours! Yeah for coffee! Although not certain to be able to keep this up once the more aggressive treatment starts up but for now, I really like coffee...coffee is my friend.
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