I am very much considering doing some rounds of the IV to really attack this neuro lyme but am sure my insurance won't cover it, and am close to sure I won't be working much longer anyway!
My question is
1. How expensive are these? 2. How long do you stay on IV? 3. Does it help? 4. Does it make you feel worse than orals?
I'll be chatting with lyme specialist about it at next appt and believe I want to dive in with it -- my intention is to go on full attack, then back off and recover my life again.
Or does IV present additional problems that orals do not?
I guess I am asking what is the risk benefit ratio based on experiences? It seems mostly people are going oral or IM.
Is that a scenario anyone has walked through with the IV treatment??
trails
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1620
posted
I would do IV in a heart beat if and WHEN I can afford it. I had 2 months of it in 2001 and it gave me my life back for 4 years!!!
I am now in CA and I was told by the LLMD that Blue Cross would pay for the insertion and MAYBE 28 days. But that after that it would be about 75 days for the meds and you would have to do your own home health nursing and cleaning etc. This is with IV Rocephin...it is now generic.
You ask many good Q's I dont have the energy for them all right now, hope the above helps.
Posts: 1950 | From New Mexico | Registered: Sep 2001
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
I did IV rocephin (not generic) for 6 1/2 months at a cost of about $7000 per month. This included weekly labs, weekly nursing visit to change dressing and the rocephin itself.
It took 4 1/2 months on the IV for me to see significant improvement. It did help a lot.
Picc was pulled at 6 1/2 months due to fungal infection in the picc line. Make sure you get monthly blood draws through the picc line to check for infections in the line.
I relapsed quite a bit after stopping the IV because I was not immediately put on another antibiotic.
Ask your doctor about actigall to protect the gallbladder. I also had monthly gallbladder ultrasounds done.
Good luck....Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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