PART ONE-DOXY SIDE EFFECTS?
Okay so now I've been on Adoxa (Doxy) 400 mg/day for about a week and I'm having a hard time telling what's what. (I was on 200 mg/day for 9 days prior to upping my dose)

Since I bumped the doxy dose up I'm feeling pretty tired alot especially right after I take it. I also find that I'm a little confused and foggy. And today I got chills for a while after taking it.

Oh yeah, and instead of getting stomach distress I'm actually hungry all the time! And my EM rash, muscle aches, fever, neck ache, etc that I had before the abx. are pretty much gone.

So, I'm trying to figure out if these are side effects of the Doxy. Or are they from the Lyme? Or are they herxing? Or are they from being freaked out about the whole thing and basically anxiety-produced?

PART 2:WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Here's my other question-I'm being confused about what to do. I'm in Colorado and was diagnosed with Lyme by a dermatologist at the end of July (about 4-5 weeks after being infected) based on the fact that I had EM and an assortment of other symptoms (fever, fatigue, mild muscle pain, neck ache). So all the wonderful folks here have encouraged me to get myself to a LLMD and provided me with reccommendations.

I've contacted three ILADS Docs so far with these results:

Two require me to see them and take a bunch of lab tests-one charges $450 for the first visit and the other charges $775 for the first visit. Neither office could tell me what lab tests they ask for or how much they might cost. First available appts are in late Sept/early Oct.

The third one was very nice and called me back immediately. He listened briefly to my story and said that I was doing the right thing and that he reccommended waiting to see how I feel after 4 weeks on the Doxy at 400 mg. If I'm feeling good he said to take take another 2 weeks of meds just to be sure but that I would probably be okay. If I wasn't feeling good he thought I should come see him. I asked him about co-infections and he said he usually doesn't deal with those until he's addressed the Lyme especially since I had the EM rash.

So my inclination is to do what the Doc I actually spoke to said to do. My reasons are:

1. I think I'm following a pretty agressive abx regimen. I'm also taking supplements and overall I don't think I'm doing too badly.
2. I'm reluctant to have to take a bunch of lab tests that are often inconclusive.
3. I'm reluctant to fly to NY during this whole election time-I know that that sounds paranoid but what can I say.
4. The cost of all this is a problem for us-our insurance is not likely to cover any of this and my husband is out of work (I have a very low paying job). Of course I'd pay whatever it takes to have my health but I don't really want to pay thousands of dollars for unneccessary tests and treatment.

So I'm trying to do the sensible thing. Any thoughts on what is sensible in my situation?

Thanks so much, you've all been so wonderful helping me so far. I'm truly grateful.

-Shanna
 

Get the pamphlet that comes with the prescription from your pharmacist. Save them when they come with your prescriptions.

Many LLMDs believe the patient should take meds until a month after all symptoms are gone.
 

It sounds like you are going this alone.

I never split hairs about whether I was having herxs or symptoms. As the doxy works you could feel some of the things you have been feeling. When I was on doxy and upped my dose I felt like I had been hit by a truck, but it passed in maybe a week. At this point it was years ago so I don't remember clearly.

You may need abx longer than you or the dr you spoke with told you. Typically, you would go a period of time symptom/herx free before quitting abx. My llmd says three months.

If you aren't, you need to take probiotics, suppliments and use adjunct therapies to get well. You can read about them on lymenet.

At some point you need to test/treat for co-infections.

Mel
 

From Dr. Joseph J. Burrascano's Treatment Guidelines

DISSEMINATED DISEASE -- Multiple lesions, constitutional symptoms, lymphadenopathy, or any other manifestations of dissemination.

EARLY DISSEMINATED -- Milder symptoms present for less than one year and not complicated by immune deficiency or prior immunosuppressive treatment:

1. Adults: Oral therapy until no active disease for 4 weeks (4-6 months typical)

So, according to Dr. Burrascanno, six weeks is not long enough given your symptoms. Your current symptoms sound like they may be a herx, though doxy is also known for causing tiredness on it's own. It can also cause the hunger.

If it were me, I'd play it safe and take the meds for longer than six weeks. You don't want to be stuck with this long term. You might want to make an appt. now with one of the doctors who can't see you till later. You can always cancel it if you are doing well enough. But if you already have it, you won't have to wait even longer if you aren't doing well. Just make sure you know the cancellation policy, and give the office enough notice.
 

I am currently seeing a well regarded LLMD in the NY area. I've been symptomatic for several months, maybe more. This week I started at Doxy 200mg and now, several days in, my doctor has increased the dosage to 400mg. Let's hope I continue to tolerate it well.

Interestingly, I too am quite hungry. I'm also trying to cut out yeast and sugar.

I also felt significant fatigue after my first few doses. I asked the nurse about this and she suggested that perhaps I hadn't taken in enough water at the start. I've been told my doctor, nurse, and pharmacist that I must drink A LOT of water with the Doxy. If you aren't already doing this you might want to try to increase your water intake quite a bit.

Good luck!
 

:-)
Shanna
 

at a book store to find all of the side effects of some of the drugs I was on.

As for what to do, personally I would never end treatment without being checked for coinfections. BUT that is just my honest opinion.

Thanks for your posts...the pamphlet I got from the pharmacy only mentions the stomach distress and sun sensitivity-so it helps to know that's not all that I should be aware of.

And thanks for honest opinions...honesty is something I like to count on.

-Shanna