LymeNet Flash: Doxy or not?

This is topic Doxy or not? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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https://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/28344

Posted by eronvica (Member # 6342) on :

Hello all,
I'm new to this board. I was suspected of having Lyme Disease in 1992. Out of nowhere I got these huge rashes behind my knees and near my groin. When I woke up with a very stiff neck and could hardly breath I was taken to the doctor. They photographed me and put me on antibiotics. I was 22 then. I'm 34 now. I can't remember what I was put on nor for how long. All I know is that everything went away and I was my normal self very soon.

It's 2004 and since Feb this year I have had unrelenting continuous pain in my right knee. An MRI was done and my knee was diagnosed as healthy. The pain then moved into my buttock area, so we suspected sciatica. Then it moved into my back. I've experienced burning sensations and numbness, although not excruciating. The knee pain and the midback pain , especially behind my kidneys robs me of sleep. I also had an MRI done. I have a very small herniation between L4 and L5 and S1. Doctors say that the herniation is probably not repsonsible for this kind of pain, since the herniation is so mild and there's no nerve impingment. I'm pretty active and except for the once a year cold or sniffles I have never been really ill. I also started to have panic attacks a few months ago. My head felt like it had tons of pressure and I felt like I was in fog. My shoulders hurt. Sometimes I have the sensation that I'm being pinched all over. An MRI was also taken of my head. The results were normal.

I suspect I'm having a Lyme relapse. This occured to me when one day I awoke to find that my earlobe was swollen and red.

Has anyone experienced similar symptoms?? Backpain? Earlobe swollen?

I was able to get a hold of Vibramycin (brand product of DOXY. I have 28 days worth of 200mg a day. I don't know what to do. I live in Germany and I just went to the Center for Infectious diseases to be tested again, after having read Amy Tans novel I relized that ELISA is not a very good diagnostic tool. What if my Western Bot comes back negative too? I don't think my doc will put me on antibiotics. Should I take the antibiotics I have and self medicate?

Also does anyone know of a specialist in Germany?

Kind regards,

Posted by rosesisland2000 (Member # 2001) on :

Good Morning and Welcome to LymeNet

I don't know if you have discovered it yet or not, but, this would be a good place for you to start as the majority of the members there are from Europe.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/EuroLyme/

Here's a great link to learn more about Lyme...Tincup's Links for new LymeNet members:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/EuroLyme/

If you have had this before, then, you probably were not given enough abx for a long of enough duration.

As far as here, Infectious Disease doctors know about as much about Lyme Disease (LD) as one of my grandchildren, ages ranging from 8 to <1. I can't say about over there.

Also, if your blood for your Western Blot test is sent to a Lab that does not test for all the specific Lyme bands, there are only a few of them, then basically you could definitely have it but, you have a negative test.

The CDC here plainly states on their website that LD is a clinical diagnosis.

Seriously, those links and the latter one, you'll especially want to bookmark so you can return to it again and again.

again,

Welcome to LymeNet!!!

Rosemary

Edited to add a letter to make a word understandble.

[This message has been edited by rosesisland2000 (edited 10 October 2004).]

Posted by vandeb (Member # 6345) on :

sorry to hear about the problems you are having.......I was diagnosed in Nov. 2003 with Lyme......I was Doxy for 9 months straight.....it worked great until the herxing started....now they have me on Flagyl and I'm not responding at all....I go next week to possibly see about putting a port in and taking the meds that way....I never had the panic attacks but my father did....a well know doctor in Shreveport, Louisiana told me the only thing that works for a chemical embalance or panic attacks of the body are anitdepressants.....my dad suffered with panic attacks for 40 years.....he started taking Prozac (which I've been on for about 7 years) and he's never had another panic attack....if you have the Doxy it certainly wouldn't hurt to be taking it.....but Prozac is a prescribed antidepressant so you would have to ask your doctor.......it's one of the oldest and easiest to take.....please keep us posted of your condition....maybe you need to be tested for the Lyme again....don't give up if your doctor doesn't asknowledge Lyme....find one that does......

------------------
Debbie V.

Posted by RECIPEGIRL (Member # 5884) on :

Hi,

Only have a minute, but at least wanted to show you the link about the swollen earlobe or lymphocytoma. Anyway, it's the link by Tinncup & Treepatrol has a photo of an ear.

Click on link below.
Just scroll down the page to see the photo.

============================================= http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/028138.html
=============================================

I would also take a picture of my ear if it shows something. They will believe pictures over your words.

Also, take pictures of any more rashes & save them.

Sounds like you definitely need Doxy, but
Dr. B.'s guidelines state higher doses from 400mg or possibly 600 mg daily in divided doses.

His guidelines are in your links for newcomers. Print out his booklet & refer often. It's sooooo... very helpful to all of us here.

Take Care,
Jan