LymeNet Flash: Questions about tx

This is topic Questions about tx in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by keylyme (Member # 6622) on :

I have a doctors appt today and have a question. I was on two months of Doxy (not consecutive) THough not severe, I still have nagging symptoms (leg muscle pain, wrist pain and tendonitis) WOuld you recommend continued abx or no? I initially had all the classics (menengitis, hepatitis, joints, flu,fevers,) but those have subsided. Thanks for any input.

Posted by TheCrimeOfLyme (Member # 4019) on :

I'm not your doctor, so my recommendations dont count

But yep, I wouldnt stop until ALL symptoms of lyme are GONE.

Posted by nan (Member # 63) on :

Hi Keylyme....(cute name)

I highly recommend that you find an LLMD (lyme Literate MD) in your area as soon as possible. Your doctor only knows what most doctors do...give one month of doxy and then another if symptoms continue! This is undertreating and puts people in jeopardy!

From the sounds of your symptoms initially and continuing now...I think an LLMD would want you on antibiotics for a longer time.

Also...did this doctor test you for coinfections? Babesiosis, Ehrichiosis, and others can also be gotten from ticks. In the case of babesiosis, doxy won't touch it...it requires special treatment with anti-malarials.

Go to Seeking A Doctor forum here...and ask for an LLMD in your area. Someone will email you info since we don't usually print doctors names.

Glad you found us...I think others will respond, too.

Good luck! nan

Posted by zipzip (Member # 6226) on :

i second the good point on co-infection testing. the best lab for this is igenex to date (www.igenex.com).

doxy is good for now because it will address the co-infection erichliosis if you had that transmitted to you. with the addition of the antibiotic "rifampin" doxy will also treat bartonella in addition to lyme (borrelia).

babesia though is a parasite and needs anti-protozoal medication, another ball game.

where do you live in upstate ny?

one study by a prominent ny llmd found that approx 40% of ticks and human speciman samples in dutchess county were infected with babesia. so this is worth looking into.

treatment SHOULD continue until all symptoms are gone, no ifs, ands or buts.

hope i caught you before your dr's appt, if not you can always call him/her tommorow to discuss this. don't be shy about your health!

best of luck!

[This message has been edited by zipzip (edited 03 January 2005).]

Posted by keylyme (Member # 6622) on :

Thank you so much all of you. I had my appt. I am so discouraged and am certain that mainstream PCP and ID doctors are not "going to get it" in our lifetime. He told me all my syptoms were not LYme related! I told him "but they go away when I'm on abx". I asked to be tested for coinfections and he said " the doxy would have taken care of those". So guess what? He's passing me off to a neurologist!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I know time to see Dr. B in Albany.