My PCP is not unsympathetic to my problem - in fact, he's tested me 3x (all neg) for Lyme. As I'd been getting worse lately, I went back to see if he'd recheck or do something for me.
PCP said I really need to see a rheumatologist (for the third time!) and put me on 200mg doxy a day for a month (I know this isn't enough to kill the Lyme) - just in case I would be infected.
I started taking the doxy about five days ago, and I feel so sick I can barely move. Could I still be herxing even though it's not a high enough dose? Also, should I take this as a definite positive sign of Lyme?
Thanks.
TM
Posted by Cobweb (Member # 10053) on :
Well, you sure are right about the doxy not being a strong enough dose.
If you really want to be treated for Lyme you should go to an LLMD and they will treat you cliniclly without needing a positive blood work-also depends on where your blood work was sent-was it local or Igenex? makes a big difference.
My daughter and I just started Doxy, starting at 200 but we are to increase to 400 by end of week. Not herxing too bad -yet. But this time I am prepared to stick it out-I kind of whimped on the Minocycline.
What gives me some hope is that for about a one hour window two weeks ago-it was like the clouds cleared and i felt strong physiclly, mentally and spiritually-but then someone pulled the plug-and an hour later I thought I was going to die-and spent the rest of the day in bed.
But for that brief moment in treatment I thought- oh yeah-this is the way I used to feel. I was so energized.
Nausea I am prepard to handle-it was the dizziness and weakness with the Mino that put me under.
So we'll see.
The only benefit, which could be really deceiving for you ,is that if you feel better with the Doxy after a while-you really could just be sending the bug underground to continue it's damage and then have it come out in ways that are hard for the average DUCK to identify as Lyme.
An LLMD is really the only way to go.
IMHO, Carol B
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
Tired, did you receive my 16 pages of newbie links/advise? Sometimes people fall thru the cracks when I check online here twice daily?
If not, please PM, private message me; 2 people standing together icon & ask for them ok.
Doxy, be really careful of SUNBURN! We burn so quickly. Cover hands/arms when driving.
I wason 200 daily of doxy for 3 days; 2 days off; pulsed with 1000 daily of biaxin for 3 days; 2 days off, then begin doxy again.
I had bad herxs for 18 out 20 months taking it this way.
Doxy affects eyes terribly. Read my advise on that please. Bettyg Posted by TexasChaos (Member # 7465) on :
Five days into the meds is a very common time for a herx, even on a "low dose". I often have to lower my doses during a herx or else I feel like I am going to die.
What types of tests has the PCP used? (ie - ELISA, Western Blot, etc)?
If you haven't had a Western Blot, then you haven't really been properly tested.
Posted by achey (Member # 6284) on :
hi
As others have said, 200 mg of doxy is a low dose for addressing lyme but it is still enough it create enough die off to get a good herx. Hopefully it is beginning to clear and you are feeling some better.
If your pcp is willing to learn, get a copy of Dr. B's guidelines for them to read and have you dr know that lyme is a clinical diagnosis.
Otherwise, you can look for a lyme literate doctor (LLMD) , and take the 200mg doxy while waiting and a good probiotic and whatever else you do to be good to yourself.
I wish you well!
Posted by imsickntired (Member # 9972) on :
Thanks. I did get the newbie links, btw. I actually ended up in the ER today because I collapsed on my way out of bed. They did absolutely nothing - except for pat me on the arm and give me some info about fibromyalgia. Yeah, like after 9 years of searching for a diagnosis your two paragraphs are going to make me feel better.
I have decided to try to get in to see Dr. H in NY (he's about 1.5 hours from where I live), it's just a matter of saving up for the consultation! I am going to take the remainder of the doxy I have until I can get an appointment.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)