This is topic Help with joint pain / antibiotics in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by scottg (Member # 10669) on :
 
Hello: I am new to this site. In brief, I pulled the engorged deer tick off me (32 yr old adult male - otherwise healthy) about Sept 1, 2006 and have had symptoms since, mostly joint pain (some headaches/fatigue/chills). Got positive blood test for Lyme. 2.5 months of doxy (100mg 2x/day) has not done the trick. My script runs out next week, and I don't know what I shoud look to do next. I am working on finding an LLMD, but in the meantime, I want to push the current Dr. in teh right direciton. My hope is to act agressive enough and early enough to avoid a long term problem.

Looking for thoughts...
 

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Posted by Annie C (Member # 14) on :
 
Hello Scott, Magnesium for muscle ache and pain also Pycnogenol for Muscle and JOINTS... Plz do not take anything without thorough exhausted research. Because to start Pycnogenol you really need to do what is called a saturation Dose then cut back. Again do not take if you do not know what and why you are taking it. In the mean time, call your Dr. tell them you are having fevers and chills and headaches. Hence I was taking 5,000 mg of Amox plus another one. Again be very careful with ABX and the Herx Reaction. If it becomes unbearable cut back immediately for a day or two. Call Dr. to inform him of your lack of wellbeing. NONE Amox is good one to start with. Stay close here and report your journey.
 

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Posted by JimBoB (Member # 8454) on :
 
Get Stephen Buhner's Book, Healing Lyme. IT works.
Jim
 

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Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
 
Headaches and chills suggest Babesia, it is a parasite that is often carried by ticks. The treatment is pretty intensive, so you would probably want an LLMD directing the treatment.

But you can get tested for Babesia through Igenex labs. There are also tests through other labs that might be more easily covered by your insurance, but they are less reliable.
 

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Posted by KP (Member # 9488) on :
 
Azithromycin (every other day) combined with Ceftin (1000 mg) is what I'm taking for my current relapse. My symptoms were all arthritic in nature and this worked prior to starting IV Rocephin.

The IV treatment worked well for me but I believe it was stopped too soon. At the least, I've had Lyme about 14 months but never saw a tick, rash or positive blood test. I had all the clinical symptoms though.

FWIW, they did not use doxy for me because I have a severe allergy to that form of antibiotics.

One thing you need to learn is that you have to do your own research and be your advocate. DO NOT RELY ON ANY DOCTOR without checking everything out!!! This disease is not like any other and needs to be treated aggressively. Keep copies of all lab work or other tests because you may need them or may notice something they miss.

HTH,
Karen
 

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Posted by shazdancer (Member # 1436) on :
 
Most LLMDs would find that 100 mg of doxycycline is not a high enough dose. They tend to treat until six weeks have gone by symptom-free, not a mandatory 4 weeks.

There are many doctors out there who are not trained ILADS docs who will treat for more than two months. I would suggest this logic: emphasize with the doctor that you were in great health before the bite, you know the tick was engorged, and that your health fell apart after the bite with symptoms consistent with Lyme disease.

Describe for the doctor that you were starting to feel better on the antibiotic, but once off you quickly slump back into the same symptoms. Did you have a rash when bitten? That helps -- doctors want something they can see. Are any of your achy joints swollen (knuckles, knee, etc.)? Also a big hit with most doctors.

And yes, headaches and chills are oftem found with babesia, which is often treated with a combination of an antibiotic and antimalarial, such as Zithromax/Mepron. That combo kicked my illness (which sounds similar to yours) into remission.

Hope you will be feeling better soon.

Regards,
Shaz
 

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Posted by tvalentijn (Member # 5255) on :
 
I sent you a reply on your private message with my telephone number (Westborough). Please give me a call

Tim
 

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Posted by scottg (Member # 10669) on :
 
Thanks for the feedback. I came across an article discussing Tetracycline as a good choice in this situation. Any thoughts on this?

And, yes I had a rash.

Sincerely,
-Scott G.

ps. Tim. Thanks for talking to me this morning.
 

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Posted by Melanie2008 (Member # 10650) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by shazdancer:
Most LLMDs would find that 100 mg of doxycycline is not a high enough dose. They tend to treat until six weeks have gone by symptom-free, not a mandatory 4 weeks.

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