Hi. A friend of mine was just bitten yesterday and has some redness around the area. He is not sure what bit him but I was wondering as a precautionary measure should he be asking his doctor for antibiotics and what kind? I just dont want to see him go through the suffering we with chronic lyme have to deal with. He doesn't have any symptoms right now that I'm aware of. I tried to do some research online and getting mixed information. He doesnt have any insurance to go to a LLMD so he will have to ask his primary for the meds. Thanks for your help.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
print and read dr. burrascano's lyme guidelines below! dosages are shown there!
Dr. Burrascano's most recent "Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines for Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses" @ http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_0905.html suggests that you discuss with your doctor continuing treatment until you are symptom free for 2 months.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
It's my opinion that people should go on prophylactic abx after a bite. I was bitten and did not develop symptoms for three months.
Posted by brite7 (Member # 16245) on :
Thanks so much Betty and Robin. I'll pass the message along!
Posted by sweet pea (Member # 6495) on :
A friend of mine had a bug bite that wasn't a typical bullseye, just a red rash, so she didn't think she had Lyme. Turns out she does.
I hope your friend will push his PCP to put him on meds. Also try to get him to convince the doctor for a higher dose than most non-LLMD's prescribe. For example, the doctor might prescribe 200 mg/doxy per day, but the dose really should be 400 mg/day.
Posted by brite7 (Member # 16245) on :
For how long should he ask to take it? He says he doesnt feel anything but itching and pain and redness on his finger? He also says it wasn't a tick bite but he doesnt know wht it was. I think it might have been a spider? But I know they can infect as well.
Posted by sweet pea (Member # 6495) on :
quote:Originally posted by brite7: For how long should he ask to take it? He says he doesnt feel anything but itching and pain and redness on his finger? He also says it wasn't a tick bite but he doesnt know wht it was. I think it might have been a spider? But I know they can infect as well.
If he doesn't know what it was, it could have been a tick. Although I think the finger is an unusual place to be bit by a tick? Maybe someone else knows that.
He should ask for 3 months. But the doctor may only be willing to prescribe 1 month.
Posted by brite7 (Member # 16245) on :
Thanks Sweet Pea Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :
Someone needs to do whatever it takes to get him 3 months @ 400mg/day, which is twice the dose his PCP will have him take it at. unfortunately, 200mg/day will simply make his case worse in the long run by aborting his initial immune response to the organism.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Question about length of time for taking prophylactic abx - I have heard six weeks, two months, three months - is there any consensus on this or is it just left up to anyone's choice?
Posted by backintherain (Member # 14385) on :
How many people who take 200mg/day doxy for a month get better?
Seriously, aren't there people who get bitten and are fine?
I know about 4 people who have been bitten this year, two of whom got the bullseye. Only one of those people got sick. He's on 200mg/day doxy for a month. I *really* want to help people keep from getting chronically ill, but I don't want to come off like a paranoid hypochondriac. No one will listen if you're all gloom and doom.
Are those of us who got really sick are special cases?
???
Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :
200 mg/day, started 3 days after my bite and continued for a month, utterly failed me.
Posted by sweet pea (Member # 6495) on :
quote:Originally posted by backintherain: How many people who take 200mg/day doxy for a month get better?
Seriously, aren't there people who get bitten and are fine?
I know about 4 people who have been bitten this year, two of whom got the bullseye. Only one of those people got sick. He's on 200mg/day doxy for a month. I *really* want to help people keep from getting chronically ill, but I don't want to come off like a paranoid hypochondriac. No one will listen if you're all gloom and doom.
Are those of us who got really sick are special cases? ???
You bring up a really good point. I do know people who have had a bullseye, had minimal treatment, and have been fine for a long time.
However, I believe in better safe than sorry. There are ways of encouraging people to get better care without scaring them or using gloom and doom. I just explain to people that one or a couple of months on abx, with the proper probiotics, is the lesser of two evils than if they decide not to pursue immediate treatment. I try not to be pushy, but I feel it is my responsibility to educate people.
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