I've been on treatment for Chronic Lyme for just over 5 months now (currently on 1g ceftin/1.5g flagyl per day) and have been steadily improving.
I am aware of the concerns around sexual transmission but haven't seen any postings reflecting the situation my wife and I find ourselves in.
We know that I've had lyme for at least 3 of the 8 years we've been together. She is totally asymptomatic for Lyme. She had an extensive exam with my LLMD who confirmed that she has no symptoms whatsoever. The doc went so far as to say that an Igenex western blot was not necessary be we opted to do it anyway.
The Igenex test found that she had prior exposure to lyme but no current infection (CDC negative on both counts).
Now my LLMD strongly recommends 3 months of Doxy just to be safe. This will mean hundreds of dollars on top of my thousands of dollars of medical bills plus the obvious discomforts of treatment for an ailment that she may not have.
Has anyone else had a similar experience or can share some insights? I've seen a lot of postings about partners showing symptoms but none with a similar story to ours.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Starch
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
starch, good question, and i've not seen it either!
i've got mixed emotions ok! she has NO symptoms and a western blot was done BUT NOT ALWAYS 100% ACCURATE.
my gut feeling, NON-MEDICAL OPINION, is YES, treat her for 3 months of doxy to avoid her becoming CHRONIC like you. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.
my doxy pills were reasonable; how expensive are they where you are?
i say this for having chronic lyme 40 yrs. NOW; 35 yrs. MISDIAGNOSED by 40-50 drs!! lyme and complications to many other diseases took away my quality of life for 4 decades.
had i known ANYTHING OR HEARD OF LYME; you betcha; i would have gotten on doxy promptly!
my hubby of 34 yrs. has NEVER known me healthy!
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
Interesting position to be in...
Personally, I would treat - but that's with the hindsight of being undiagnosed for a long time, like Betty.
My ILADS LLMD recommended against a WB for hubby - because he shows no symptoms.
She explained her position this way: yes, sexual transmission may be possible.
But in that type of transmission, there is no bite from a tick, whose saliva locally suppresses the immune system.
Without that suppression of symptoms, it could be that our spouse's immune systems can handle the infection.
Thus they would have antibodies but no symptoms.
Still, my personal feeling would be to treat.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Actually, my LLMD does not treat based on Western Blot.
He treats on symptoms.
Your wife's immune system may be handling the disease at this time.
This isn't to say that it always will though.
Doxy isn't that expensive.
It is one of those four dollar prescriptions at many pharmacies.
If you and your wife plan on having children,
Lyme will be something you need to discuss.
I have chronic Lyme.
I hope to be without symptoms and in remission soon.
Your wife may not always be asymptomatic or without Lyme related issues.
I wouldn't have treated my children without symptoms.
Of course, this is just my very humble opinion.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Starch (Member # 16205) on :
Thanks for the responses everybody, very helpful.
A follow up question. Since she has no symptoms do you think its reasonable to ask my LLMD if we could double up on Doc visits? That is to say she would come with me to mine and check in with the doc on her progress through the course of Doxy. Has anyone heard of Docs doing this? It seems to me like a fair proposition but not sure if its out of bounds.
Thanks in advance.
starch
Posted by Peedie (Member # 15355) on :
Not out of Bounds - she isn't sick. Your LLMD should have no problem seeing you both at the same time for the same fee.
Question is - if her immune system has done such a good job fighting (and possibly defeating) Lyme.
What happens when she goes on antibiotics? If she doesn't have active infection - why do this and possibly upset the balance?
If she no longer has Lyme - great! There is no point in treating with Abx.
If she is in remission - sometime down the line if she starts to feel symptoms of Lyme - maybe you will be more well at that point.
Where does your doctor come up with 3 mos. of Doxy? 3 mos?
That would be undertreating someone who was exposed to Lyme long ago.
Overtreating - though harmless enough - a new bite person.
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