I was tested and diagnosed with classic lyme three weeks from a tick bite back in July 2009.
My symptoms became worse from an idiot neurologist who prescribed 3 Medrol packs in a two month span who wanted to treat my headaches. I found a good LLMD and am on the right track. No issue with me.
However, a friend of mine hiking that same July day was also bit. I encouraged him to get checked out after discovering my diagnosis a few weeks ago. I did not know he was also having similar pre-steroid symptoms as me such as headache, neck pain, anxiety, and lethargy.
He called me yesterday and said he tested positive for Lyme. He said he was not worried because his PCP prescribed a 10 day Zithro prescription and would be fine. I told him to get the blood work results and get an LLMD. That is not enough abx to get rid of it after being bit six months ago.
Can someone chime in and help me convince him to get an LLMD? Money is not an issue for my friend but he really respects the opinion of his PCP.
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
Thats ridiculous... 10 days even for a new bite is illogical. Have your friend READ the guidelines, link below.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
As you know 10 days is not enough and Dr. B's guidelines say that zith is not a stand alone treatment for Lyme. Please send him to the ILADS site, there are treatment guidelines there. Also www.underourskin.com has a movie trailer that really gives a good idea of why there is such controversy.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I feel Zith did very little for me. Doxy is my
winner. You might also show him the IDSA
investigation of how they continue to make people
stay sick when it is known 30 days won't cure.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
95% of PCP's know nothing about Lyme. Period. They know what they are TOLD and that is it.
Those doctors in the trenches of Lyme treatment know that it is a very difficult disease to treat once a month or so goes by. In some cases, even a few weeks without antibiotics will lead to a difficult case.
Zithromax is NOT the first drug of choice for Lyme. It's doxycycline. ONE reason is that doxy will also help kill ehrlichia, a common coinfection of Lyme.
Best to be seen by a dr who knows what he/she is doing. Your friend could have one or MORE coinfections and they all require different medications to get rid of them. (except ehrlichia)
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
ANYONE who says to use Zithromax for Lyme is an IDIOT period. RUN RUN RUN. Anyone who says only 10 days is even moreso.
I don't know why these docs and even LLMDs won't read what the honored Dr. B says about Zithromax - it's ineffective orally.
Posted by s0ngbird1962 (Member # 16395) on :
My little one see's a well known LLMD & he gave him zith and omnicef for his lyme. My son has improved greatly on this.... So well in fact, that in May (after one year of treatment) I plan on having him stop. Won't lie, long-term antibiotics make me nervous.
I believe my son will be ok...
Posted by JunkYardWily (Member # 24271) on :
quote:Originally posted by seekhelp: ANYONE who says to use Zithromax for Lyme is an IDIOT period. RUN RUN RUN. Anyone who says only 10 days is even moreso.
I don't know why these docs and even LLMDs won't read what the honored Dr. B says about Zithromax - it's ineffective orally.
my LLMD who has been treating lyme for over 10 years has me currently on 500mg zith only. Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Maybe it does help a few people, but I think monotherapy with Zithromax for Lyme is weak. Just my opinion. If it works for you, that's all that matters. I have to believe if Dr. B, who was by far the best LLMD in the world, says it's not effective, it's not.
Posted by JunkYardWily (Member # 24271) on :
not saying i disagree with you
Posted by s0ngbird1962 (Member # 16395) on :
Maybe it depends on where you live. I recall the LLMD saying that certain antibiotics work better than others depending on what area you were infected in.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
And then when the kid goes back to his PCP and he says "I'm still sick."
Guess what they tell him?
"You have post-Lyme syndrome. nothing we can do for ya. Sorry."
LULZ
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Junkyard.. Your dr has been treating lyme for at least 20 yrs... maybe more. I lost count.
Zith is often used with mepron or malarone or artemisinin for babesia. I don't think it's useless for Lyme patients.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Lymetoo, that's because it's used to prevent Mepron resistance, not for it's high effectiveness against Bb, right?
Posted by lymebytes (Member # 11830) on :
Please convince your friend that mainstream Md's are not trained in Lyme Disease. Tons of info at the link below might help.
Posted by pas (Member # 22416) on :
Dr. B. and others (Dr. S) talk about Zith being very effective when used IV. Just not as effective orally, that's all.
Apparently it can be effective for both Bb (in L/CWD-form) since it's a Macrolide, and can be used for Bartonella when combined with Doxy/Mino. Just usually requires longer treatment time than Levaquin for Bart.
It's also one of the first-choice abx for mycoplasma infections when combined with other meds.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
I think it is also recommended for children that doctors are afraid to give the more powerful drugs to. Zithro is not supposed to be effective against Bb but can be used in combination with other drugs for bart. The LLMDs know how to make a cocktail that will attack the various infections. I am taking zithro and bactrim for bartonella but that was my own recommendation to the GP. I hope to see an LLMD soon.
I hope you can talk some sense into your friend. Give him/her a copy of the book Cure Unknown (after you have read it). That explains everything.
Posted by Dawn in VA (Member # 9693) on :
I would disagree about the zith not being effective. Biaxin works WAY better for me than zith, but keep in mind that zith is one of the two ingredients in Biaxin.
Both can kill the cell-wall deficient form of Bb, but I strongly agree with everyone else that it MUST be used as part of a combo treatment. I don't think it will do much, if anything at all, by itself (IMHO). And 10 days? Uh-uh, way way too short.
Posted by rpersi (Member # 23958) on :
Thanks for all who replied. My friend has an LLMD appointment.
![[confused]](graemlins/confused.gif)