I was bitten by a tick 1.5 weeks ago. Last week, one week after I was bitten, I decided to get my rash checked out, and indeed the ER doctor confirmed it was Lyme just by looking at it. I started on Doxy right away, and will be on it for the next 20 days.
My question is...is there any truth to Doxy being able to eradicate Lyme in its early stages? Should I have high hopes or is this a myth?
Has anyone in the same situation noticed that they begin to have symptoms *after* going on Doxy? For instance, just today, my left arm is numb and painful. Is this the Lyme, or the Doxy making me feel this way? Why am I even having symptoms if I am on antibiotics?? This is my first symptom aside from the rash.
Also, what kind of doc should I be seeing for follow-up? GP? Infectious Disease?
Thank You! Molly
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Welcome to Lymenet!!
Please go to www.ilads.org and look at their treatment guidelines, the ones by Dr. B. You need to treat about 4 weeks PAST the last symptom, not just a random number of days.
Plus, chances are your dosage is low. It requires at least 300 mg., preferably 400 mg.
You should look into finding an LLMD. Post in seeking a doctor for a referral.
Posted by LightAtTheEnd (Member # 24065) on :
If your dosage is too low, you could have symptoms because it is not enough to stop it from progressing.
However, it is extremely common for people to experience a "herx" reaction within a few days or weeks of starting treatments.
This is when the drug kills some Lyme bacteria, which release a lot of toxins at once, and that makes your symptoms worse or makes new ones appear.
Posted by onbam (Member # 23758) on :
You should be treated for it, because that bullseye rash means that without a doubt, you got it. Doxy needs to be 400 mg/day and for 3 months past the resolution of all symptoms. Google the burrascano guidelines. Proof that the testing is horrible. http://www.lymeinfo.net/medical/LDSeronegativity.pdf
The reason your doctor didn't know these things is because there is a government coverup of the realities of the disease. You should read
Check out the link on transmission and search for mjbucuk's thread on salva (though I'm not sure what to make if his claim.)
I am sorry to be a bearer of bad news.
Posted by onbam (Member # 23758) on :
sent pm
Posted by molly176 (Member # 26484) on :
Thank you all for your advice. I've read Dr. B's guidelines and today have begun to increase my dosage from 200mg of doxy to 400mg. My fiance is strongly against me self-medicating but I see it as my best option to beat this thing. I have two remaining questions:
Do you think I should take 200mg in the morning, and 200mg at night? My current pills are 100mg each.
I have two upcoming doctor appointments - one GP doctor and one infectious disease doctor, neither are official LLMDs. Do you think that I should still see an LLMD on top of all of this or is that overkill? I am in phase 1, two weeks since the bite and 5 days into antibiotics.
THANK You!! I am so grateful to have found this group.
It is an easy to understand info on Lyme disease & other infections the tick can transmit.
Posted by BackinStOlaf (Member # 23725) on :
I would go straight to the LLMD and cancel the other appt's- waste of time in my opinion
Posted by KS (Member # 12549) on :
MANY people, people I know personally, have successfully treated an early case of lyme disease with 21 days of 200mg/day of doxy. Decades later they are still in excellent health.
Many of us on here are the extreme cases although sadly not uncommon) of lyme...those that went months/years without diagnosis/treatment. Or we continued to get sick after short-term treatment for lyme and never considered lyme again to be the cause of our continued symptoms (hence, delaying treatment).
IF it were me, I'd complete the 21 days of antibiotics and see how I felt. IF you aren't better or start worsening in the weeks/months to come, don't wait and get yourself treatment. Also you would want to consider other infections like babesia at that point as well.
Regarding your new symptoms, although uncommon, people have reported such side-effects with Doxy. It could be a herxheimer reaction as others have suggested.
Keep us updated on how you are doing.
Posted by molly176 (Member # 26484) on :
Thank you so much KS. I have been keeping a journal of my symptoms. They seem to change daily, but they are all very mild - tingling, mild pain, stiffness, and sore throat. I did not have these symptoms until 24 hours after I started antibiotics. When I went to the ER with the rash, I had no other symptoms than a rash.
So...the disease is either coursing through my veins and really "getting" me, or I'm having a herx reaction (praying this is what it is).
You have all been so helpful, and I wish you all the best. Keep up the hope!!
Posted by molly176 (Member # 26484) on :
I should also add that finding a doctor that accepts new patients here is impossible. Out of the 8 "good" doctors I found, 6 are not accepting new patients and 2 are booked until August. You are all so lucky to be able to just call a doctor and book an appointment. The way that I got a doctor appointment for Monday was by actually showing up at the office this morning and *pleading* with the receptionist, showing her my bullseye! This doctor is not that great though (friends go to him for lack of being able to go anywhere else). (
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
It's not always so easy to get an appt. with a LLMD. It can take several months. You should probably contact Dr. J in your area. He's one of the best.
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
I wouldn't waste my time with the other docs. They really don't know how to treat it.
Posted by littlebit27 (Member # 24477) on :
I agree, don't waste your time. They most likely don't believe in Lyme like this. They think everyone is cured after a few weeks of abx. Get an appt. with an LLMD. If it's months out, see what you can do with the other docs. Between the two maybe they will give you a bit more doxy to hold you over 'til the appt.
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