I was totally healthy as a child.

I was 12 years old when I was bitten by a tick. I had big erythrema migrans behind my right knee. It went slowly away by itself.

minocycline and flagyl?

You have enough trouble with Lyme, without having drug induced damage as well.

I can't tell, but it sounds like your treatment has been very on and off. It can take a long time to treat the kind of symptoms you are describing.

It took 8 months of constant high dose treatment before I began to get any relief of my pain. I still live with it daily, but it is improved. Some people take longer.

Have you had treatment for any of the possible co-infections? I don't know what is likely where you live, but Babesia and Bartonella may be confusing the picture, and need comepletely different drugs.

I'm sorry if I simply don't understand how your treatment has gone. I do know that going on and off antibiotics can encourage resistance of the bacteria. Perhaps you need to stay on one thing, or combination of things for a longer time? Bb takes a very long time to kill.

I have been on biaxin, amoxi and flagyl, and doxy and amoxi with low dose flagyl. No t much experience, but I like the biaxin and it seems a lot of people do well on it.

Keep in mind, it's not just the antibiotics that will help, it's how diligent we are about taking good care of ourselves.

In many messages here I've seen it posted on numerous occasions the importance of detoxing and I believe that to be true, as well as good diet, exercise and using suppliments that are needed depending on the individual.

What else is factored into the Bb diagnosis? Is it strictly clinical?

The best protocols for abx are Dr. Burrascano's and the ILADS stuff, I believe. And they all push for long term treatment and coinfection treatment. Sounds as if you've just hit the herx cycle, when pain is at it's worst.

Are you on the abx long term now? What pain killers/anti-inflammatories are you using?

My husband just started plaquenil, which, according to what I've read, is an anti-inflammatory, as well as an antimicrobial and also appears to have anti-Bb cyst properties. He's definitely experiencing less pain since starting the plaquenil.

Have you done any detoxing, especially with something like Questran, or the full-body detox formulas that use bentonite or charcoal? It won't cure LD and it's not instead of abx, but it may reduce the toxin load and possibly the inflammation. You can search this forum for more info. I'm not sure how you'd combine that with the abx, so look into it carefully. And Questran had it's own herx reaction.

For many Lymies, surgery can kick off more problems. So I hope you can hold off on that!

Finally, Lymnetters use a lot of supportive/alternate protocols. Some folks have found great relief from pain with the ozone saunas, with hyperbaric chambers (including the low pressure home chambers), and naturopathic approaches (eg, frenchbraid's post at http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/025754.html).

Also, skyking's post on Rife at http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/025301.html , if getting abx continues to be a severe problem. You might also want to cast an eye on the Marshall Protocol -- it's still a very mixed bag in terms of results , and very very new and unproved with regards to Lyme and coinfections, but you can't be too educated on the full range of treatment options, as far as I'm concerned: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/marshallprotocol/

Sending you best wishes. Keep pushing for the treatment you need. Please keep us posted.

Troutscout; I have been on Flagyl couple of weeks. I really have to be on longer-term antibiotics.
Riversinger; My treatment is really ON/OFF. Here in Finland doctors have general guideline, that lyme-patients are on iv Rocephin 3 weeks, and if it not works, will start big problems with doctors.
Lymiecanuck; I have to try to be on Biaxin and Penizillin, so long as it's possible, as soon as I have recovered from an operation.
David; I would really like to know more about on your treatments. What kinds of symptoms you had/ have?
1981Z28; I have to try long-term antibiotics, I have sometimes stomach problems, and it's then difficult.
Minoucat; I'm on the iv Zithromax 500mg daily now. I use ketoprofen as usual, but now I use morphine's derivative. Pain is so strong, so I have no alternative. I don't know Guestran, what is an active ingredient on it? I have been on supportive/alternate protocols, for example chlorella, alphalipoid acid and etc, and good diet and exercise. I also have norift-rife, and I have used it, but maybe not long enough. I'm just unsure, if it makes electric-allergy to me? Do you have experience on it?

Beta sisterol is non-prescription and has been used as an alternative to Questran. I have no experience with it, so I can't tell you more. http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/023016.html

Have you been able to get a copy of the ILADS Guidelines for your doctors? Because they have evidence for the recommendations, and they have been published in a peer reviewed journal, it may carry some weight with your doctors.

Check out the Treatment Summary, see if it might be helpful. If so, you can order a copy from ILADS.

Whichever antibiotics you use, it will be more effective if you can use them consistently.

Are you also on Eurolyme? They would probably also have some strategies for working with the doctors where you live.

Is the surgery on Bored's back? If so, I wish for him the luck my son had. Prior to surgery, he couldn't stand up straight for 5 months, he was in so much pain. After surgery, he was up in an hour, almost pain free, even after surgery.

The pain has not recurred in 3 years. The only things we did were to have a good surgeon, nothing else special. I hope things go as well for Bored.