I don't know about the co-infections in the area you visited.
In most areas, reliable statistics are not available.

You're right that co-infections complicate matters. Generally speaking, antibiotics for LD do not treat the co-infections, so you have to know which diseases you have.

The tests for co-infections are about as reliable as the Lyme tests.
If tests are negative, an LLMD makes a clinical diagnosis based on symptoms that are present.

A little more info would help people form opinions & make suggestions.

What antibiotics are you taking?
What dose per day?

How quickly did you start your abx after tick bite? Have you had herxing or any improvement?

It seems that you've got a good combo that covers a lot of ground. Doxy is used for Ehrlichia, Lyme and Mycoplasma. Zith is useful for Lyme and Ehrlichia. Of course there is also Babesia and Bartonella to think about.

Your best bet is to continue with your current treatment. Two months is the minimum amount of time - 6 would be better if you didn't catch the bugs right away.

Babesia is a whole different treatment and you usually end up dropping your lyme treatment to take it. Bartonella is somewhat similar that way.

If you still have no improvement in a month or two, you may consider switching abx.

Good Luck,

Just saw that it was about 2 months before you found out you have lyme.

Definitely at least 6 months of abx.

The general rule for how long to take them is you should continue until you are symptom free for 2 months.

Read the links for new members. The more you know the better off you'll be with this disease.

Best Wishes,

Night sweats could be caused by babs. Stiff neck is pretty classic for lyme.

None of the coinfection tests are particularly reliable either.

Two months isn't very long for dissemninatied Bb. Maybe give it another month and then try to figure out where to go from there?

Hopefully others will chime in 'cos I gotta go.

Good Luck,

Four weeks after starting antibiotics is a classic time to have a strong herx reaction, so its possible that is what your increase in symptoms was.

The meds for babesia are difficult to take, so I imagine that is why your doctor would prefer to wait when you have a negative test. I know its hard to imagine that two months of heavy antibiotics is a short time, but as you learn more about Lyme you will find out why.

Stick around, there is lots to learn. It sounds like your doctor is giving you aggressive treatment, which is good.

Here are a few things to start your education.
Dr. Joseph J. Burrascano's Treatment Guidelines
Treatment Summary

California Senate Hearing on Lyme Disease
Scroll down to February 25, select Health and Human Services Committee, Lyme Disease. Scroll past the first ten minutes or so, it is blank. Amy Tan (author and patient), Ron Keith (Marin/Sonoma Vector Control and patient), Dr. Steven Harris LLMD, Dr. Raphael Stricker, LLMD, and others testify.

This will give you an overview of what is happening in this state.

You may also want to join the CA Lyme Disease Association. The most recent issue of the Lyme Times is a very good overview of patient issues, with lots of info on coinfections and treatment.

Next month will be on insurance issues. Not that I hope you are needing to be around long enough to need a year's subscription. But they are an excellent organization.

CALDA

You might also want to check the support groups section. There are several in your area.