posted
I am trying to weigh my options...I was treated with 200mg/day of doxy for 3 weeks in the summer-some minor herxing 2x a week apart.
Had some continuing symptoms on & off for about a month after finishing abx-low level of arthric pain moving around-
So I consulted w/ a LLMD long distance-was tested-showing only 41 IgG & a CD57 of 280-he recommended 400mg/day of doxy for 2 months-thought I might have auto-immune LD arthritis-
Fortunately my own PCP remained open-minded & (admits he is pretty clueless to understanding much of anything about Lyme) but was willing to OK the order for the abx
I worked my way up to 400mg in a week's time-FINALLY my question! Now wondering if I seem to be symptom free for the last month -not counting a very occasional twitch in my left eye & an odd little double circle thingy which suddenly appeared & disappeared after self-treating with 2 days of doxy-(it was 2 inches from the original EM rash I had)
Thinking maybe I don't need to go such big guns on the doxy dosage-(who would WANT to???)
Does anyone think 400mg/day or even 300mg/day for a month or tapering it down for 6 weeks might be enough if I do not experience herxing or symptoms -
Understand the reasoning behind not stopping the abx until you are symptom free-but feel like I am starting it that way!
Is it possible that I was successfully treated, but had some residual symptoms?
Feel like I am flying a bit blind ...can't afford or justify a distant, costly LLMD right now-
Thanks for any input you can offer! Sue
Posts: 249 | From finger lakes, ny | Registered: Jul 2006
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If it was me or some one I love I'd rather be safe than sorry. EM rashes can and do float and reoccur in other areas of the body besides the site of the bite. So it's good to treat until all rashes are gone.
It's also good to treat until all symtoms are gone I believe Dr. B's guidelines say 2 months. But it sounds like you have consulted an LLMD. My LLMD says 200mg doxy is just enough to kill the weak kets and drive the strong ones deeper into the body. I always advise friends and family to get higher doses of doxy like my LLMD recommends, and also take a good probiotic. Some folks have not felt right doing that and have not gotten sick and have been lucky. Others felt they needed to do 6 weeks of 400 mg.
Do what is right for you. If you have a rash, though, you already have lyme, so you have to treat the disease.
Take care of yourself I wish you well.
Posts: 663 | From NH USA | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Thanks for your reply, achey. I think I just need to think more along the lines you proposed..shouldn't do less for myself than I would if it were one of my children-
As it was, my husband also got the EM rash this summer (after me) & I insisted he stay on the doxy for a full month and not the 21 days I had...and he had zero symptoms-(or so he says )
Going to try to stick out a total of at least 6 weeks, and then see if I can manage 2 more....
Currently taking probiotics, cutting sugar, limiting carbs & stocked up on sunscreen....What more could a girl want in life????
Wishing you good health too! Sue
Posts: 249 | From finger lakes, ny | Registered: Jul 2006
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