Son was bit by tick October 24. Sent to Igenex tick was Lyme Positive.
Dr.'s office covering for son's pediatrician put him on 28 days antibiotics which he started Friday.
Son's actual doctor/nurse called today and said they want to see him in case it isn't lyme - especially since no rash! Nurse said doctor wants to see him right away -because if `we gave antibiotics to every kid that got bit by a tick that would be every kid .'
Doesn't sound like they have an open mind about this. Son has been experiencing neck pain, knees hurting and night sweats.
Problem is son has severe asthma and is on steroids (could cause all of those side effects) and he had a flu shot last week - (He has gotten sick every year after the flu shot).
Nurse says they want to run a `lyme titer' tomorrow - doesn't antibiotics interfere with this?
Asked nurse if Lyme titer meant Elisa - she said she didn't know. I'd like to prevent another needle stick for him if this is useless. I asked about Western Blot previously and they didn't know what that was.
Background:
1. I had Lyme while pregnant. (Didn't know it.)I've been sick for about 10 years. 2. Neighborhood is very wooded and other kids in the neighborhood have Lyme.
My gut is telling me to keep him on the antibiotics no matter what they say tomorrow. What can I use for backup information? Am I way off base?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Posts: 298 | From Maine | Registered: Jan 2004
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AZURE WISH
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 804
posted
I am so sorry to here your son is sick.
The tests are innaccurate. You can test negative on both the elisa and western blot.
Igenex test are superior. but even there you can still have it and test negative.
The thing is besides lyme a tick can tansmit several other infections (reffered to as coinfections)
Nightsweats is a common symptom of babesia (a coinfection)
I would get your son to a lyme literate dr.
with lyme it is very hard to get treatment. most drs think short term (up to 28 days) is enough even if you are so sick you cant function at the end of the 28 days.
A lyme literate dr will treat you until you are well. Plus they are much more knowledable about lyme and coinfections.
As to the steriods - I had lyme (undiagnosed) as a child and was placed on predisone for asthma ...
it always made symptoms flare. Steriods supress the immune system so they really arent that good for people with lyme.
Please post in seeking a dr to find a llmd. include the state your from and where you can travel to.
Make sure your private message is enabled because we do not post drs info on the board.
Also I thought I should mention that lyme can be transmited to the baby during pregancy.
AZURE WISH
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 804
posted
I am so sorry to here your son is sick.
The tests are innaccurate. You can test negative on both the elisa and western blot.
Igenex test are superior. but even there you can still have it and test negative.
The thing is besides lyme a tick can tansmit several other infections (reffered to as coinfections)
Nightsweats is a common symptom of babesia (a coinfection)
I would get your son to a lyme literate dr.
with lyme it is very hard to get treatment. most drs think short term (up to 28 days) is enough even if you are so sick you cant function at the end of the 28 days.
A lyme literate dr will treat you until you are well. Plus they are much more knowledable about lyme and coinfections.
As to the steriods - I had lyme (undiagnosed) as a child and was placed on predisone for asthma ...
it always made symptoms flare. Steriods supress the immune system so they really arent that good for people with lyme.
Please post in seeking a dr to find a llmd. include the state your from and where you can travel to.
Make sure your private message is enabled because we do not post drs info on the board.
Also I thought I should mention that lyme can be transmited to the baby during pregancy.
posted
Thank you Azure Wish- I should clarify. I had the TICK tested through Igenex. It came back Lyme positive and the coinfections were negative.
My LLMD doesn't normally treat children (child is 4) but he had advised me that it was possible to pass this onto the baby - but since he had no symptoms and was a healthy baby - that it wasn't suspect.
Child has to stay on the steroids. When he goes off them we end up taking ambulance trips - I don't even have enough time to drive him to the hospital. He is on maintenance drugs.
I'll post on looking for a doctor - but it seems like everyone says - Dr. Jones. Dr. Jones seems to have enough of his own problems, I can't imagine him taking new patients - but I guess you don't know unless you try.
Posts: 298 | From Maine | Registered: Jan 2004
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