posted
Hello. I was diagnosed with Lyme's 2 years ago and treated. I still have chronic joint pain. Two days ago I found another tick in my leg. My leg was very sore to the point of limping. I tried to pull out the tick and the head remained in my leg. I went to my general physician where she said to leave the head in there and gave me a prescription for Amox TR-K CLV for 5 days. Today there is a distinctive bullseye around the bite. What are the chances I get this twice?! So I call back and see if I should be seen and given a stronger antibiotic and she says "No". Should I be seeking a second opinion or will this antibiotic kill the bacteria. I have chronic pain from the first time because I went months before i was treated. Any help would be appreciated. I can't find a specialist in my area (northern NJ) Thank you in advance.
-------------------- Amy Posts: 1 | From Northern NJ | Registered: Mar 2012
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posted
Wow I would be getting treated right now at much higher doses. What was your experience last time you had it? how long did you treat for? could you just take a pic and post it so i can see this bullseye
Posts: 574 | From Out there somewhere | Registered: Jul 2010
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
The chances of getting lyme twice are great if you attract ticks. Many lyme patients make pheromones that attract ticks.
I attract both ticks and mosquitoes.
So, we can't behave like other people. We always have to behave in ways that avoid ticks.
I would go to a walk-in clinic or two and try to get meds for at least a month. In the mean time, contact your state support groups (see Support Groups on left side of page) and find any lyme friendly doctors in your state that you can see for longer term antibiotics.
Lyme friendly doctors know a little about lyme and will often treat as long as you have symptoms.
If you are willing to take the train to D.C. and see a great doc, let me know. 2 month wait last I heard.
Try to get meds and stay on them continuously until you get to a real lyme doctor.
It sounds like you were undertreated 2 years ago. Now, any time you are bit by a tick with lyme, you will get the bulls eye. That is helpful in letting you know when re-infected.
I know. It happened to me. I got rid of my lyme disease 7 years ago. Then, about 3 years ago I got rebitten. I got to my lyme doc within a week of the bite. He put me on 2 antibiotics at once. In 30 days I was fine.
You, on the other hand, have not been fine for the last 2 years. So, you now need an expert. Be willing to pay for this expertise and actually get rid of your lyme disease this time.
"GENERAL PRINCIPLES
In general, you can think of LB as having three categories: acute, early disseminated, and chronic. The sooner treatment is begun after the start of the infection, the higher the success rate. However, since it is easiest to cure early disease, this category of LB must be taken VERY seriously. Undertreated infections will inevitably resurface, usually as chronic Lyme, with its tremendous problems of morbidity and difficulty with diagnosis and treatment and high cost in every sense of the word." (page 3)
I suggest you read and STUDY this entire document and learn about the disease you have. We will help you here as much as we can. But, there is no substitute for an educated patient.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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Many with lyme travel long distances to find the right Dr who will get them WELL.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Rivendell
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19922
posted
To find a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD)closest to you, go to the forum "Seeking a Doctor" and follow the instructions. Expect to wait a few months for your first appointment.
No, what the doctor is giving you is not nearly enough. Try to find someone who can give you Doxycycline for much longer until you can get to the LLMD.
Good herbals that also might help (you need antibiotics) to push the Lyme back a bit are:
Grapefruit Seed Extract, Olive Leaf, Cat's Claw, to name a few. The Buhner protocal might help you while you are waiting:
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The
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