I have tested positive for Erlichiosis HGE. My doctor says that I've probably had it as long as the Lyme. We treated the Lyme for 6months with good results however he has told me that there is no treatment for long standing erlichiosis. He stated that the bacteria load would go down while on antibiotics but would always return so treatment was not presented as an option.
Does anyone have any information on this? Or know of any LLMD's that have more info on Erlichia?
Either Im having a relapse, post lyme syndrome, or the HME is stirring up some new symptoms.(oops or a new bite)
Thanks, Maryann
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
TREATMENT
Standard treatment consists of Doxycycline, 200 mg daily for two to four weeks. Higher doses, parenteral therapy, and longer treatment durations may be needed based on the duration and severity of illness, and whether immune defects or extreme age is present. However, there are reports of treatment failure even when higher doses and long duration treatment with doxycycline is given. In such cases, consideration may be given for adding rifampin, 600 mg daily, to the regimen. http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.html#treatment6 Posted by MarsyNY (Member # 7766) on :
Thanks Tree,
Wish Dr. B was still around!! What's he up to anyone know?
Posted by Sammi (Member # 110) on :
Hi Maryann. Are you seeing a Lyme doctor?
I have never heard that Ehrlichiosis is not treatable. I think it can be very serious if not treated. I had both types of it, and the HGE took long-term treatment.
Like treepatrol posted, Doxy is the best med for it and if you do not respond, Rifampin may be effective.
Posted by MarsyNY (Member # 7766) on :
Sammi,
What this doctor said was that it is only treatable when caught early. I just dont know what to do here. Yes he is a lyme doctor.
If you dont mind me asking what were your symptoms with the 2 forms of Erlichiosis? Did you get rid of it or do you still test positive?
Wow you were one of the earliest on LymeNet eh?
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
if doxy is ok, then would amoxycillin work too?
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
Doxy and amoxicillin are two different types of abx, so they cannot be expected to be interchangeable.
Posted by Sammi (Member # 110) on :
Maryann, you may want to get another opinion.
It is hard for me to say which symptoms are from Ehrlichiosis because I have had five tick-borne illesses and many symptoms can overlap. The HME resolved with Doxy but the HGE did not. I am still being treated for it and will be retested at the end of the month. I am hoping it will be negative!
Yes, I am a long-time member but I do not post much any more.
Posted by GenaD (Member # 11988) on :
I know someone who was treated for Lyme and Erlichia when he was a teenager. He said he was very sick for a year.
I don't know how soon his doctor caught it, but he seems cured now. He's 24. I've never heard Erlichia isn't treatable.
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
It's usually treated with Doxycycline! Maybe your levels are low enough that you don't need treatment.
Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :
I had a mild case of erhlichiosis. I was treated with minocycline. Hiker
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
I've never ever heard Ehrlichiosis isn't treatable- it is usually the MOST treatable TBD!!
But maybe he read the marshfield abstract which concerns post-Ehrlichiosis syndrome- says that people with Ehr HGE in particular actually will have lingering symptoms after treatment.
Knowing the authors of that report as conservatives re treatment, I would think it had something to do with the treatment philosophy rather than Ehr- but who knows?
Posted by MarsyNY (Member # 7766) on :
Thank you all for your responses. There is just not alot of human erlichiosis information out there but the more I read it becomes apparent that this could be as difficult as the lyme to clear up after so many years.
Sammi after I asked you the question I realized how impossible it is to figure out whats causing what with all these co-infections. I have read that 5 out of 10 people that were successfully treated for erlichiosis will still test positive a year later so how do you know for sure?
My lyme treatment consisted of only Amoxicillin. I am thinking of trying some Doxy on my own. Does anyone know if there would be a herx from erlichia like lyme?