Hey frineds, Our family doc agreed to work with an LLMD. Before we're able to see one he's prescribed doxy for upto five months. Any thoughts? (time frame for infection: approximately a year and a half) Steve
Posted by steelbone (Member # 14014) on :
Most people start with doxy
200mg in the morning and 200mg at night
Posted by charlie (Member # 25) on :
....I'd start taking it now and just tell the LLMD what dose and how long you've been taking it when you get in to see him. No doubt he'd start you on it anyway, so why not get a head start.
Charlie
Posted by ping (Member # 6974) on :
[Hi,
I don't know your situation, however, if you haven't had an Igenex test yet, your taking the Doxy will skew the test results. Not saying you shouldn't begin now, esp if you have sx's (OMG yes!) Any chance your FP Dr. will pull blood and send to Igenex before you start treatment?
"We are more than containers for Lyme" ping
Posted by Peedie (Member # 15355) on :
Actually, Ping - I have heard that many people test better after a course of ABX and then stop Abx briefly to test. Something to do with the testing is regarding immune response to Bb. Maybe someone else here can explain this better.
I would suggest you start the Doxy now. Protect youself from the sun. Eat food with it. Take a good quality Probiotic daily, 2-3 hours apart from Abx. Avoid Dairy because Doxy will bind with Dairy product and will be less effective.
If you have had exposure and especially if you have any symptoms, you should be on Doxy as a first Abx treatment.
If you really need to know the result of Western Blot before you see the LLMD, you can call IGenX for testing protocol and to order the test kit delivered to your home. The test kit is free. Order test kits #188 and #189. Have blood drawn on a Monday or Tuesday. You will need to enclose payment with the blood samples - check or money order. Last I knew this cost was close to $200.00 - so double check when ordering the kit. They send all the return packaging along also with a FEDX phone number to call when ready to pick up from the office. If there are two of you, you will need to order two sets of kits of course. IGenX: 1-800-832-3200 Good Luck and Best Wishes -p
Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :
Just familiarize yourself with the ADR's you need to be on the lookout for and get on a probiotic and you should be fine.
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
Yep, Doxy 200 mg BID is a good place to start. Make sure your MD prescribes Nystatin with that so you don't end up with a lot yeast. Take probiotics away from the ABX. I take mine when I wake up in the middle of the night. I keep them by my bed.
Good luck.
CherylSue
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
-
When is your appointment with LLMD ?
It's great that your GP realizes this will take a while and has Rx for 5 months, and many do start with doxy . . . but doxy alone will not be enough. And it does nothing to address the cyst form or some coinfections.
Call the office of the LLMD with whom you have an appointment and ask to speak with the office manager about what the doctor would suggest. Although he may have to see you before he can actually advise, it's best to ask their opinion.
I'm not sure if you already got tests or had a bulls eye rash - but, if so, then that would speed things up.
If you do begin any abx (antibiotic), as someone mentioned above, probiotics are vital.
- you can also call them and ask about testing after starting doxy. As mentioned in a post above, it can skew the results. But, yes, it is important to get treatment started ASAP, it's just best with some guidance from the LLMD's office.
The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) provides a forum for health science professionals to share their wealth of knowledge regarding the management of Lyme and associated diseases.
- 2/3 down the page, you can download Guidelines for the management of Lyme disease
I've now taken doxy for three weeks. My appointment with my doctor is in a week, one day after I run out of doxy. Is this a big deal? I want more of it.
Also, she had me taking doxy on an empty stomach with a glass of water. After I vomited it up one morning, I began to take it with a few nuts and that has helped a great deal. Does anyone know whether I need to keep taking the glass of water along with the nuts and doxy? I have been.
I'm feeling better but my head is still swollen on the sides, my temperature is still low, etc., no arthritis. I'm taking 100mg doxy twice a day and wondering whether I might have bartonella.
Thanks from Sheryl
Posted by Peedie (Member # 15355) on :
Sheryl777
100mg Doxy twice a day is a low dose and often can be taken on an empty stomach without problems - which is why she said you could.
Lyme treatment would be 400mg/daily - twice that amount at least. Some people here have been on as much as 600mg/day.
I'm guessing your PCP gave you the Rx but didn't know how much to give.
I would fax to your doctor page 14 of Dr. Burrascano's treatment guideline. In the first paragraph circle this and underline the part where he says:
"...doxycycline can be very effective but only if adequate blood levels are achieved either by high oral doses (300 to 600md daily) or..."
Ask that your doctor Rx enough Doxy to get you to your appt with the LLMD in a week. Ramp up to 200mg twice a day.
Continue to drink water with the Doxy and eat something. At 200mg morning and night - you may need more than a few nuts, but then everyone is different - maybe not.
Make sure you don't take dairy with Doxy as it binds to Dairy and will be less effective. Start a probiotic now. Protect yourself from sun exposure.
Next time you see your PCP, take her/him the complete copy of Dr. Burrascano's treatment guidelines.
Good Luck and Best wishes for your full recovery! -p
Posted by Sheryl777 (Member # 17804) on :
The advice not to eat dairy - does that mean don't eat any dairy during the day and night at all or just don't eat it two hours before and one hour after taking the pill?
Thanks for the response.
Sheryl
Posted by Peedie (Member # 15355) on :
My LLMD said to space at least 2-3 hours apart. If you take Doxy in the AM with Breakfast and at night - probably lunchtime would be okay. I kept messing up during the first week - yogurt - cottage cheese - milk in the morning coffee - cheese cheese - geeeez! I realized I'm big on dairy goods. So I gave up dairy all together while on Doxy.