I have been diagnosed with CFIDS/fibro for over 10 yrs. 1 1/2 yrs ago also diagnosed with Lyme (CDC+ thru IGeneX).
I've been on orals (doxy,rifampin, tindamax) for the past 15 months (couldn't tolerate biaxin and amantidine) and bicillin shots for about 4 months, but stopped due to sterile abscess. Now, I'm back on the bicillin. Also,I'm being chelated (DMSA) for heavy metals.
My LLMD wants me to go on iv's, which I will do (altho I am quite scared). I can't go on iv's until 2 more months, for family reasons.
I have been feeling just TERRIBLE-worse than I have ever felt with chills, feel feverish, like I have a sunburn, and extreme exhaustion.
My LLMD says I could stop everything now, until I start iv's. I wonder if this is a good idea? Will any progress I made be for naught? Does anyone know if you need to stay on treatment until you feel better, or can you take breaks from antibiotics?
Thanx for your help.
14k
Posted by 5vforest (Member # 29365) on :
Your feeling terrible sounds like a herx.
Personally, I wouldn't stop the antibiotics.
Are you doing anything to detox?
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
If it were up to me, I would keep on taking the meds. That's just my opinion though.
Some say that they bacteria grows so slowly that it would be ok to go off of antibiotics for a time.
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
I'm sure your doctor knows what he/she is doing but 2 months seems like a long break. I know one famous Lyme doc that gives breaks but it is usually a week or so at a time.
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
Pulsing has been used effectively but breaks are typically much less than 2 mos. You could pulse your meds until the IV...
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Well, if you have read Cure Unknown, both Pam and Dr.B went off meds for quite some time....
until they were very, very sick..and then they started abx again (ceftin)
both are symptom free.
I was recently off of meds for about 6 weeks and actually had some very good days..however, sx. are coming back and medications are much harder to tolerate, for me.
if your LLMD has given you this choice, you may want to try a break...perhaps it may benefit you. If you feel that you are getting worse or not tolerating the break, go on a maintenance dose until you're ready for IV therapy...
just suggestions..ultimately, it's your choice as everyone responds differently.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
The one thing I see missing here is any treatment for babesia? Your symptoms could be untreated babesia.
At the very least I would try artemesinin and see if it provokes a babesia herx -- possible increaswe in sweats, chills, dizziness, headaches etc.
Bea Seibert
Posted by BoxerMom (Member # 25251) on :