Scheduled to have picc line inserted next week, and while reading up on the IV side of treatment....It doesn't seem to do that much more than oral abx.
Insurance will only pay for 28 days and I won't be able to afford to continue much after on my own. Llmd would prefer 6wk minimum....for IV.
I've done oral abx for a year and a half and have gotten better, but seemed to of plateaued over the last few weeks. So, is IV worth the Cost, limitations, and risks??
I'm hoping that doing IV will stir things up and continue to hit those lil bastards with oral abx....does this make any sense?
Posted by ktkdommer (Member # 29020) on :
My son is back to school because of IV antibiotics. He had so many psyche issues and they cleared up. Many other symptoms cleared also. If I remember right it crosses the blood brain barrier better. He is in his 5th month. Will insurance pay longer for babesia? Best of luck,
Posted by n2themystic (Member # 27315) on :
Have you done or considered trying intramuscular injections before going to IV?
I decided to try intramuscular injections before going the IV route.
I have been doing injections mon, wed, fri since July 2010. I think I am making good progress!
Posted by LSG Scott (Member # 21624) on :
i needed it and it made a big difference
Posted by NanaB (Member # 26227) on :
n2themystic - I have not heard of intramuscular injections for Lyme before. Can you elaborate on it? What exactly is it they are injecting and what type of doctor do you see for it? Where are they giving you the injections?
I have been on oral abx for nearly a year - my daughter too - with no improvement for either of us. My daughter is much worse but the LymeMD doesn't want to make any changes in our treatment plan.
Posted by Hambone (Member # 29535) on :
quote:Originally posted by NanaB: n2themystic - I have not heard of intramuscular injections for Lyme before. Can you elaborate on it? What exactly is it they are injecting and what type of doctor do you see for it? Where are they giving you the injections?
Bicillan shots. This is one of the old school Lyme treatments that were effective before the convenience of IV's came around. IV's are more convenient and less painful ( but the shots are much less expensive than IV's ).
I know of a few people who got better with the shots back in the 80's. But I hear they can/will bruise the tar out of your stomach/buttocks.
Posted by n2themystic (Member # 27315) on :
NanaB - The im injections I get are bicillin. They are given in the upper part of the butt in the big muscle.
My llmd is in another state so he said I could have someone else in my house taught to do them or I could do them myself.
I live by myself so was going to try and learn to do them myself. My local ND who helps my llmd with ordering blood tests offered to do them for me. I got very lucky he was willing to do them and on top of that he does them for free.
So you have several options.
do them yourself, have a family member or friend get trained to do them, or have a local doc or ND agree to do them for you.
I just recently viewed the removal of a picc line, shown by Lymenurse, (Gary) Also known as lymetwister.. I must be naive because I had no idea what was involved in having it placed. Is a Picc Line the same as IV placement?
To give you my experience with what Hambone mentioned in regards to pain,etc
The first 6 or so injections do hurt. Its not horrible but they do hurt. Now I hardly notice them and I have fortunately not had any bruising or scarring.
Some tips..
Take the bicillin out of the fridge about 1 hr before injecting.
Either lay down or take the weight off the leg of the side being done.
Go very slow with the plunger. Should take a few min to inject it all. The speed can be determined by your comfort level.
Your llmd can prescribe a numbing cream that you rub on 20 min before the injection.
Walking a bit after or applying heat if it hurts helps.
Again after about 6 injections I hardly feel any pain during or after the injection.
Posted by triathletelymie (Member # 26456) on :
I have had a picc line now for over 6 months. 'Have been on IV Rocephin and now IV Doxycycline. This was after five months of orals. Unfortunately...I am still really struggling and very ill. I was hoping that the IV would help me to turn the corner. Unfortunately, it did not.
It does make the difference for a lot of folks. I just am not one of them.
Best of luck to you!
~Tri
Posted by 5vforest (Member # 29365) on :
There could be many reasons for plateauing with your treatment. Any unaddressed coinfections or parasites, Bb going into the cyst form or forming biofilm, or the fact that oral abx are not working well enough. If this is the case, IV abx should help you turn the corner. In treatment for late-stage or chronic Lyme, IV is almost always recommended.
Posted by coffee71 (Member # 17467) on :
IV saved my life. Example,I was on oral Rifampin did not do a thing, IV rifampin changed the game within first 4 weeks.