Very excited!! Today i started my antibiotics and saw the doctor. it was an hour drive and i saw dr. N.. He was trained by a specialist and although some has said their case was too complicated for him, i've heard many good reviews as well. He also does iv.
I was prescribed doxy twice a day and bactrim twice a day. I asked him if i should get coinfection testing and he said i didn't NEED it because accurate results are 50/50 and it'd save money. He assumes i possibly also have bart.
What do you think on getting coinfection testing? What if something to treat is missed? Besides that he was a very nice, funny, understanding doctor. I'm only afraid of side effects but feeling hopeful Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Testing is not that great. He is right. As long as he will give you trial meds for each coinfection, all is well. (If you respond to the meds, you'll know you have the coinfection.)
Very glad you finally had your appointment and are on your way!
Posted by Kaseyyy (Member # 43797) on :
He said he doesnt think i have babs but i wonder if i still could; i see a lot of meds treat multiple things anyway. Thank you Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Babs meds are different, but you will know sooner or later. Just make sure he is looking for it if symptoms pop up.
Posted by Kaseyyy (Member # 43797) on :
Is doxy 200 mg a day an okay starting dose or should it be higher?
Posted by Kaseyyy (Member # 43797) on :
Oh and on the paper he gave me, he says to take one twice daily but to start off should i only take one a day? Or does it not matter
Posted by LisaK (Member # 41384) on :
I started 2x a day and it was fine. but I did herx for the first 2-3 weeks and didn't feel like I was improving until week 4-5. and I got terrible "flu" sx so just beware.
run down, aches, all that. just tell yourself you will get better and get through it.
and DON"T take doxy on an empty stomach! or you will be sorry.
that's just from my experience
Posted by Kaseyyy (Member # 43797) on :
Thank you!
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Take the doxy in the middle of a meal. Otherwise, it can give you such an upset stomach that you start throwing up.
Lyme docs say to eat half a meal, take the pill, and then eat the other half of the meal.
Posted by Kaseyyy (Member # 43797) on :
Is it okay to finish the meal and then take it? I've been doing that, it seems okay. I feel sick but i always do so nothing new there. Took two doses so far, and have not thrown up from it. Yay.
I'm really only concerned about what if i do have a coinfection he missed, but i'm sure that would be figured out along the way. I know a lot of symptoms overlap so i don't know why he thinks i do not have babs, but i do not have high fevers and night sweats. Only general achiness, fatigue, lightheadedness weird head feeling, anxiety, stomach issues, daily headache for the most part.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Don't worry about what you have done so far. But, it is best to do what is recommended.
By eating a fair amount of food after taking the doxy, you don't have to worry that perhaps the doxy got stuck in the esophagus. If that happens, it will burn the esophagus.
Also, it helps prevent the doxy from coming back up into the esophagus from burping or reflux.
So, I suggest you follow the above advice from now on.
Posted by Kaseyyy (Member # 43797) on :
Is doxy bad for the stomach? I read something about causing ulcers in the esophagus, scary haha. Thanks
Posted by Kaseyyy (Member # 43797) on :
When do patients get iv for treatment? Does doxy cross the brain blood barrier?
Posted by LisaK (Member # 41384) on :
yes, doxy pills can hurt stomach. I had terrible pain. had to stop.
Posted by Kaseyyy (Member # 43797) on :
If i havent had bad stomach pain should i be okay? I just experience nausea and uncomfortable stomach but i've also had these symptoms before starting
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
It is too soon to tell. You have only taken it twice.
If you take it in the middle of a meal, you should be OK.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
"What do you think on getting coinfection testing? What if something to treat is missed?"
That's what would have happened to me if I didn't test for everything under the sun.
The good thing about testing is if something DOES come up, there's no doubt. For example, I have a ton of viruses and that's treated differently from Lyme.
Testing is definitely not accurate though.
I tested negative for bart and babs, but got the tell-tale bart rash 8 months into treatment. Babs meds made a huge difference for the better when my doc decided to do a trial of them.
Posted by Jessiep (Member # 35399) on :
He missed my babs for 6m. I tested positive. I'd have happily spent the money. Good news is he's so amicable. Insist on coinfection testing. I'm sure he'll do it.
Posted by Kaseyyy (Member # 43797) on :
Igenex or regular labcorp? Im sure labcorp would be more affordable ... Igenex is soo expensive.
If viruses were contracted from the tick, what kinds would they be..? How would those even be treatable if they're viruses
Posted by Kaseyyy (Member # 43797) on :
Igenex or regular labcorp? Im sure labcorp would be more affordable ... Igenex is soo expensive.
If viruses were contracted from the tick, what kinds would they be..? How would those even be treatable if they're viruses
Posted by NeedHelpLymeDis (Member # 44394) on :
Hi Kaseyy. I'm new to all this as well. I started taking doxy in October and will start taking Bactrim DS soon.
At first, the doxy made me horribly nauseated. I eat half my meal and then take my doxy and then eat the second half.
I read that keeping your torso upright for 30 to 60 minutes after taking it can help with nausea. So now, I don't lay back for an hour or so after taking it. That helps a lot.
For the doxy, I think the starting dose is usually 200 mg a day (and you can work your way up if the LLMD tell you to do so).
Also, I don't know the right answer for you, but I had IGENEX do a Western Blot (IGG and IGM) for $210. Previously, I had Quest do a lyme antibodies test and Western Blot. The Quest showed positive antibodies, but the Western Blot was negative.
The Western Blot from IGENEX came back positive (after seeing the LLMD and trying a few things first). It shows a lot more information because they test for more bands. I definitely think it was worth $210 for me. Check with your LLMD on this.
I had the co-infections tested through Quest when I did the Western Blot for IGENEX. They came back negative, but I think it is very likely that I have at least one or two co-infections, Bart and Babesia. Bart is hard to test for because they only check a few strains.
My LLMD suggested Frye Labs for Bart, but I opted to hold off on it because it is so expensive.
I'm not sure what's right for you, but this is what I chose to do. Talk to your LLMD.
I hope I can tolerate the Bactim DS when I start it.
Good luck. Hang in there! This is hard.
Posted by NeedHelpLymeDis (Member # 44394) on :
Hi Kaseyy. I'm new to all this as well. I started taking doxy in October and will start taking Bactrim DS soon.
At first, the doxy made me horribly nauseated. I eat half my meal and then take my doxy and then eat the second half.
I read that keeping your torso upright for 30 to 60 minutes after taking it can help with nausea. So now, I don't lay back for an hour or so after taking it. That helps a lot.
For the doxy, I think the starting dose is usually 200 mg a day (and you can work your way up if the LLMD tell you to do so).
Also, I don't know the right answer for you, but I had IGENEX do a Western Blot (IGG and IGM) for $210. Previously, I had Quest do a lyme antibodies test and Western Blot. The Quest showed positive antibodies, but the Western Blot was negative.
The Western Blot from IGENEX came back positive (after seeing the LLMD and trying a few things first). It shows a lot more information because they test for more bands. I definitely think it was worth $210 for me. Check with your LLMD on this.
I had the co-infections tested through Quest when I did the Western Blot for IGENEX. They came back negative, but I think it is very likely that I have at least one or two co-infections, Bart and Babesia. Bart is hard to test for because they only check a few strains.
My LLMD suggested Frye Labs for Bart, but I opted to hold off on it because it is so expensive.
I'm not sure what's right for you, but this is what I chose to do. Talk to your LLMD.
I hope I can tolerate the Bactim DS when I start it.
Good luck. Hang in there! This is hard.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
Laborp can test for other infections. Ticks can transmit stuff like mycoplasma too.
Viruses you can get from anywhere. They can reactivate and go crazy when you have Lyme.
It's like when shingles comes back after someone's has chicken pox.
Epstein Barre, CMV, HHV6, and the others on the list I sent you awhile back can be active too.
Posted by Kaseyyy (Member # 43797) on :
Yes, he advised i don't need any coinfections tested but it does seem useful.. Just in case there's a positive, you know? Oh cool, we are on the same medication. I hope it goes well for you. I did get the igenex lab done and glad i did.
Upset stomach and nausea have been with me before doxy, so i havent seen anything worse caused by doxy. I burp all day and my stomach never feels 100% good, but i dont get bad stomach pain very often. I've been taking nexium for a long time and now i wonder if i even ever needed it, maybe the lyme is the culprit for all my stomach problems.
I wonder if lyme causes gastritis? I do know acid blockers heal ulcers and gastritis, but i also read you can have low stomach acid so this doesnt help ... I am going to try to stick with licorice root, pepzin GI for now on i think. Any input?
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Bartonella like organism (BLO) causes gastritis. You can read that in Burrascano's Guidelines under "Bartonella." I believe it is page 24.
Bactrim DS (double strength) will treat bartonella and babesiosis.
Posted by Kaseyyy (Member # 43797) on :
I read bactrim may help kill babesia, but usually needs another antibiotic. My doc actually gave me the bactrim ds also for bart, just in case i had it.
Do you think it's best to take nexium or none? I know it reduces stomach acid but does that really help it?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I didn't read the whole thread. Did someone tell you to take the doxy in the MIDDLE of a meal and to NOT lie down for an hour after taking it?
Posted by Kaseyyy (Member # 43797) on :
Yes lymetoo Posted by Kaseyyy (Member # 43797) on :
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
it was an hour drive and i saw dr. N.. He was trained by a specialist and although some has said their case was too complicated for him, i've heard many good reviews as well. He also does iv.