I tested positive for Lyme on a W. Blot taken last Sunday (5 bands present/positive) at an Urgent Care-type clinic. Many of you have commented on the "weird" feeling - I feel like I've had the life knocked out of me: like I'm living in a 10-second delay, sometimes the wrong words come out, I feel spaced out/dizzy, unbalanced, exhausted, achy, off and on headache/ear ache, spiny pricks, I usually run 25 miles a week - have run NONE all week, I have no strong opinions, don't care about much. In short, I'm terrified. My family dr (who misdiagnosed me with shingles a month ago when I tested neg on ELISA) saw my W Blot result and said Lyme symptoms can take more than a week to lessen with doxycyline. I am on only 100mg 2X day. Should I double it and pray I can get a script from a LLDr before I run out? ILADS recommends spiking (taking all in one dose) and I've been directed to take 1 pill 2X/day on an empty stomach. I'm coming up on 8 days and not feeling better. Is this normal? If there is a long wait to see a Lyme Doc, I don't know what I'll do.
Advice? Thank you. And to all of you who are feeling equally freaked out, I understand. You are not alone...
Posts: 6 | From Spring Mount, PA | Registered: Jun 2011
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
Doxy is the best drug to start with because it hits several of the infections you can get. The recommended dose according to Dr. B's guidelines (which you can download) is 300-600 mg a day divided into two doses. So you should be taking twice as much as you are now. I don't know what you should do about the low dose prescribed. Make an appointment with an LLMD and then see how much time you have.
Be careful of sun sensitivity and don't lie down for at least an hour after taking it or you might get acid reflux. I always took doxy with food to prevent the acid reflux.
Don't be alarmed if you feel worse. You will probably experience what is called a herx reaction caused from toxins overwhelming your system. You need to detox with such things as lemon water, hot baths, milk thistle and alpha lipoic acid.
Most people have co-infections such as babesia and bartonella. You should read up on the those symptoms to see which ones apply to you. It sounds to me like you might also be infected with babesia because of the dizzy unbalanced feelings, lack of motivation and general apathy. But many symptoms can overlap.
Your borellia symptoms will cycle about every 4 weeks with strong flares. The co-infections are more persistant. Your family doctor does not know how to treat lyme. He is incorrect to say your symptoms should lesson in a week. That is about the time your symptoms will explode from the herxing.
You can "Hop To" - "seeking a doctor" and ask for recommendations of LLMDs in your area. Look to the bottom right of this page. Good luck.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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