posted
So, I'm currently waiting to see a highly recommended Dr. in Washington D.C. but my appointment is not until the beginning January.
Right now I'm seeing a Dr. in NJ and I am not progressing. In fact my symptoms seem to be worse. I have lost about ten pounds in the past 4 months while being treated. I have been eating an extra 700-1000 calories a day and continue to lose weight. Both my wife and coworkers have noticed the weight loss and have commented that I look gaunt.
I have also lost muscle on the left side of my face and my left arm. My muscles are cramping and twitching most of the day.
My neurological problems are also worse lately. I am having more trouble with gait and slurring my words. My left arm is also clumsy.
My treatment so far has consisted of the following:
Cefdinir and doxycycline for the first 3 months. 5 weeks ago my Dr. dropped the cefdinir but added bactrim. So right now I'm on bactrim and doxycycline.
My Dr. does not communicate very well and from what I have heard on this forum he has not had much success in helping patients heal.
I'm really confused as to whether to continue to see my current Dr. and continue with the medications until my appointment in January, or to stop with everything and start over when I see the new Dr.
Can anyone give advice as to what they would do in my situation?
I am also taking the following vitamins and supplements which people have recommended at various times through the years.
posted
I would treat babesia. Zithro + Mepron or Zithro + Malarone Clyndamiacin + Quinine Coartem Pulse crypto and artemisinin Detox Sleep anyway you can.
Also parasites.
Posts: 722 | From CA | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
Sorry to hear you are going through this. I don't know what treatment to recommend to you.
If the treatment mlg recommends could help you, can you talk to your current doctor about getting the prescription medications? Is it possible that a walk-in-clinic doctor would prescribe any of the recommended combos? Just trying to think outside the box.
If you haven't already, see if you can get on a cancellation list for the doctor in D.C.
Best wishes.
Posts: 873 | From WA | Registered: Dec 2005
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
The general wisdom is that a lyme patient should not leave one lyme doctor until they have another. This way, if something terrible would happen, you always have a doctor to call for help.
Bactrim treats babesiosis and bartonella, so it can be a very useful medicine. To treat babs, add artemsinin in a pulsed fashion. For example, take it Thursday, Friday and Saturday of each week.
Get a good brand like AllergyResearchGroup. It is sold at The Vitamin Shoppe. Take it twice per day on an empty stomach.
Bactrim DS (double strength) and pulsed artemesinin is how I got rid of babesiosis. See what Burrascano says on page 24, discussing babs treatment:
"Artemesia (a nonprescription herb) should be added in all cases."
If the artemesinin makes you feel sick (causes a herx or babs flare), adjust the days you take it so that the sick days interfere less with your work. I am assuming Thurs-Sat will be the best days for that, but they may not be.
The other thing you can do is feel out your doctor as to how he feels about adding more meds or changing meds.
You could ask the doc if he would consider adding tindamax to your doxy to kill lyme in the cyst form. You could tell him that you would like to try it or some other med so that you are on 2 meds for lyme disease.
If he agrees to add a cyst-buster, be prepared for a herxheimer reaction (a number of days of feeling bad).
I hope you are taking the best magnesium. It can help a lot with muscle twitches and many other symptoms. Lyme depletes mag. Burrascano recommends Mag-Tab SR (sustained release). You can order it at a WalMart pharmacy or on line.
If you have not requested to be on the new lyme doctor's cancellation list, do so. Some get in quicker that way. I hope that happens for you.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
I agree with the others, especially TF about adding in arteminisin from ARG and asking about tinidazole.
Also consider adding cryptolepsis tincture.
And sleep sleep sleep when you can.
It sounds like babs is starting muscle wasting on you.
Don't stop seeing this current doc until you see your new one.
I'm sorry you are going through this Joe. Hang in there!
Greta
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
I agree, get on the Doctor's cancellation list.
If you're really desperate, maybe there's a physician's assistant in the office that you can see in the mean time.
I just went through changing doctor's. The new doc sorted out all kinds of problems with the old doc's protocol.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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