Seems to me you are the poster child for abx does NOT "cure" lyme disease. Most people I talk to (I'm a hairdresser) seem to have a working knowledge that you never "get rid" of lyme. Some don't know that, but most mention it. At this point you have CHRONIC Lyme Disease and must be treated as such. That calls for a LLMD . . . very important!

As for the lumbar puncture I say NO NO NO. We have created a lyme education and support group where I live and our Infectious Disease Dr. insists that this test be run before he will treat IF it is positive. Statistically it is very low in accuracy. It only tells you if it's in that area if I understood right.

If a patient says no, then he says he can't treat patients who won't cooperate. Now he flat out says "I don't treat lyme".

Can you take Biaxin??? Have you been tested for co-infections? I thought I was relapsing w/lyme when my Epstein Barr activated and created a huge amount of fatigue. I suggest you run, not walk, to your nearest LLMD and get the WHOLE PICTURE. This is a complicated disease involving the whole body.

I wish you luck. You're fortunate to have a positive WB. Use it well!

I also agree with Curley that you should get to a LLMD. I don't know of any in your area but you could post over in Seeking a Doctor or contact a support group in your area (you can do this by clicking on "support groups" on the left hand menu).

It sounds like you also should be evaluated for co-infections before any decision on treatment is made. IVs might be something you need, but unless co-infections are addressed it will do you little or no good. And orals can help a lot of people, IVs are not necessary even for late stage chronic Lyme (as some people on here can attest to).

--Annie

You've been given good advice. I just want to add some comments.

Print "Diagnostic Hints & Treatment Guidelines..." - 32 pages of excellent info by one of the very best LLMDs. www.ilads.org/burrascano_1102.htm

page 7: Diagnosing Later Disease - says in part:
"Spinal taps are not routinely recommended, as a negative tap does not rule out Lyme."

page 16-18: Antibiotic Choices & Treatment Categories
Note recommended dose of Amoxicillin.
Do you know what dose you were given per day?

Early Disseminated Disease - milder symptoms present for less than 1 yr...
Adults: oral therapy until no active disease for 4 weeks

Go to www.ilads.org
On the left, click "Basic Info" & print a copy - 3 pages of great facts that everyone should know.

About the LLMD -
You definitely need to be evaluated by a LLMD - ASAP.

Go to Seeking a Dr here on LymeNet & put your location in the title. Info about LLMDs will be e-mailed to you. We do not give drs' names here unless they have given permission.

Checked the map & it looks like you're a little less than 300 miles from Dr C in Springfield, Missouri. He's definitely worth the drive.

Read "What do you like about Dr C?" http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum3/HTML/004140.html

There are a couple LLMDs in Texas, but I do not have the info on them.

For reliable info on all aspects of Tick-Borne Diseases (TBDs), check Tincup's "Links for new LymeNet members" http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/009342.html

At the top right, click the little blue word "search", type in the info, & you can learn about lots of topics that have been discussed here on LymeNet.