posted
hi. i was bitten about a month ago by a tick, classic bullseye. did herbal treatment. got bit again about 2 weeks ago. finally went to dr to get antibiotics (have only had them a few times in my life) (doxy. 200mg per day for 14 days). thought i would get some info on internet and am ...traumatized? overwhelmed, etc. i realize that i have had chronic lyme for more than 25 years. i have exhibited almost all of the symptoms. i have so many questions. will what i am taking of abx be enough? could i have passed this on to both of my children. my son is 21 now and gets tired alot and is getting the joint pains. i wasn't tested because i felt it wasn't necessary to spend that much money on something i obviously have. i am not a huge dr. fan, and prefer naturopathic remedies. i am also taking colloidal silver and pau d' arco. what should i do? i really don't want to do a long course of abx. these are making me very sick. thank you for your help.
------------------ rhonda
Posts: 12 | From salida, co, usa | Registered: Jul 2004
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David95928
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3521
posted
Rhonda, Welcome to Lymenet, too bad you need it. Others will come along and post links for new members. Right now you probabaly need to read, read, read. About how badly you are feeling right now, you are probably having a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, known to us as herx. This is a response to the toxins dead and dying bacteria produce as a result of taking antibiotics. It's a standard part of Lyme disease. Your son probably has had the same risk factors and healthy twenty-one year olds should not be struggling with fatigue and joint pain for no known reason. It's my opinion, that there is no subtitute for antibiotics in treating Lyme. Sorry. David
Posts: 2034 | From CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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mlkeen
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1260
posted
Hi Rhonda-
Sorry that your family is caught up in this. With proper treatment you should all get much better.
Many of here were not big fans of Drs eithet. You'll just have to get over it. There is a place for adjunct therapies, but long term antibiotic is need too.
robi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5547
posted
Sorry you are feeling so overwhelmed. I was too when I first found out I had Lyme. Up until this point I preferrd naural medicine too. This is diferent. You really do need antibiotics. Actaully, the fact that they are making you sick is a good sign. It means your killing off Spirochetes.
You don't have to give up and shouldn't give up your natural remedies. YOU MUST FIND AN LLMD AND GET PROPER TREATMENT.(Yes I meant to yell.)
Many of us also see Naturopathic and Holistic Drs. who help us with detox and immune building. I believe both types of Drs. are essential in recovery.
I am not a Dr. but 200mg doxy is no where near enough and 14 days is a drop in the bucket. Please seek help.
This is scary,yes. But, you can recover and so can your son. The more read, the more you will see that it is possible with proper treatment. You will get better if you find a good LLMD. I am gettting slowly better after 12 weeks of treatment. THis is only the beginning for me.
riversinger
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4851
posted
I can understand your fears. My son (24) and I were diagnosed last fall with late stage lyme. I too had always looked to natural remedies to try to heal any illness I had come up against.
However, 11 years of all kinds of natural treatments never managed to put a dent in what I now know was Lyme disease.
You need to keep learning. this is a difficult disease. Doctors are misinformed, and even the most knowledgeable won't always have the answers.
But you will have a much better chance by seeing someone who is very knowledgeable and successful in treating lots of patients. We call them Lyme Literate MDs (LLMD).
My son, who was less ill than I, is recovering very nicely. I'm coming along more slowly, but am much better than last year.
You need much better treatment than you are receiving. Higher dose, and MUCH longer. I'm sorry that my file with links isn't available, but I'll give you a few to get started.
Have been ill for years-since child--but with episodes of wellness. Would only use natural and alternative treatments--except when hospitalized.
Then they would have me captive-IV's strung around like snakes--all full of pretty colors--and usually full of steroids.
When the Lyme and co-infections hit, I swore I would not do abx. Tried homeopathy-all my old stand by alternatives--probably felt a little better but:
When I kept sliding down the hell-hole and feeling like I was not long for this world--sicker than sick--I was so desperate.
I welcomed the abx.--bring 'em on--help--and when they did help-man, was I grateful for them.
You will be, too. Just please follow the advice here from those who have told you to find a good LLMD---no--no--an infectious disease guy just won't do. I went that route, too.
My daughter had a nightmare LD story--shes doing really well-normal life--going to retest her next week just to check status.
Have a 35 y.o. son who is extremely fatiqued and has some funny symptoms--he works for UPS so -yeah--worn out--but hmmmmm-I have concerns.
Anyway--please do the right thing--I second *read-read-read*--but don't get frustrated if brain won't co-operate. Come here and stay as long as you can--you will get good advice.
Wishing you lots of luck-courage--and better days ahead--there is a light ahead.
Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
posted
Hi Rhonda,
Welcome to LymeNet! AND to the Colorado Support System!
The replies so far have been extremely informed...yes, there usually is no getting around the abx route. You have an infection that needs curing...
I will start you off with the New Member links. I know there is MUCH here to go through, but PLEASE do try to read as much as you can, so you will become your own best advocate for proper healthcare.
posted
Welcome to Lymenet! Sorry to see you hear but this is definately the place to get the help you need.
My mother was diagnosed with Lyme last year. After her diagnosis she encouraged my brother and I to be tested.
I did not want to listen to her. Sure I had terrible fatique but I was not sick! It is called DENIAL!
I now know that not only do my brother and I have Lyme but my husband has it as well. My children are also being tested.
One thing to be thankful for at this point is that you have discovered the source of your illness. As you deal with it you gain knowledge that can be used by your son or any others that may contract the disease.
My mother paved the way for us, so to speak. She knew what tests needed to be ordered and what doctors to see. It is often very difficult to find a good Lyme Literate MD or even reliable testing.
Also because of my mother's illness our own was caught in time to spare us much of the missery that she endured.
So as you deal with your own illness take some comfort in knowing your experience could help your son.
Best of wishes to you as you begin this journey. We will be praying for your recovery!
SC
Posts: 71 | From Indiana, USA | Registered: Jun 2004
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lymie tony z
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5130
posted
Bummer that you're here but this is the best place to be for info.
One of the things not mentioned in previous messages is the fact that the feelings you are feeling....the seeming inability to cope and being overwhelmed are also symptoms of the neuro-infection part of this disease. The fact that you can't seem to keep things in perspective and get anxiety or depression are also symptoms...I was an arrogant(confident) sports person able to beat anything that came my way at one time in my life...this disease has reduced me to a guy who second guesses himself and at one point became agoraphobic because of the lack of confidence and fear that I could'nt control my emotions any longer....these things can be controlled...first you must reallize why there happening get a good LLMD and remember from now on if you can't explain it(symptoms physical and emotional or psychological) it's the Lyme disease doing what it does.... Don't give up though...and yes I tried alternative medicines as well as Psychic healers etc etc and unfortunately the only thing that get's me back on track is IV ABX and so I keep haveing to go back to them so far in my progression. Start keeping records of or a callendar of weird stuff you can share with us and your family and most of all your doctor. It is a great help in helping your LLMD help you. the zman
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Posts: 2527 | From safety harbor florida(origin Cleve., Ohio | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Hi Rhonda - wow, there was a lot of good advice given in this thread. I am very new to this discussion board and am wishing I would have been on years ago. The only other point I would make is that meetings with my local LD support group was very critical for my ability to cope. You may want to make a note to investigate this. Fyi - I have participated in several groups and some are clearly more productive then others for your needs.
I hope you feel better and remember that this disease generally moves slowly in whatever direction it is going. Bob
Posts: 77 | From Morris County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
thank you to all of you here and all of the wonderful information you have given me. i am reading when i can. doing alot of sleeping and processing of all of this. i am not so overwhelmed now and actually alot relieved that i finally know what is wrong with me and why i have felt so bad for so many years. the herx are pretty bad right now and it is good to know what they are. will they go away soon? i work crazy hours and it is difficult to work like this. also, will all of my symtoms go away after treatment? i love the thought of leading a normal, pain free life. i too was an athlete in school and thought that was why i developed arthritis at 15. ignored for many years all the other problems. problems i had checked out, the dr always ruled out anything and suggested it was in my head. hence the denial. glad i got bit a third time to know that i have to cure the first bite. i am going to have both my kids tested and i suspect my ex has it too. we both were bitten abut 15 years ago, both short 7 day course of erythromyacin. i got very sick on it and didn't finish it. he is starting to get symptomatic. but he is the master of denial, so we will see how that goes. unfortunately, i called my dr to up my dosage and she said no. she wants to read up first. i gave a copy of the Burrasconno doc. to read. she does want to become ll, but i really hope she will up my dosage. if she doesn't i will look elsewhere. i have also seen a naturopath and am on a number of things from her, both to boost immune system and also to block respiration for the bacteria. i mostly wanted to say thank you for responding to me, and also thank you for this site. i am educating everyone i know about this! THANKS!!!! rhonda Posts: 12 | From salida, co, usa | Registered: Jul 2004
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