2 months past and i have had a bad relapse so we started rocephin iv again today in hopes that i get the same results as i previously had.

for people who do well on rocephin i think it is important to stick with. i have spoken to three different people who made full recovery on rocephin.

if you decide to discontinue try to use an oral with similar properties like amoxy (high dosage like 4-6 gms a day) or high dose ceftin (2000 mg).

there is also a popular theory that rocephin forces the spirochetes into a cyst form. antibiotics with the chemical consistencies like flagyl or tinidazole are used to combat the cyst forms.

the cyst form theory is neither a battle tested theory or definitively proven in the lab. as such is not practiced by all llmd's but it is mentioned, in a supporting voice, in the burascanno guidelines.

try implementing david's advice. lidocaine is a localized anesthetic. it won't make the injection any less painful but should stop any bruising pain that follows.

i haven't injected the rocephin but with prior injection experience it is most easily taken if you inject into the same area each time. this way the muscle in that body part (butt or arm, etc) will become a little bit less tender.

10 days is probably just enough time for the rocephin only (maybe) just start to be effective. keep it up as long as you have access to the drug.

good luck.

I take my iv by butterfly needle in the vein, like shooting up. You can also have a picc line put into your arm and then just connect to the iv line everyday.

if your mixing it yourself you could do a google search how to mix it for iv usage. then get a butterfly needle, very inexpensive, and start to mainline it.

There are also other options, such as a chest port or external chest catheter. I have a port now since my arm veins were shot and I'm pulsing my IV meds right now. If treatment will be short-term (less than four months or so) I'd recommend a PICC line. And even for longer treatment, a PICC can often be fine and not cause any problems. If treatment is anticipated to be longer or if it will be pulsed (with days off), I think a port is best.

Once the line is in place, you learn to do the infusions yourself at home. Rocephin is either done in one 2gram dose a day or 2 1gram doses a day. I've done both and I've found that the two doses a day is much better for me. My body can't handle the high doses of antibiotics all at once. Each infusion, if done with gravity like I've been doing, takes about 20-30 minutes.

You can get a lot more info about this on here and I'm happy to answer questions myself, too. Personally, I've done both IM injections (Bicillin) and IVs and I like IVs so much better. I can't handle all those needles - just not for me. Oddly enough, I can handle accessing my port with a big needle fine!

Hope this helps you.

--Annie

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``The best way out is always through.'' -Robert Frost

I'd say that if you are getting that bruised from the injections you need someone with better technique to do them, to consider if you are doing them in the right location and to consider whether the needle gauge is appropriate.

I get 2 g injections in my hips and they don't hurt much and I don't usually get bruised. It does make it much easier to take to split the injection into two 1 g doses and have 1g injected in each hip.

I do have mine mixed with Lidocaine and injected by a medical professional (my allergists office which is used to giving lots and lots of shots). They give them in the fleshy area above and toward the back of the hip. I have also had them done by my pcp into the buttocks (more painful) and by my LLMD into my thigh (also more painful). But if you are having difficulty maybe you should move the injection site around.

Please call your DOC today & get some Lidocaine. I can't believe you endure those injections without it; that stuff is so caustic.

I get 5 little bottles of 1% Xylocaine/Lidocaine vials of 20 ml each for $19. Call around at discount houses/COSTCO to get lowest prices. This is a cash item.

I can only tell you what my experience has been. I was instructed to rotate hips. Be sure & inject very slowly (like slow-motion) & stop injection for a few seconds if you start to feel pressure/pain; then, slowly start again. This makes all the difference.

My LLMD said to take l GM daily so it would last 6 months instead off 3. I really need the higher dose to make a difference, but I did what he said.

He prescribed Actigall (get generic-cheap) to protect gallbladder.

I've had several glutathione injections in the thigh with a huge needle & I couldn't take those leg injections. (I heard one pharmacy uses tiny insulin needles for glutathione----that might be tolerable.)

Be sure & get a cyst buster like Flagyl or you will relapse overnight when the Rocephin stops.

I've learned Rocephin is good at high enough doses & for extended periods of time which is different for every patient.

I'll probably have to try some antibiotic combo with Minocin for my neuro symptoms.

As I'm sure you know, the Rocephin box includes the med insert that explains how to dilute properly for IV.
Take Care,
Jan

I forgot to tell you that my LLMD told me the bruising is from vasculitis caused by Lyme. Over time, the bruising will decrease as the vasculitis clears up.

If you need to, find a nurse who will take an ink pin and circle the area on both hips where you can give the injection.

This will help the person administering the shot so you don't have to hurt so bad.

According to the Rocephin insert instructions, the syringe will only hold 3 ml. maximum & for me to get l GM of Rocephine daily----- that worked out to be 2.8 ml of Rocephin & Licocaine combined.

(This 2 GM vial of Rocephin was first diluted with 4.2 ml of Xylocaine; & I refrigerated the remaining 1 GM for the next day.)

I drew up meds using 3 ml syringe with 21G 1 1/2 needle. Then change needle out to a smaller needle to give injection with -----25G 1 1/2 inch needle.