I'm really achey today and couldn't go to work. I'm super confused and my thoughts are jumbled.

1) Why did you stop the photos? It was keeping me smiling.

2) Where are the ticks on the jersey shore? By this I mean, if one was to be in OC and have a house on the beach....how could one prevent getting a tick bite? I may be visiting my folks beach house later this year and this is VERY scary for my paranoid heiny.

Two years ago we went on a "nature" trail in cape may. I wore long pants and tucked em in and did a check and EVERYTHING and in the middle of the night I freakin found I TICK crawling in my bed!!!

I will never go to cape may again. But, if one stays on the sidewalk and on the boardwalk and on the sand, you think I'm safe?

Just wondering since you are from NJ.

Noone ever mentioned the pics. I just thought everyone was being polite. I like them too.

Ticks are everywhere. Birds carry them everywhere. Although I've never heard of anyone being bit on the beach or the boardwalk. You should feel safe on the shoreline.

Mostly people get bit on trails, in the woods, pine barrens, marshes and camping. Where there is alot of wilderness.

Well it's official I'm totally herxing at 3 1/2 weeks. It really started around 2 in the morning.

ralphing
headache
body aches
dizzy
nausea
feeling like a mac truck hit me

really vivid dreams (screwing with my head)
bottoms(Heals)of my feet hurt

This means that you have a deep seeded infection. (so says my LLMD) If you herx this far into taking meds. Not great news, but good news that the meds are working-eh?

Are you taking epsom salts baths? Even in this heat, I would.

I take the probiotics and vits/antioxidants at noon.

I thought people were crazy when they said,"I like the taste." or said, "I just poured it on my food."

Now I understand! It works..... It really works! LOVE LOVE LOVE MEPRON!

I was just reading through your post and got to the part about how you used to be "pedal to the metal" before catching Lyme and babesia, and how now you are learning to live in a different body. If babesia is indeed your worst problem, especially if you have been sick for many years, there's two other side effects you should be aware of.

First, if you really are hitting your worst health problem, your cortisol and adrenaline levels may abruptly drop to where they should be when they aren't revved up. That's healthy, but it feels like you are floating through zero gravity in deep space--you will have to relearn how to take initiative, be energetic, and protect yourself from the usual nonsense people encounter on a daily basis. Lyme patients can get used to being on overdrive.

Also, there's bound to be a bit of an identity crisis if you get better all of a sudden. Don't let yourself slip back into being sick, just to feel like your normal self again. Just fill the huge, empty space in your life where Lyme and babesia used to be with little routines. Start with something small, like taking a walk every day, and build up to something wild like a career change or running for President.

Oh yeah, one other thing. I'm not sure if someone mentioned this yet, but be super-cautious of your depth perception. When I first started mepron, I almost walked into glass doors and walls many times, and almost put a cup of scalding coffee down on air instead of a glass table top, because I couldn't judge distance anymore. Also, I suddenly couldn't quite figure out stairs and street curbs. It might be wise to hold off on driving much until you get used to the mepron.

I got to experience my first Mepron herx last November...now he is going through it.

He sat up in bed 5 times last week before starting treatment...waking me...asking me if I had felt this way...the way he was referring to was nightmares and then not being able to tell if he was awake or asleep.

Poor Guy...anyway hopefully he will join the club here.

Dr. WiseAss - I am so glad you are getting treated for Babs...Are the chest pains subsiding? Hang in there!

I am on day 8 of my second go around with Mepron. Am feeling pretty yucky but some of the Babs relapse symptoms are starting to abate already.

Liz give a pretty accurate description of just what it is like. I too hav been known to put my cup down on a non-existent surface. But, I'm a pro at this and know to look for the table. Don't lose hope, it does get better. My peripheral vision was non-exitent my first month or 2 on Mepron. And, the nightmeares were horrible.

But, hang in there all. I am so glad to be back on this dizzy ride because I know I am getting better while on it. Lots of what you are feeling is the med not the Babs. Mepron is weird science.

Went to a Lyme "expert" yesterday (Steere camp) who, predictably, said I was cured of Lyme after 3 - 6 months of abx. Couldn't really explain why I was still soooo sick after a 6 months of abx and a 5 month abx break. Babesiosis is about all we could sort of agree on (just barely). So, take care of this co-infection. Ride out the Mepron. Can't get better until you beat this. Just my opinion here.

Happy 4th.

Getting ready to start this combo and have a couple questions....

I am just not able to do a good search on it right now but here are my ????

Do you take it together??

On or off an empty stomach??

She is started me with 600mg of Zith and 1 teaspoon twice a day.

I have done mepron before but not with zith.
I slept the best I had in years while taking it.

Not sure what the combo is going to do to me??

I liked the taste too.. My 13 year old daughter took 3 rounds of it and never complained.

You MUST need to be on meds if you like the taste of Mepron. I think you are very sick.

I too did Mepron without Zith for some time. It didn't seem to make any difference when the Zith was added in for me, except to upset my tummy. Am doing Mepron (sans a macrolide) now but with Artemisinin and Bicillin. Mepron is working.

I've skipped a day. It's up to you and your LLMD. Sometimes you just need it. but if you are tolerating the meds.... then just keep taking them.

I get the creepy crawlys when I have too much sugar. Are you on the antiyeast diet? Not that I should ask that....... I'm bad, bad bad.

Is this a herx or is my neuro stuff getting worse? I went to PT and she said I was weaker.

It is hard to stay positive, when I want to either have a temper tantrum or get really mad at myself.

------------------
ICEY

Well I sure everyone will be thrilled w/ my new symptom........diarrhea! The worst I have ever had.

quote:

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Originally posted by liz28:
Aliyalex--
Oh yeah, one other thing. I'm not sure if someone mentioned this yet, but be super-cautious of your depth perception. [This message has been edited by liz28 (edited 01 July 2005).]

---

I've been having a lot of trouble with that. A few days ago I reached down to unplug my laptop from the wall but somehow unplugged my co-workers machine instead. The weird thing is that it looked like I had deliberately grabbed the other cord.
The scarier things that have happened have been accidentally walking a litter closer to moving object that I should. And everything looks fine until suddenly it isn't.

It is interesting to me when this happens. Like somehow in the night I learned something I didn't already know. It is a good feeling, like maybe I am not in this [body] alone.

I am going to take an epsom salt/vinegar bath and drink more water.

I did best on double dose zithromax with Mepron and I also take Doxy right now. Doxy helps and I don't want to give it up due to stomach pain when I take zithromax.

any hints on helping ease stomach pain on zithromax??

Yes, the suspension is easier on the gut. However, it comes flavored with a little sugar in it. So, you have to be careful about yeast. I did the suspension for 5 months, then switched to the pills and my stomach got very angry.

I don't tolerate Zithromax (gutwise) well at all. So, I am doing a round of Mepron without the Zith right now. I have to take some Zith today and tomorrow for dental work premedication and am dreading it.

Try the suspension. It worked pretty well for me. You have to take a lot of it and in only comes in children's doses, like 100mg. It has a very short shelf-life once mixed with water - 10 days I think. So, ask your MD to write the Rx for several 10 day bottles (30 days worth) & ask the pharmacy not to pre-mix it but to give you a bottle of the water on the side. You have to explain to them that this is for an adult. If they tell you THEY have to pre-mix it you will just have to deal with going to the pharmacy every 5 - 10 days. It's a bit of a pain.

Good luck.

Thanks for the well wishes.

Went to work!!! Yea.

Ringing in ears, dizzy, nausea, and still lethargic.

Good nite,
HK

hope you feel better soon!

Does anyone know if Ketek would replace Zith in the Mepron/zith combo? Someone mentioned it

in the medical section as being a replacement for zith that's easier on the stomach.

It just may be better in this case since I cannot give up doxy again....that is how I

lost all the ground I had gained with lyme treatment. I was almost back to normal for a whole month!

I hope everyone feels better. It just sucks when it goes up and down. I love feeling better but when you go through a small herx or feel tired it really hits you when you know what it feels like to feel better. I hate this roller coaster.

Ok that was a massive run on.

I would like to know about ketek. Keep me informed. I heard it's powerful.

Amazingly I worked today. I'm battling depression though.

I've got to work tommorow. I need money o money money money. Going to the LLMD on friday. $85.00 buckeroonies.

More mepron please! I'd like to have a bunch of scary weird nitemares. OOOOh and lethargic depression is super.

wa wa wa bo hoo hoo
Heather

Helps me tremendously.

Trout

I just joined the Mep/Zith bandwagon but my LLMD also has me on Clindo at the same time

Just started a couple days ago. Here's the thing though. I'm only on this for 3 weeks, then a week off. Then for another 3 weeks I take Mino/Zith with Flagyl and another week off. Then Mino/Septra w/flagyl for 3 weeks w/ a week off, then another combo.

But only 3 weeks of Mepron for Babesiosis? A second LLMD told me it's ok and he understands the first LLMD's approach and that the other combos have some effect on the Babesiosis. I thought only Mepron affected it, but the LLMD is highly reputed and I can't imagine him telling me that if it weren't true.