So, exactly how many 10,000s of dollars does 3 months treatment cost, if I administer it myself at home? (I am told I would still need nursing services once a week for PICC care). And is it possible to pick out a good insurance plan that will cover it? How is that done?

The company that I selected from an approved list by my insurance company worked out well. I first ran the list of companies by both my doctor and his nurse to see what track record they had with any of the companies listed. Since they gave me glowing reports, I opted to use the services of the company I ended up with. It seemed to make most sense to me to do it this way than to randomly make a selection.

I realize that there are individuals who do their own dressing changes. However, I felt more secure having a nurse come into my home and change the dressing as well as do blood draws. She also checked my vital signs and we went over any questions I had or difficulties that she was able to advise me with.

I was on antibiotics for fourteen months before we had my picc line installed and started me on rocephin. I too had made some progress, but I then started to back slide.

The Rocephin did not "cure" me. However, it brought me to a point that the orals couldn't seem to achieve. We had to stop the Rocephin due to my developing a serious reaction to it. After the Rocephin, we switched me over to orals. I still have a ways to go, but overall I am at a better point then prior to being treated with Rocephin. At least now I am seeing progress with the orals. If I had to do it again, I would still opt for using the Rocephin...just my personal experience.

Wishing you all the best in your quest for wellnes.

Debbie-RI

I had a great insurance covered home nursing service once a week for the picc line. Although, I developed staph in my line twice, something to watch out for.

Over a year later I am still fighting/appealing for my insurance to cover the meds over the normal "30 days". I have won most of it and consider myself lucky.

Rocephin really did not seem to do much for me, and if you search the posts you will see a lot of info on that. Cefto did help a lot - along with orals and bicillin shots.

Beware, most companies that deal with lyme disease, i.e. the company that sends you the drugs and supplies, know that insurance will not pay for more than 30 days. They make you sign a contract that you will be a certain amount a day. Although it is less, it still adds up. I think my total was over $50,000.

But the nurses were amazing and would give me extra supplies they had, so I saved a lot.

I was fortunate that my medical bill was resolved within two months after stopping the IV treatment. It was pretty straight forward in that I knew what costs I would be responsible for and what the insurance company would cover prior to starting IV treatment.

My insurance company honored my doctor's orders without question and my total out of pocket expences were only $1,500.00. I feel very lucky that we have the insurance coverage we have and the state laws to support long term antibiotic treatment for Lyme Disease.