posted
Hi, I have been coming to this forum for several months now and it seems that alot of you have enough knowlege of this disease to be doctors, and I would really appreciate some advice.
I started off having various symptoms and went to every type of doctor they suggested. After 16 months of running around and being told I was fine and maybe it was anxiety, I found an LLMD.
I had been reading alot about lyme and figured this had to be it. I was tested by my LLMD who I hear nothing but good about, and I tested neg IGG and POSITIVE IGM from Igenex.
I started by taking 500 mgs 2x daily of biaxin. Then switched to 1000 mgs 2x daily of ceftin. I was on ceftin for about 2 months and a couple of weeks ago I started getting abdominal pains so I stopped the ceftin.
Well that was about 2 weeks ago and now I seem to be getting worse again, and to top it off I was fired from my long term job in Jan and have no ins right now. I have about 2 weeks worth of ceftin left but dont know if I should start it.
I will be going to my LLMD in a couple weeks and I just dont know what to do anymore. I am a young guy and am now self employed and should have no problem working hard with my business but this is really slowing me down and Im wondering if I'll ever beat this.........
Posts: 413 | From nj | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Are you taking acidophilus? When we take a lot of abx we take refrigerated probiotics because the abx kill all the good flora in the intestines. Acidophilus puts the beneficial flora back in the intestines.
A lack of acidophilus could be the source of the pain.
Worthless tests & labs, a dangerous vaccine, insurance companies refuse to pay, undertreatment the norm, all about money. MO. Posts: 281 | From CT | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Thanks for responding....Yes I take 1 refrigerated probiotic pill per day usually and I think its 3 billion live cultures and I also eat stony field organic yogurt. However Im not sure that this is enough.
Posts: 413 | From nj | Registered: Nov 2005
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trails
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1620
posted
1 pill and yogurt is NOT enough unless that one pill is Theralac. Is it?
If not, invest $40 a month in Theralac probiotic. Go to www.theralac.com
It is BEYOND worth the money. It will save you more money and pain in the long run.
I am so sorry you are feeling this way and you should have plenty of company here--including ME!
But you can beat this. You can. I mean, you can and will feel better than you have recently. YOu may never be lyme free and you may never be back to where you were before lyme, but you can have a great life with lyme and an active one too!
You may need to get a RX for yeast like Diflucan or Nystantin. Usually tummy yeast/ gut flora being whacked out doesnt show right away when we are taking the ABX. It takes a while to really whack it out.
Keep posting! Trails
Posts: 1950 | From New Mexico | Registered: Sep 2001
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cantgiveupyet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8165
posted
I would check with your LLMD regarding the stomach pain. It maybe yeast like some have suggested.
Did you read the side affects....is abdominal pain on the list?
Ceftin and cephlasporins in general usually arent tough on the stomach like say Doxy can be.
I feel the same as you do...i had to stop abx too...and seems like i will never get better. Try to stay positive, it really does help.
Oh and the one duck i saw thought mine was anxiety too.
-------------------- "Say it straight simple and with a smile."
"Thus the task is, not so much to see what no one has seen yet, But to think what nobody has thought yet, About what everybody sees."
-Schopenhauer
pos babs, bart, igenex WB igm/igg Posts: 3156 | From Lyme limbo | Registered: Oct 2005
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liz28
Unregistered
posted
It's also a good idea to take nystatin or diflucan for yeast. In addition, I throw on a cheap but effective Chinese herb extract called coptis, which Dr. Zhang uses in his remedies. It's only $6-10 bucks per bottle, and lasts 2-3 weeks.
Since the antibiotics you described are mid-range in terms of strength, you may want to research what the stronger versions will be, so you can upgrade effectively if you have to, and have an idea of the cost.
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David95928
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3521
posted
It seems to me that you need a strategy for getting and being able to afford treatment.
IMHO, if you have a new infection, you want to through the biggest guns at it almost regardless of cost because it is quite possible you can be completely and permanently cured.
On the other hand, if your infection is long standing then long-term sustainability becomes more of an issue. Having been ill for many years prior to diagnosis, I went for the second approach. I take generics that I mostly pay for out of pocket and thus avoid insurance hassles and try to stay under their radar.
I have a number of layman's opinions about how to pursue either of those strategies. PM me if you want to discuss further.
-------------------- Dave Posts: 2034 | From CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
Hi, Improver,
Sounds like you're in a tough situation. I was sorry to hear about your job. That can be a hard blow and very stressful.
I know, for me, stress can really exacerbate my Lyme symptoms AND cause me some stomach upset.
I'm on Ceftin and have been since June. It caused a lot of stomach upset for me in the beginning, but I tried to eat bland foods and wait it out. Eventually, that got better.
My first herx, though, was really horrible! I should also say that I had been sick and undiagnosed for at least 9 years prior to starting treatment.
I get employment stuff all mixed up, but if you were fired, doesn't that qualify you for unemployment? How about Cobra benefits?
The Ceftin comes in generic form (which is what I take), and without insurance, that could still be pretty expensive each month.
I hate the fact that you're continuing to get worse. If you're seeing your LLMD in a couple of weeks, is there any way you could call him or her now and just ask the question you've raised about taking the Ceftin again?
That would be my thought.
Hope you get some relief soon.
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Definitely take more probiotics and watch the sugar content of any yogurt or other foods. Keep in mind that simple carbs convert to sugar in the body.
Potatoes turn to sugar quickly, for example. Forget about white bread, corn, rice, etc! If you eat these very much, your yeast problem will continue, and/or escalate.
my favorite place to buy probiotics and supplements is www.vitacost.com The code for an additional 5% off is in the link above. Vitacost is often 20-60% less than buying it at a health food store.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
I second and third the above posts on probiotics and carb-control. I feel like a different person when I don't eat many carbs... honestly! My body just can't handle them. Systemic yeast can wreak havoc on the body, particularly in an already compromised system. Between a low-carb diet, anti-yeast herbs, and lots of probiotics, I am surviving the doxy without many problems so far.
Are you sure your pain is in your stomach? Could it be another organ entirely? Lyme can cause all kinds or organ problems... probably best to check that out, too....
-------------------- "Looks like freedom but it feels like death.. It's something in between, I guess"
Leonard Cohen, from the song "Closing Time" Posts: 822 | From California | Registered: Jan 2006
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
no one said anything about sbc here-that was real important for me. don't you guys use it now?
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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