posted
OK, I would really like to hear opinions as far as what works best to knock down symptoms. My 11 year old daughter has been on amoxicillin and omniceff since last summer. She see's Dr Jones and he has never suggested IV. She has joint pain, headache every day and at times feels shakey dizzy and nausious.
I have been on orals over a year. Right now I'm taking ceftin, pulsing zith, hydroxychloroquine and doxy. I'm also detoxing from heavy metals (my mercury level is half what it was in August!) IV has never been suggested to me either.
I was talking to someone today whose daughter had lyme and was on IV for 1 month and has felt better. I realise it depends on how long someone has been sick, etc., but in her view everyone she has met has only felt better after IV. She felt there is much more risk in long term antibiotics than a short round of IV.
How many people here- children too- have felt better just with orals? Thanks! Karen
Posts: 82 | From east hampton ny | Registered: Jun 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
I just asked this same question and wondered the same. The people I've known through family and friends who have had Lyme, go better after IV, but the answers seem to point differently.
MariaA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9128
posted
I felt '100% back to normal' after 6 months of orals (while on orals there were side effects of tiredness from the azithromycin, though). I did relapse after going off the antibiotics, but have been able to control the relapse very well with just Buhner herbs (ie I"m totally functional energy-wise, I just have pain that I didnt' have when I felt 'totally normal' and I think thats probably a bartonella infection which I"ll probably do antibiotics for eventually if the test comes back positive).
Lots of people on IV also relapse, and the cost difference and side effects can be much greater depending on the particular drugs you're comparing, the presence or absence of coinfections, and what type of symptoms the Lyme has brought about.
-------------------- Symptom Free!!! Thank you all!!!!
char
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8315
posted
There are some health risks involved with the IV abx/picclines. The piccline is threaded from a vein in the upper arm, usually, and ends in the heart.
An infection at site or heart can be very dangerous.
I think this is why LLMD's start with oral first with some patients.
My kids had picclines. They helped, but also can push the stress level way up if there are complications. Even if no complications, it is a lot to manage.
Boomerang
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7979
posted
I'd like to hear more about this too. Our LLMD says he likes to run through all the orals first, because then the IV work better after that. Also, the IV ABX are a risk for organs (gallbladder).......
So, how do you decide when to try the IV? And do they work better?
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Only Differences I see are.
Price: Iv =$$$$$$$ Orals =$$$
Iv easier on stomach.
Both have saftey issues.
Iv can reach saturation faster whats the hurry to massive herx's = dangerous
As opposed to coming on slower but just as big. Giving body more time to process toxins.Read Cytokine stormYoull get the point.
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
I have only been on orals.
For me, that has worked the best. For starters, I was pretty sick when I started taking abx, and I know a month of IV would have never been enough. That's all my insurance would authorize, and I didn't have funds for more.
I needed to continue working while I was getting better, at least part time, and the orals allowed me to do that. With my symptom load, I think IV would have kicked me completely to the curb.
As it was, my herx reaction with orals was brutal; I can only imagine what it would have been with IV abx.
After 18 months of abx, I'm now back at work fulltime. I sdtill deal with a few symptoms, but I'm unbelievably improved...esp from this time last year.
If I'd had it to do over, I wouldn't have changed what I did.
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/