posted
I have a bottle of Levaquin. The tendon pain was so horrible that I had to quit after a week or so.
Anyway, I dropped my crazy LLMD who told me to just go get hands laid on me to try to get healed "because some people have luck with that" and I'm sorry but I do not take out loan after loan to hear that garbage....Christian or not.
Anyway, I have Levaquin and Rifampin (sp?) and almost full bottles of both. I've heard of needing to get your liver and stuff checked every week to ensure that it's not doing damage.
I won't be able to find another llmd until the beginning of next year (changing insurance plans that lets me go out of network)
What would you do? Find a hopefully understanding PCP that would ask for a check up on my liver every week and go on with the Rifampin on my own?
The most important question of all....(UUUGGGHH I hate brain fog, I can't remember what I was going to say)
Oh yeah, For people that take these things, do you take them all at once? LLmd didn't really say. My impression was that he wanted me to. After you finish the Levaquin, then go to the Rifampin, then start again with the Levaquin refill, then start again with the refill of Rifampin?
How do you all do it?
I'd appreciate any and all answers and input, I feel like I'm only getting worse here....and I'd like to do something.
-------------------- ~*~Lyme POW~*~
I will escape. Posts: 100 | From n/a | Registered: Oct 2008
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dmc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5102
posted
I only had monthly blood work when I was on that combo.
i took mine at same time,
Posts: 2675 | From ct, usa | Registered: Jan 2004
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
I'd probably take whatever I had left without an LLMDs supervision, but don't do it just because that's what *I* would do. You have to make your own decisions... The only reason I would do it is because I've taken Rifampin before and it helped me more than any other antibiotic (other than Mepron which I'm on now - amazing stuff)
Though, I would NOT take the Levaquin because you tried it once before and it gave you tendon pain. Levaquin can really mess up the tendons (for some people) and you don't want something permanent to happen to them.
PS - I can't believe an LLMD would say that...
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
have you been off abx at all since you stopped seeing him?
i definitely would not take the levaquin, since it caused tendon damage in you before.
i think the rifampin can be a little hard on your liver, so you would need to get your liver enzymes checked (i haven't heard every week though, i would think once a month would be okay, although i am not sure). would you be able to get a gp to test your liver enzymes if you did take the rifampin?
doesn't rifampin need to be combined with another abx? maybe i am completely wrong about this, but i know i read it here a few times.
Posts: 871 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
If Levaquin has given you tendon issues before, I wouldn't take it again, especially without supervision of an MD.
Rifampin needs to be taken with either Zithro., or Doxycycline to prevent resistance, so I wouldn't take that either, unless you have a supply of Doxy (Or possibly Tetra., or Mino) or Zith. on hand as well.
You should have a regular CBC and Liver panel every 2 weeks anyway, on either of those drugs, which any doctor can order for you.
Please be safe. I understand wanting to feel better, everybody wants to be cured yesterday, but going about it in a way that may cause harm will only make things worse in the long run.
I'd wait until I found another LLMD, or I'd suddenly develop a raging case of acne...which leads to a prolonged supply of Doxy. usually.
...Kidding. I understand the desperation, but I think you should try to see an LLMD, asap.
Take care.
Posts: 43 | From NY | Registered: Oct 2008
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