posted
I've heard so much talk lately about IV abx in different combinations and rotations being the best way to get treated.
Is this the best or only way to get well? I can't afford it and can't travel to the doctor everyone is talking about anyways so I guess I'm stuck forever?
Any thoughts?
Posts: 86 | From new york | Registered: Jun 2008
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
I and my friends and acquaintances all got well on oral antibiotics only. I was undiagnosed for 10 years. I had lyme, babesiosis, and bartonella.
Three of my friends who got well had long-standing fibromyalgia which was lyme disease. They were sick over 10 years each. They also had babs and bart.
One of my friends had lyme probably 2 years. She also had babs, bart, and mycoplasma.
One of my fibro friends mentioned above was on Social Security disability due to her fibro. She had had it for years. She didn't have much money at all. She told the lyme doc he had to give her medications she could afford. She still got well, even with the financial limitations she placed on the doc.
I and my friends all went to docs who followed the Burrascano lyme treatment guidelines.
Why not take a look at the Burrascano lyme treatment guidelines and see what he says about when he recommends IV therapy.
It says that a doc should consider IV therapy if oral therapy fails. Also, consider it for those who took steroids or other immune system suppressants, those with major neurological involvement, etc. (p.20)
IV is not the magic bullet. It always has to be followed up by months of oral antibiotics.
Most lyme docs I am familiar with rarely prescribe IV anymore. They may treat you with injections (Bicillin, etc.) if you are a really bad neuro case.
Antibiotic combinations and rotations ARE necessary to get well based on the Burrascano guidelines.
Maybe you should read through the recommended treatments in the guidelines and see how it is done. You treat each coinfection with different combos and the lyme has certain combos also.
The most important thing, in my opinion, is to get a doctor who follows the Burrascano protocol. Call the office and ask if the doc follows Burrascano. Don't make an appt if he doesn't. Ask local lyme support groups (left side of screen) who follows Burrascano, and get to that doc.
The doc is the key to getting well in my experience and I have been sending people to lyme docs for the last 5 years.
If you are the "average" lyme patient, I doubt IV will even be brought up.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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If you can afford to see a LLMD, that is key. Absolutely. However, if you simply don't have the resources, you are still not "stuck" - you are never "stuck" as there are other ways.
Sure it is best to see an expert LLMD. Yet, there are some other ways you might see some progress. Note, though, that any alternative treatments must still be very specific for the specific infection. Just trying to get the body stronger is NOT enough and it will not work.
If you have a LL ND (naturopathic doctor) close by, that might be good but be sure they are truly LL and ILADS members, too.
Most LL NDs also incorporate antibiotics. One I consulted said she thought I really needed to be in IV antibiotics for several months. I did not have the funds so I do the best I can with what I have.
I have been on various tracks. Of all of those, I highly recommend reading Zhang's book. You can find it here:
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