posted
I was diagnosed with LD 4 days ago - no blood test. Dr. (family physician) diagnosed it just based on the bite and large rash.
He put me on doxyclycline (sp?) 100 mg., 2 times daily.
As part of my diagnosis, I was having lots of headaches, neck pain, and fatigue.
Since that time, though, I've experienced the following symptoms: - extreme fatigure (to pt that working 8.5 hour day is difficult), - worse headaches, - pain in knees, feet, hands, fingers, - feeling sick to my stomache, and - just a general blah feeling.
I thought that I was suppose to be feeling better, not worse...
Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16359
posted
Well, if you've only been sick for 4 or so days your symptoms are probably acute and may clear with adequate treatment....
Many people who catch and treat lyme early feel like hell then it clears (knock on wood). One of my family members had the rash, got diagnosed early, felt like hell for a week or two, then recovered with just lingering symptoms...
It can be a whole other ball game if you don't catch it early and it becomes chronic...
Maybe your doc could bump your meds up a lil bit...but you may just being having a normal herxheimer reaction...
Make sure your doc eventually tests for co-infections as well...
Good luck...
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
welcome 26
print off dr. burrascano's lyme guidelines and my 2nd link of MEDS/DOSAGES for adults/kids that i broke up for easier reading.
Welcome; I'm so glad you found us!! You've come to the right place for education and support!
Betty's suggested POSTING GUIDELINES . many of us have neuro lyme where we can NOT read long solid block text and be able to comprehend and read it as is.
please edit your post by CLICKING PAPER/PENCIL ICON to right of your name. that opens up BOTH subject line and body text.
now please break up your WORDY SENTENCES into one sentence paragraphs. Then hit ENTER KEY ``TWICE`` after each paragraph; we need that space for comprehension.
then go to left hand corner and mark box to receive ALL REPLIES, and click EDIT SEND
we thank you for helping us; otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. ----------------------------------------------------
I found Turn the Corner Foundation through the website for the Under Our Skin movie. Here is the link for their website. At the bottom of their webpage there is a link to click if you are interested in getting help finding and LLMD.
I emailed them for help and got a response with the names of over 10 LLMDS in two states in less than a days time. What an incredible blessing! Thought I'd pass it on. By member Aimee, 7.11.09 ------------------------------------------------------
People seeking doctors might be able to get help from their state online information and support group. Nearly 3,400 people belong to state groups. Some of the groups are small but more than 20 of them have 50 or more people and seven have over 100.
The groups are moderated and you have to apply. Most don't allow doctor names, but once on the group, you can ask for doctors in a certain area and ask people to email you privately. *******************************************
This explains the medical politics around lyme WHY you need an ILADS-educated or ILADS-member LLMD (and there are also some ILADS-member LL NDs (naturopathic doctors):
You should also be evaluated for coinfections. Not all tests are great in that regard, either, but a good LLMD can evaluate you and then guide you in testing. One of the top labs is:
"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both. Some antibodies against the borrelia are given more significance if they are IgG versus IgM, or vice versa.
Since this is a chronic persistent infection, this does not make a lot of sense to me. A newly formed Borrelia burgdorferi should have the same antigen parts as the previous bacteria that produced it.
But anyway, from my clinical experience, these borrelia associated bands usually predict a clinical change in symptoms with antibiotics, regardless of whether they are IgG or IgM." ===========
ILADS The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) provides a forum for health science professionals to share their wealth of knowledge regarding the management of Lyme and associated diseases.
UNDER OUR SKIN dvd LYME DISEASE documentary, www.lymediseasefilm.com go to this site to view trailer of UNDER OUR SKIN 5 min. Clip! Premiering 2008!! on big screen 09 in 10 LARGE CITIES ONLY!
* Please note: What you are about to read below is NOT meant to scare any of you from any lyme testings done; it's meant to be informed PRIOR to going into having various tests done and then be told what the costs will be! * Mine was sticker $$ shock on various testings done by my 2nd LLMD/new to me in 4=06. Those tests/results are found elsewhere in my links/advise.
* Igenex's charges for these below things cost $905, which I figured up the last 2 days for 2 other folks includes
* The below tests were done for ME; you MAY NOT NEED them all ok! :
* western blot IGM & IGG, this is MANDATORY for you which costs $200 total for 2 tests done; 6.09 same prices still. * * ******************************************************* * OPTIONAL ONES ARE:
* co-infection panel for YOUR AREA OF COUNTRY; * PCR WHOLE BLOOD...this is what my LLMD ordered!
It's PREPAY! unless you are on medicare; IGX will file the paperwork & it's FREE to you.
go to www.igenex.com and read over their info. Prices go up twice a year: MAY and NOVEMBER!!
* * have blood drawn MON. or TUES. only; you don't want your blood sitting in post office over the weekend; will ruin the results!
* Also, call 1-800.832.3200 for CURRENT PRICES! * They will also send you a ``test kit'' with their required form, all the test vials, & box to ship it in! OUT OF USA will take longer to receive!
* You need to DOWNLOAD IGENEX's required form.****************************************************** * * MD, DO ,ND, AC, DC are all fine** must sign, date, and show DIAGNOSIS CODE on there why he's ordering the test.
Make sure you show to FAX results and SNAIL MAIL PAPER COPY! My results were lost for 4-5 weeks! Bettyg * * When you get your results, please post them in MEDICAL; * Post ONLY the POSITIVE & IND ones .... not the negative ones!
GET COPIES OF ALL YOUR SPECIAL BLOOD TESTS: western blot igm/igg and/or co-infection tests always!!
OVERSEAS INSTRUCTIONS FOR SENDING TO IGENEX/FRY LABORATORY! 2-23-08
groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Hi ABP--
Take pictures of your rash - for use later if needed -
It is Normal to feel worse when you start taking ABX (antibiotics )
Feeling worse is called Herxing - this is the result of the ABX killing the Bactria and releasing Toxins into your body --
You are on a Very Low dose of Doxicycline- see if your doctor will increase your dose to 400 to 600mg spread thew the day--
The 200mg of Doxi that your doctor has you on will kill most types of Bactria- but it not enough to kill lyme --
It is Important that you take Doxicycline for at least 4 to 6 weeks to make Sure that ALL of the Bactria is dead --
It is Important to take Doxicycline correctly- NO Dairy -No Vitamins- No Minerals- No antacids-- eating any of these will Reduce the effectiveness of the Doxicycline --
You are VERY Luck that you are being treat in the early stage of this disease- Dont Waste your chance to live a normal life or you can end up like most of us here--Jay--
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
Agree totally with what Jay (groovy2) said --
Please see if your doctor will increase the doxy to at least 400mg/day, which you need to effectively treat lyme;
And please realize that feeling worse after starting treatment is entirely normal, and even to be expected, due to the Herxheimer ("herx") reactioni.
Take a photo of your rash while it is still there, and hope you feel better soon! Be sure to get some probiotics (acidopholis) to take inbetween the doxy.
best wishes.
quote:Originally posted by groovy2: Hi ABP--
Take pictures of your rash - for use later if needed -
It is Normal to feel worse when you start taking ABX (antibiotics )
Feeling worse is called Herxing - this is the result of the ABX killing the Bactria and releasing Toxins into your body --
You are on a Very Low dose of Doxicycline- see if your doctor will increase your dose to 400 to 600mg spread thew the day--
The 200mg of Doxi that your doctor has you on will kill most types of Bactria- but it not enough to kill lyme --
It is Important that you take Doxicycline for at least 4 to 6 weeks to make Sure that ALL of the Bactria is dead --
It is Important to take Doxicycline correctly- NO Dairy -No Vitamins- No Minerals- No antacids-- eating any of these will Reduce the effectiveness of the Doxicycline --
You are VERY Luck that you are being treat in the early stage of this disease- Dont Waste your chance to live a normal life or you can end up like most of us here--Jay--
posted
26, i hope you have had a chance to read the link on HERXING reactions which will help you understand more what you are going thru ok.
i read in another of your posts about your boss/staff giving you a hard time about lyme disease.
have you seen UNDER OUR SKIN, 104 minutes lyme disease documentary?
it explains all about lyme/co-infections following 4 patient stories, the political aspects, and all the wrong diagnosis, etc. it's very touching and tells it like it is.
otherwise, go to top of support, and click on my lyme video collection are SHORT videos describing lyme/co-infections. they too could be shown to your boss/staff to educate them.
best wishes to you; yes, in your job, you must be at your top game to do what you do. hugs/kisses
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otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. 
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