My regular MD believes that I was infected with Lyme disease. On July 19th, I was in the woods looking for my dog who had ran away. Luckily we found him, but I ended up with some bug bites. I had a bad allergic reaction, so my doctor first put me on Levaquin and Prednisone for the swelling.
A few days after my medication was over the symptoms for Lyme disease began. Bad muscle cramps, headaches, light fever. Went back to doc, had bloodwork (I believe it was for antibodies though), and she wanted me to see a infectious disease doc. In the meantime she gave me Doxycycline 100mg twice a day.
Should I be taking this? I read different things that say antibiotics are helpful and some aren't. Do symptoms come right after a bite or does it mean that I have had it longer? Does anyone have a good Lyme doctor in the NY or NJ area?
Any information is much appreciated.
Posts: 134 | From NY | Registered: Aug 2009
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
lade, my friends will come along shortly and provide llmd names to you.
YOU CAN BE CURED SINCE YOUR BITE IS RECENT IF YOU TAKE ANTIBIOTICS LONG ENOUGH; 3 months of 400 mg DAILY!!! 200 am/ 200 pm.
print off dr. burrascano's lyme guidelines shown below.
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
bettg -- So in the meantime, while I wait for doc list, should I double up my dosage of doxycycline?
Will that effect those tests you speak about in the info you posted below? I believe she only tested for lyme antibody. Don't know if that's the same...
Posts: 134 | From NY | Registered: Aug 2009
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mbroderick
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5220
posted
LLMD's sent via private message . . .
DO NOT take any more prednisone! It also wouldn't hurt to at least double up the antibiotics since it may be a while until you can get an appointment with a LLMD (However, I am not a doctor...).
Also, go to a local health food store, or The Vitamin Shoppe and get a good quality refrigerated probiotic. Take that at least 2 hours away from the antibiotics. Udo's Choice Super 8 is available at The Vitamin Shoppe (It's in the refrigerated section.).
Posts: 2097 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2004
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Abxnomore
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18936
posted
Please check your private messages for the LLMD list for your state and join in the discussion in our medical section for additional help and support.
Posts: 5191 | From Lyme Zone | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
My son is eight years old. He had lymes disease in June 2009. He had a bulls-eye on his back. It is now Aug and he has another bulls-eye on his arm. He was treated with three weeks of ABT in June. i made his an appointment today to see his pediatrition. I would like to take his to a MD who specializes in Lymes. Does anyone know of a Lyme Literate MD in Central New jersey
Posts: 1 | From New Jersey | Registered: Aug 2009
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To Mulligan: finding someone to treat pediatric cases can be difficult, not to mention issues of available appointments and whether the doctor accepts your insurance.
Not sure exactly where you are located, but there may be New York or Pennsylvania pediatric LLMDs within an hour drive of your location. Post a topic including the words "pediatric" and NYC or Philly/Eastern PA to broaden the search for names if you have difficulty finding a suitable LLMD in NJ.
Best Wishes, Lymepool
Posts: 170 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jun 2008
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