posted
My daughter tested positive for lyme a few weeks ago. Her pediatrician says she never has put a patient on antibiotics for more than 3 weeks (NY guidelines, blah, blah, blah) She's into the 3rd week of amoxicillin. Anxiety and tiredness has lessened and she still has some headache. How long should she be on the antibiotic? Karen
Posts: 82 | From east hampton ny | Registered: Jun 2006
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trails
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1620
posted
We'd need to have more history and info to tell how long she "should" be on ABX. But 28 days is a bare minimum given that the spirochete life cycle is that long.
3 weeks might be enough for her, but you wouldnt want to play roulette with her life and health. 2 weeks of tetracycline was enough for me in 1991 to have 10 great years of good health. But I was treated early. And who knows....I have now been ill since 2001 with no other known tick bite or rash. Was the two weeks not enough? We will never know.
posted
Just a word of caution from a grandmother who recognized her grandson had lyme disease at age 5. He had the tick bite at age 4 and was put on amoxy for three weeks.
Eight months later the headaches and stomach aches and crankiness and double vision appeared. I recognized the lyme symptoms...because I had lyme.
He went to my lyme doctor and was found to have an active case of lyme. It took six long years and many absences from school and struggles before he was back to normal.
ILADS Guidelines suggest treatment for at least 2 months after all symptoms have gone. If you have to, I would suggest finding a doctor willing to go along with those guidelines.
Your mother's instinct to question your doctor is right on!
Good luck!
-------------------- nan Posts: 2135 | From Tick Country | Registered: Oct 2000
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I sent you a pm.
Posts: 11 | From CA | Registered: May 2006
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shazdancer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
How long? Until 2 months after the last symptoms have subsided, no flares arose after a physical or emotional trauma, and no more herxes on antibiotics.
Source: Lyme Times, issue #42, Summer 2005
Regards, Shaz
Posts: 1558 | From the Berkshires | Registered: Jul 2001
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valymemom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7076
posted
My 18 year old was on amoxi for 6 weeks and felt somewhat better but then he was hit weeks later with mon-like fatigue and fever.
I would ask for 2 months at least and seek out a lyme literate doctor from a local support group.
We took my son to a supposedly lyme literate infectious disease doctor who told him...."Nobody likes a whiner!" We never went back to him.
Posts: 1240 | From Centreville,VA | Registered: Mar 2005
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We saw a pediatric LLMD yesterday and he took my daughter off the amoxicillin and put her on zithromax and omnicef.
I know this is going to be a long haul because I have lyme too.
Does anyone have any tips on disguiseing the medicine? She can't swallow a tablet. She took the zith in liquid form but we're going to have to get the omnicef capsule in her food.
It's all draining enough without a big production over taking the medicine!
Posts: 82 | From east hampton ny | Registered: Jun 2006
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quote:Originally posted by shazdancer: How long? Until 2 months after the last symptoms have subsided, no flares arose after a physical or emotional trauma, and no more herxes on antibiotics.
I agree!!
I'm so glad you found a dr to take care of your daughter. This is a nasty disease!
Have her practice taking "M&M's" or some other candy by swallowing them with water. Maybe she will be less afraid.
Hope you won't have to do very many M&M's though since she should be on a sugar-free diet!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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-------------------- life shrinks and expands in proportion to one's courage -- anais nin Posts: 8337 | From the other shore | Registered: Jul 2002
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quote: We took my son to a supposedly lyme literate infectious disease doctor who told him...."Nobody likes a whiner!" We never went back to him.
SAD!! My favorite so far for me has been the endocrinologist intern: "I know a really good psychiatrist that I'd like to refer you too". yeah.
Posts: 89 | From UT | Registered: Jun 2006
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quote:(from valymemom) We took my son to a supposedly lyme literate infectious disease doctor who told him...."Nobody likes a whiner!" We never went back to him.
SAD!! My favorite so far for me has been the endocrinologist intern: "I know a really good psychiatrist that I'd like to refer you too". yeah.
Posts: 89 | From UT | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
When I was first trying to get diagnosed my husband gave me business cards for 2 therapists- so frustrating! You know something is wrong with you but no one could see it! I left so many drs offices with them telling me "well, you look great". It makes me very angry!
Posts: 82 | From east hampton ny | Registered: Jun 2006
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
You could call your pharmasist and ask if the pills can be crushed. Some can, some shouldn't.
If they can be crushed you chrush them and try mixing it in her favorite food. Maybe apple sause? Pudding?
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
Omnicef is available as a pleasant tasting liquid. My 5 year old has been on it for a month and she loves to take it. Why don't you ask your child's doctor to prescribe it?
Posts: 156 | From MA | Registered: Jul 2003
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