Hi Jenny, welcome to the board!
How long do you think you have had Lyme? I believe it is best to take Doxy twice a day. Taking it fewer times also makes it easier to avoid interactions.
There are some important tips to know about taking Doxy. Do not have any dairy, iron, or magnesium products within two hours of taking the Doxy or it will not be absorbed properly. Sorry, but this includes cheese and milk. You can have them two hours apart from the meds. The Coffemate liquid non-dairy creamer is not too bad. It is in the dairy aisle. If the Doxy makes you nauseous, eat something substantial and non-dairy before taking it. What helped me was to have a sandwich with some kind of protein. Avoid the sun. You can get a severe burn in minutes even when wearing sunscreen. Do not lay down for at least one hour after taking it or you can ulcerate your esophagus. This is very painful. Drink a full glass of water when you take it for the same reason.
Whenever you take antibiotics, make sure you take high-quality acidophilus capsules at least two hours apart from the antibiotics. They replace the good bacteria and help prevent yeast overgrowth. The best kind to get are refrigerated and have a high culture count. Most healthfood stores have them.
Below is a Lyme symptom list. You can have any combination of symptoms.
Unexplained fevers, sweats, chills, or flushing
Unexplained weight change--loss or gain
Fatigue, tiredness, poor stamina
Unexplained hair loss
Swollen glands
Sore throat
Testicular pain/pelvic pain
Unexplained menstrual irregularity
Unexplained milk production: breast pain
Irritable bladder or bladder dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction or loss of libido
Upset stomach
Change in bowel function-constipation, diarrhea
Chest pain or rib soreness
Shortness of breath, cough
Heart palpitations, pulse skips, heart block
Any history of a heart murmur or valve prolapse?
Joint pain or swelling
Stiffness of the joints, neck, or back
Muscle pain or cramps
Twitching of the face or other muscles
Headache
Neck creeks and cracks, neck stiffness, neck pain
Tingling, numbness, burning or stabbing sensations, shooting pains
Facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy)
Eyes/Vision: double, blurry, increased floaters, light sensitivity
Ears/Hearing: buzzing, ringing, ear pain, sound sensitivity
lncreased motion sickness, vertigo, poor balance
Lightheadedness, wooziness
Tremor
Confusion, difficulty in thinking
Difficulty with concentration, reading
Forgetfulness, poor short term memory
Disorientation: getting lost, going to wrong places
Difficulty with speech or writing
Mood swings, irritability, depression
Disturbed sleep-too much, too little, early awakening
Exaggerated symptoms or worse hangover from alcohol
It is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor. No test is completely reliable and results can vary by lab. Most people test negative early in the infection. Besides Lyme, ticks can also transmit several co-infections including Babesiosis, two types of Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. Many people who have Lyme are co-infected. It may affect treatment choice and progress. It is important to be tested for these by a Lyme reputable lab such as IgeneX in Palo Alto, CA. Have you been tested for these?
Be aware of the Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction (herx). Often, when people who have Lyme take antibiotics their symptoms get worse or they get new ones. When the antibiotics kill the bacteria, toxins are released making them feel worse. It can be scary when it happens, but it is a sign the antibiotics are working. Although this reaction can vary individually, many people experience this at the beginning of treatment and every three to four weeks.
During treatment, it is good to document your symptoms daily. One way to do this is to list the three main symptoms you have each day with a numerical rating of their severity from 1-10. Over time when you review this, you can see when your herxes occur and how you are responding to the meds.
It is also important to learn as much as possible. I recommend reading Dr. Joseph Burrascano's 2005 Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines For Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses at http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_0905.html He is one of the top Lyme doctors in the country, and many Lyme doctors follow his protocols. He also lists diet, supplement, and exercise recommendations. I also recommend the book "Everything You Need To Know about Lyme Disease Second Edition" by Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner and "The Lyme Disease Solution" by Kennth B. Singleton MD.
Good luck with your treatment!