Long Term Antibiotics

Hello,

I've had Lyme for over a year, possibly longer.

22 years old, and it's truly starting to drive me insane and slowly destroy my life.

Will someone please tell me what they know about the success of long term antibiotic use.

I also desperately need to know the costs. I cannot find information about it anywhere and to my understanding, insurance will not cover / doctors will not prescribe it.

Are long term antibiotics paid out of pocket, or is there a way to get insurance to cover it?

I have tried so many things and really feel like it's my only option but so far doctors are no help.


Also, I live between MA and NY. Can anyone refer me to a great Lyme specialist who treats with long term antibiotics?


Thank you.

Just so you know, some IV antibiotics pass through the blood brain barrier if indeed the Lyme bacteria has entered the brain. This is when you would need IV antibiotics or if your stomach cannot tolerate oral antibiotics. Normally, an LLMD will start you off on oral antibiotics. IV antibiotics is a last resort.

As for as insurance covering your visit, treatment, etc. It depends on which LLMD you see. The ones I've seen have taken my insurance and my antibiotics were covered.

Brsweet,

Strangely enough, as my new LLMD is an Infectious Disease Dr, he prescribes oral abx. I am on Augmentin, mainly because I got some relief from high doses of Amox for 2 months.

Just as CG said about her doc, he told me he has no problem w/ long term abx. He said some people are on them for a year, some for 2 years, and some, for life. I asked him how he gets away w/ prescribing the long term abx, he said that the IVs are the problem, not oral pills. We will see. He wrote me a 6 mo script for augmentin (and I will see him before refilling that)

He told me he has patients who would offer up their first born child for Abx!

And, word on the 'street' is that his patients get well.

So, in answer to one of your questions, Amox and/or Augmentin are supposed to be effective against Lyme, but not co-infections.  And this is not an expensive drug.

And if you can find a Dr to give you weekly injections of penicillin (and or show you how to), this is also cheap. Again, maybe not for co-infections, but for Lyme.

Thank you everyone for your comments, they are extremely helpful.

Welcome to the forum Brsweet!
Sorry that you are ill with tick-born infections, but you have come to a good place to give & receive support & ideas.

If you haven't already, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to read the sticky at the top of this forum titled "New to Lyme? Start here", as this is packed full of a lot of good & vital info that all Lymies need.

Another thing I would like to suggest is to read, read, read!!! Read as much as your brain can handle about the different tick infections, treatments, and experiences. We need to understand as much as possible - we have to be our own advocates, as these illnesses are not well understood as of yet - even by the experts!!