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Ceftin -vs- Rocephin IV treatment

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Posted 5/24/2011 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Lymies,

Am wondering if anyone can offer me any insight -

I am currently taking Ceftin (per my LLND) and he is suggesting

that I start taking Rocephin IV. 

This is a LL ND who has a large Lyme practice in New England

and it is my understanding that most of this LLND's patients

are taking the IV treatment.

My hesitation?

I tried abx but had a bad reaction to them, ending up in the hospital

with intestinal infections.  Once that healed up I went au natural

with my supplements via my ND.

My ND recommended that I see this LLND for blood tests, diagnosis,

possible different form of treatment for better results.

I have been suffering w Lyme, RMSF, and coinfections for 2+yrs now

and lost my job and insurance this past Feb 2011.  So all my treatment

is out of pocket.

This LLND is not cheap (over $800 just for the initial visit).

The nurse called me to set up my next appt stating that i would be

needing to get a PICC line put in and then get shown my first treatment at

their office AND THEN I will have to travel WEEKLY to their office for bandage

checks and changes and also purchase all my medications from them.

I was quoted $60/day for treatment and $50/wk for bandage changes!!

Let me back up and say that it is a 5hr roundtrip drive to get there, plus

my husband would have to miss work every week just to take me because

i do not drive nor do i have anyone who could take me.

Then I found a place where I could purchase an entire 28-day IV kit and have

it sent to my house for way less than buying it from the Dr.

The nurse told me in not uncertain terms that I had to go to their office every week

and I had to buy my meds thru them or he won't see me anymore.

With that said - I have a choice to make - continue with Ceftin and refuse the

IV treatment or find another dr.  I do not have the financial means to go this

route and have to drive 5 hrs every week just to have bandage changed.

I even checked with my local hospital and they offered to help me do it

but the LLND's nurse told me that would not be an option for me.

SO HAS ANYONE GONE THE CEFTIN ROUTE AND IS IT WORKING? IF SO, WHAT DOSAGE ARE YOU AT AND IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU ARE TAKING WITH IT (in lieu of) GOING THE IV ROUTE?

I'm sure not every Lymie chose to go with IV treatment.  Just need to

hear from you :)

Posted 5/24/2011 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Paulajj!
Welcome to Healing well's Lyme forum! I am so sorry you have a need to be here, but I am sure glad you found us! I'm sure you will find us to be a helpful, understanding and caring group!

If you haven't already, it would be beneficial for you to start with reading through the thread at the top of the forum titled, "New to Lyme?...Start here!!", as it is packed full of relevant information and informative links that have been put together by our members here! We also have a pretty good search function on this forum to help you narrow down your search for information from past posts.

Although I haven't had any experiences with either of the abx you are asking about, I am in using natural protocol. If my practitioner decided I needed to start taking abx again, I would decline!! I had a really bad time as well on abx for my TBI's and won't go back to them.

I wouldn't be at all comfortable seeing any kind of doc that told me I wasn't allowed to find a less expensive way to get my IV treatment - especially once they said I couldn't even do it through my local hospital!!! Sounds a little fishy to say the least.

Another point - I would have to travel 5 hours each way to see a LLMD as well - that was and is impossible for me as well. I didn't feel that I would be able to hold on to any improvements, as I would always be exhausting myself just trying to make all of my doc appts!

Personally, I would suggest that you find another doc. Your original LLND didn't sound very confident that he/she could treat your TBI's, being he/she sent you to someone else. The other docs treatment requirements sound a little fishy - not because of the abx choices, but because of the restrictions they place on you. I don't know if I could trust a doc's office that operated in this manner.

Just my two cents.

I do want to say welcome once again!! And I hope we can all get to know you better through your posts!
Trav
Posted 5/24/2011 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Ceftin for almost a month-- 500 mgs 2xday.

Along with that I also am taking Mepron: 750 mgs. 2xday and Azithromax: 250 mgs. 1xday. I was on those two by themselves for the previous month and on Amoxicillin: 1000 mgs. 3xday for 2 months previous to that. Doxy before that which didn't work at all. Just wanted to give you some history first.

I think the Ceftin addition has been the most successful of all.....or the Cef/Mep/Zith combo.

I did have a nasty three day herx when I started the Ceftin--- terrible migraine and back pain-- but that passed and I now feel better than I have in seven months.

My good days have far outnumbered my bad days this month (at last!!!) and my bad days are really not that bad at all.....very minor pain and the brain fog and ear ringing have cleared up 98%.

I am not 100% yet.....but I think the Ceftin made a huge difference.

I have avoided the IV route so far because my lifestyle is just too complicated and 'all over the place' for me to settle down with an IV and all that it entails. Maybe that's a big mistake but my LLMD did not push the IV on me anyway.

I have an appointment with him next week and I'll see where he wants to go from here. I'll keep you posted.
Posted 5/25/2011 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for this information ~

I have been on the fence for a few weeks now and just spoke

yesterday afternoon with the LLND that is pushing the IV on me.

I have to say that my gut feeling is to decline the IV and continue

on the natural path as I had been (but with constant changes trying

to find what works for my symptoms).

I will say that the intrigue of IV was the allure of a "speedier recovery" -

I just turned 40, lost my job, stay at home all the time and can no longer

drive.  I WANT MY LIFE BACK!!!! (sob sob sob)

I know that we are limited as to what information we can share on here

but I have been educating myself with the natural remedies and am

wanting to know what other people have tried and found to work for

them and their symptoms.  I will check the other blogs as well.

 

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