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Posted 7/25/2015 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Nat9999

I, too, am thrilled that you caught this early and are getting treatment.

If you take a peek at my signature, you'll see that I was bit in July of last year. I didn't have a rash....and I didn't have any symptoms.

I already knew about the horrors of Lyme and saw my PCP the next day. She prescribed 100mg doxy twice a day for 3 wks. and told me I could stop after 2 wks. since I didn't have any symptoms.

I'd started to research Lyme treatment more and became concerned. There was so much conflicting information online and I was having trouble sorting through it all.

It was only because I'd developed 2 super-mild (and weird symptoms) after being off doxy for 10 days that I decided to consult a LLMD.

Here I am, over one year later....and I'm still treating.
Posted 7/25/2015 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks again for the continued guidance! I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.

I was able to get in touch with my doctor today, and he’s ok with me taking 200mg of Doxy twice a day. His concern was if my stomach could handle it. He said if I’m OK with the high dose he has no issue calling in more refills for me.

He said he was familiar with the doc I sent him (http://www.lymenet.org/BurrGuide200810.pdf ) but he said the 200mg twice a day guideline was meant for an advanced stage. I didn’t want to argue since he said OK to the higher dose already, my interpretation of the guide is that is how you treat it right away (not with a smaller dose)

So anyway, the good news is he has OK’d the higher dose :)

I do still think he's a good doctor in spite of this, the only other nearby doctor wouldn't even see me until I fill out some 14 page packet and pay $1000 up front even though I told them it's a recent rash, and she had horrible reviews too, so I am glad I found this doctor.
Posted 7/25/2015 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
turn Woo hoooooo!!! yeah congrats!!!

And if the Doxy starts to give you stomach trouble, try eating just before you take it so that Doxy doesn't sit in your otherwise empty stomach. Some people have found if they eat something, then take the Doxy, then eat more, it helps too.

I'm so glad you got the right dosage!!
Posted 7/25/2015 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
Dude I'm just happy you got the dosage, I mean, in medicine it is almost always best to go with minimum effective dose possible, but lyme is a terrible bugger and you gotta go for a bit of overkill to give yourself margin.

Not to freak you out but carefully track your health and any changes these coming months. With your tick exposure there is always the possibility of having contracted a coinfection. I really don't want to amp your paranoia. But just monitor. You have an llmd now so if any issues pop up you have someone you can immediately hit up that will give you solid guidance.
Posted 7/26/2015 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
I have a quick question about taking probiotics. My doc said to take them one hour after taking antibiotics, is that ok?

He recommended FloraStore, and a probiotic where I'm getting 20 billion Acidophilus twice a day.


I bought these two:


Garden of Life RAW Probiotics Women:
http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Probiotics-Women-Capsules/dp/B004H4A2PS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437870487&sr=8-1&keywords=RAW+Probiotics%E2%84%A2+Women


FloraStore:
http://www.florastor.com/probiotic-supplements



3 capsules of the Garden of Life RAW Probiotics gives me 85 billion (MIXED probiotics, not sure how much of it is Acidophilus and if that really matters of if a large variety is better)


Are these two products sufficient? And is waiting one hour after taking the Doxy enough or should I wait longer?



Thanks
Posted 7/26/2015 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
A large variety is better and with those two together, you should be covered pretty well.

Please be sure to wait 2 hours after taking the Doxy to take your probiotics so that you can replenish the digestive track. If taken before that, there is some killing off of the good bacteria still going on and the probiotics will not do as much good as they could.
Posted 7/26/2015 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
Nat, I just want to say I am in the same boat as you except you are a step ahead. I got diagnosed with Lyme last week by the ER doctor who recognized the Bulls eye. I was put on a very low dose of Doxy (200 mg a day) and am about to see me PRimary doctor on Monday. If she doesn't give me enough treatment I will have to find a LLMD asap. Even though I live on Long Island, NY where Lyme is a huge problem, so far I have not found one referral that is not from NYC or upstate, so you are very lucky indeed, especially that from what I heard the wait for appointment is weeks or even months.
Good luck with your treatment, I have to say that I was getting nervous when you said you agreed to what your doctor said. Thank God people on this board have enough knowledge and will to help to make you change your mind.
Crossing fingers you recover fast and with no complications,

Joanna
Posted 7/26/2015 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi JoJoNY!
Welcome to our community! I'm so glad you found us! I've obviously missed your first post - I'm so sorry.

If you would like to email me, I have contact information for some LLMD's in your area as well.​ ​Please include your state and area that you would like to find a LLMD in as I'm not that good at remembering where everyone is from when they write to me! LOL!
Posted 7/26/2015 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi JoJoNY, I hope you're able to find a well trained doctor in your area.

It's been so frustrating not knowing what to do and this forum has been so helpful.

I was willing to drive to the other side of Florida for a good LLMD, so even though it might be a pain to get from Long Island to NYC if you find a good doctor there I'd say it's more than worth the trip.

At our stage we should't have to go back to the doctor more than once or twice. My doctor doesn't even need to see me again (unless I developer symptoms of course) but I'm just on 2 months of doxy that that's it, so I only am seeing him that one first time.


If the doctor is a LLMD their staff should be able to understand that at this early stage (recent rash) you need to be seen ASAP. So make sure to stress that when you call and hopefully they can fit you in or call you as soon as they have a cancellation.


Good luck to you too and everyone here in every stage of this. It really is sad that there isn't enough information out there (to regular doctors) as it is easy to treat when caught early.




Nat
Posted 7/26/2015 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
BTW - I wanted to post to my all my friends & family on Facebook about the bulls-eye rash and what it means, in case I can help anyone in the future identify this and not have to go through all the confusion I did.

I just wanted to get some feedback, is there a reason I may not want to publicly post about this? I don't know but for example getting different health insurance in the future, or something else where I may not want this to be public information?
Posted 7/26/2015 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
In my opinion, it has more to do with the flak you could get about having a very controversial disease. Future employers might think twice - even though it's really none of their business.

Still, I post about it all over Facebook - especially every May as it's recognized by Lyme patients as Lyme Awareness Month. But I also post interesting articles throughout the year.
Posted 7/27/2015 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Nat, please post again how you are feeling during treatment, I will be paying close attention.
You have already emailed me with a couple of LLMD names Traveler, so you obviously underestimate your powers as a super moderator. You also wrote me a very sweet email:-)
Love this community.

joanna
Posted 7/27/2015 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
So far so good on the doxi. Just had my 3rd dose since I switched to the 200mg twice per day.

Been making sure to take it in the middle of a meal, and no issues so far.

Kind of annoying that you can't have it with any dairy (or calcium or magnesium), I've been on a ketogenic diet so was enjoying cheese, butter, etc which for now I can only do at lunch.
Posted 7/27/2015 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
I'm at work now but I feel like I have a fever (a colleague also said my forehead feels a bit warm). I don't have a thermometer here so I'll check later when I get home.

Is that a good thing or bad thing if I do have a fever? (thinking good as it means my body is fighting something with help of the antibiotics)
Posted 7/27/2015 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm, just keep track. It could be the abx working the pathogen. Could also be a coinfection. Don't worry too much, I would keep a log of how you are feeling and any symptoms. I'd suggest trying not to push your body too hard these next 2 months.

Might want to let your llmd know about the fever. Others on the forum will hopefully be able to give you more advice.
Posted 7/27/2015 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with Sebreg on this - just keep track of it all. There are some very good journals to help you keep track of symptoms, or you can make your own.
Posted 7/27/2015 7:28 PM (GMT 0)

JoJoNY said...

You have already emailed me with a couple of LLMD names Traveler, so you obviously underestimate your powers as a super moderator. You also wrote me a very sweet email:-)
Love this community.

joanna

blush Oh man!! Now you shouldn't tell stories like that, you know!! wink But thank you so much for your kind words.

Yes, this community is a very wonderful addition to our lives!! And it's due to all of you who are here helping to answer and reaching out to each other!!! So thank you to each and every one of you that is doing this!
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