New Here - Have questions

Hi All -

Brand new here and thankful to have found this forum! It's likely that I have contracted Lyme and I have a couple of questions:

1) Is it possible / likely to develop arthritic issues early in the course of the disease?
2) Particularly when being on antibiotic therapy?
3) If so, how prognostic of treatment effectiveness is this issue?
4) Would you change treatment plans or allow more time?

Here's my history:
- Almost 4 weeks ago, noticed EM type rash. It had a angry red raised center that was itchy and sore initially. Over course of 2 days, a lighter pink rash developed around this angry red center that expanded to approx. 2.5".
- Saw urgent care Dr who saw rash and prescribed doxy. Took only 2 days worth.
- Because of an upcoming vacation involving a sunny beach (couldn't handle the photo-sensitivity with doxy), I asked my primary care to switch me to amox who did so at 500mg 3x daily
- After doing some reading on treatment, I asked Dr to increase amox to 3000mg daily which he did. So, after a week of 1500mg I switched to 3000
- Have now been on 3000mg amox daily for just over 3 weeks. Have only one more week of amox supply.
- about 1.5 weeks ago, developed mild right ankle swelling, tenderness, etc. Feels like it was sprained or injured but I don't recall any specific event or injury
- Really no other symptoms other than the ankle

Many thanks in advance for any insight!

Hi Proud Daddy!
Welcome to our community! I'm so glad you found us.

First of all, you have Lyme disease - not probable Lyme. The rash is fully diagnostic of having the infection, as it's the only disease that causes this specific rash. So good for you for getting treatment -and good for your doctor for continuing to treat you!!! Many 'regular' doc's won't treat.

As Silly Sheep said - please do read through our "New to Lyme?" thread as ​it is packed full of important information​​, symptom lists, helpful links and pdf's, how to detox when one has these infections, information on probiotics and much more.​​ ​​And, here's another good place to find helpful detoxing rout​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ines​​:​​​​ ​​​http://www.tiredoflyme.com/detox-methods.html​​

I'm not very good with abx(antibiotics) for treating these infections, but I do know a little bit - like you made a good choice with the Doxy - and you made a good choice for Amox - but the Amox needs to be combined with another drug (usually Probenecid) to keep it in the bloodstream longer.

Here's what the ILADS treatment guidelines actually say:
"*Amoxicillin- Adults: 1g q8h plus probenecid 500mg q8h; doses up to 6 grams daily are
often needed"

You can find the recommendations here: www.lymenet.org/BurrGuide200810.pdf


This also does not take into consideration that you could have easily picked up more than just Lyme disease, as it usually comes along with other infections as well. This is why we always suggest that members see a LLMD (Lyme Literate Medical Doctor) that is supposed to be trained to clinically diagnose Lyme and other tick-borne infections.

Developing symptoms beyond the bull's eye rash means the bacteria/infection has gone systemic, so you will need more than just a couple weeks of abx. So, again, I would encourage you to find a LLMD, because the last thing you want or need is for this to turn into a bigger issue.

​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​For information on finding a​n ILADS ​(International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society)​ trained​ Lyme Literate Medical Doctor(LLMD) in your area, you will need to enable your email option in your profile in order to receive any recommendations, as we don't allow doctor's names and contact info to be posted on the forum for several reasons. You can enable your email option in your profile, under 'edit profile'. Be sure to click the submit button to actually save your preference.

​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​You ​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​can send me an email by clicking on my screen name or the small blue envelope under my screen name. I may 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 and I will see how close I can get to your location.​

​​​​You can start a new thread titled something like "Looking for LLMD in the ​​(insert the nearest larger city & state)​​ ​​area". Members can email you about the LLMD's that they see in that area if you have your email enabled. We don't allow doctors names to be posted though.

​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Y​​ou can go to ​​The Lyme Disease Association and search for LLMD's 3 times in a month. You have to register first. Here is the link:
​​​​​​​​www.lymediseaseassociation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=277&Itemid=74​​

​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Y​​ou can email ​​​​the​​ ​​​​Tick-Borne Disease Alliance at​: [email protected]​
​​

​​ ​​​​​​​​ILADS has their own referral system as well:
​​​​​​​​​​​​http://ilads.org/ilads_media/physician-referral/


​ ​
And www.LymeDoc.org

You will want to find an ILADS trained doctor, as ID Docs (Infectious Disease Doctors) as well as many others, believe Lyme is hard to catch and easy to treat, and don't believe in the reality of chronic Lyme.

Keep asking questions!!! And do be sure to let us know how we can be of help!

Hello Proud Daddy,

I'm sorry you have LD but am glad you found us here.

You've already been provided with a ton of good information.

You should continue with treatment until you are symptom free...plus 4-8 weeks. Do not cut this short. This is your best chance to knock this infection out...and not become a long-standing chronic case.

Please do what is necessary to irradicate these symptoms now.

It will most likely mean months of antibiotics.
I urge you to find a LLMD a.s.a.p. Traveler has given you options for that.