Question For those who are reaching the end of your treatment

Is there a specific medication you take at the end of your treatment?

Someone said that the LD usually give Rifampin toward the end of your treatment. Just wanted to know if that was true.

Thanks,

Maria 

The key to knowing if your are in "remission" from Lyme is to know the results of certain tests, known as "biomarkers"

1. How high is the CD57? My doctor will measure this at 6 month intervals to get an idea of the trend over time. It is not accurate day to day as the level varies.

2. What is your C4a level? If still elevated treatment needs to continue.

3. What is the TGF B1 (Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1) level? If still highly elevated, stay on meds. My doctor said that this will drop when symptoms abate or soon thereafter.

#2 and #3 are tests for inflammation. They are not specific for Lyme, but if you have Lyme, they will generally remain high until remission is achieved.

As MV said above, each doctor seems to have their own protocol on the order and type of meds.

~Kitty

ria-

I forgot to say I am only in week 7 of treatment.

Also, those tests are not used by many doctors. My doctor is a rhematologist as well as a Vascular Inflammatory Disease Specialist, so he is into that whole angle.

Inflammation is said to be the reason for the many symptoms we experience.

~Kitty