a full week has passed; no call back from the infectious disease specialist

When you call, you get a message. It states to leave your number if you are calling for an appointment. I left 3 messages in the course of a week. No response.

Hubby didn't ask for this referral. Is it typical to refer a lyme diagnosis to an infec. dis. dr.? I told hubby we should find a LLMD and he said lets give this I.D. dr. a chance. After waiting a week, I think we don't have the time to wait longer and give this a chance. His current meds run out in 2 weeks, 3 days.

Meanwhile, with the help of someone here on the forum, I have the name of a LLMD in my area. I called today but due to the snow the office was closed. I will call again on Monday and if I get a recorded message I will leave one asking for a call back and will diligently follow up.

Updating y'all on hubby, he will complete 3 weeks of 100 doxy 2xs a day this coming Monday. Please understand, he doesn't have a desk/phone/email at work - he works in a warehouse. When email is needed, we use mine. He has never gone online. I know how bizarre that sounds, but he doesn't have the desire. He has never been to a casino either...but I digress.

All of the background info on lyme has come from me searching the net. I never explicitly told him about the hyrx effect...however, after starting the meds on a Monday, by Friday he was totally sick and stayed home from work. So, pretty much what I've read here and elsewhere was spot on about that.

Also, after 2 1/2 weeks on the doxy, he is now beginning to feel a little better. It certainly has helped that he is doing the detox baths, went to see the chiropractor a few times, took off 3 days from work - 1 day per week - and is getting a lot of rest. (Although he might be jeopardizing his job, it is understandable that he has felt so ill for so long that he finds himself now in this circumstance during treatment and I hope that is taken into consideration by his employer.)

My biggest fears are that the doxy dosage isn't enough, having read that 200 mg per day is insufficient.

Also, I worry about the length of time of the prescription, which is 31 days. With his symptoms, it is clear to me that another round, at the least, is necessary. A higher dosage, perhaps, also.

Co-infections worry me as well. Shouldn't he be tested for them soon so that can be treated if necessary? I understand the doxy may help with a couple of them, and most likely living in NJ he might have only 1 co-infection. Do you think he could get lucky and have NO co-infection(s)?

He went to see his cardiologist for a followup. It was this dr. who ordered the lyme testing. However, he sent the results to the GP and it took 2 weeks to get results that could have been received sooner. Probably mis communication on hubby's part there, tho.

I am grateful for the cardiologist. He asked how hubby is doing, and hubby explained about the infec. dis. doc not getting back to him, and the cardiologist said "we'll get you well, don't worry" and "finish your medication." If he meant he would prescribe another round, or co-infection tests, I don't know.

What i do know is that, if we don't get an appointment to see someone else during the timeframe of the last doxy pill to be taken, hubby and I will call the cardiologist and ask him what he thinks we should do, or will he help in the meantime.

Again, thanks to all of you who answered my posts and everyone who posts the "what you need to know" stuff here. You are giving valuable information to those of us who come here totally lost in need of guidance.

hugs, chick

Hi Chick!
I am sorry that you & hubby are being treated this way. Unfortunately almost all - there seems to be a very small handful of ID docs that do understand the severity of LD & other tick-borne infections - but most don't believe the scientific evidence that is put right in front of them. It seems like your ID doc is in the majority. Sorry.

Do you need to have a referral? If so, call the Cardio first thing Mon. & get one, so that you can ensure that hubby will continue to get the treatment he needs to heal. Do not play the games with these unbelieving docs!!

Will Hubby at least read over your shoulder as to the suggestions we are giving about skipping the ID doc? - cause they really have no real understanding of the scope or severity this disease.

Could Hubby take a short medical leave? I know that there will be issues to be considered - job security should he take a medical leave & finances & such, but worth checking into I would think.

IMHO - You are right to be concerned about the dosage & length of time that he has available on the Doxy! Dr. Burrascano - in his paper "Advanced Topics in Lyme Disease" - which can be found here;


betterhealthguy.com/joomla/images/stories/PDF/lymdxrx2008-october.pdf


says that for adults with an embedded tick - with no signs or symptoms of LD- needs 28 days of abx.
Forgive me, but I don't remember how long your hubby has been ill - but the longer he went without treatment, the longer the treatment has to be or he will have a relapse.

As far as his co's, compare his symptoms with the ones on this list:

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=1984903

You & Hubby most likely can figure out which (if any) co-infections he may be carrying. You're right to be worried - IMO. These need to be addressed as well. It's always possible that a person can have
only LD, but it is never safe to assume so - IMO.

YOu can assure hubby that we speak from experience when any of us here say - don't mess around with these infections!! They can rob you of your quality of life, not just your health.

I hope this post makes sense - I'm not over the flu yet & already was pretty dingy!!!

WE are all here for each other Chick!!! I would have never made it as far as I have if it had not been for this forum!!!

Please be sure to let us know how things go, when his appt is & how he is doing!!!

Horse helper
I don't understand what your question was?? Although I do have to admit to being confused a lot anyway!!! Giggle!