IV therapy ???????

There are lots of considerations including how long you've had the disease, how much it is impacting you, etc. My doc prefers orals first and maybe I/Vs if the orals aren't effective. I/V's tend to overwhelm the system and ovrload the detox pathways IMO. Plus, Flagyl - there have been studies done to show that oral Flagyl is just as effective a I/V. I have resisted I/Vs to use only as a last resort. The orals, for me, do the job and in a more orderly and gradual fashion so as not to send me to the looney bin. Another thing - the most common I/V for Lyme seems to be Rocephin - well, I/V rocephin can cause gall stones and is contraindicated for people who already have gall stones. Like so many things with this disease, you'll hear differing opinions from different doctors.

I am like you - no PICC line! I still exercise quite heavily as part of my recovery and PICC lines don't work well with exercise - not to mnetion they get in the way of everything and they oggie me out thinking about having that line in me 24/7.

ABX is short for Antibiotics... I had to ask the same exact question when I new on here to ..LOL Thats how you learn tho ..ask ask ask ask ..

BustaLymes, "abx" means antibiotics. I know it takes forever to get down the lingo - just the other day I was lost as to what OT could possibly mean - I was thinking overtime! (It means off topic in case you're wondering!).

As for the IV, I don't think many doctors start with it right off the bat - I'm sure some do, though. The first doctor I saw years ago had me on a few months of oral antibiotics (although at the time I don't think doctors knew yet that a combination of abx was necessary so that might be why they didn't do much), and then she wanted to do IV (insurance said no).

This time around, same scenario. It's been 7-8 months of orals, and my doctor isn't thrilled with the slow progress I'm making, so she's decided we really need to push for the IV, because I've been sick for so long. I think sometimes it's used more with resistant bacteria, as well.

I used to be completely terrified of needles - I needed to be heavily drugged just to take some blood! With time I've gotten used to it, although the idea of a PICC line still scares me a little bit. At the end of the day though I'll do just about anything to feel better, and if it means a PICC line, oh boy, then so be it.

hahah thanks Border...i was wondering what OT stood for....and i know people were tired of me asking ??'s all the time...lol

I've had a central line in for a little over a week. At first I was resisting IV like some of you but when orals weren't doing the trick it was the next step. I want to do anything to get better! I got one in my chest (which doesn't get in the way like the one out of the arm would) and so far it's been just fine. I just tuck it into my bra and go about my day. My doctor says some people wear a chain and hook it onto that and some people tape it so it isn't just hanging.

I'm still working about 3 days a week and it hasn't seemed to get in the way even though I move around a lot during the day (I'm a dental hygienist). I just find that I'm a lot more tired and fatigued, and I have more head aches and body aches than normal but I think that is because it's actually working stronger than the oral ABX. I'm still taking oral ABX on top of IV Rocephin.

Anyway, it's not as scary as I thought. You just have to monitor and make sure the line isn't getting infected and make sure you keep everything super clean. But it is more expensive so that is a consideration.

Yes please keep us posted on this .. Thank you !!!!!!!!!!!

Summer3- I have a 2 year old and was worried (sometimes still am) that she would accidentally yank on it. If she gets anywhere close to the line I just remind her to be careful around me. She seems to understand but she's not a rowdy kid either. I have heard of someone getting theirs yanked out by their kid so I do understand the worry!