Posted 1/24/2015 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
Candy—
I am so sorry you are experiencing such frustration with your treatment. Can you explain your symptoms in a little more detail? That might help other posters try to offer ideas.
Generally, when treatment doesn't work (and 2 months is not a very long time—so you might want to consider giving yourself a little more time on the doxy) it usually means something else is going on:
- your immune system could be overwhelmed due to another tick born disease that the tick that bit you might have carried—with the doxy and rifampin it seems you are currently treating for Bartonella. However, even though you tested negative for lyme, lyme could be your dominant infection. Are you familiar with the specific symptoms of each? Have you talked w/ your LLMD about treating for both or treating your dominant infection first?
- your immune system could also be overwhelmed due to viruses or fungal infections that the ticks often carry as well. And it's also possible that your immune system can't fight off much else, while overwhelmed w/ the lyme & co—so you could have contracted other illnesses since getting the lyme & bart. Have you been tested for any of these infections? Are you familiar with those types of symptoms? I believe some of the symptoms you list sound very much like a yeast/fungal infection (eye issues, skin problems and "white spots", ear problems, sinusitis , headaches, fatigue, joint pain and anxiety), which the tick can carry but are also very commonly developed if a person takes antibiotics without preventative care against yeast/fungal overgrowth.
- and your body could be overwhelmed with the treatment if you are not detoxing properly—or if you have genetic problems with your detox pathways. There is a lot of info on the forum about good detoxing methods. Those who are autistic commonly have blocked methylation and detox pathways.
In general the "New to Lyme?" thread at the top of the page of all the threads listed has most of the info about the few ideas I posted above. So please read it and see if it answers some of your questions. If not—please continue posting your questions.
-p