WWYD? LLMD suggesting FOUR more weeks of abx.

Saw LLMD on Wednesday. He thought I was doing very well and that I could stop my six weeks of Doxcy. Sunday and begin herbs. Now, because I have a little bit of joint pain (I can feel a little bit in elbow, wrist, ankle) that I should now do an additional four weeks. I REALLY don't want to take abx. for ten weeks.

Do you think it will make a difference to try it on my own for a week to see how I do - or just do the four more weeks, which I can't even imagine doing right now.

Do it...dont become a lyme zombie if you can...wait so he did give you more abx? Or he said stop ad do herbs?

Thanks everyone,

I appreciate the unanimous input!

I am not on Japanese knotwood. He muscle tested me and that is not a good herb for me. I haven't been on herbs yet. Just a lot of supplements and some other detox items.

I want to begin Samento/Banderol. Can they be taken while on the abx? I am super, super sensitive. He originally said I could stop at six weeks but since I can still feel stuff in elbow/wrist/ankle (but isn't that normal?) he now wants me to continue. He also thinks there is a chance I already had lyme (fibromyalgia) and didn't know it. But no so sure about that. Ok four more weeks. I was so excited about Sunday and stopping. So excited.

This is what confuses me there are so many stories of people who took long term antibiotics and say they didn't get any better and/or they relapsed. I struggle with putting that poison in my body on a 'what if/maybe/possibly' - that said, as JR mentioned, small price to pay IF it does help. How to know.

Thanks.

Simon,

After reading the link I'm more confused than ever. He is basically saying always take a break after thirty days of abx. Ugh. What to do, what to do. Well I run out on Sunday night and I'll speak with Dr. R. on Monday when they will call in the next batch.

Thanks.

Girlie,

Thanks so much. That will be ten weeks total - won't that kill my good flora?

I think it is a new infection but the LLMD thinks there is a very good chance that I have had Lyme for much longer, it was dormant and it came out three years ago when the fibromyalgia started, but who knows. The fibro does feel much different than this does.

Have many of you taken abx. for that long without any break? Also do many of you do abx and herbs together?

Thanks again.

Simon,

Thank you so much for sharing your story. Each story really helps me. I'm sorry you have gone through so much. What are your symptoms now? Are you feeling better? I have concern about the same thing happening - lots of Doxcy. and then not being much better after it all (not trying to sound pessimistic but this seems to be a pattern for people). You even began the Doxcy must sooner than most. I wonder why it didn't beat it. I didn't start it until 12 days post bite. I take a lot of the same supplements you do and even have Naltrexone but have never tried it. I should give it a shot. I think I have looked into the restore program -that is R's program right?

Well you sound like you are doing whatever it takes. Keep us posted.

Thanks Simon!

No, I didn't think I was better each time.

The first break was because my liver enzymes were high...and thought it was from the abx.

The second time - I just wanted to take the break.

It's not uncommon for people to be on abx for a couple years.

I would be further ahead...but my LLND had me on lyme only abx for 9 months...then I started Bart treatment....and am now doing Babesia treatment on my own (after about 7 months of bart treatment)
I would be further ahead IMO, if after 4-5 months, bartonella abx were added.

I have been doing herbs, as well.

I do know people who have healed with abx as their 'focus'. A lady I know - she is off abx after treating for 3.5 years...and doing well so far (knock on wood) - I think she's been off for 6 months now and is doing LDI.
She didn't start to get much improvement until around the 2 year mark. She had lyme for many years.

What are they doing? Well, I have lost several symptoms - not all of them...but the bothersome ones that are left...are nerve related...so the nerve symptoms may take longer.

If you need a break due to herxing...by all means take it.
But otherwise...I would just keep going. - it sounds like you are close to symptom free, right?

Definitely get on some herbs - and you can stay on them after you're finished your abx.


I also want to say - that it is your decision and if you really don't want to do the abx...then don't...switch to an herbal regimen. Many people have healed on herbal protocols.
I can only tell you what I would do if I were in your shoes.

Thanks huddie ...that means a lot ..ya the fibro is likley lyme ..how long have you had that?...today i did too much ...i did 15 beestings ,40ml of iv silver ,2 gram rocephin and 250mg of iv zith and some houtyynia angrographis mix and had a little episode ...trav was right ..marathon not a race ..i thought it was a fresh bite you had ? You are learning and being a warrior to..yesrerday my girlfriend asked why does it have to be a fight a war in my body..i refered to todays treatment as healing modalities but it was a fight neverthe less.
huddie ..pick your poison. Last month i drank some herb with lilly of the valley..
mercury kills lyme just makes you crazy as a hatter ...venom kills lyme too just most people dont have the gall.the only thing that doesnt is rife and i have not seen evidence under my microscope that i am hitting the frequency. ..do watch ted talks with anthony holland ..check out tick slayer and keep learning ..if you have any questions about bvt lemme know

Thanks everyone. Simon, thanks for explaining everything to me. I totally get the perfect storm. I was outside most of my childhood too and then as an adult spend almost every weekend hiking/biking. We go upstate on weekends. I think there is a connection with stress/low immunity/viruses and who gets lyme. I have had a stressful year with the sudden loss of my brother and my mother having a stroke and having to go into a nursing home so maybe I was just 'low'. As far as your tick not being on you long - I asked Dr. R that question. He believes it is a myth. He said of course the sooner you get it off the better but if it's on, it has fed, there is the bacteria. I sleep on my stomach and my tick was on my left breast so I'm sure it was just being pushed deeper all night long. From everything I have read it also seems like people go off the abx and something new crops up like that is when the co-infections pop up. It's so bizarre. Well another day of lyme, another day of more reading. I will read all your links and go search for my naltrexone. I really hope you feel better soon and thanks so much for taking the time to share your story - so nice of you. But then again you are a saint after all.

Trav,

Thanks so much. I get blood tests back next week and he wanted me retested with IgenX because first test was indeterminate. Not to see if I have Lyme, it is 100% positive that I do. I'm guessing it is to look at bands? When he muscle tested me I had no co-infections but it sounds like they lie dormant and come out after the lyme bacteria has been killed? This is what I have gathered from most posts.

I will speak with him on Monday and see what he suggests for the four weeks. He did mention two abx at the same time but I don't think my body can tolerate that. I read that Doxcy. can kill certain co-infections. This is so confusing to me.

And always keep a copy of every test for yourself. You never know when you might need them and to get them from a doctor's office later can take time.

Awesome statements Huddie. And this is why we have choice. No one can make it for you. I do think there are people out there that have lyme in remission and have only taken antibiotics.

For me... I did a pro and a con list for antibiotics and my con list was larger.

I think some know their doctor can heal them. Some rely on the insurance paying for antibiotics, so it is a matter of finances. And, antibiotics are considered easy when you only have to take a pill a couple of times a day. And some just can't take herbs because of allergies or whatever.

Thank goodness we have choices. Bee Venom Therapy seems to be doing well for some people. We had a member that was having great success with fecal transplants.

You just never know....

We have to remember that the goal of treatment - particularly for chronic Lyme is NOT to eradicate the bacteria, but to bring down the levels of bacteria to a point where we can keep them "under control" with minimal support for the body.

The main point for herbs is that they are more suited for long term use, and will work with the body to help it keep things under control, rather than using abx just to "blast" the bacteria. Many do very well on both abx and herbs - if they can both be tolerated.