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Lyme while on Stelara (Biological)

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Posted 4/19/2017 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
So I found a tick on me and had it tested. The test results came back today with the tick that bit me was positive for Lyme. So they started me on Doxycycline for 10 days.

I don't think that tick was on me for 48 hours so I'm hoping that there isn't an issue.

My concern is that I'm on a biological (Stelara) which lowers my immune system, I just had the large loading dose last month.

Am I more susceptible to getting Lyme because of my lower immune system with this positive tick bite? Do I have anything to worry about?

Should I be on Doxycycline for longer than 10 days since my immune system is slower/lower?

The good news is that I was already on Amoxicillin for Crohns when I was bit by the tick.
Posted 4/19/2017 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Keith - welcome to the lyme forum.

Dr. Burrascano's Lyme Treatment Guidelines say for a tick bite - no symptoms...to treat for 4 weeks.

If you do get symptoms, then you need to treat until symptom free plus 4-8 weeks longer.


So, no 10 days isn't enough. You have a chance to wipe this out now...please don't under treat it and allow it to become a chronic infection.

Yes, you could be more susceptible with the immune system lowered.
Are you continuing to take the Stelara? or can you stop while you treat?

That IS good news that you were on Amoxy at the time. How long between tick bite and doxy started?
Posted 4/19/2017 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Also - the dosage of doxy is important.

I would try to get 200 mg twice daily...
Posted 4/19/2017 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Girlie,

100 mgs twice daily. PCP doesn't think that I contracted it because it probably wasn't on me very long. Lower back area. I may have felt it bite me and I reached back and found it.

Amoxicillin off and on for 2+ years with Cipro. I was probably on Amoxicillin for 10 days prior to the bite. I'm surprised that the tick bit me and didn't instantly die because I have so many antibiotics in me.

I want to be proactive, so I'll ask for 30 days of Doxycycline. My next dose of Stelara is due 30 days from now, they told me to postpone if I don't feel well.
Posted 4/19/2017 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Dan bergy cured his chrohns by identifying pathogen and eradicating it with mms and rife ....on the biologic ya that as bad or worse than steriods ...that's not enough doxy and that doesnt cover bartonella or babesia ...i would try some gram neg coverage or herbal supplemental. ..it may aid in your gi inflammation by treating the pathogen causing it ...
Posted 4/19/2017 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
I wrote to my GI this morning asking for advice and seeing if they wanted to increase my dosage and length of Doxycycline. Also asked them for any other precautions like delaying my next dose of Stelara.
Posted 4/26/2017 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
So I heard back from my GI, he spoke with the infectious disease doc at their hospital (NYP Cornell) and he said Doxycycline for two weeks and to continue with my next dose of Stelara.

I trust my GI, he's great and very knowledgeable. We have a good relationship, we discuss everything and come up with a plan. He went and got the info and came back to me with the advice, so I won't push it any further with him.

I'm a neophyte when it comes to Lymes, I really don't think that I have it; I may have found the tick in 15 minutes after it bit me(but you never know). Do you think that I should push further with my PCP for an updated script of Doxy (200 mgs twice a day for 30 days)? I will still be taking augmentin.
Posted 4/26/2017 3:40 AM (GMT 0)

ks1905 said...
So I heard back from my GI, he spoke with the infectious disease doc at their hospital (NYP Cornell) and he said Doxycycline for two weeks and to continue with my next dose of Stelara.

I trust my GI, he's great and very knowledgeable. We have a good relationship, we discuss everything and come up with a plan. He went and got the info and came back to me with the advice, so I won't push it any further with him.

I'm a neophyte when it comes to Lymes, I really don't think that I have it; I may have found the tick in 15 minutes after it bit me(but you never know). Do you think that I should push further with my PCP for an updated script of Doxy (200 mgs twice a day for 30 days)? I will still be taking augmentin.

Very few infectious disease doctors know much more about Lyme than the CDC wants them to know..."Hard to catch, easy to cure" nonsense. Unless they are familiar with and follow ILIADS' guidelines: www.ilads.org/lyme/treatment-guideline.php

The idea that the tick has to be attached for 48 hours to infect you has been outdated for some time. You can be infected within minutes.
Posted 4/26/2017 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
I would push for more doxy - if you don't and you get symptoms...you will regret it.

Treat the bite! do not wait for symptoms.


(I'm assuming you still don't have symptoms?)
Posted 4/26/2017 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
So I'm 18 days out from being bit; I woke up this morning a little achy in my hands, ankles and knees. I've been tired ever since I started the Doxy, so I'm not sure if I'm exhausted because of the antibiotic or if it is Lymes.

I put a call into the PCP and waiting for a return call. I am asking for Doxy 200 mgs twice a day for 28 days with a refill if I need it.

All this could just be in my head because I had a positive lymes bite from a tick but I'm not taking chances.
Posted 4/26/2017 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
I can tell you that it's not all in your head. A positive test is not something to ignore. You could be herxing from the doxy, so are you detoxing? If not, we can help you with ideas.

Best of luck on getting what you need from your doc. If you don't though, I would really encourage you to get in to see a LLMD so you can be treated appropriately. I'm not sure what you are on the biologic for, but it's lowering your immune system and making it harder for your body to fight off the bacteria.
Posted 4/26/2017 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Off to find a LLMD, PCP doesn't want to prescribe more antibiotics because of CDC guidelines. She said that I could get c.diff; I told her that I wasn't scared of C.diff because I've had it 4 or 5 times before...no big deal for me; I've had Crohns for 13 years. I told her 3 times that I wanted to treat it aggressively and she rebuffed it.

She said that I could come back and test at the 6 week mark for lymes. She said that sometimes the joint pain is from the antibiotics... I told her that I'm on antibiotics all the time, I don't get joint pain so I'm thinking it is lymes.

I live in the Hudson Valley NY; any recommendations on a LLMD who accepts insurance?
Posted 4/26/2017 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Ks,
You'll get a lot more responses if you will start a new thread for finding a LLMD. Also, you will need to enable your email here so that members can send you the information. We don't allow LLMD names to be posted in order to help protect them just a bit more.

Go to "My Profile" (by the 'log on/off' button)
Go to edit my profile, scroll down to enter your email address, click on 'show my email address' and then scroll to the bottom of the page and be sure to click the submit button so your settings are saved.
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