New here and looking for some advice

Hi all, So my quick backstory...
Got about 4-5 ticks on me in Tennessee while visiting family in May. I live in Southern California. I believe I got the ticks on me May 25th but didn't discover them until the 29th. On the 28th I came down with a bad cold (sore throat, cough, headache, body aches). Had this cold for about a week... Common cold or flu perhaps due to traveling?

Here are some pictures of the bites.
http://imgur.com/a/9eoBD
http://imgur.com/a/zE0pB

When I got home I got into my MD and started doxy by June 1st. 100mg twice a day. I came back on my second blood work with 3 bands that were reactive from quest.. Western blot?

41 IGG

66 IGG

23 IGM

My MD thinks I am fine at this point due to not showing any symptoms, but I was able to convince him to keep me on Doxy for another month. So I do have antibiotics through the end of August.
Since I haven't shown any symptoms since that first week I got the bites I am not sure what my next step should be or if I should be concerned. I have just read so much information about Lyme and I have been talking with my aunts good friend whos daughter has Lyme, and it has just confused me tremendously what I should be doing next.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. There is not many options out here in SoCal for LLMD or if that is even needed. And I have read mixed feelings on Igenex testing.
Thank you!

You can also ask Girlie, who is very knowledgeable about antibiotic treatments if you see that she is on.

Here is a list that is online that you can look over for doctors.

/sites.google.com/site/lymedoctors/california

I have no references for any of those doctors, except for one that I have seen and he is in Northern CA.

I would double up the doxy now and transition onto some herbal protocols while you're waiting to get into see an LLMD.

Since the Lyme tests are serology tests, they measure the immune response to the Lyme, or antibodies, which stay in the body forever. Generally, it's assumed that the body develops IgM antibodies to a new infection, which eventually transition to IgG antibodies. So the tests look for both, and MDs might tell you that based on your test results you have a new or current infection or evidence of an older infection. But our immune response to the Lyme microbe (Borrelia burgdorferi) is very unreliable and these rules just don't apply.

So, regardless of IgM or IgG reactions in your test, reactions to the Bb microbe indicate the presence of the Bb microbe. And, regardless of what your tests indicates (positive or negative for Lyme), since the tests are only 50% reliable and produce MANY false negatives for MANY reasons, Lyme is generally diagnosed through a clinical analysis of your exposure, symptoms, health history, etc.

To your question, it's possible that you could never develop any additional symptoms for the next few years but you might still develop a positive Lyme test if your body is producing enough antibodies to the infection. This would be a little unusual, as you'd probably also have some symptoms but it is possible to have the Bb infection without developing symptomatic Lyme disease (some people have DNA immunity).

And, it is also very possible (as many people on this forum have experienced) to contract Bb, never develop symptoms until BOOM! A car accident, or a divorce, or surgery, weakens the immune system and the infection sees an opportunity and starts to take hold and become reactivated. This is why it's really important to remain healthy with a strong immune system. 70% of the immune system is the GI tract - so gut health, diet, and good maintenance of all the systems that interact w/ digestion (HPA-axis, for instance) are critical.

Dandelion root is good. Sauna is great! There are at least 5 main areas of detox - even though you're not symptomatic, as a means to boost your health you might want to try to cover each area:

GI
Detoxing in the GI - bowel movements are probably the most important detoxing in the gut - digestion is one of our natural detoxing mechanisms and if you are constipated, all those toxins are sitting in your intestines and with any damage to the mucosal lining (leaky gut, etc.) they are likely getting reabsorbed.
- Great OTC binders: activated charcoal, bentonite clay, psyllium husk
- I find that pure cholestyramine, while an EXCELLENT binder, has also made me more regular than I've ever been in my entire life... ask me if you'd like more info.
- I've also had success with drinking an 1/2c aloe vera juice + 2 T tart cherry juice cocktail (soothing and the tart cherry is a laxative).

LYMPH
Dry brushing before a detox soak is an excellent way to help move toxins through the circulatory system and to help clear out lymph nodes. Lots of info on the web. Also, I use red root tinctures to support lymphs.

LIVER
With lyme & co tx the liver really needs support - a lot of us have had success with milk thistle seed, burdock root, adequate water is essential, and a safe, gentle liver cleanse might also be a good idea if you're healthy enough.

SKIN
Sweating/sauna and detox soaks are the best way to take advantage of our largest detox organ - our skin - to draw toxins out of the body. Lots of methods and recipes.

BRAIN
For psycho-neuro, cognitive functions I would try pinella and bur bur - they have been really great for me. Also, keeping digestion moving helps (remember the gut-brain connections) to eliminate toxins that might be reaching the brain. Addressing yeast/fungal overgrowth is also critical for brain health since they can create mycotoxins (literally, ethanol and acetaldehyde) that get into the brain - causing the fog and many other sx.

Hope that's helpful!

-p

Hi Craftmerx!


If it's a tick bite only - then 28 days is the standard.

If that redness is considered to be an EM - then you need to treat until sign and symptom free for 4 a month.
200 mg twice daily of doxy.

Keep an eye out for symptoms...and continue to treat.

Here is a link to the ILADS Lyme Treatment Guidelines - scroll down to page 18 and 19 for antibiotic dosages and duration of treatment - based on signs/symptoms.

You can also print off the relevant pages and show your Dr. This has been caught early - do not under-treat - you have the best chance to put this behind you..you do not want it to become a chronic lyme infection.

www.lymenet.org/BurrGuide200810.pdf

Yes some great advice. Thank you all again! It's all greatly appreciated.

Girlie, so you are in agreement to bump up to 400mg total a day on doxy even if I end up having less time on them at this point?

Are there any LLMDs you can recommend in the Los Angeles area other than from the list provided? Or one specific off that list?

Re: taking 400 mg daily for shorter duration - so how long have you been on 200 daily since June 1 st? So almost two months?

And now you have 4 weeks more? Or two weeks at 400 mg daily?

I would bump it up to 200 mg twice daily if I were you.


How is the bite site now? Still red area?

So a month on 100 mg twice daily? that's 60 - 100 mg pills.


I would go to 200 twice daily for the rest of the time - what would that be 15 days?

CraftMerx said...
Some where right around there. Don't know my exact count left

I would do the 200 twice daily from now on.

Girlie said...

CraftMerx said...
Yes some great advice. Thank you all again! It's all greatly appreciated.

Girlie, so you are in agreement to bump up to 400mg total a day on doxy even if I end up having less time on them at this point?

Are there any LLMDs you can recommend in the Los Angeles area other than from the list provided? Or one specific off that list?

Can you go to another Dr - maybe a walk in clinic and show your bite/redness and get another prescription?

What list are you talking about? The list I have?
Did you already email me?
(Sorry - busy day with lots of emails and I did send someone a list of LLMD's in the LA area - was it you?) its all a blur now - lol

Sorry to ask one more time, but the list of LLMDs has like 3 Doctors in LA is there a one you know about that has good feedback from people?

Girlie said...
What list are you referring to?

If you send me an email I will give you some names from the list I have.

I know there are some in/near LA

Thanks and sent you an email