How long for relief

Hi Erin911,

I, too, was recently diagnosed and have been on Doxy for 5 weeks. I don't have any great answers for you, but I can share what I've been doing. I started with two weeks of 100mg of Doxy, 2 times a day, and changed to 300mg a day after 2 1/2 weeks. I started noticing some changes after about two weeks. It started with the small stuff. The head fogginess and head pressure got much better, and the stuffiness in my ears went away. I was also experiencing shortness of breath, air hunger random waves of numbness...arm, face, chest, and parts of my leg/s. They've pretty much stopped. I still have ringing in my ears, hip pain and interior vibrations on my left side. The level of the vibrations has reduced, but it's still my worst symptom. Some days, my hip feels good, and other days it's quite painful.

I seem to be having more good days than bad, but sometimes I feel like things are slipping backwards, but I still feel much better than I did five weeks ago. Since meds, the ear ringing started and I've had some headaches. When I was well, I rarely got headaches, so I think the meds are doing something.
All of these little changes are still easier to deal with than what I started with. Next week, I'll meet with my Naturopathic doc to review my treatment plan.

Try to think of some of the little things that were a bother, and figure out if maybe they're slipping away without being noticed. I've read that it can take months for some meds to kick in. I'm sure more members will chime in before too long.

Keep us posted as to how you progress. Good Luck.

goshawk said...


G-Ju; not sure if you are also treating for Babesia, but air hunger is a hallmark symptom of that co infection.

Hi goshawk

I was started on Doxy before the diagnosis came back. PCP started me even though I didn't meet CDC requirements. Then, I started seeing a LL Naturopathic Doc. Positive tests came back, and I was bumped up to 300mg a day. My last test results (DNAConnexions Urine test) should be back soon, if the doc doesn't have it already. I'll meet with the the LL doc on May 7th to find out what strain/s of Lyme I have. I'm guessing Babesia and Bartonella. Bartonella because of the internal vibrations. A little more than a week and I'll know. Ahhhhh...

goshawk said...
Just to give you some hope...I had horrible vibrations and waves of heavy numbness...those symptoms are gone thankfully. It has taken some time and I still have a ways to go, but there is hope to get better.

I also have Bartonella and Babesia.

Thank you! That's great to hear. LLNP said 6-12 months and I'll be in good shape. I hope she's correct.

Goshawk I am starting an anti-inflammatory diet, but unsure of what else i should do for detoxing. I haven’t been tested for co-infections, my doctor said that could be expensive, though i have some similar symptoms to what i’ve read online about Bartonella. I get warm patches across my feet and hand specifically, but knees and thighs as well. My hip and joint pain began over 6 months ago, and fatigue has been an issue for awhile. So far I don’t feel any different on doxy, but thinking maybe the new diet will help. I already eat a vegan diet but am cutting out gluten and refined sugar, as well as caffeine (i don’t drink alcohol). I eat a lot of garlic naturally because i love it, but adding a little more certainly wont hurt. I also have been trying to eat more cinnamon.Truthfully ill eat or try almost anything because i’m desperate to feel better.

welcome erin

si pain was one of my first symptoms...also 6 months or more before I was diagnosed...the longer it is in your body, the less useful doxy is in my opinion...how long til you feel better? cant answer that but it appears that other coinfections (bart,babs) have a role in that...i got better first time i was sick in less than a yr of treatment, but i got rebit somehow, and this 2nd time tested positive for babs...im not seeing any overall progress and have been on abx,herbs, rife since august...best of luck