Lyme treatment

[cjsmith]

We're going to hit me with Biaxin (clarithromycin) at first, and I'll need Diflucan (fluconazole) to keep yeast levels down as well as a massive probiotic (way beyond yogurt) to make my gut keep working. I will need to log pain levels, fatigue, sleep time, and anything I find unusual -- extra aches, flulike symptoms, anything. Unless a Herx reaction is too awful to bear, I'll see the doctor again in six weeks.

We discussed one antibiotic option known to cause bad sun sensitivity. My doctor said she was reluctant to use that one in summer. I said "Oh, I'm never outside. I can't walk far or bike, so I drive everywhere. I can't run or hike or go backpacking. I work in an office all day. Sun sensitivity really isn't a big problem here." And she said "But that might change," and put me on Biaxin. That was really weird. The thought that I might enjoy the outdoors again -- this summer, even -- is just alien. I'm having a hard time picturing it. I can only barely remember what that was like once upon a time. Maybe I am the zoo tiger who, when released in the wild, paces a space the size of his cage for a long time.

I fill my prescriptions this evening.

I'm trying so hard not to get my hopes up. The crashes are always so painful. It took me too long to reach any sort of mental and emotional equilibrium about this stuff in the first place; I don't want to have to go through that again.

Comments

[hopeforyou.livejournal.com]

I have been on Clarithromycin for over 21 months. I still have Lyme detectable in my blood. I still have symptoms, but so far I've been placed into the "slow improvement" category, just really really slow because I have an immune deficiency and other issues.

I have no idea how long I'll have to be on this stuff. If you've been infected for years, it can be a long time.

One question for you: Do you know if you have any co-infections like bartonella or erlichiosis? Because if you do, those need to be treated first before treating Lyme effectively.

I'm wondering if you can tell me who you're seeing and if they're in San Francisco? I'm going to a clinic there and have to pay a lot out of pocket, so I don't see my specialist that often.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Isn't the test free antibodies, ie, you can test positive after you've eradicated the bacteria? Isn't there no way to test for the bacteria itself? But you do still have symptoms... I'm new at this, so set me straight if I'm confused. Maybe the level of free IgG or IgM antibodies drops off when there are no more bacteria to hit?

I tested negative for bartonella, but of course, that too was a free antibody test and thus won't show positive unless I have both been exposed to it AND have some extra antibodies not currently involved in fighting. Doc says that test has a lot of high negatives. She selected the carpet bomb because it is known to hit both.

I'm seeing Dr. Deborah Metzger at Harmony Women's Health in Los Altos. I too will be paying a big pile out of pocket. Who is your specialist? Is he or she good? I have a lot of faith in Dr. Metzger, but she and I are still pretty new to each other, all told.