Post by jan on Nov 30, 2009 12:21:07 GMT -8
Hi, I found this site via Google and Lyme Engima's blog.
I have been on CaliforniaLyme (yahoo), subscribe to CALDA, and write on Lyme Friends, but I feel like a bit of a mutant everywhere I go.
I basically don't think either the IDSA or ILADS has it quite right yet. I think that IDSA has done a lot of damage by suggesting 2 weeks of antibiotics is always enough and a positive ELISA is the key test. I also think that the open-ended antibiotic treatment and switching protocol approaches by ILADS require more scientific research for use.
I got bit by a tick in summer 2006. I had all the symptoms of Lyme shortly after. I grew up in Pennsylvania so I had some clue about Lyme, even as I was living in California. I had 3 doctors tell me there is either no Lyme in California or it is very rare, and the most I got were 2 tabs of Doxy, and later, a Z-pac when it was thought I had a sinus infection (but it was a tick borne one).
I saw an LLMD in the area within 2 months after the bite and got treated with high doses of Omnicef and Biaxin. It was rough going for about 3 months, then I seemed to begin to get more functional. I went back to work part-time, then later full-time, and went off antibiotics for several months.
Sadly, I got sick again, and lost my job because I just couldn't focus; couldn't do what was needed. I went back to the LLMD and we did more tests -- Igenex said I have Babesia.
So I'm to try Mepron and Zith next, but I am very nervous about it... the side effects look gnarly and I have had allergic reactions to a number of drugs in recent years (I never used to have so many allergies, btw).
I am gearing up for this not knowing what it will be like.
I am also wondering what is a reasonable course of action to take regarding my illness overall.
How long should I try antibiotics and antiprotozoals? Should I try any alternative treatments (I have not, other than hot tubbing and acupuncture - but hey, I'm a californian!)?
And I wonder if I should apply for disability, and how to go about that. California is in a poor economic state of affairs; it even talked about cutting its state disability program.
Thank you for providing this forum to discuss these issues and to not have to feel there is only the IDSA or ILADS to go with. I think there has to be another path, labelled "Other".
I have been on CaliforniaLyme (yahoo), subscribe to CALDA, and write on Lyme Friends, but I feel like a bit of a mutant everywhere I go.
I basically don't think either the IDSA or ILADS has it quite right yet. I think that IDSA has done a lot of damage by suggesting 2 weeks of antibiotics is always enough and a positive ELISA is the key test. I also think that the open-ended antibiotic treatment and switching protocol approaches by ILADS require more scientific research for use.
I got bit by a tick in summer 2006. I had all the symptoms of Lyme shortly after. I grew up in Pennsylvania so I had some clue about Lyme, even as I was living in California. I had 3 doctors tell me there is either no Lyme in California or it is very rare, and the most I got were 2 tabs of Doxy, and later, a Z-pac when it was thought I had a sinus infection (but it was a tick borne one).
I saw an LLMD in the area within 2 months after the bite and got treated with high doses of Omnicef and Biaxin. It was rough going for about 3 months, then I seemed to begin to get more functional. I went back to work part-time, then later full-time, and went off antibiotics for several months.
Sadly, I got sick again, and lost my job because I just couldn't focus; couldn't do what was needed. I went back to the LLMD and we did more tests -- Igenex said I have Babesia.
So I'm to try Mepron and Zith next, but I am very nervous about it... the side effects look gnarly and I have had allergic reactions to a number of drugs in recent years (I never used to have so many allergies, btw).
I am gearing up for this not knowing what it will be like.
I am also wondering what is a reasonable course of action to take regarding my illness overall.
How long should I try antibiotics and antiprotozoals? Should I try any alternative treatments (I have not, other than hot tubbing and acupuncture - but hey, I'm a californian!)?
And I wonder if I should apply for disability, and how to go about that. California is in a poor economic state of affairs; it even talked about cutting its state disability program.
Thank you for providing this forum to discuss these issues and to not have to feel there is only the IDSA or ILADS to go with. I think there has to be another path, labelled "Other".
