Natural Remedies To Battle Lymes Disease

[Mackay]

Dear Friends,
This particular string distresses me greatly. We are not here to practice medicine, although apparently a few of us feel qualified to give medical advice to an ailing member.

Actually, I am qualified to give medical advice. Anyone can give medical advice. What you can not do is diagnose, prescribe and treat in most states. But in my state I can.

He already has a diagnosis. I told him what other people are doing to treat this very dangerous disease, and if he continues on the path he may be risking his wellbeing for a very long time.

Of significance is the fact that one member states that penicillin is NOT indicated for Lyme disease and provides a link to prove his point. Unfortunately, this link not only fails to prove his point, it clearly mentions Amoxicillin which is a "third generation" aminopenicillin as a remedy for Lyme disease. Getting medical advice on the internet can be done but it probably ought to come from someone qualified to give it or an institution which has a respectable reputation in that field.

Amoxicillin is a third generation in the penicillin class of antibiotics. It is not penicillin. They made a third generation for a good reason, that being that penicillin does not work on many things. If you want you will find 30 or more links from all kinds of medical sites that do not mention penicillin for lyme disease. It is not a drug of choice.

Bottom line here is that we are not here to diagnose and treat the diseases of others. It is particularly unwise to accept such a recommendation as well.

Actually he already has a diagnosis. He is treating himself in conjuntion with a doctor. What he choses to do for his own health he will chose for himself. He is capable of doing his own research. He came her asking for advice. I did not solicite him. He's a big guy who just didn't have enough information on the disease he has. Now he has it. He will make his own decisions.

While many in medical profession may be lacking in some of their particularly important diagnostic skills, they have at least completed the required training to be qualified to recommend a particular treatment, assuming the diagnosis is correct.

Yes, this doctor was trained yet the treatment is not right. This doctor is failing and the training he received has failed too.

Since several here question the ability of the diagnostic skills of the members of the medical profession and recommend the Naturopathic physicians, it would be also wise to investigate more thoroughly the "remedies" that are being touted on this forum as well as the "success rate of those healers. I for one question the diagnostic approach of those who would recommend treatments for members here without a complete understanding of the problem and a few sentences of complaint certainly do NOT constitute adequate investigation of the problem.

I think you need to understand what the meaning of the word diagnose. He already has a diagnosis, and by the way he describes his disease, its likely 98% accurate. I have told him that he should consult with another doctor who is Lyme Literate and I gave him contact information. He is likely to find that some of these doctors are using mms or similar medicines by IV or samento as well as very specific antibiotics, not including penicillin.

For instance, what EXACTLY is MMS? Does anyone know for sure? One person stated it was exactly LIKE sodium chlorite (correct spelling is chloride) which in reality is table salt and water. I don't imagine anyone is completely convinced that plain table salt will cure the diseases mentioned here.

Actually chlorite is not spelled wrong and it is not chloride. Sodium chlorite has absolutely nothing to do with table salt. You are way down on the learning curve to be making such comments. Many people get good results using MMS for lyme disease, most specifically chronic lyme disease.

Additionally, since the folks who are "selling" these cures on the internet do not tell you exactly what is in their "remedy" then it should raise the red flags mentioned above by the member who feels that penicillin is not indicated for Lyme Disease. If you don't know what you are putting into your body, perhaps you should reconsider it and find out exactly what is in it first.

I gave him all references needed to find out what mms is.

For that matter, why would you take a "remedy" that has not been scientifically tested to show proof of its efficacy in treating that specific disease or proble?. Just because your friend said "it worked for me' does NOT mean it will work for you. If you are unfortunate enough to be allergic to a "remedy" more's the pity when you are adversely affected by it.

Antibiotics do not have a proven 100 percent efficacy in treating lyme disease, ESPECIALLY if they are given the wrong antibiotic from the start. Why would anyone continue with a drug that will not work after they became aware that it probably won't work. People have adverse effects and even die from the use of antibiotics everyday.

While medicine is an art, it is conducted with the benefit of the scientific approach and in all but a very few cases, with the ethics instilled in each and every physician who takes the oath of a physician by promising to "first, do no harm".

Physicans do harm all the time and further more they do not take such oaths. It is a myth that doctors currently take the Hyppocratic Oath.

There are in some cases, complete resolution of illnesses based on the miracle of the human body being able to heal itself. Then there is the placebo where the person thinks they are relieved because their mind wills it to be so.

If you think placebo effect will take care of Lyme disease you might do better to stop the philosophies and wake up.

Therefore in summary, we are all here to help each other, but in some things, seeking the advice of those unqualified to give it can result in disastrous consequences and then you have no one to blame but yourself.

I gave this man links to finding true help from licensed physicians. Just because you had a friend who culd not make correct choices for her own health does not mean that others are incapable. Anyone who is looking at options on the internet should do research on those options and find out if they are viable options for themselves.

 

[Icu4dzs]

So far, we still do not have the precise chemical nature of a remedy called MMS that apparently is sold on your website.

I guess knowing what it is might help folks who need a miracle cure.

As you can see, giving medical advice may be "legal" in your state, but as long as you continue to discredit legitimate individuals your argument weakens. Why not tell us what this MMS really is so folks can make up their own minds? Keeping it a secret seems a bit unethical if you really want to help folks with their illnesses.

And, o by the way...Physicians still take the Oath. I'm sorry you don't believe it.

Not a sermon, just a thought.

 

[Icu4dzs]

Here is what can be found on the compound Sodium Chlorite.
Perhaps you could explain the issues raised by this information?
I'm sure everyone would be much relieved to know how safe this stuff is based on the testimonials rather than the references listed below? The term "fraud" appears in this article. Perhaps you could explain why they say that about MMS?

I'm really not trying to "dis" you my friend, I just want to know what this stuff is? Perhaps you can provide us with the science and research that shows the efficacy of such a compound? I for one would be delighted to learn more about it considering the fact that I too, am qualified to give medical advice.

O and by the way, citric acid is available on any grocery shelf. It is used when canning tomato and it is rather inexpensive.

YMMV
Warmest Personal Regards
Trim



Sodium chlorite is a chemical compound used in the manufacture of paper.
Contents [hide]
1 Manufacture
2 Usage
3 Safety
4 Toxicity
5 Fraud
6 Availability
7 General references
8 References
9 External links
[edit]Manufacture

The free acid, chlorous acid, HClO2, is only stable at low concentrations. Since it cannot be concentrated, it is not a commercial product. However, the corresponding sodium salt, sodium chlorite, NaClO2 is stable and inexpensive enough to be commercially available. The corresponding salts of heavy metals (Ag+, Hg+, Tl+, Pb2+, and also Cu2+ and NH4+) decompose explosively with heat or shock.
Sodium chlorite is derived indirectly from sodium chlorate, NaClO3. First, the explosive (only at concentrations greater than 10% in atmosphere) chlorine dioxide, ClO2 is produced by reducing sodium chlorate in a strong acid solution with a suitable reducing agent (for example, sodium sulfite, sulfur dioxide, or hydrochloric acid). The chlorine dioxide is then absorbed into an alkaline solution and reduced with hydrogen peroxide, H2O2 yielding sodium chlorite.
[edit]Usage

The main application of sodium chlorite is the generation of chlorine dioxide for bleaching and stripping of textiles, pulp, and paper. It is also used for disinfection of a few municipal water treatment plants after conversion to chlorine dioxide. An advantage in this application, as compared to the more commonly used chlorine, is that trihalomethanes (such as chloroform) are not produced from organic contaminants. Sodium chlorite, NaClO2, sometimes in combination with zinc chloride, also finds application as a component in therapeutic rinses, mouthwashes,[1][2] toothpastes and gels, mouth sprays,[3] as a teat dip for control of mastitis in dairy cattle,[4] and also in contact lens cleaning solution under the trade name purite. Under the brand name Oxine it is used for sanitizing air ducts and HVAC/R systems and animal containment areas (walls, floors, and other surfaces).
In organic synthesis, sodium chlorite is frequently used for the oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids. The reaction is usually performed in buffered (with monosodium phosphate) solution in the presence of a chlorine scavenger (usually 2-methyl-2-butene).
Recently, sodium chlorite has been used as an oxidizing agent to convert alkyl furans to the corresponding 4-oxo-2-alkenoic acids in a simple one pot synthesis.[5]
[edit]Safety

Sodium chlorite, like many oxidizing agents, should be protected from inadvertent contamination by organic materials to avoid the formation of an explosive mixture.
[edit]Toxicity

Sodium chlorite is a strong oxidant and can therefore be expected to cause clinical symptoms similar to the well known sodium chlorate: methemoglobinemia, hemolysis, renal failure[6]. A dosis of 10-15 grams of sodium chlorate can be lethal.[7]. Methemoglobemia had been demonstrated in rats and cats [8] and recent studies by the EMEA have confirmed that the clinical symptomatology is very similar to the one caused by sodium chlorate in the rat, mouse, rabbit and the green monkey [9] The use of sodium chlorite in mouthwashes and similar products is rated a "low hazard" by the Skin Deep cosmetic safety database.[10]
There's only one human case in the medical literature of chlorite poisoning.[11]. It seems to confirm that the toxicity is equal to sodium chlorate. From the analogy with sodium chlorate, even small amounts of about 1 gram can be exptected to cause nausea, vomiting and even life threatening hemolysis in Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficient persons.

[edit]Fraud

Sodium chlorite is the active ingredient in Miracle Mineral Supplement a nostrum promoted on the internet for the cure of HIV and other serious diseases.[12]
[edit]Availability

In the United States sodium chlorite is available in industrial quantities from DuPont.[13]
[edit]General references

"Chemistry of the Elements", N.N. Greenwood and A. Earnshaw, Pergamon Press, 1984.
"Kirk-Othmer Concise Encyclopedia of Chemistry", Martin Grayson, Editor, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1985
[edit]References

^ "New mouthwashes may help take bad breath away" article by Joyce Cohen in USA Today
^ SmartMouth 2 Step Mouth Rinse
^ Products entry Skin Deep cosmetic safety database
^ "Preventing Bovine Mastitis by a Postmilking Teat Disinfectant Containing Acidified Sodium Chlorite" J. Dairy Sci. 90:1201-1208
^ Annangudi SP, Sun M, Salomon RG (2005). "An efficient synthesis of 4-oxo-2-alkenoic acids from 2-alkyl furans" (abstract). Synlett 9: 1468. doi:10.1055/s-2005-869833.
^ Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies, McGraw-Hill Professional; 8th edition (March 28, 2006), ISBN 978-0071437639
^ http://www.poisoncentre.be/article.php?id_article=39
^ Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products. Robert E. Gosselin, Roger P. Smith, Harold C. Hodge, Jeannet Braddock. Uitgever: Williams & Wilkins; 5 edition (September 1984) ISBN 978-0683036329
^ Sodium Chlorite - Summary Report of the Europena Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products - Veterinary Medicines Evaluation Unit [1]
^ Hazards entry Skin Deep cosmetic safety database
^ Acute sodium chlorite poisoning associated with renal failure. Lin JL, Lim PS. Ren Fail. 1993;15(5):645-8. PMID: 8290712
^ "The Mineral Miracle Supplement-MMS Scam". Trance-health.com. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
^ Chlorine Dioxide and Sodium Chlorite Supply

 

[Blackbird]

Very interesting info Mackay. Never knew about the 6 week thing.

Several years ago I had a blood test taken to determine if I was positive for Lymes after some minor symptoms and several bad tick bites. The test was only taken two weeks after the bites. Obviously they came back negative. And no, no more symptoms, must have been something else.

Icu4dzs, we all have our own opinions and beliefs. People have different experiences with different treatments and we all react differently. Similar things could be said about many conventional and prescribed medicines.
I think almost any treatment is either take it or leave it. No reason to challenge each other.

 

[KevsFarm]

I have to agree with Blackbird. We all have a right to our own opinions and thoughts on any given topic.
I asked for and received the thoughts and experiences of others here dealing with Lymes...I'm grateful for the links and info. Mackay gave me and the time Mackay spent sharing. I'm seeing a bigger picture of Lymes now that i didn't see before i started this thread.
Thanks to you all who have shared your knowledge, thoughts and opinions and hopefully we can all agree to disagree at times and all get along.
I've learned plenty from this thread and the given links, i have decisions to make and paths to explore towards better health...thanks again all....

 

[Mackay]

you can learn about mms here: www.jumhumble.biz
and you can get support on using mms here: www.natmedtalk.com

.

Icu4dz - you are just unreal! You didn't bother to read my posts you just jumped in with all your judgements. I posted in post number two where one can go to learn all there is to know about MMS.

and by the way __ I do not sell MMS on my website. I never have and never will. I do post sources where people can purchase it if they want. I am not connected to any of those sources.

You really have outdone yourself. If you are going to attack someone you should at least read the material you are attacking and have your facts in order which you do not.

Blackbird, please be aware that symptoms may not show up for many years. Just keep that in the back of your mind if something comes up. Only about 50 to 70% of people get the bullseye.

I just read that the tick needs to be attached for 24 to 36 hours for lyme to be transmitted according to some study... but I wonder why that is and if it is accurate and I'm not sure I can believe it. It only took a couple of minutes for me to get Colorado tick fever.

 

[Icu4dzs]

Friends all,
This is NOT about "attacking" anyone. It is about recommending that someone take a compound that for all intents and purposes has serious problems and is dangerous. Let's keep this in perspective.

I asked "what exactly" is in MMS. I was told Sodium Chlorite. I placed sufficient information on the subject of sodium chlorite on the prior post to inform all of thevariety of dangers, including methemoglobinemia, renal failure and a few others to say nothing of the fact that it is explosive. This information is available on the internet just as all the other information is available. The difference being that there is danger in this substance and despite what "testimonials" there are, the fact is that there is no clear relationship between the use of this chemical and disease resolution.

While no medicine is 100% safe for 100% of people, we live in a country which has at least some checks and balances for protecting its citizens from harm when it comes to the concept of medicine. That is to say, we in the USA test a compound to determine that it is 1) safe for the human to consume, and 2) actually does what it is purported to do. If it fails these tests, then the manufacturer is prohibited from marketing it.

Then we get to things like MMS. The information posted by me is clearly not telling you to go out and buy this stuff. Furthermore, it is explosive and made by DuPont for the chemical preparation of paper.
Who did the testing on this compound to determine it was safe for humans to consume and who did the testing to determine that it would actually do what it is claimed that it will do? So far, despite all the "finger pointing" at me, none of that information has shown here on the site. I am simply asking for enough information to make an informed decision about something that is potentially harmful.

This is NOT about belief systems and it is NOT about ME. Scolding me for bringing this to your awareness is not what we are about here. For that matter, dis-respecting anyone here is inappropriate whether they are medical doctors or garbage collectors. We all have belief systems but we are all also very vulnerable when we are ill. When we are asking for advice, it is important to realize that there are lots of folks who are willing to give free medical advice but then you do get what you pay for in this country. In this situation, one of us has asked for help and others have offered links and "Miracle Cures" rather than recommend that they seek competent medical advice from an honorable member of the medical profession.

Lyme disease is caused by a micro-organism. It is treatable with common, well known antibiotics. It does on occasion cause an arthritic condition that is quite severe and painful. Below is credible information on this subject. It is NOT by any means all encompassing or for that matter the most complete, but it is credible.

As I said, this is NOT about "beliefs" but about giving advice based on information that may or may not be credible. Testimonial evidence is by no means authoritative when it comes to medicine. That, unfortunately goes by a less than complimentary moniker and I will leave that to your imagination.

Lyme disease, or lyme borreliosis,[1] is an emerging infectious disease caused by at least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia.[2] Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato[3] is the main cause of Lyme disease in the United States, whereas Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii cause most European cases. The disease is named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut, USA, where a number of cases were identified in 1975. Although Allen Steere realized in 1978 that Lyme disease was a tick-borne disease, the cause of the disease remained a mystery until 1982, when B. burgdorferi was identified by Willy Burgdorfer.

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. Borrelia is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected ticks belonging to a few species of the genus Ixodes ("hard ticks").[4] Early symptoms may include fever, headache, fatigue, depression, and a characteristic circular skin rash called erythema migrans. Left untreated, later symptoms may involve the joints, heart, and central nervous system. In most cases, the infection and its symptoms are eliminated by antibiotics, especially if the illness is treated early.[citation needed] Late, delayed, or inadequate treatment can lead to the more serious symptoms, which can be disabling and difficult to treat.[5] Occasionally, symptoms such as arthritis persist after the infection has been eliminated by antibiotics, prompting suggestions that Borrelia causes autoimmunity.[6]

Some groups have argued that "chronic" Lyme disease is responsible for a range of medically unexplained symptoms beyond the recognized symptoms of late Lyme disease, and that additional, long-term antibiotic treatments are needed.[7] Of four randomized controlled trials of long-term ceftriaxone and doxycycline treatment in patients with ongoing symptoms, two found no benefit,[8][9] and two found inconsistent benefits with significant side effects and risks from the antibiotic treatment.[10][11][12] Most expert groups, including the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Academy of Neurology, have found that existing scientific evidence does not support a role for Borrelia nor ongoing antibiotic treatment in such cases.[13][14] However, the subject is controversial, with some doctors, patient advocacy groups, and politicians continuing to argue that long-term treatment is beneficial. This dispute has led to legal action over treatment guidelines, as well as harassment and death threats made against physicians who will not acknowledge "chronic" Lyme disease as a legitimate diagnosisTreatment
Antibiotics are the primary treatment for Lyme disease; the most appropriate antibiotic treatment depends upon the patient and the stage of the disease.[2] The antibiotics of choice are doxycycline (in adults), amoxicillin (in children), erythromycin (for pregnant women) and ceftriaxone, with treatment lasting 14 to 28 days.[121] Alternative choices are cefuroxime and cefotaxime.[2] Treatment of pregnant women is similar, but tetracycline should not be used.[121]

A double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled multicenter clinical study indicated that 3 weeks of treatment with intravenous ceftriaxone, followed by 100 days of treatment with oral amoxicillin did not improve symptoms any more than just 3 weeks of treatment with ceftriaxone. The researchers noted that the outcome should not be evaluated after the initial antibiotic treatment but rather 612 months afterwards. In patients with chronic post-treatment symptoms, persistent positive levels of antibodies did not seem to provide any useful information for further care of the patient.[122]

In later stages, the bacteria disseminate throughout the body and may cross the blood-brain barrier, making the infection more difficult to treat. Late diagnosed Lyme is treated with oral or IV antibiotics, frequently ceftriaxone for a minimum of four weeks. Minocycline is also indicated for neuroborreliosis for its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.[123]


[edit] Post-Lyme disease symptoms and "chronic" Lyme disease
The term "chronic Lyme disease" is often applied to several different sets of patients. One usage refers to people with the symptoms of untreated and desseminated late-stage Lyme disease who are suffering from the symptoms of this stage of the disease: these are arthritis, peripheral neuropathy and/or encephalomyelitis. The term is also applied to people who have had the disease in the past and some symptoms remain after antibiotic treatment, which is also called post-Lyme disease syndrome. A third and controversial use of the term applies to patients with non-specific symptoms such as fatigue who show no objective evidence that they have been infected with Lyme disease in the past, since the standard diagnostic tests for infection are negative.[13]

Up to one third of Lyme disease patients who have completed a course of antibiotic treatment continue to have symptoms such as severe fatigue, sleep disturbance, and cognitive difficulties, with these symptoms being severe in about 2% of cases.[5][124] While it is undisputed that these patients can have severe symptoms, the cause of these symptoms and appropriate treatment is controversial. The symptoms may represent "for all intents and purposes" fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome.[125] A few doctors attribute these symptoms to persistent infection with Borrelia, or coinfections with other tick-borne infections such as Ehrlichia and Babesia.[126][127] Other doctors believe that the initial infection may cause an autoimmune reaction that continues to cause serious symptoms even after the bacteria have been eliminated by antibiotics.[74]

Four randomized controlled trials have been performed in patients who have persisting complaints and a history of Borrelia infection. Some of these patients had evidence of an ongoing Borrelia infection and almost all of them were previously treated with antibiotics. The authors of all four trials concluded that their results did not support long-term antibiotic therapy. Of these four studies,

two studies showed no benefit from 30 days of IV ceftriaxone and 60 days of oral doxycycline, concluding that "treatment with intravenous and oral antibiotics for 90 days did not improve symptoms more than placebo".[8][9]
one study showed an improvement only in fatigue after 28 days of IV antibiotics, an effect that was significant only in a group of patients that never had antibiotics previously.[12] The results may have been compromised by unblinding, and detected a large placebo effect.[128] This trials also saw several cases of life-threatening side effects, concluding that "repeated courses of antibiotic treatment are not indicated for persistent symptoms following Lyme disease including those related to fatigue and cognitive dysfunction, particularly in light of the frequency of serious adverse events."
one study reported an improvement in fatigue in a subset of patients and a transient improvement in cognition after 10 weeks of IV antibiotics, but concluded that the treatment was "not an effective strategy for sustained cognitive improvement."[10][11] These patients had also been ill for many years and had taken many antibiotic courses. Also, this study performed ad hoc statistical analysis[129] and its results were questionably significant.[124]
A non-profit interest group called the International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society (ILADS)[130] argues that persistence of B. burgdorferi may be responsible for manifestations of late Lyme disease symptoms.[7] It has questioned the generalizability and reliability of some of the above trials and the reliability of the current diagnostic tests.[7][127][131] Major US medical authorities, including the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Academy of Neurology, and the National Institutes of Health, have stated that there is no convincing evidence that Borrelia is involved in the various symptoms classed as chronic Lyme disease, and advise against long-term antibiotic treatment as ineffective and possibly harmful.[13][132][133][134] There are significant side effects and risks of prolonged antibiotic therapy, and one death has been reported from complications of a 27-month course of intravenous antibiotics for an unsubstantiated diagnosis of "chronic Lyme disease".[135]


Antibiotic treatment is the central pillar in the management of Lyme disease. However, in the late stages of borreliosis, symptoms may persist despite extensive and repeated antibiotic treatment.[136] Although it is possible that these chronic symptoms are due to either autoimmunity or residual bacteria (see immunological studies below), no Borrelia DNA can usually be detected in the joints after antibiotic treatment, which suggests that the arthritis may continue even after the bacteria have been killed.[74] Lyme arthritis that persists after antibiotic treatment may be treated with hydroxychloroquine or methotrexate.[137] Corticosteroid injections into the affected joint are not recommended for any stage of Lyme arthritis.[138]

Patients with chronic neuropathic pain responded well to gabapentin monotherapy with residual pain after intravenous ceftriaxone treatment in a pilot study.[139] Some antibiotics may have a dual effect on Lyme disease, since minocycline and doxycycline have anti-inflammatory effects in addition to their antibiotic actions including anti-inflammatory effects specific to the inflammation caused by Lyme Disease.[140][141] Indeed, minocycline is used in other neurodegenerative and inflammatory disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ALS.[142]

[edit] Alternative therapies

Portable Mild Hyperbaric Chamber 40" diameterA number of other alternative therapies have been suggested, though clinical trials have not been conducted. For example, the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, as an adjunct to antibiotics for Lyme has been discussed.[143] Though there are no published data from clinical trials to support its use, preliminary results using a mouse model suggest its effectiveness against B. burgdorferi both in vitro and in vivo.[144] Anecdotal clinical research has suggested that antifungal azole medications such as diflucan could be used in the treatment of Lyme, but the use of these drugs has yet to be tested in a controlled study.[145]

Alternative medicine approaches include bee venom because it contains the peptide melittin, which has been shown to exert inhibitory effects on Lyme bacteria in vitro;[146] however, no clinical trials of this treatment have been carried out.
________________________________________________________

So as you can see, there are a lot of folks who love to give FREE medical advice but few have the education and knowledge to be qualified to do so. We all love to feel good and we all seem to like the feeling we get when we give advice, but there is a difference.

I sincerely hope our friend achieves resolution of his ailment. No one likes to be sick. I certainly hope they get the relief they need.

Best Wishes to all
Trim

 

[reinbeau]

All right, I'm going to jump in here. Lyme disease is a deadly disease, it can kill you, I know this because it almost killed me last year.

First of all amoxicillin and penicillin are not effective against it. You need stronger antibiotics to get rid of it. Doxycycline by is effective within the first couple of weeks, but it must be given in six week intervals, to break the cycle of the spirochete. Anything less won't work. But that's only if you've caught it before it goes chronic. The spirochete will cause illness (not necessarily a bullseye rash, that only happens in about 60% of all cases. I never had a rash), but then it will go dormant in your system, it's slipped into your spinal column. It is very difficult to get rid of once it's there.

I went through meningitis, paralysis, eight days in intensive care, and a month at home with a PICC line and being infused daily with Ceftriaxone. My symptoms before were headaches, sleeplessness, unexplainable aches and pains and depression, that grew increasing worse until it brought me down (I'm rather thick when it comes to my own health, just keep going, it'll pass - no, it won't!). The headaches developed into Lyme meningitis. My diagnosis was via a spinal tap.

I live in a high-risk area for Lyme. It is extremely common around here yet it took them three days to figure it out. Lyme is tricky. I do not for one minute think anyone here should be giving any advice other than to get to a medical doctor who can and will properly deal with it. Will you ever be cured? Will I ever be cured? I don't know. As my immunologist said, because of the length of time I had Lyme there has been a lot of damage (if I wasn't as strong as I am, due to Pilates and a healthy lifestyle, they told me in the hospital I would have died). He said to consider the Lyme as a storm that has caused lots of damage, shingles ripped off my house, shutters gone, doors and windows broken. It's going to take lots of time to heal. The paralysis is gone, thankfully, but my energy levels have never returned to normal, and I have to be careful about being tired, and stress. I'm hopeful, and I keep trying to do everything I can to get rid of the symptoms; for the most part it's working.

To KevsFarm - I'm sorry you have no medical insurance, but please, if you do develop severe headaches, get yourself to an ER. No one can be turned away if they're showing symptoms of meningitis. Penicillin isn't going to help you, you need treatment. I truly fear for you and hope you can find a doctor who will give you the proper treatments - they are out there. I was lucky, I want you to be lucky, too.

 

[KevsFarm]

Thank you Ann,i saw my dr. yesterday.He
pointed out i was taking amoxicillin 500mg 3x a day,for 30 days. My mistake saying in this thread i was given penicillin, sorry...
I went back because i felt awful, weak,tired, aches..He told me i do not have chronic lymes. He said the antibiotics are doing there thing,thats why i feel like i do.I have noticed the pain in my hands is easing up, and at times i'm starting to feel better, than crappy again.
The dr. said the medication is working, finish the prescription.I'm about 12 days into the 30 day regiment. Hopefully i caught it in time,well see, i'll finish the meds.I haven't had a fever, only an ocassional headache, along with the moving around body aches and finger joints.Dr. said i should be feeling better in a week to ten days. Hope hes right...

 

[reinbeau]

Kev, I'm no doctor, but I do know something about Lyme treatment, my son also had it back when he was 12 - that was over 13 years ago. Amoxicillin won't do it. It really won't. I wish you luck with it, and I hope you can convince the doctor to put you on the doxycycline, because that is the proper cure. I realize you have to do what the doctor says, I'd just hate to see you have to deal with what I've had to deal with. If you were really at the beginning of it all maybe those meds will work, but all of my research showed it was ineffective. I hope you are feeling much better in ten days, please post back here and tell us how you're doing.