Treatment question

LLMD appointments (especially with very well known ones) are generally far apart, but 6 months seems pretty long. Perhaps the ND will be following up with her in between. I have liver enzymes checked every 1-2 weeks but I have had Lyme/Co induced problems with my liver so I think some can get away with less checks.

100mg 2x per day is a little low and I also was concerned with that dose (my LLMD had me on that dose alone several times to ramp up because of liver involvement). I suppose as long as you are working with a LLMD, you will eventually be treating they cystic form anyway so it probably won't matter. However, perhaps you could ask about taking GSE or pulsing Flagyl?

If she has positive Lyme bands along with symptoms, I would be pretty confident it's Lyme related. Depression and fibro are common subjective diagnosis' that people with Lyme are constantly told they have. I was told it was just stress and then went on to have extreme neuropathy, unconscious seizures etc. Some doctors are so stupid.

All I can point to is how often I've heard of people, especially young people, being misdiagnosed as having depression or fibro when they really have lyme - I've yet to hear an "I was diagnosed with lyme but it turned out to be depression!" story. I think the issue is that the longer you have lyme and/or the more times you try to unsuccessfully treat it, the smarter the bugs get and the better they are at staying alive. Starting out at a lower dose is usually helpful anyway, just to see how her body reacts to treatment. I'd say cross your fingers and hope that where you're starting is helpful - just keep in the back of your mind that you know to look out for the whole issue with cysts.

Also, if you haven't already, take a look at the "new to lyme" thread - there's some information there, and plenty out on the internet and in tons of books about detoxing, which is really important when you're killing off a massive amount of infection. Good luck - I hope your daughters find some healing soon!

Thanks for all the replies guys. No my daughter hasnt started treatment yet or had a herx we have just begun this journey. I will go today and get everything that is suggested for detox dry brush,foot and bath, grape seed ? any certain kind? Should I get one of those portable saunas if so what brand do you all use? I just hope the Ignx test is conclusive so im sure I am on the right track. After a year of terrible anxiety and some depression I let her dr put her on a ssri which makes me crazy with worry he said "just give me 6 weeks and she will be so much better". I have no experience with them is this any of you did to get over the anxiety and if so is six months of use dangerous(shes not having side effects) and then you are better? We have went the natural route with 5htp mag. valerium which helped a tiny bit but its to the point im thinking about pulling her out of school which is really sad because she is the top student in the school (a lil mom bragging hehe) but it cant be good if she is constantly on the verge of a panic attack rrrrrrrr> Just a little venting this is so hard when its your baby:(

Thx Traveler would you tell me if you think this is a good idea... Leave her on the Celexa for 2 more weeks for a total of 6weeks and if nothing has changed for her take her off would she need to wean after only a short while on them? I was thinking 2 weeks because i was told if by 4 weeks there was no change we would try a different one im not going down that road. In the those 2 weeks start detoxing her with foot baths, lemon water, probiotics and wait to get the ignex results to start the abx. Which I picked up today but am so nervous to start since her dr doesnt know i am doing this since when i mentioned it he acted like i was nuts. So what if i start her and she herxs without being under a drs care. At least if i wait for the test i can show her dr why i did it.

Every person is different on how fast their body gets dependent on any kind of medication, so just take it slow and watch her for any kind of issues to pop up. For me, it's been like I was on speed! My body and brain went at top speed all day, and then I could only sleep for 3 - 4 hours at night.

Have you seen any improvements in her yet? Has she noticed any improvements yet? If after 4 weeks on anti-anxiety or antidepressants the person doesn't feel any different, then most likely the meds aren't working for them.

I agree with LupnerRN - don't wait to start the abx! Get her started detoxing right away and it's possible that she won't herx at such a low dose.

Ground ginger root will also work well for nausea - and you don't need a prescription to get it. I have a terrible time with it, so I take 1500 mgs of ginger three times a day. It keeps my nausea completely under control.

Also as LupnerRN said, Keep up the researching!! You don't absolutely need to have a doc, especially if you have caught it quickly. We can help you find the info you need as well, and of course you can feel free to email me if you feel like I might be able to help you find something - or just post here.

You are doing the right thing for your daughter, hang in there!!

Hi my daughter is 15 and weighs 104lbs maybe thats why such a low dose? Alot of great info guys thx so much thats why i am so nervous because i just dont know what i am doing and what to watch for. As far as the Celexa there hasnt been any side effects except a tummy ache and sleepiness which has actually been good because she has insomnia. The only thing is we went to the mall which always brings on a panic attack and she didnt have one that is why i wanted to continue this even though i think these drugs are dangerous. I just want her to be able to function around people again:(

Okmom,
I would keep her on the Celexa for now, it's working. I know how those panic attacks feel - I still deal with them, but not every day now. It's completely uncontrollable, and for me, never predictable as to when or where I would get one. I used to have them every other time I got up on my acupuncturists table - which is really weird, since I am completely at ease and relaxed on that table.

I would suggest that you get your daughter well started in her treatment before trying to switch her to something other than pharmaceutical anti-anxiety.

I would strongly suggest that you print out Dr. Joseph Burrascano's paper, "Advanced Topics in Lyme Disease"
betterhealthguy.com/joomla/images/stories/PDF/lymdxrx2008-october.pdf - that way you can refer to it frequently. Dr. Burrascano is very well respected by his peers and this paper is written in such a way that lay people should easily be able to understand what is being said - even though everything with these infections is a little confusing.

Also do a lot of reading on Dr. Charles Jones' site - www.drjoneskids.com/, as his practice is strictly for children with tick-borne infections. There is a ton of info there!

I would suggest only lowering her carbs as far as is reasonable. The key here is that she MUST have enough nutrition to feed her body so that it can heal!! Obviously no one can live on only fruits and vegis and continue to live a healthy life. I have not followed even one so called "Lyme Diet" -although I do eat a high protein, very high fiber and lower carb diet - and I am healing quite well. Remember, she will need good nutrition for her body to heal well and quickly.

The biggest issue is to not cause more inflammation or accumulation of toxins, to find what your daughter may be sensitive to now and avoid those things - all the while keeping the diet as healthy as possible. If she won't eat meat, then be absolutely sure that she is getting enough protein from other sources.

Lots of those with Lyme find that they are gluten sensitive, but now all. I'm only sensitive enough to it that I need to keep the amount I take in low, I don't have to cut it out. Since carbs are a large part of the diet, I wouldn't recommend that you cut them out -especially since you are dealing with a teenager!

I've turned my oatmeal every morning into a medicinal food! LOL!! I add honey, cinnamon, coconut oil (1 tbsp), ground flax seed, and raw goats milk! If you look up each of those items, you will see that they are all working on something - besides, I love the taste!!

I don't use abx, so I'm not real sure on your schedule of things, but it does sound pretty good. So your daughter will only be taking 1 dose of each abx a day? It would be better to split each of them up and take them each twice a day. Combining both abx in each dose should be okay, but please check with someone knowledgeable about this!

Another thing - I would have her do a foot soak in the morning as she sits to eat her breakfast. That way you can get in two rounds of detoxing each day - much better for her to be able to heal.

Keep on reading!! You're doing great!!!