tick tested negative (lyme) - should continue preventative doxy?

I wish i had the answer for you. It's not something that is discussed much here.


I believe doxy works on other coinfections - Ehrlichia for one...and bartonella - when it's early and uncomplicated - I have read doxy is used.


It's a difficult decision...for sure.

How long has your friend's son been on the doxy? I would definitely do a couple weeks. It must be at least a week now, right?

He is taking it with food, right? ie eat some food, take the doxy...and finish the meal...to help with his tummy.

Additional things to help with discomfort from doxy.


Take the pill with a full glass of water.

Do not lay down for good hour or more after taking pill.


As Girlie said take with food.

Im for taking the doxy.


Prevention is key, tests are unreliable, and yes there are always a chance of co-infections.

We have a perfect crapstorm here in Missouri. We are infested with ticks. If you walk out to the tall grass that borders our neighborhood, you are ***guaranteed*** to have a tick or two crawling up your leg. Usually Dog Ticks but sometimes Lonestar Ticks.

On top of that, the doctors around here claim that there are no TBD's here in Missouri. So even if you wanted treatment, you can't just stop by the local doc for some Doxy. You would have to go to LLMD or self treat.

For a dog/pet- oh yeah I would self treat.

For the kids... thinking about "self" treating them makes me really uncomfortable. I am not brave (stupid) enough to do that. Maybe herbs... I don't know... sticky situation.

I also hate the fact that my kids and their friends were/ are bit by the same population of ticks that got me sick.

My oldest child terrified me for about a month. His energy was down, he was complaining of twitching and random knee pain. The symptoms seemed to go away, but I am ever watchful and concerned.

At least I know what to do if symptoms manifest, and it is NOT to go the local doc.

My wife has been bit a million times and only once got sick. When she did, doxy cleared it right up but left her with bowel problems for months. Point is, depending where you live, it is still relatively rare to get sick from a tick bite. But abx definitely cause health problems when overused. This really is a balancing act here of trying to be proactive without causing problems yourself. My personal opinion is just to keep an eye on it. Most tick diseases still respond favorably with early treatment. Not for everyone, but most of the problems come from not getting diagnosed and treated in time. As long as you saw the tick bite and pay attention to any abnormal symptoms the odds are in your favor. At most I would take something like knotweed or CSA proactively because I don't feel they cause me many side effects even though they are antibacterial. But I don't know... it's a tough one. The stakes are definitely high.

Thanks Psilosiraptor and Missouri - this is a tough one, for sure.
Any thoughts on astralagus as preventative? He plays sports so there is a decent chance he will get bit again . . .
TMW

trishums said...
Thanks Psilosiraptor and Missouri - this is a tough one, for sure.
Any thoughts on astralagus as preventative? He plays sports so there is a decent chance he will get bit again . . .
TMW

Yes, use the Astralagus for preventative.


He can even use it now - after the bite.

trishums said...
Stephen Buhner talks about it/often recommends it - is my understanding.
But it is NOT for chronic lyme, as I understand it.
TMW

Right - not chronic lyme...but can be taken after a tick bite to help prevent infection. (or even before as a safety measure ...if you want)

Toronto seems to be a hotbed for ticks.

I have a niece in Etobicoke and she says it's standard when they're at the park with the kids...to do tick checks.


Here in BC...not the case. I tell people to check themselves, their kids..their pets..after they've been in grassy areas...or on trails...etc...but it falls on deaf ears.

Heck...even my husband doesn't check (i've offered...lol)

I think it's just a matter of time before it's really bad out here, too. (don't get me wrong...they're here...and I'm hearing a lot of stories of people finding ticks on their dogs - that wasn't happening 3-4 years ago)
Victoria (south of the island I'm on) has a very active Lyme support group.

Psilociraptor said...

Missouri said...
would you give your children knotweed or CSA? What is CSA?

I worry about "Munchausens accusations" , comments from family, people thinking you are crazy. etc. you know, the normal lyme routine.


You are right about the stakes being high. Especially when it's your child.

Well technically you're not supposed to give them abx preventatively either right? I mean, that's the conventional perspective if I'm not mistaken. So anyone who wants to criticize you for using over the counter therapies is just being a hater for the sake of being a hater. There is no treatment for "pre-lyme" so you can't really do it the "wrong way". As for the actual safety of herbal medicine in kids that's a good point... There are some baby-buhners groups on facebook that might have more experience with that. I don't really know about herbs and kids.

The well known Pediatric LLMD believes in treating the bite (hence the campaign “Get it Right..Treat the Bite”)

Burrascano guidelines: embedded tick (no symptoms) decide to treat basing it on type of tick, was it on endemic area, how it was removed, if it’s engorged, how long it was attached

If treating - it’s 4 weeks