Long story short, starting my first Lyme protocols in years. I tried some herbals and also a low dose amoxy with a different doctor that didn't have much effect on me.

Anyway when I originally did Lyme treatments years ago it was with other antibiotics.

Also will be taken along with tinidazole and rifmopn which I plan to add in about 2 months into it.

Any recommendation for taking doxy? Any way to reduce side effects like nausea and anything else?

Thanks

You need to stay out of the sun. Even riding in a car can cause a severe sunburn. Do not lay down right away. Good luck with your treatment.

Patty

When you add the Rifampin - it will most likely be 600 mg daily (either 300 mg twice or 600 mg once)

Start out with 300 mg daily (in fact I opened up the capsule and measured out approximately 150 mg for several days to start)

Looks like every got it covered. Wishing you success in your healing.

Thanks. Will do. I'll try to give updates on how the meds effect me.

X -

The probiotics will NOT be enough to address a pre-existing yeast overgrowth, and some probiotics can exacerbate it. You'll probably need to be on an anti fungal Rx for at least a couple of months - perhaps as long as you're on abx. See my post above - don't let the yeast issues get out of hand - that could really disrupt your treatment and your health.

You can support your liver/kidneys with milk thistle seed and/or burdock root and should probably do that even if you're not on the anti fungal Rx. But it really helps. The Nystatin doesn't cross the gut's mucosal barrier so your liver never has to deal with it - unless the yeast is allowed to do enough damage to the gut's mucosal lining, and then everything starts leaking through it and into the bloodstream - this is "leaky gut" and is a horrific problem to try to solve.

Also, yeast/fungal issues often overlap w/ Lyme & co symptoms, making it very difficult to understand what is going on and how you're reacting to treatment.

In other words, a yeast/fungal overgrowth problem can derail your Lyme & co treatment pretty darn fast.

Please see this post for more info about resolving yeast/fungal overgrowth -and let us know if you have questions:
See "Y/FO in New to Lyme?" thread:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=1606610&g=3644275#m3644275

-p

Hi X -

Different strains
Different yeast/fungal strains react differently to both pharmaceutical and natural remedies. Unfortunately, you need a stool test that can show you efficacy of various remedies (expensive) or it's trial-and-error with the meds.

Unfortunately, yeast tests are not at all reliable. But fortunately, most people have immediate information/reactions to remedies because the die off is usually pretty quick and you can make decisions at that point.

Local vs Systemic yeast and treatment:
The thread I linked to above explains this in more detail. There is localized overgrowth in the gut, where most yeast/fungal overgrowth originates because of everything we eat and take orally that disrupts our natural biome and good bacteria that keeps the yeast/fungus in check. And the Nystatin is effective for this for most people. Nipping this in the bud is time-sensitive and can be straight-forward w/ Nystatin PLUS a sugar-free, simple-carb-free diet.

Then there is systemic overgrowth, which often evolves from overgrowth in the gut (primarily because of leaky gut described above) and that requires a harsher, more systemic Rx like Fluconazole/Diflucan. The general dose is 200mg/day. You can start with a smaller dose if you have severe die off in order to help your body detox the die off and reduce herxing, but it's important to titrate up to the 200mg quickly. Otherwise there isn't enough anti fungal to combat the yeast growing, particularly with abx involved.

Protecting the liver -
Any time you're on these systemic meds, which have to be processed by the liver, you need to also protect your liver.

I've had high enzymes show up when I ran out of milk thistle seed. I resumed it and the enzymes went down. Then I added in another antiviral med and they went up again. I added burdock root to the milk thistle seed and enzymes went right back down.

People who can't take these liver support herbs can rely on other forms of liver detoxing or need to avoid certain meds altogether but most of us can handle them for a limited time. And all systemic antifungals, unless you have a serious problem, shouldn't be taken for more than 6 mos. or so.

Unfortunately, most MDs don't really understand much about yeasts or remedies and leap to prescribing a systemic anti fungal, which isn't always necessary. But if your yeast/fungal issues are relatively new and/or you don't present with systemic symptoms, you can often nip it in the bud with the Nystatin. See that link above for more info about symptoms.

Although not all Nystatins are the same - see the link above for more info on that.

Resistance -
From what I've read, yeasts/fungal strains tend to grow resistant to natural forms more easily than pharmaceuticals (which is why you shouldn't take more than two natural antifungals simultaneously and not for more than a month at a time), and systemic antifungals more so than Nystatin. I don't really understand this well, but that's what I've learned through my years of researching. One theory is that continuing to consume sugary foods while on anti fungal pharmaceutics can contribute to growing resistance.

So that is another reason why Nystatin kind of comes out on top, of all the options. And Nystatin is derived from the earth, making it safer to take long-term. I would also recommend the PURE Nystatin powder form (more info in that link on this, as well).

While on abx -
Once you get the yeast really knocked back, it's advised that you stay on an anti fungal while you're taking abx. Some people have success with just naturals but my research shows this is not common - once you have a problem develop it is VERY difficult to keep it under control while you're still on abx w/out anti fungal meds.

Then, after you're off abx, a lot of people have good success with maintaining with rotating natural antifungals (they can grow resistant).

Hope that's helpful -

-p

everyone made great recommendations!

I would also add this - drink a full glass of water with each dose! and yes, i dont know where you live, but i live in NY and had to stop taking it in the spring bc my hands would burn just from driving the car (i had light clothing completely covering my skin except my hands).


as for the diflucan, i love it - it does wonders for me when i have too much yeast in my system. It is hard on the liver for some, but not for all. My liver was fine while i took it.

good luck!