22 yrs old new father diagnosed with lyme...help please

[Benjamin167]

I was just diagnosed with lymes via cd57 low @39, and a positive test through IgGenix lab.  I have been looking for an answer for about a year, slowly losing muscle strength, eye problems, joint pain and cracking, tingling, muscle twitches...the works.  I have been on anti-biotics for 2 weeks tomorrow doxycycline @200mg oral.  I am wondering if IV anti-biotics would be a better way to go.  Im 22 years old and a new proud father of a 3 month old girl.  Sawyer Grace .  Im looking for any information or for anyone willing to talk to me about this issue.  I need to get healthy to take care of my fiance and baby.  please help  (also have a co-infection of ehrlichia)

[JackieCalifornia]

Your increase in symptoms may be Herxing, but if so, I know what it's like -- I can't separate my mind and my body to have enough distance to be comfortable that it's okay to feel lousy.  Well, not 'okay', but tolerable.  Sort of.  Okay, not really.  But there it is.

If your symptoms are concerning you, don't be a hero:  call your MD's office and tell them how you are feeling and how long it has lasted so far.  Only they can say if you are Herxing or having a medication reaction or something else.

As to a support group, try googling/searching "lyme support Denver" or some other geographic area like "lyme support central Kansas" or some other descriptor that works for you.

Hang in there ... you're young and sound strong and you are definitely motivated to get well, and that is the tool kit you need.  Let us know how you're doing.

[Benjamin167]

Thank you she is my staple in my life as I am battling this disease.  Many have beat it so I can too.  My llmd switched me to minocycline, essentialy the same thing but gets more of neuro symptoms.  I wish I could get bumped up to IV antibiotics but I have only been infected for a little over a year.  Since starting the anitbiotics though i have gotten so much worse and fast too, how long do herx reactions occur and Im curious if they are bad enough to make someone disabled because i feel like my legs and body in general dont work "right".  is there a support group somewhere i can join in order to talk to someone about this?

[JackieCalifornia]

Congratulations on the new baby!  That's wonderful.

I'd suggest you ask your MD about IV antibiotics and get his/her thinking about the current course of medication vs IV, and why.

I can tell you though that I too was diagnosed with Lyme and Ehrlichiosis, and my LLMD, who is very experienced in the field, prescribed exactly what you are taking:  oral doxycycline.

IV is used by some MDs, but I don't know on what basis -- since I've never had IV prescribed for me.  My impression is that IV is generally used for those who have been infected for a long, long time and are not progressing on oral meds.