I am tired of Doxy, not sure it's doing anything? Relapsing/Remitting Lyme?

I have looked at my journals and it seems that I have relapsing/remitting episodes every 4-6 weeks.  This seems to be the life cycle of the bacteria, if I'm reading correctly?

[gorbybelle]

It is thought that 4-6 weeks is the 'cycle' pattern for lyme - when I first got 'bitten' - my flares were 4 weekly - over time they would sometimes be up-to 6 weeks apart.  How long have you been on 'doxy' - whats your daily dosage ?

[wonko]

I certainly notice a worsening of symptoms around my period, and I have a lot of other shorter-scale and unpredictable fluctuations.  I was much more steady (and much more sick) before my treatment began, so to me in my situation the appearance of better days in between bad days was a sign of improvement.

Are you on only doxy?  I've never taken that one, but to the best of my knowledge it doesn't treat co-infections.  

My LLMD always talks about how treating Lyme is all about pulling back layers, which is why his approach involves using a combination of antibiotics.  I have to admit, the "layer theory" has applied to my case, because often as one symptom clears, another worsens and takes center stage.

When do you see your LLMD again?  Maybe you need a change in treatment to start hitting this harder.  Of course, it can take time.  I made some small temporary gains early on, but it was really around the 8-9 month mark that I finally had lasting measurable improvement.  There's a lot of variety in how we respond and how long it takes.
  

[kelley333]

HI HOPE75, YOU JUST GAVE ME A GREAT IDEA,I NEVER THOUGHT OF KEEPING A JOURNAL AOUT MY LYME PROBLEMS,BUT I'M GOING TO START AS OF TODAY. I WAS BITTEN IN APRIL BY A TICK,BUT WASN'T TESTED UNTIL JUNE WHEN I WAS POSITIVE FOR LYME.TREATED WITH DOXY LIKE YOU,DIDN'T WORK,THEN TREATED WITH ROESEPHIN WITH STILL NO RESULTS.NO MORE TREATMENTS SINCE JULY BUT MANY MORE SYMPTOMS.I'M GETTING VERY FRUSTATED,I DID JUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A LLMD AT THE RHINEBECK CENTER FOR JAN.2010.NOW I JUST NEED TO SAVE UP $750.00 SINCE THEY DON'T TAKE ANY INSURANCES.   KELLEY333

[Hope75]

I have been on Doxy alone since this summer and I see my LLMD the first week of December to start new/different meds.  He said he will put me on a few oral antibiotics to hit it from all sides, sort of speak.  I have moved out of my foot burning pain into tinnitus and headache.  What an annoyance!

Yes, keep a journal!  I didn't start until a year into my problem and it would have been helpful.  My LLMD initial appt. was $750.00 also, so it sounds like a fair/average price.  It' s worth every penny.  I have an Excel spreadsheet that graphs my pain as well, to see if there is any cycle (which there is).

Best of luck Kelley333 and make sure you save your pennies!

[Hope75]

Oh, my daily dosage is 100mg two times a day:)

[patsy10]

According to what I have read it takes a much higher dose of doxy (200mg twice a day) to kill lyme.  However I improve on 100 twice a day.

[Chatterbox58]

Yes, very good idea, I think I'll start a journal also...does seem to be a vicious cycle.