Lyme Disease Treatment- Reactions

[debbie1016]

I was treated for lyme disease using Rocephin by iv 2 grams a day for 19 days. I was not able to take medication orally.  I have been off  the iv for several weeks now, but continue to get fevers, aches and chills.  Has anyone else had this treatment and similiar reactions?  Do I need to treat again or differently?

[JackieCalifornia]

I agree with amyloo's comment -- the ticks that carry Lyme often carry other diseases too that aren't necessarily susceptible to antibiotics against Lyme.

Dr who treat Lyme usually will test for coinfections based on your symptoms when you first consult the dr.

If your dr didn't, and isn't keen on following up (which seems odd), then finding another MD would be my next step.  Common coinfections are bartonella, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis and a couple of others.  Infectious disease MDs *should* be able to test and treat for those, but because it all gets tangled up with Lyme, the ID docs can be very dismissive of any complaint in a patient who may have a tickborne disease.  Depends on the ID doc, of course, but I've recently seen an ID doc on a related matter who recited, chapter and verse, to me the standard "Lyme is no big deal" mantra.  

I'd be sure to get copies of ALL the tests your current MD did on you, and make notes of all the treatments (what drug, what dose, beginning when, ending when, and results and side effects) and see what he tested for exactly.  

And in the meantime, I'd scout around for an LLMD.  You could check the ilads [dot] org website, or google 'how to find an LLMD'.  If you need help, post back here and we'll see what we can dig up.

Take care, let us know how you do.

[debbie1016]

thanks for your insight.  do you know how i would go about being tested for coinfections. i saw a doctor that treats lyme disease but when the episodes of fever and chills started after the treatment ended, he told me to see an infectious disease doctor.  have seen one as well for your lyme disease? i am at a stand still right now.  i had some blood work done but nothing was shown.

[Amyloo]

19 days of Rocephin is not very long.  I was on for seven months, but never did 2 g a day.  (We went "low and slow", sometimes only using 1/2 gram a day)  

Are you seeing a doctor that specializes in Lyme?  Do you have any coinfections?  Coinfections definately make a patient sicker, and sometimes longer treatment is required.