Lyme Disease Treatment

After 5 years of symptoms told MS in June and put on Avonex.  Friend referred me to a LLMD who says I have Chronic Lyme with co-infections.  I want to start on a 16 week course of IV antibiotics but concerned that the Avonex (since its a blood/brain barrier blocker) would interfer with the antibiotics reaching the lesions and decreasing the effectiveness of the antibiotics. Since this treatment is so costly, I want to do everything possible to allow it to work.  Should I stop the Avonex during the 4 months of IVs?  My MS doctor says its not Lyme (no positive Lyme test as less than CDC required bands on Western Blot - 41k on IGG and 34K IGM only) and my LLMR tells me to reduce the Avonex.  I want to stop it all together if it will help me get healthy.  If its not Lyme I lose 4 months from the Avonex treatment.  If it is Lyme, then we score a big one.  What to do?

[bowhunter0310]

Hi.  Have you posted your question on Lyme net dot org?  Or try healing well dot com.  I would think that the Avonex would be stopped during the IV treatment, thats just what I have read on different sites.  Do you have lesions on your brain or spine?  How long do you think you have been infected?  Did you have the bulls eye rash?  I have some weird symptoms also, for 8 years now, all my tests have been normal.  Hope you get on the right track.  My gram had MS, and it was sad watching her decline over the years, although she was 60 years old when diagnosed, she had PPMS.  

[Carol in PA]

Dave,
Band 34 on the Western Blot is considered definitely Lyme.
Although the CDC requires a certain number of bands to be considered positive, this requirement is for surveillance purposes, not for diagnostic purposes.  Thus, you can have Lyme without being "CDC positive."

Obviously, your Lyme literate M.D. thinks you have Lyme Disease, or he would not prescribe four months of intravenous antibiotics for you.
If you would like the opinion of a large number of experienced Lyme patients, you can post an inquiry on the medical discussions forum at LymeNet dot org.
Get a copy of your Western Blot results, and post them, and ask for opinions.
There are several articles written by prominent Lyme doctors that explain the Western Blot results.

Wishing you the best,
Carol

[cozerk]

Hi Davet,

I red your confusion in 2007 January. Now I have the same confusion but i didn't yet do the lime test. Becouse of MS treatment acut (acute) steroid therapy 1 week I couldn't give any test. Now My neurologist are going to start with Avonex. How did your story go on since last year. I hope you feel better, and getting better.

bye,

Cagatay

[therealbill]

lesions... YOU MENTION lesions... these are found via MRI of your brain ?   That is a sign of MS but I also know that many doctors are not LYME literate as my daughther is suffering and after looking for LUPUS, MS, she is still sick. We are going to another doctor and even a Neurologist thought LYME.  The lesions, these where found by your Neurologist and diagnosed related to LYME or what explaination was given ?

You basically have little to lose by treating the LYME.. but who cautioned about the lesions ?  

BILL (very interested in your case)