just diagnosed have some questions

Found a rash about 2 weeks ago, went to dr Aug 28, not sure of lyme but started me on 100mg twice/day doxycycline.  just returned from my primary today(9/3), she firmly believes Lyme due to rash specs.  She bumped me up to 100mg 4 times/day.  I have been having the following:  fatigue, neck pain, left cheek facial numbness, lower left back pain.  Dr could not tell me what stage I may be in since we have no idea when I got the tick bite. Blood work has not come back yet.   Does anyone out there have a opinion or idea what stage I could be in-should I be getting an IV dose of meds instead of 400mg /day.  I am just afraid of not getting enough dosage in the beginning which may cause more long term effects.  Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.  thanks.

[patsy10]

It's rare that a doctor prescribes the correct amount of doxy to treat lyme disease.  I'm impressed with your doctor.  400mg per day is correct.  Most doctors will prescribe 100mg twice a day.  It's hard to say what stage.  You had a recent rash so hopefully early.  However, less than 50% of people ever even see rash so it's possible you were bitten a while back.  Usually IV's are used in severe forms of lyme with neuro,cardiac or severe arthritis.  Most doctors seem to start with orals.  Don't rely on the blood tests.  they are notoriously inaccurate.  You can have severe lyme and test negative.

[Deligirl1]

thank you - she does seem as if she knows what she is doing, she is my gynecologist and I have been seeing her for other things but know she is involved with Lyme disease.  I have been having neck pain so she called me in for a  methl-B12 shot.  I now am having cramping down the back of my right leg, she says this is not abmornal with lyme and I will see her Monday for another methyl B12 this time in my leg.  Also need to start taking magnesium.  I am thinking I am maybe stage 2, only because even writing this I have the slightest of shakes in my arms and hands.  facial numbness dissapeared after my first B12-relief.  She has me on a "lyme diet", low sugar, no soda, no coffee, high fiber, vitamins, fish oil, CoQ10, 1 container of yogurt per day.  I will do as she says and with any luck, long term effects will be diminshed.....

[patsy10]

I responded very well to orals.  I am by no means "normal" but I had this in the 90's (had the bullseye rashes), responded to antibiotics but relapsed again after having surgery in 2005.  Again I have responded well to treatment.  It can go dormant and come back.  I was first treated with orals about 15 months after the rash.  I'm very impressed with your doctor.  You can find a lot of lyme info. at lymenet dot org.

[Deligirl1]

great I will check it out over the wknd.  Thanks again for your insight and helpful information.  I do feel better and realize I am lucky to have found my Dr and must be in good hands.  I will keep posted on progress.  If I find out any other remedies or things that help me I will be sure to post and share with you and others.  One thing she did say was that I could eat half a sandwich with water when taking my Doxy.  It was making me really sick to my stomache, i had been following the prescrip information and taking on empty stomach with water.  she said it would not hurt the effects and would rather I did not have the stomach problems.  Take Care.

[patsy10]

Doxy is rough on the stomache.  Be careful in the sun as you can get severely burned.  Good luck and keep us posted.