how do you treat someone for lymes disease that has had it for 5 months untreate!
Question: My husband contacted lymes overseas and has had it for 5 months witout any treatment the P.A. that he is seeing doesnt have a clue how to treat it and have asked that he ask his doc back here in the states on treatment options. This is just one more avenue for us on obtaining info.
Answers:
I've been EXACTLY where you are before. Lymes is scary and the info out there is scattered and hard to understand (believe me, I did plenty of research when I could muster the energy).
Your husband will need to go to an Infectious Disease Specialist. They will do one of two things.
1) Try the original treatment (the one he should have gotten just after he was infected), which is a massive dose of antibiotic in pill form. For me, it was a half gram of amoxicillian three times a day for two weeks. If they go this route, let me warn you that it's REALLY hard on your system to have that kind of dose of antibiotic in it. I was nauseous for quite a while after that treatment. If your husband likes yogurt, make sure he eats a lot of it to keep up the good bacteria in his digestive system. Believe me, it'll make life easier.
2) The second treatment option is more invasive. For me, the first treatment did not work and I had to go to this one. The doctor's office inserted a 6 inch catheder in my arm so that I could give myself IV injections of the antibiotic Rocephin (I think that's how you spell it) once a day. The catheder stayed in my arm for five weeks. The insertion of the catheder is very easy - giving blood is more painful than having a catheder put in - so there's nothing to be afraid of, really, but it is scary the first time. He'll have to give himself a total of four injections a day - 2 heparin injections (heparin is a blood thinner and will keep the cathedar from getting clogged), the actual antibiotic, and a saline solution. The other three injections (the heparin and saline) will keep the cathedar clear and clean. He'll have to keep the area the catheder is in clean and dry and whatever the doctor uses to keep the cathedar still on his arm will have to be changed every couple of days, too. No alcohol while he's on the Rocephin, either.
For me, the Rocephin treatment worked pretty well. The results were slow in showing themselves, though. Be patient. When I was done, the doc said that there really weren't any more treatment options for me, but if the symptoms return to come back and they'd do the catheder/Rocephin treatment again.
I WAS still fatigued after the treatment and my joints are still not what they should be, but I got a LOT of relief for both in the strangest place - my chiropractor.
The chiropractor put me on a multivitamins and omega-three fatty acids, and did adjustments three times a week, and insisted that I get at least 20 minutes of cardio workout 3 times a week.
I had never been to a chiropractor before and really kinda thought they were quacks, but I was at the end of my rope.
My right hand to God, it worked. The fatigue is GONE. My joints still get pretty stiff sometimes, but it WORKED. I've never been in this kind of shape before (good shape!), and I have my energy back - and I'm symptom free.
I'm wishing you lots of luck. Having Lyme sure wasn't a pleasent experience for me, and I hope that what I learned can be of use to you.
If you're interested in going the chiropractor route, and would like to have your chiropractor talk to my chiropractor, just ask. I'll check back after a while and see if you've left any comments asking for that info. I'd be happy to email or message you his contact information.
Best of luck in your recovery - it can be done!
Other Answers:
You asked a very good question. You need to get him to a hospital right away and not a military one. There are several antibiotics that can help. Doxycycline,Amoxicillin,Penici. Because he has had it for a while untreated he may need to receive Intravenous antibiotics {IV}. If left untreated it could mess with his Joints, and even his heart. Haste not get him to the doctor now. I hope I helped I am a Medical assistant and about to go to school to become a nurse-Larry
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