Suggest Treatment For Recurrent Lyme Disease

Posted on Mon, 17 Aug 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 17 Aug 2015 Answered on

Mon, 7 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi, This will be the 6th time I have had Lyme Disease but this is the worst....have a two month wait to see a infectious disease specialist....all I do is sleep, very fatigued when awake, brain fog is horrible and vision is blurry at times...I just am not myself...I feel there is something else going on...but primary dr says all blood work looks good but that was month or so ago...currently on Doxy 100mg twice a day till see spec...going nuts diabetes, and stroke runs in the family...mother had arterial tempuritis...just wondering what to do end of Sept is so far away to wait for answers....Thanks just frustrated. XXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Lyme should be confirmed if atypical presentation

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern

For lyme disease with typical presentation, diagnostic testing is not required and treatment is started with doxycycline or amoxicillin or cefuroxime. If there are cardiac, neurological and joint manifestations then ELISA, PCR or western blot should be advised to be more sure about the diagnosis. Lyme with cardiac or neurological involvement , if confirmed, is treated with I.V CEFTRIAXONE. A specialist referral is the right way to go to look for other causes instead of lyme that could be responsible for these symptoms.

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.

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Dr. M.S. Khalil

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (3 hours later)

Dr. Khali,
Elisa, pcr and western blot have all been preformed and are positive and high markers...It has affected my neurological system so bad I can't perform my job.I feel it is unacceptable to wait til Sept 30th for treatment when I really feel something else may be going on....I am in a remote area so getting another spec. is at least 3 hrs and more time to wait...do you think I should see a neurologist or have my primary do a mri?
frustrated sorry...
Thank you,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Treatment , first

Detailed Answer:
Hello.

If these tests are positive then there is no need to wait. I.V ceftriaxone should be started sooner rather than later. An MRI may also be done for the convenience of a neurologist but treatment is the first priority in my view. Start the treatment now, do the MRI then.

Thanks

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar