I have "The Lyme Disease Solution" book by Kenneth Singleton (MD), and according to that, RMSF is another tick co-infection. In terms of treatment, he says Doxy is a 2-for drug, for both RMSF and Lyme. What I couldn't tell tho, was if he was saying for early stage or chronic Lyme. The reason I say that is because he says symptoms typically clear up within 24 to 72 hours of treatment. Are you already on Doxy (or one of the tetracyclines)?

Symptoms of RMSF:
dark rash, starts on hands and feet before spreading to torso
chills
high fever
headache
brain fog
muscle aches and pains
sensitivity to light

Hope this was useful. Oh, it also said that often, dr's don't look for RMSF. So the fact that you have a dx, you're ahead of the game - good for you and your doctor :-)

Jenn

I have heard that RMSF was another of the many co-infections. Dr. Burrascanno seems to feel that there are many co-infections possible depending on your location, but most seem to fall into the three category types that are treated either by the Doxy groups, the Cephalo group , the Flagyl group and the Quinine group. It is "just" a matter of figuring out which critter to abolish first or in what sequence. I think the "pulse" therapy is supposed to be the recommended one after the initial abx treatment. I know it's way more complicated than my brain can take in!

Jenn,

Had all that except the rash but wasn't dx'ed at the time it was actually just found like 6 months ago in blood work my LLMD ordered a kinda "by the way you have RMSF too". Like I said though all I can find is short term treatment and effects and this had to.....ok, didn't have to , but assuming it was the same little dude that had babs and Lyme it was like 1999 and the RMSF is still in my bloodstream??? crazylegs I dont remember your name...wait, what's mine? anyway I would have to look and see what class of abx it is that I am on and I have heard of pulse and that sounds like it was invented by a Lymie cause you take it for so many days then forget for a few and then take it again and forget it again etc...... lmao. I am due to see LLMD next month and time to switch 'er up abx wise. wonder what's gonna be next? thanks gals for your responses!

hugssss

Lorraine

My abx is a cephlosporin, the one Im one that I've been on for 6 months. that and questran which supposedly helps with the babs. before that it was rocephin IV.....NEXT!

My abx is a cephlosporin, the one Im one that I've been on for 6 months. that and questran which supposedly helps with the babs. before that it was rocephin IV.....NEXT! lol

Something my LLMD told me about co-infections, and I'm speculating that it applies to RMSF, is that Lyme can drive your immune system so low into the ground that the tests for coinfections don't show up until the Lyme starts to be healed.

That's different from what I've been reading here and in some books, that the co-infections have to be treated first. But she also said that the abx for Lyme cover "most" of the coinfections, with a few exceptions.

I'm currently on rocephin iv - Lorraine, how long were you on it before you moved onto the next abx? I'm sched'd for 28 days, then a follow up with my LLMD.

Sounds like I may be on a similar path to yours.

Jenn

Well I had 28 days of rocephin and was proclaimed cured! I didn't have an LLMD then. Once I found my LLMD he wanted to put me back on IV abx long term via a portacath and I was still stubbornly trying to work and said no way and opted for oral abx. I have since stopped working, still don't like the portacath idea but the PICC line sucked too and I don't know if the oral stuff is doing anything or not. I guess I will see what he has to say and play it by ear. yay Lyme! NOT

I don't think ANYONE is really cured with 28 days of abx! My LLD is starting me off with oral abx because I've had this for so many years and his rationale is to reduce the herxing and not tip off the insurance with the IV abx until the co-infection testing is done ( in about 3-4 mos) . I know that oral Ceftin and Zithromax are definitely causing enough herxing for me now. I think the pulse therapy is recommended by Burrascano for the end part of long term treatment, especially when you are dealing with co-infections that don't respond to the same types of treatments. (ie- quinine therapy with doxy)

Oh I know I am not cured after 28 days of anything but that's what the medical community around here was telling me. I had to wait to get into an LLMD 12.5 hours from me 5 months later to start treatment again! I did find closer ones but I love this doc and he is worth the travel. He sleeps eats and breaths Burrascano's protocols and is totally open to his patients needs. I understand the insurance thing too, I am afraid to go the long term IV portacath route and have the insurance totally squash me altogether which is total BS! we shouldn't have to worry about things like that only getting better! So for now Im on oral abx also and we will see what he has to say in December assuming I can make it out there to see him. The thing with the oral abx is that I herxed for a while, cyclically when I first started on it but either I'm not herxing anymore or I'm just used to it. Im afraid it's not working anymore.