Any success stories with IV? - Lyme Disease Message Board

klawk316 · 10-07-2005, 12:30 PM

My husband is starting IV on Tuesday. The most alarming symptoms are heart palpitations and upper body internal tremors, which come and go.

Question ONE: Any one else have these symptoms?
Question TWO: Any success stories with the IV?

Thanks, Karen

ticker · 10-07-2005, 02:11 PM

Hi Karen, welcome to the board!

I am sorry your husband has Lyme but it is good he will be starting treatment. I have a few questions. Is he seeing a Lyme knowledgable doctor? Was he tested for the co-infections ticks can transmit--Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis (HME & HGE), Bartonella, and Mycoplasma? This is important because many people who have Lyme are co-infected. It may affect treatment choice and progress.

Many people who have Lyme have these symptoms. Heart palpitations can also be from Babesiosis. Does he ever have night sweats and/or shortness of breath?

Many people have good success with IV treatment. How long is the doctor prescribing for? Which med and dose? Will he have a PICC line put in? If so, there is a great product you can get so he can shower without getting the site wet. It is called a mid-arm protector and you can get it at Brown Medical.

There are several people on this board who are currently on IV. They have a post called "PICC line people." You may want to read that.

Tell you husband to hang in there okay? He is not alone! He is lucky to have you looking out for him.

dianneom · 10-07-2005, 03:19 PM

Hi Karen ,
I have palipitations and other times a vibrating sensation coinsiding with my heartbeat , the latter whenever I lay down to sleep . I don't know of anyone else who has this sensation and was wondering if your husband's is the same .
I was on IV for (6) weeks , felt terrible the whole time but felt better at the end of the treatment . Don't think it was long enough because all symptoms returned in (6) months .

TINUVIEL · 10-07-2005, 07:09 PM

Hi,

I had major heart palpitations and arryhymia from Lyme and Babesiosis. I didn't do iv, but it all but stopped when I went on oral abx treatment, though I think the Babesiosis had a lot to do with the heart symptoms. There is someone in my Lyme support group whom I was told was on iv for 4-6 months and now seems to be symptom free.

Betterdaysforme · 10-07-2005, 09:29 PM

Dear Karen,

I was on the IV rocephin for 9 weeks and then had to stop because of liver enzyme problems. Mine jumped from 40 - 737. Make sure your husband takes milk thistle to keep his liver clean. If I had known about it when on the IV I might have been able to continue and would be better now. Hopefully he is taking a good probiotic too to replace the good bacteria in his system that will be depleted from the meds. After coming off the IV all the symptoms that it had "cured" came back except the palpitations. I have had them maybe 2 or 3 times since last January but not nearly as bad and really not bothersome. I may have some babesia sticking in me and that may be why I can't shake this lyme but will see Dr. Crist in Missouri in 2 weeks. Hopefully he will cure me. Good luck with your husband's treatment and feel free to ask any and all questions or just come on to vent because it is a wondeful group here and you will garner a lot of lyme knowledge.

Maureen