Re: Temporary Stopping of AP

[Guest guest]

Dear lie,

Dr. Franco asks patients to stop the antibiotic for six weeks so that

the tests for an infectious organism have the best chance of success.

If an infection can be found and identified, then the choice of

antibiotic for that patient is easier. While minocycline and

doxycycline are usually chosen for their broad-spectrum coverage of

many organisms, it is most useful for the infection to be found and

also may help with insurance claims.

Dr. Brown said that people could go off the antibiotic for four weeks

or so without any backsliding. When people talk about the antibiotic

not being as effective once it has been stopped, they are referring to

the situation where someone has stopped the antibiotic for much longer

periods, perhaps after remission, and then found that their symptoms

slowly return. In some cases, they have trouble getting the antibiotic

to work for them a second time.

Dr. Franco is certainly one of the best experts in the field where

antibiotic therapy is concerned and is a traditionally-trained

rheumatologist with impeccable qualifications. I guess your insurance

situation is a problem. As far as your pain is concerned, I would

perhaps contact Dr. Franco and discuss it with him.

Chris.

On Sunday, December 29, 2002, at 04:38 AM, lie Anger wrote:

> I have an opportunity to see Dr Franco in CA earlu February when I am

> there visiting my sister. I was very excited until I found he is not a

> provider with my insurance and so I would have to pay the first $1000

> and then 50% of everything above that. The bill would probably be

> around $3000. The other drawback is he requires one to stop the

> antibiotic for 6 weeks before seeing him. Someone in this group had

> written that after you stop and start again it is not as effective. I

> had decided (with hesitancy) to go ahead but now I have just missed 2

> days and the pain I feel now scares me that it will be much worse in 6

> weeks! I had alot of pain with HERX but I can tell this is a different

> pain (more in the joints than the general pain with HERX). I believe

> the DOXY I take is working and I guess I was just discouraged that I

> am not as far along after one year as I had hoped to be. So I am

> leaning toward cancelling the appointment with Dr. Franco.

>

> Has anyone had experience with dropping AP for 6 weeks and starting

> again and what was the result?

> I hope you all had a merry and meaningful Christmas.

> In His Hand,

> lie

> RA 2 yr.4 mo.(diagnosed)

> AP 1 yr.

>

>

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