Doxycycline and sun exposure

[Guest guest]

Has anyone had experience taking Doxycycline and being out in

the sun? My daughter, newly diagnosed with congenital lyme,

ehrlichia, babesia, and bartonella was prescribed Doxycycline.

Our LLMD warned us about photosensitivity with Doxy and said

she would have to avoid being in the sun because it could result in

second degree burns. The only problem is that she is in the high

school band and they practice outside on the field every day after

school. She has worked so hard this year to prepare for marching

season (she is in the Colorguard--flags, for those of you who are

not " band literate. " ) Being in the Colorguard is her " thing " and

the only extracurricular activity she is involved in. Our LLMD said

she would have to quit band to be treated and would not consider

any other antibiotic at this time. Ehrlichiosis is what he wants to

target first. He would not go as far as to say that a good sunblock

and covering up with protective clothing would be acceptable.

It is a real dilemma for us--treat her and have her give up the most

important thing in her life right now, or wait on treatment till after

football season is over in 8-10 weeks. She has already been

undiagnosed and untreated for almost 16 years. There is so much

to consider and I'm not sure I can handle 3 of us, including myself,

herxing all at the same time. Are there any herbal treatments that

will kill out the bugs, especially the Ehrlichia, if we decide to wait

on treatment? Or is the sun sensitivity overstated?

Thanks for listening,

Phyllis

[Guest guest]

Hi

I have a landscaping business. I took 2 capsules two times a day and I fried

in two days. I got burn very badly and they

took me off it and switched.

I have had business for 17 years and have never burned in my life. This was a

first. My hands and arms burn very badly. I

would not take this and go out in the sun for any period of time ever again.

I switch when I go back to work.

Let her wait. Football season is over in such a short time and is so

important for kids to have wonderful memories of

school. They could put her on something else until she is

finished.

Rita

TW

[Guest guest]

I was on Doxy for a year and I had no problem in the sun at all. I even found

I could go to the beach. I tan very easily though and have never burnt - so

I am probably a rare exception. If it were my daughter and she needed to be

on it I would just try it out slowly. She will know if the sun is bothering

her. I would think if she wore sunblock and covered up it would be okay.

a

_________________________________________________________________

" Do me a favor, doc, tell me something good. " - Blair -

~~ The Exorcist ~~

[Guest guest]

Hi Phyllis,

I would have her wear super good sunscreen, or I wear protective sleeves

from Sun Precautions. I just keep the sleeve extensions in the car since the

sun hurts really bad sometimes coming thru the window. I laughed at them at

first, but they are great, just pop them on and off.

Sun Precautions number is 1-800-882-7860

I have an awful time in the sun, so I also have a hat, jacket, and

umbrella that is sunproof. I usually use the Physicians formula, doesn't

break out my sensitive skin.

As for school, just tell her teachers what is going on. I work in

school, we had a student severely allergic to anything Avon and we sent a

note home to the parents about it so the other children would not use the

products when they were coming to school. We didn't have a problem at all.

Teachers are much more cooperative if they know what is going on all the

time. Have her keep sunscreen in her locker in case she forgets to put it on.

hugs and good luck,

Connie,MI

[Guest guest]

Hi Phyliss lets hope it doesn't bother her.......for a while I was seeing dr

P and he told me his father was fine in the sun with doxy.......yet others.

aren't........I will be something you will learn very quickly......if she was

my daughter I would insist that they treat her with something else for those

8-10 weeks.......its important for her to feel involved........I am actually

shocked for my LLMD......generally will change meds during summer season to

accomidate the weather conditions.....best of luck

AMy

In a message dated 8/19/01 3:38:26 PM Eastern Daylight Time, lpskvin@...

writes:

>

> Has anyone had experience taking Doxycycline and being out in

> the sun? My daughter, newly diagnosed with congenital lyme,

> ehrlichia, babesia, and bartonella was prescribed Doxycycline.

> Our LLMD warned us about photosensitivity with Doxy and said

> she would have to avoid being in the sun because it could result in

> second degree burns. The only problem is that she is in the high

> school band and they practice outside on the field every day after

> school. She has worked so hard this year to prepare for marching

> season (she is in the Colorguard--flags, for those of you who are

> not " band literate. " ) Being in the Colorguard is her " thing " and

> the only extracurricular activity she is involved in. Our LLMD said

> she would have to quit band to be treated and would not consider

> any other antibiotic at this time. Ehrlichiosis is what he wants to

> target first. He would not go as far as to say that a good sunblock

> and covering up with protective clothing would be acceptable.

>

> It is a real dilemma for us--treat her and have her give up the most

> important thing in her life right now, or wait on treatment till after

> football season is over in 8-10 weeks. She has already been

> undiagnosed and untreated for almost 16 years. There is so much

> to consider and I'm not sure I can handle 3 of us, including myself,

> herxing all at the same time. Are there any herbal treatments that

> will kill out the bugs, especially the Ehrlichia, if we decide to wait

> on treatment? Or is the sun sensitivity overstated?

>

> Thanks for listening,

> Phyllis

>

>

[Guest guest]

I can feel for your Daughter............I was on Doxycycline, and under

contract to coach Softball....not to mention I am a Physical Education

Teacher,....May and June, were months that happened to be full of sun with

little clouds or rain.............I was out in the sun all day teaching, and

then another couple of hours after school either practicing or having a

game, all in full sun!! I would sometimes take an umbrella, and always wore

a large brim hat to cover my face. I also put on a lot of

sunscreen.............and yes I did get some sun burn............not too

severe........my nose seemed to get it the worst, I started to wear a nose

guard off my sunglasses...........but I survived the spring..........in the

fall, the sun isn't as intense in the afternoon as it is in the

Spring........she might be able to survive the sun, using some

precautions.........covering up.......etc.......have an umbrella, so when

they are on breaks, she can be under an umbrella........and definitely a

hat.........I think we all respond a little differently........I have heard

of those that get the littlest sun while on Doxy, get severe

burns............so I think it is very individual........you could always

try it out, and maybe try 15 minutes in the sun and see what

happens.........and then extend that to 30 minutes.......you might find she

will be ok.........

If she does have a reaction, .................wait, until Football Season is

over............

I also had a student in class on Doxycycline....and he was out in the sun

every day for PE class at least 35-40 minutes........he always wore a

hat......but never suffered any sunburn.

As a high school teacher, its so important for kids to belong to something.

and be part of a group........and if its ColorGuard, then that is most

important then starting the Doxy......By not being part of the ColorGuard

can cause more damage to your daughter.......than waiting two more months to

start abx.

Just my opinion, not as a Dr..as I'm certainly not qualified........and I

also don't know how bad her Lyme is.........but as a High School

Teacher......keep her in the ColorGuard

Hope that helps,

Connie, nwnj

Leave no stone unturned.......and ask questions!

[Guest guest]

For me the sun didn't even have to be out...........if I was riding my

bike(have not done that for a while), or operating a tractor the wind would

make my skin tingle. I got fried in April just being at the beach. I was

wearing a hat and a long sleeved shirt and 45spf sunscreen.

Our llmd takes us off doxy from spring till fall.........

How long has she been on? Maybe her doc would consider taking her off

........heck, she has waited this long!

This disease is hard on kids.......they need some normalcy!!!!!!!!!

Like Connie said everyone is different!!!

- aka milkmade

[Guest guest]

Phyllis,

You might be able to find one of those light gauze type shirts for your

Daughter. If she tans easily she might not be affected by the Doxy and sun

too much. I would also try a very high numbered sunscreen. As for a herx on

the Doxy, maybe she will and maybe not. I never really had one on Doxy, I

had some fatigue and headaches, but not a true Herx. Good luck and take

care,

[Guest guest]

I think a lot of this depends on your dosage.

For me, on 200-400mg/day it didn't bother me.

But, when I was on 1200mg/day I played golf one day and, even with sunblock,

really got burned.

Just another perspective.

[Guest guest]

Dear Phyliss,

I can imagine how torn up you are about this. Wanting to get treatment for your

daughter, and wanting her to have a normal life and follow her dreams. (I have a

very dear friend who's son is just going off to college and spent all of his

high-school years in band. Going to college on a band scholarship. It was his,

and their, whole life, so I realize how very important this is to her.)

I didn't have unusually adverse reactions (though I have to avoid heat in

general) to this particular medication, but (hubby) does. Not just

sunburn, but the faintness and weakness, and feeling ill. Then he can't do

anything else the rest of the day...and that's just going from house to car. He

wears a hat. I say that only to stress that one person's reaction won't

necessarily mean another will react the same way. Just watch and see.

However, I would be more concerned with the EFFECTS of heat, with all we've been

reading about kids and heat-related incidents in the paper. The medications can

cause more than sunburn. Make sure she drinks a lot of extra water to prevent

dehydration. Bands practice long hours, before and after school, even. In our

Texas heat, I don't know how they do it with those instruments and uniforms!

Seems they take more punishment than the football players!

Band is an important part of her life right now. I truly hope she can coordinate

that aspect of her life with her treatment plan. They earn their place in the

band by being the best, so I hope she can follow it through. Please keep us

informed!

Love ya, Rose in Texas

Phyliss wrote:

<snip>Has anyone had experience taking Doxycycline and

being out in

the sun?

T.O.I.L. for Lyme!

T=Teach tolerance; O=Overcome ignorance; I=Initiate insurance reform; L=Labor

for Lyme literacy

*Websites*

http://www.angelfire.com/tx3/RoseWriter or

http://www.angelfire.com/biz/romarkaraoke/james.html

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