This is how you draw blood from a PICC line.
1. Flush with 5cc normal saline.
2. Waste 5cc blood.
3. Attach vacutainer and collect proper order of the draw. This is important because some of the vials have additives in them.
4. Flush with 10cc normal saline.
5. Flush with 5cc heparin.
At the end of last month I saw my providers and they are adding two new oral meds to the protocol. I have to get an eye exam first because one of the meds is Plaquenil and there are rare instances where it can have an effect on the eyes. They want to get a baseline before I start it so if any problems arise we'll be able to catch it quickly. They also added Lamisil for me to take on the days when I don't infuse IV Diflucan. Ten weeks down and 42 to go as long as I can keep the PICC line patent. Hopefully, treatment won't go for that long. I'm hoping that by April, or before, I'll start to feel a lot better.
I've been on a gluten-free/casein-free diet for about 2 months. Every Lyme patient has to do this. Does it make a difference? I don't know. I did this on my own for more than a full year a few years ago and I didn't notice anything. I do know that cutting out all artificial sweeteners and not making as many processed foods has helped exponentially with pain. My pain now is usually associated with weather changes. You have to watch what you put in your mouth. There are too many chemical out there. I stopped drinking carbonated drinks and caffeine about 15 years ago. It's not a forever thing. I may have a Dr. Pepper half a dozen times a year. My caffeine intake goes up in the winter because I drink a lot of hot tea. I don't drink it for the caffeine and whenever I can find my favorite teas decaffeinated, that is a huge bonus. I don't think either of those is good for you, especially in the amounts I've seen some people drink them. If you're having health problems, the one thing you can do on your own is watch what's going in your mouth.