posted
hi everyone - this is my first post! i'm wondering if anyone could shed some light on babesia treatment?
my LLMD has been treating me with oral abx for lyme since february. i was tested for coinfections via quest in december 2009 and all results were negative (including lyme). LLMD would not sign off on an igenex order, even though i've been asking for it monthly.
i was able to have my naturopath order igenex testing last month and guess what? i tested positive for b.microti via FISH and it looks like i have some erlichia exposure as well.
LLMD was defensive to say the least. she ended up agreeing to Rx 10 days mepron / 20 days 500mg zithromax.
has anyone been successfully treated with this regimen? i constantly see instances of people taking this combo for MONTHS. should i seek a 2nd opinion? i feel like my lyme symptoms are really improving (mostly just lingering fatigue at this point) -- so maybe this standard dose will work?
thank you all for sharing your experiences!
Posts: 6 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2010
| IP: Logged |
seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
If you're supposed LLMD is against testing/treating it appropriate, this means one thing. Get a new LLMD. Seriously. You need a partner, not someone defensive.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged |
blinkie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14470
posted
find a real LLMD, it doesn't sound like this one is.
Posts: 1104 | From N.California | Registered: Jan 2008
| IP: Logged |
janet thomas
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7122
posted
Agreed, new LLMD.
-------------------- I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice but only my personal experience and opinion. Posts: 2001 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2005
| IP: Logged |
Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
I agree with the others--a second opinion sounds like a good idea. I don't know anyone who eradicated Babesiosis in twenty days.
posted
Hooray for you & your naturopath! Way to persevere and listen to your intuition!
Ditto posters above. I think you need to seek a better (real) LLMD.
Seems your current practitioner isn't open to learning, and that's REQUIRED in the battle against Lyme & co-infections.
My successful LLMD trained under Dr B in NY and thinks my Babesiosis must be conquered first in order to achieve long-term remission from Lyme & co's. I anticipate taking Mepron & azith (or a substitute) for months.
Good news that your symptoms have lessened for now. Be aware that to get into long-term remission, you should treat for 3 to 4 months after ALL symptoms are gone.
posted
I have been treating for Babs since March or so till now and still have 3-6 more months to go. Hardly any symptoms now though. Currently on doxy, levoquin, bactrim ds and Artemisinin and it definitely seems to be working though this is not the orthodox treatment by any means it does allow me to treat all at once eg Bart Bb and Babs.
-------------------- Ideas not advice. Posts: 448 | From Downeast Maine | Registered: Jul 2009
| IP: Logged |
seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
20 days Sammi? Wow, that's 7x longer than my ID doc thinks B. Duncanii is beat. I had 3 days of meds. lol.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged |
Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Hey seek, I guess you don't have to worry about the ID doctor over-treating you!
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
No, it is so very nice of my ID doc to do that for me. Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged |
BoxerMom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25251
posted
OMG! Defensive doctors are the worst. Big egos. Think they know more than everyone else. Find a new LLMD!!!!
It took me one year on Mepron in combo with other drugs to treat my Babs microti. Twenty days just teases it!
posted
Thank you all for your input! I had a feeling that this regimen was a joke. Going to check out another supposed LLMD this Thursday (my friend has an appt & will be the guinea pig).
My naturopath has me taking artemisinin in addition to the mepron/zith Rx'd by my LLMD.
The art bottle says to avoid antioxidants and iron. I reviewed my supplements to see which are antioxidants and ended up pulling a bunch of them out of my pill organizers.
I'm also trying to avoid eating antioxidant and iron-rich foods while taking art, which is SO not how i'm used to eating! Is anyone else doing this? (i'm taking 100mg art 3X daily)
Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
maybesparrow, there are some great doctors in your area. If you need names, feel free to send me a private message.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
tick battler
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 21113
posted
Yes, I agree...new LLMD ASAP. I can't believe she wouldn't agree to sign off on the Igenex form. That's a problem when they don't search for additional information.
You might go to the seeking a doctor section and ask for referrals. Be sure to speak with other patients to get a good one. There are many who call themselves LLMD's but they are really not. My husband went to 5 before we found a good one.
tickbattler
Posts: 1763 | From Malvern, PA | Registered: Jul 2009
| IP: Logged |
-------------------- LSG Scott Posts: 513 | From Boston, Cape Cod, Mass | Registered: Aug 2009
| IP: Logged |
BoxerMom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25251
posted
With Mepron, you are supposed to avoid the fat-soluble antioxidants CoQ10 and Alpha Lipoic Acid. I did not know this was the case with Artemisinin.
You may need iron after your Babs treatment, if too many of your red blood cells were infected. In general, it's not good to take iron during an infection, unless you are very depleted.
Please do not give up antioxidant-rich foods. They are the cornerstone of a healthy diet, which your body needs right now.
I treated successfully without giving up antioxidants. I did avoid the CoQ10 and ALA during Mepron treatment.
posted
I am taking Art 300 mg 3X/day with levo,doxy,bactrim. Awaiting delivery of 3 bottles of nutricology I ordered last week. I have not given up lipoic acid but do not take co Q any longer, it really did not do much for me and let it go. Dr. Z does say to not worry about taking C or green tea extract or other antioxidants which might upset the oxidative killing process. I am removing the alpha lipo from my supps effective immediately. Good points you have made here.
-------------------- Ideas not advice. Posts: 448 | From Downeast Maine | Registered: Jul 2009
| IP: Logged |
Remember to Smile
Unregistered
posted
We're not to take Vit E with Mepron (as well as the CoQ10 and Alpha Lipoic Acid already mentioned).
On another thread, Keebler just posted a recommendation to avoid Milk Thistle while on Mepron, but I hadn't seen that anywhere else, so cannot verify.
I'm not a healthcare professional, just another patient...
IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[bonk]](graemlins/bonk.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[spinning smile]](graemlins/spinsmile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic