I have found some conflicting information.

Are you supposed to take them together or not? Some say yes and some say no.

Also, i see that mepron needs to be taken with something fatty. Im trying to follow the candida (no sugar or yeast) diet.

What kind of fatty foods could i eat for breakfast? Dinner seems easy to just put a little olive oil on my veggies.

Do you need only 10 grams of fat? Could you get some of those grams from taking pills?

Im looking for someway to do this healthy and not high calorie. Im a vegetarian on top of everything. Oy!

I dont know how many of you know about the "spit test" for yeast, but i did it and it was not pretty.

Thank you,

Jordan

mepron and zithromax is commonly used together to treat the co-infection Babesia, but a few llmds prescribe it for just Lyme as well.

yep in order for the mepron to be absorbed correctly, you need to take it with about 10 grams of fat. That doesnt mean you have to eat ice cream or candy!

some healthy vegetarian fat sources:

- ALMOND or PEANUT BUTTER(I personally avoid peanuts due to mold content)

- EGGS

- SEEDS and/or NUTS (good choice is Brazil nuts, which are very high in fat but loaded with Mg and selenium, etc which we lymies desperately need) - although 10 grams sounds like a lot, its not - several brazil nuts is fine. Macadamia nuts are high in fat too.

- whole milk YOGURT or CHEESE if you eat dairy

- AVOCADOS

- FALAFEL

etc, etc....

I get it in the packets & take it w/me if I go out. I take it 2x pr day and if I take it in the am, I have an egg or 2. If I take it w/Lunch or dinner, I take it w/a Reese's cup. The Rx said a high fat meal for absorbtion, but getting a bucket of KFC is out of the question.

Thanks for the ideas.

Nuts seem like an OK way to go. I avoid peanuts and soy nuts too (love soy nuts).

Falafal sounds yummy.

Im getting nervous to start treatment. I went to our walgreens today to drop off my scrips and they wont have either med until monday.

Lymelighter:

Im sure your right about finding any Mepron at the Delano.

The Mepron comes in packets? I thought it was a liquid. Packets sure would be a lot more convenient.

Your ideas about the ice cream\pudding sound great except there is way too much sugar in that for me. :-(

I want PIZZA and a glass of red wine. I dont know how im going to make it. Its only been a month but seems like forever.

I cheated one time with a glass of wine and ended up having a yeast problem the next day.

I want to kick lyme/babs butt so i can eat and drink.

Do either of you know if im supposed to take them together? The mepron and zithro?

Thanks guys,

Jordan

I'm assuming that by "together" you mean at the same time. I think it's fine to take them at the same time, that's what I do.

As for the fatty foods, I go for peanut butter but if you're avoiding peanuts you could try almond butter. Eggs are also great but IMO shouldn't be eaten everyday so I only have it once or twice a week. If you look around you can figure out ways of getting the fat.

The mepron is a liquid but you can get it packaged two different ways. I've been on it many times and the first two or three times I just dropped the script off and (after ordering it special for me - my pharmacist hadn't ever heard of it before!) I got a bottle of the lovely yellow liquid. You then have to measure out the right amount each time you take it (I used an oral syringe that you can get at any drug store). But, I learned from people on here that you can also get the Mepron in individual sachets (packets) that come in a box that's equal to the amount in an bottle but without the added inconvenience of having to measure things out and try to get the last little bit out of the bottle.

You have to ask specifically for it at the pharmacy but my pharmacist had no trouble getting it and actually said the book said it was less expensive than the bottle! Then you can just pop a packet in your pocket or whatever if you're going out for dinner or leaving early in the morning before getting a chance to get breakfast. It's so much easier!

I hope this helps. I hope this combo works for you. It's helped me a lot with my Babesia.

--Annie

------------------
To get where you need to be
You'll go through anything.
--Shawn Mullins

I take my Mepron simultaneously w/the Biaxin. The packets are very convenient. Schlepping that bottle w/me was a pain. When I went down to Boca for some R&R, I put them in a zip-loc and took them with me when I'd go to eat. It's an aquired taste...that you just can't seem to get use to.

Luckily, I'm now on Malarone, which is 250 mgs of Mepron and 100mgs of Proanguil in pill form.

The Mepron herx aka (slam) can really knock
the sh** out of you. It's strong stuff but it hits the Babs w/force. Be sure to schedule a daily massage at the Fontainebleau, Turnberry, or the Boca Beach Club as you may need one! LOL!

Fatty foods shouldn't be a problem for the yeast....suger and carbohydrates are what feed yeast ....and you should be able to find fatty foods that aren't high in sugar and carbs....eggs are one good example...no sugar or carbs, some really healthy amino acids, and fatty (I believe) ....I eat those like crazy and they actually settle my stomache better than anything else right now. Chicken drumsticks or thighs might be another option...again no sugar/carbs....(unless its breaded) ...you can cook it yourself to limit how much grease goes into it....and it won't be feeding the yeast. Whole milk is another suggestion on my mepron bottle, but I've never tried it since my stomache doesn't really handle milk, unless its skim. But...those are my best suggestions....good luck!!

------------------
Lishka

Sorry again!!

But for me, having something a little more substantial in my stomach helps the side effects. I also take it with an Immodium and maybe a GAs_x. The GI side effects for me were horrendous until I hit that combo.

Annie:

Yes, i meant taking the ABX at the same time.

Thanks for the tips on the packets. I will get them next time i have to get Mepron.

Lymelighter:

You always make me laugh. Yes a slice of NYC pizza and some vino would be awesome.

I am a member at Turnberry and we live on the golf course. Small world. I was supposed to take lessons, but now that im sick, it will have to wait.

Lishka:

Im actually eating a lot more protein now than i have ever been. I eat a lot of tofu, tuna, egg beaters now that i cant eat pizza and pasta all the time.

I could eat an egg but it only has 5-6 grams of fat. Is that enough for the Mepron? Does it have to be 10 grams? Maybe a couple fish oil pills would supplement that in the morning?

At night, yes, olive oil on my veggies will do the trick.

Cindy:

Thanks for the suggestion of using gas-x when i first start the new ABX.

I asked Lishka this, but, do you find eating just a hard boiled egg has enough fat for your ABX?

Im hoping i wont get the bad morning nausea i got with the doxy. I wont miss that.

Thanks to all for your suggestions. Im off to whole foods market to buy new supplies. Its always an adventure lately, looking for possible food which wont add to my yeast.

Jordan

One thing is for sure, I have been on this combo with rochephlin IV as well for almost 2 weeks--worst herx yet and I have been as mean as a bulldog. Brought out the lyme rage in me badly.

I am absolutely scared to start these new drugs.

Too bad Mepron can cause nausea too. My morning doxy was always a treat LOL.

Also, the herxes sound terrible from what everyone is telling me. My husband already thinks i have constant PMS.

Its so depressing not being able to eat or drink what you want, feeling sick most the time, not working out, and having to take these nasty meds.

Thats enough to drive any sane person crazy. Oh and i forgot the lovely yeast problems and looking for ANY food you can eat.

I know im going to be VERY depressed and grumpy. Oy! I will try hard to be human.

Jordan

Im not positive actually what the recommended amount of fat is. What I do each morning is 3 to 4 eggs scrambled in a some butter....not so much butter that it tastes bad...but so that it somewhat adds to the flavor, and makes the eggs a little more moist. I know the whole thing about butter and eggs being unhealthy (cholesterol and so on) but my mom's cholesterol has dropped incredibly since she's been eating more atkins-ish (lots of eggs, more chicken)....and I just FEEL really good when I eat eggs with some butter. So...if you don't mind butter, it might add some fat... but oil probably would too.

So, I really don't know how much fat your supposed to have....I would imagine you shouldn't have to go WAYYY overboard with it though, the fat is just there to aid in absorption of the mepron...(I'm pretty sure). Though like I said, for me it also seems to settle my stomache when I feel nauseas.

So ...that's all I can say ....

BTW --- vegetarians can eat eggs and fish?

It depends on what kind of veggie you are. A vegan wouldnt, but im not a vegan. I will not eat any meat, poultry or shellfish. I do have tuna sometimes. Since starting the candida diet, im eating tuna about 3 times a week.

I bought these brown eggs, totally organic, no ABX used. They have 5 grams of fat each, so i guess i could eat 2.

I bought higher fat tofu yesterday and i also bough almond butter to smear on a brown rice cake.

I wish we could eat cheese (yeast issue) because that would be awesome. I do eat soy cheese but you would need to eat several slices.

Seventeen almonds also have 10 grams of fat.

Crazy what you can learn in a weekend.

Jordan

I've been taking Mepron and Zith for a month now and I'm not having any of the horrors that I've heard about here.

I just want to give you another side so maybe you won't be so fearful.

I take the first tsp of mepron with lunch then the zith with dinner then a mepron with a bedtime snack. Wait 1/2 to 1 hour and go to bed.

I was told by LLMD that taking the mepron with your EFA's is good enough and since I see you eat tuna, you can take fish and/or plant based omegas.

I don't take the mepron and zith together because once in a while the zithromax (600 mg) does a number on my stomach (mainly just pain).

I was also on artamisinin for a few days but that laid me flat out. I couldn't lift my head up I was so beat.

As far as the "hit by a truck" feeling, I've had it on and off. I'm in the middle of my 4th week now and have had spells where if I sit still for any length of time my joints start to ache really bad. Lots of stabbing pains, some headache and muscle weakness. I'm still working though (wish I wasn't) and doing some of the things I like to do. I've had a bit of the duldrums as well.

Also, it's now time for me to refill my script and it's taking my pharmacy 3 days to get the stuff even though they know I have 6 refills on it. It's just not something they keep around.

Take heart. It seems that if we get through the first month or so of this, we start to get better. That seems to be what people generally say about their treatment. I'm glad I feel bad right now. I'm reacting just the way I'm supposed to which makes me believe I'm on the right path.

Good luck,

I love tuna, too. Bumble-Bee fanatic, big time! However, I had a Mercury test and my Mercury level was several times normal. Consequently, I'm trying to ween off tuna, although I'll probably need to join the NYC chapter of TA (Tuna Annonymous). LOL! Alas, Miracle Whip on wheat alone will not suffice...

But seriously, have you been tested for metals? Many Lymies find that their progress can be stymied by unresolved metals issues.

So you only take 600mg of zithromax? I posted a new topic about dosages.

My LLMD wants me to take 600mg TWICE a day and Mepron THREE times a day at 5ml (not sure what that is in teaspoons).

Im glad you are not having a horrific time. I sure hope this works. I wonder how long it will take?

My LLMD says i need to be symptom free for 3 months.

Lymelighter:

I have not had my mercury levels tested (that im aware of). Is it a special test?

I wont eat tuna more than 3 times a week.

Im more concerned about the number of eggs i will have to consume.

Feeling crappy all the time is saving my husband some money by not going to Bal Harbour.

But on the other hand, i making up for it in all the probiotics and supplements im taking. I was looking at a really good one today. It was like $58 for a bottle it had like 30 billion acidophilus in it.

Oh and i ordered a bottle of Candex today.
Hope it works.

Its always something.

Jordan

There are blood & urine tests for Mercury that your LLMD can order. Your LLMD will determine which is appropriate. Additionally, many LLMDs & other specialists believe that a Mercury problem will not be resolved if you still have amalgams in your teeth. Look at some of Gigi's posts on Lymenet. She's the resident Mercury detox afficienado.

My LLMD told me only to eat tuna, swordfish, or other Mercury laden fish 1x pr week, if that. Harsh as it may seem, me & the Bumble will part ways. I love swordfish, sushi, but have to let it go to resolve the problem. I even passed on the Gefiltah fish (surprise)! LOL!

However, they'll have to pry my fluffy lox out of my cold lifeless fingers! Speaking of which, what time is Brunch at Turnberry? I'll bring the Mepron.

Great info on Mepron buddy search.

I was only looking at the expensive acidophilus because it had 30 billion in one pill. I will have to search online.

For me so far, is not having my challah on shabbat. When we do the hamotzi, i get tears in my eyes because i miss it so much. Our challah is so soft and moist and yummy.

Im already thinking about yom kippur and not being able to fast because im sure i will be on all these ABX. Oy! Such is life.

You take care,

Jordan