LymeNet Flash: treatment ideas for shortness of breath

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Posted by punkin (Member # 5883) on :

Anyone have any ideas about treating the intermittent shortness of breath? My husband was diagnosed 5 years ago after a 20 year silent illness and was quite sick but is now back to work but is still has some nagging symptoms, including shortness of breath which is bothersome to him in his job. He did both IV and PO antibiotics and hyperbaric and has been off antibiotics for 6 weeks.

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Posted by RECIPEGIRL (Member # 5884) on :

Very possibly Babesia even if you test negative. I would have never guessed in a thousand years I had Babs.

Symptoms: fatigue, night sweats, fever, chills, weakness, weight loss, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cough, shortness of breath, headache, neck and back stiffness, dark urine or blood in urine.

I'm being treated by a LLMD who treated Bb in 2003 with first Zithromax; next, 6 months of 1 GM Rocephine IM & Flagyl 750 mg & (Actigall).

With persistent shortness of breath a Bowen Lab Test was done 2004. Positive for Lyme, but negative for Babs & Erlichiosis.

Diagnosed clinically for Babs, started with Monday - Friday: Mepron 1 tsp. twice daily, Zithromax 600 mg (allowed to half tablet for twice daily dosing) & then on weekends take Flagyl 750 mg & Mepron.

Sixth day of Mepron awoke with dizziness, head vibrating,left ear whirring sounds, shortnes of breath, fine tremor of head; feet aching horribly; had to crash on bed for 2 hours----felt worse than dead meat.

Started yesterday on 2nd round of Mepron & am awaking daily with dizziness (a new symptom for me). I'll do 3 complete rounds of Mepron & report back to the doctor. (He originally gave me a RX for Mepron with 3 refills--he said it can take 4 rounds to cure it???)

I could never figure out why I was short of breath. Now I know - Babs.

I'm going to push for Bartonella testing even though I would imagine treatment will have to wait until completion of Babs treatment.

Even if you think you don't have any co-infections------get tested. It's worth it. Best of luck. Try to do a Lymnet search on Babesia or co-infections.
RECIPEGIRL

Posted by punkin (Member # 5883) on :

Thanks for the info. My husband did have babesia as diagnosed by titers and was treated with mepron and Zithromax for two cycles I think. Perhaps he needs another couple of cycles. He did not take Flagyl with his regimen however

Posted by punkin (Member # 5883) on :

quote:
Originally posted by punkin:
Thanks for the info. My husband did have babesia as diagnosed by titers and was treated with mepron and Zithromax for two cycles I think. Perhaps he needs another couple of cycles. He did not take Flagyl with his regimen however

I forgot to ask you - how long was the Mepron cycle for? How many weeks on Mepron constitute one cycle?

Posted by RECIPEGIRL (Member # 5884) on :

Sorry, I should have been more specific.

My LLMD prescribes 21 days as a round of Mepron. While he states that many can be cured in 4 months I believe I read on this site that it can take much longer in some cases. Many add herbal Artemisinin at the same time as the meds making it more effective. If you do a search on Artemisinin I believe some use brand by Allergy Research.

If it truly is Babs, I'd keeping asking for meds until symptom-free.
Take Care.
RECIPEGIRL