I have just recieved my lyme diagnoises what is the difference in treatment for lyme and other lyme co-infections? Also what other kind of tests beside the western blot will I need to ask for?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
If you have a good LLMD you won't have to worry about which tests, etc. Keep in mind that coinfection testing is not any more accurate than Lyme testing.
Many LLMD's TREAT for ALL coinfections, no matter what the test says.
For the answers to your questions, I'd begin by going to "Treepatrol's Links" on the first page of Medical. It's about the 8th item down.
Then READ READ READ!!
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
For the most part, each coinfection takes a different antibiotic.
The most common coinfections are babesia and bartonella. Others include ehrlichia (renamed anaplasma I think) and rocky mountain spotted fever. There are others. Also viruses such as mycoplasma.
As treatment progresses and you do or don't respond to meds your LLMD will try to finetune your treatment to cover the most likely coinfections.
It is a good idea to start a notebook or diary. List meds for the day and any major supplement changes. Also symptom notes.
Every 2 or 3 months do an overall evaluation of your symptoms -- see what has improved or what is new. This is the best way to judge your progress.
As time goes on patterns will start emerging and may point to a particular coinfection. Yes, there is overlap in symptoms, but there are some classic symptoms for each different bug.
Ask questions any time you need to and others can help you make work your way out of the maze of symptoms.
It is going to take patience and persistence on the journey to better health. Try to keep an open mind and realize that just antibiotics by themselves will rarely get you well if you have been sick any length of time.
These bugs rob you of nutrients and the antibiotics mess with absorption of food compounding the problem. Many symptoms are definitely made worse by nutritional factors.
Dr B's Treatment Guidelines is probably the best place to start for an overview of the meds, symptoms and supplements. This reference is in the Newbie Links.
Bea Seibert
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
You MUST be tested for coinfections AND treated for them if you have them if you want to get well. Babesia is common in about 2/3 of people with Lyme and it has to be treated early in treatment to get good results. I like IGeneX panels 5060 and 5070. Be well.
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
You MUST be tested for coinfections AND treated for them if you have them if you want to get well. Babesia is common in about 2/3 of people with Lyme and it has to be treated early in treatment to get good results. I like IGeneX panels 5060 and 5070. Be well.
Posted by Mathias (Member # 5298) on :
Mycoplasma is a bacteria not a virus and can be treated with antibiotics.
MDL is the best lab for mycoplasma testing (Igenex doesn't test for it). Order test 338.
Co-infection treatment is absolutely critical!
Posted by JeffM (Member # 8919) on :
Thanks to Lou, tutu, Scott et al for steering me in the right direction about treating coinfections. I am a year into treatment and not seeing much result. I have not been treated for the coinfections.
I will propose a new category: LLFMD = Lyme Literate Friendly MD. That's my doc. He's ILADS and Klinghardt trained but is really still learning. I imagine many of us in non-lyme infested areas are in the position of seeing a primary care physician who is an LLFMD. I was amazed in southern California to find NO ONE knows about lyme, and certainly not the doctors.
Because of this website, I probably know more about this disease than he does. He listens when I tell him about the research you all have posted here. I print out some of the papers and bring them with me. I brought in Ks and Bs protocols it was helpful to pinpoint dosage and strategy.
It was extremely helpful for him to hear that the ILADS experts seem to believe that coinfections are the rule, not the exception, and need to be treated.
So today I start on Mepron and Biaxin, and will pulse flagyl.
I am scared to death that this treatment is going to make me so sick and crazy again. I've been on a week break, and I returned to my old self, which is comforting because it helps me to see how these herx's CAUSE irrational feelings and bizarre pains, shaking, nausea, etc.
I really hope that in a few months I will be able to see that the tx for babesia will help me turn the corner.
Thanks again to all of you and thanks to my doctor for being so open and level-headed, and of course, very courageous.
Posted by BostonLyme2005 (Member # 7680) on :
There are so many people here with wonderful advice....
