Can anyone please help me? How can I figure out if I have babesia?
CLUE #1 I caught my tick bite within a few weeks, but after almost a year on abx, I am still not well. (MUCH better, though!)
CLUE #2 My only babesia symptom (that isn't a general lyme symptom) is occasional air hunger.
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So, the LLMD thought I should take Malarone and Enula for a month. A herx would suggest I have babesia and should keep taking meds for ~4 mos.
I've been on Enula and Malarone for about 2 weeks, but I haven't noticed anything significant. My muscles and joints are a little achyier, but that is always up and down anyway.
The air hunger hasn't changed. I get it about 1-4 times a week, mostly when I eat too much or didn't get enough sleep.
There is so much collective knowledge on this board, I'm hoping someone might have an idea for me. How can I tell if I have it???
should I switch to a heavy dose of Mepron?
Any ideas are much appreciated!!!
-- p.s. the Igenex FISH tests were negative for babesia. (not that that is conclusive!!)
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
I too want to hear replies on this. I had the night from hell yesterday...night sweats, chills, fatigue. It came on like a train.
I was feeling great for once on Saturday and most of Sunday. I wonder if it's Lyme and / or Babesia.
I hope you get some replies.
Posted by tabbytamer (Member # 3159) on :
backintherain,
Have you had a Babesia WA-1 test yet?
Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
Hi Back
From what I have seen it looks like 60 to 70% of people with lyme have babs also-
The next highest is Bart -
Take your temp several times a day - Babs causes Low Temp 97 thru 92F-
This is one thing you can try - Drink 2 to 3 liters of Tonic Water aday for 5 days --
If your symptoms Change for the better or Worse then I would say that you have Babs--
Tonic Water has a small amount of Quinine in it- Get the Diet kind - at Grocery store (by the Beer) or Liquor store-
--Jay--
Posted by backintherain (Member # 14385) on :
I haven't had the WA-1. I did get lyme in the Midwest, so I don't know if WA-1 works on those strains. ?
seekhelp, It seems like night sweats are a tell-tale sign of babesia, but then again, could just be lyme? I really don't understand this.
Posted by Angelica (Member # 15601) on :
According to one LLMD bart can cause night sweats too but they are more localized than babs sweats which are more all over.
I seem to be having bart sweats at night lately. I wish someone would event bart and babs radar so we could all figure out what is going on with these coinfections.
Babesia WA-1 is now called Babesia Ducani. It is now found all over the country rather than just the Western States.
Posted by Curley911 (Member # 2205) on :
I watched a DVD where Dr. B of NY explained that there are 9 (maybe 12 0r 13?) strains of Babesia. Currently, testing do NOT include all of these strains, only about 3.
Babs is easily missed because looking for the "bacteria" in the blood is like scooping the ocean w/a goldfish net. . . you just get lucky. That's why it's so important to have a clinical dx.
You might think in terms of looking at other culprits. Mycoplasma is one that can be overlooked. As usual, the sx can vary from minimal to major.
Hope this helps, Curley
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Angelica: Babesia WA-1 is now called Babesia Ducani. It is now found all over the country rather than just the Western States. [/QB]
Yes, I'm pretty sure this is the one they are finding many in the Midwest are testing positive for.
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
My estimate is that more than 50% of people with Lyme also have Babesia.