I tested low-positive for Bartonella two summers ago (I had already been treating with my LLMD a year or so at that point...initial Bart tests had been negative) and so in light of the recent positive, LLMD put me on Cipro for 4 months. I had a little bit of an increase in irritability, but other than that, no noticable improvement or huge mega herxing.
After the Cipro, we sort of put Bartonella on the backburner for awhile and focused on Lyme, then babesia.
I'm still sick, so LLMD decided to try retreating Bart. My main symptoms that could be Bart (but could also be Lyme) are the irritability, some small muscle twitches, and some feelings of "spaceyness" (I zone out a lot).
Do I still even have Bart? We don't know....I get the sense my LLMD doesn't think I do since I didn't respond much to Cipro, and now, not much is happening from Rifampin.
I'm on Rifampin now, but it seems like it isn't really making me herx, nor am I seeing any lifting of symptoms.
So what now? Should I decide Bart isn't an issue, or should I try Levaquin?
I feel like I owe it to myself to give Levaquin a shot, but by the same token I don't want to waste my time on it....if Rifampin isn't doing much, do I even have Bart as an issue right now? (I have also done recent courses of Zithromax, so maybe that knocked it out?)
I am a Bart "candidate" since I have brain symptoms....but those could be Lyme.
Should I ask my LLMD about Levaquin? Do you guys think it's worth a shot or what?
Thank you!!!
PS---also, if I did try Levaquin, how long would it take before I would know if it was gonna help me?
Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :
Why don't you try it for a few weeks to a month? That should give you an idea if it's working or not.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
I really don't think my LLMD will see more Bartonella treatment as "necessary" considering I am on Rifampin now. He is more conservative and cautious.
So, I would probably have to make a really big push for it if I want to try it, or order it from an overseas pharmacy. So I just want to make sure it is really worth it, that is why I decided to start this post.
Hopefully I can get some more opinions....
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Also, could my flaw with the Rifampin be that I'm not taking Zithromax with it?
Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :
Rifampin needs to be combined with something, either a macrolide or a tetra, for effectiveness. It's not taken alone, bugs develop resistance. Also, rifampin lowers the blood levels of other meds so this needs to be monitored.
Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :
Hoosier51:
Due to the dangerous side effects of levaquin--tendon damage and nerve damage, I think this is a decision only you can make with your doctor.
I know I have a low IgG titer to bart and when I took rifampin alone 2 years ago I got raging headaches and of course, my usual stomach problems that come with antibiotics. Headaches could have been a herx, but they are also a side effect of rifampin, so I quit, becuase I could not tolerate it. I am scared of levaquin as I am on my feet all day and do not want tendon damage nor the worry that I will get tendon damage.
But, I think our opinions on this should not matter. Talk to your doctor.
Blessings. Hiker53
Posted by squashlyme (Member # 12865) on :
I was just reading in Dr B's new guidelines that if you ramp up on magnesium and vit C, it could potentially ward off some of the tendon side effect issues of levaquin.