I have not been on lymenet for over a year. I have been thru many treatments for lyme and babesia.
I was finally put on rocephin for about 7 months and felt the best I ever have. However, I'm back to square one.
I went to my llmd a few weeks ago and finally tested positive for bart. I will be starting rifampin. She told me to do it slowly.
I did start rifampin about a month ago, for 2 weeks only. Boy did I herx. Non stop for a week.
At that point she told me to stop until I just recently saw her. She called and said my test was positive so I needed to start back on the rifampin. Is it common to take 1/2 pill for a few days, then up it to 1 pill etc?
Any experience with this and herxing? She said my reaction the first time was proof that it was attacking the bart.
I'm so stressed about feeling that lousy again but know it has to be done.
Thanks for your input
Karen
Posted by Snailhead (Member # 18091) on :
Hi, I cannot answer on Bart specifically, but I do believe (firmly) in starting with 1/2 dose, or even 1/4. I am currently doing only 1/2 gram of Rocephin, four days on three days off.
I go slow. If I were you, I would start with 1/4 dose for a couple of days, and see how you feel. Ask your dr. if you can do this. God bless you.
Posted by Tif (Member # 12701) on :
As a whole, I tend to max out around half of what most do.....I started out with 150 mg every other day, and am now taking that dosage every day.
Many people take 300 to 600 mg's a day of it. I cannot do that at this time (and maybe never), BUT Rifampin has worked better for me than most, which indicates Bart.
Before starting this, you could not have convinced me I even had it.
Posted by KarenB (Member # 10510) on :
Thanks for the info. I definitely think from the reaction I had from the full dose of rifampin that it will work for the bart. I definitely will go slow.
Tiffany, why did you think you didn't have bart? I've been treated for babs in the past, but thinking bart may be a big part of why I haven't progressed as I should have.
Karen B
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
I was told to start it at full dose along with biaxin. I got very dizzy and now cannot take it at all. I feel my LLMD is stupid. Start slow and work up.
Posted by Tif (Member # 12701) on :
Karen, I really just thought I had Lyme, babs, and myco. I guess mainly because I was under the impression that the symptoms I have didn't correlate with Bart.
I have learned this is NOT the case.........I knew within a very short time after starting the Rifampin that I had Bart/BLO......
Posted by Tif (Member # 12701) on :
Also, knowing what I do now, I also feel this is a major reason I have been at a standstill.
I got to thinking after I started the Rifampin that I had also had an improvement while taking Ceftin......in fact, i have had nore improvement from that and Rifampin than anything thus far.
Posted by KarenB (Member # 10510) on :
Thank you
I just started rifampin last nite. Although I can't split it in half (capsule). So my thinking is every other day for a little bit. I didn't call my llmd but I think I will just try this.