Since beginning on Dynacin, Zithromax and artemesia annua in April I have gotten a few more petechiae on my stomach, chest and right thigh.
They are quite tiny and don't appear in patches. They are individual little dots.
I used to think they were Bartonella-related, but I just had a thought that maybe they are Babesia-related instead.
My LLMD diagnosed me in March with Lyme, Bartonella and Babesia so I wonder which disease I can attribute my dots to?
Also, would the abx cause more of them to pop out? I have had other odd skin issues worsen since starting abx.
I used to have just one above my eye and several on the tip of my nose.
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
I used to think bartonella also.
But at one point my LLMD said she sees the type I have often with babesia.
It seems that most of mine popped out during babs treatment - although I can't remember which specific babs meds I was on at the time.
So you may be onto something thinking it's the babs.
Posted by Leelee (Member # 19112) on :
cactus,
Thank you for validating my theory.
I have no idea why the idea that petechiae was babesia-related just occurred to me.
I have shadowy-bruise-like patches on both sides of the back of my neck. At first I attributed them to Bartonella, but my LLMD said they see those a lot in Babesia patients.
Thanks again!
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
Oh! I get those shadowy bruises too!
But never thought to ask about them.
Have always suspected they were babs-related, though, because they come out when babs seems most active.
Posted by Nicole_Denise (Member # 20620) on :
Do the shadow-bruises actually feel like bruises? Or just kind of look like them? Because I get petechiae, and I have noticed that the sides of the back of my neck look bruised, but they don't actually feel bruised. (And it's not a black-and-blue bruise. It's more the greenish-yellowish-brown type)
Posted by Leelee (Member # 19112) on :
Hi Nicole_Denise,
My shadow-bruises don't hurt at all. I can't even feel them. Mine aren't black-and-blue either, but more a deep, dark brownish color. I am really fair-skinned with blond hair so I notice them a lot. They look like I have two patches of a really nice suntan.
It sounds like you and I have them in the same place, though.
The month before I began abx my LLMD had me take Samento. The bruise-things came out on about the second or third day and have never gone away.
I just counted my petechiae and I have five new ones that were not there a few days ago. I am slightly fascinated by what is happening to my skin.
Posted by Leelee (Member # 19112) on :
Hi cactus,
You were definitely correct in thinking your shadowy-bruises are Babsesia-related.
Do you find you have other bruises too? My legs are just covered in bruises and I haven't bumped into anything.
Last summer before I was diagnosed I remember getting two gigantic purple bruises on my knees. They did not hurt at all, but they were incredibly noticeable. People asked me what I happened. They eventually faded away.
Just a couple of days they came back. It's funny, but I never thought much of my Babesia diagnosis. I was more concerned about Lyme and Bartonella. Now I am paying more attention!
Posted by psano2 (Member # 11711) on :
A naturopath just told me that my petichiae were due to a toxic liver and has me doing various cleanses.
Just did a liver cleanse over the weekend, now taking "The Ultimate Cleanse" by Nature's Secret (avail at Whole Foods).
According to him, they will eventually go away as I fix my liver. I hope he's right.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
I know of at least one prominent LLMD that believes petechiae is a big sign of babesia. I have also heard of another member on this site that got petechiae when she treated her babs.
It makes sense since you are on the artemesia, too.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
I will paste what I just put on another thread:
"I just read in a medical article that babesia can produce petechiae.
Go about 2/3 down, to where under "Clinical" it says "Physcial", and it is one of the bullet points under "Physical.""
Posted by Leelee (Member # 19112) on :
Thank you Hoosiers. I saw your link on the other thread and I think the article was very informative.
Having read that and everyone's responses I now think my petechiae is caused by Babesia instead of Bartonella.
Posted by psano2 (Member # 11711) on :
Hoosiers,
If someone gets petichiae when they start Babesia treatment, when do they go away? Did that person say? I have Babs, and could imagine it being caused by Babs, but I wonder if they go away when you're cured? Do you have any idea what the LLMD thinks?
My naturopath said that he's seen people whose abdomens were covered by them. I only have a few, but they have increased in #.
Posted by Shosty (Member # 12232) on :
I am confused about whether this discussion is about bruising, or about petechiae, which are tiny red dots. Maybe both, since they can be related.
Petechiae/purpura are signs of a number of possible medical problems: bleeding problems, an allergy or drug reaction, autoimmune problems like vasculitis, or an infection.
One of my kids developed petechiae recently on an anti-epileptic medication (along with nosebleeds). She also developed mouth sores. We got her off very, very, very quickly. We were told she could be developing a life-threatening reaction, by 3 different doctors.
If any of you are taking medications, one, let alone several, I would recommend considering that you may be reacting to the medication.
Petechiae can be a sign of something dangerous. I would have it checked out. I would not sit back and speculate that it might be babesia, but would only feel safe by elminating other possibilities. Getting off meds to see if they go away would quickly answer the question as to whether this might be a drug reaction or allergy.
If the situation w/the petechiae seems stable, and they are not increasing or worsening, and you are not developing other problems (like nosebleeds or major bruising or sores) then a physician might say it was okay to stay on the medication, but I would doubt it.
Be careful with these!
Posted by mjbucuk (Member # 843) on :
petechiae are actually small bruises under the skin; they do not blanch when you push on them and they area asssociated with Babesia.
small red dots that blanch when you push on them are actually new capillaries that are bieng formed from VEGF due to Bartonella
Posted by Shosty (Member # 12232) on :
Again, I really think it could be dangerous to attribute these to Babesia or Bartonella, without considering a drug reaction or allergy as a cause, especially since the original poster's petechiae began after starting meds.
Posted by Selection10 (Member # 19578) on :
Ehrlichia CANIS can cause this.
Posted by middlesizedpanda (Member # 20676) on :
I got bit last Dec & I got petechiae a few weeks ago. I've still not been diagnosed , my test was negative and i've not taken any abx so in my case it can't be drug related.
The spots all seemed to appear within a few days and no more have to have appeared. The are slowly fading now.
I've contacted igenex to try to get a test done with them so this info is so useful to me. I'm going to make sure the test covers Babesia & Bartonella.
Posted by Leelee (Member # 19112) on :
Selection10,
I did not realize Ehrlichia can cause petechiae. I was never tested for it.
Thanks for the information.
middlesizedpanda,
How long are the petechiae there before they fade? I am wondering b/c the one above my eye is really noticeable and has been there for months. I am hoping it resolves soon.
Posted by middlesizedpanda (Member # 20676) on :
I reacon i've had mine about 6-7 weeks. They're still quite noticable, especially on the paler skin on the insides of my arms. i'm sure they have faded a bit in the last week.
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Don't think any one disease should be fingered as the culprit. My babs is gone, I think, but I still have these small red dots. Read somewhere that vasculitis could be involved, which could be triggered by a variety of things.
Posted by Shosty (Member # 12232) on :
Autoimmune vasculitis can be dangerous.
Having a few dots here and there doesn't mean much. I have had a few of those for decades. But many of them in one area, in a rash, is a different story.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
i was told they are babs by an llmd
i was told they are nothing by many dermatologists and docs
i don't think ppl should get too upset shosty...its hard to get a doc to say what they are and what to do about them
lymies don't need more stress
mjbuc.... i like your answer-where did you get this info??? it needs to be sent to the dermatologists!
ps-i have lots of them for over 20 yrs so they don't seem fatal
Posted by Tiramisu (Member # 15082) on :
up
Posted by bigdreams87 (Member # 20493) on :
Weird...
I just found out I have Babesia. I was getting these tiny pin point like red dots on the insides of my biceps. I now just got a patch on my hip. They appear and then turn brownish like freckles and then fade away.
I have also had the large patches that are bluish/purplish, that turn to dark tan color and then go away. They looked almost like bruises.
I got these taking Alinia.
I also got these taking herbal artesunate.
My thought would be they show as you are killing the babesia.
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It's funny, but I never thought much of my Babesia diagnosis. I was more concerned about Lyme and Bartonella. Now I am paying more attention!