I would love to hear from others who are treating BABS even though they've tested negative (I know the tests are very unreliable).
Based on my reading, my main syptoms are more BABS-related. Severe fatigue, headaches, night sweats and chills, inability to exercise.
However, a rheumatologist said I have arthritis in my knees, shoulders and wrists due to Lyme.
How long should we take these horrible BABS meds?
Do we treat Lyme at the same time? Or do we go back and forth?
Thanks, everyone!!
Posted by hope4sofia (Member # 20577) on :
Hi Kim,
I had negative tests across the board. I've been sick for 20 years and my LLMD believes strongly that this is Lyme and Babs at least. I have the night sweats, fatigue, exercise intolerance that you describe as well. He strongly encouraged me to continue treatment for 4-6 months to see how I respond.
I am treating for both at once.
I am in my 5th week of treatment and my night sweats are all but gone. I have had them nightly for a long long time.
I am not on mepron yet. I am only on Doxy, Zithro, and Artiminisin (and a probiotic). It seems to be working. I don't know how long I need to treat, but I'm willing at this point.
Good luck!
Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :
I think you have to treat for it, regardless of tests. There are too many strains to test for. The good LLMDs know this and recommend treatment anyway.
I have never had a positive test and have started treating it recently. I definitely have it.
Posted by psano2 (Member # 11711) on :
I didn't test positive for it either and didn't treat for it for the first 3 years. Finally started treatment after the 3rd yr and finally got a positive test about 15 months later.
I think you have to treat for it. I just wasn't getting well on treatment for Lyme alone. I'm still not completely well, but am definitely better.
The problem with not treating is that if you have it, and you may since tests are so unreliable, the Babesia will continue to grow unchecked all that time you're not treating it, and your body will be that much more loaded with it and it will take that much harder to get rid of, IMO. I wish that's what my LLND had done with me when I first tested negative for it.
Posted by lassie (Member # 17813) on :
My LLMD diagnosed me with Babesia on clinical grounds, despite a negative Babesia test.
Zithromycin/Mepron are helping. I am less fatigued and can take relatively long walks.
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
I've been treated the last year and a half for Lyme. Have made some progress, but recently relapsed two weeks ago. I suspect I have Babesia which gives me mild night sweats/flushing, fatigue, exercise intolerance, and flulike malaise.
CherylSue
Posted by lifewithlyme (Member # 4557) on :
same here; llmd made me take the $200 Igenex test; came back negative, now on zith/mepron anyway. why he did that i have no idea. i also have bad night sweats, afternoon fevers, fatigue...
Posted by venus (Member # 16991) on :
Same with me. LLMD has started me on arteminsin just in case. I don't really have the symptoms, except a getting warm at night. I don't have night sweats, just warmth. That could be bart.