Morning, Went to the usual llmd appt yesterday. My main issues were the cramps in calves and sore shins. Didn't get much of an answer which I hoped to get.
He said that the cramping could be either bart or babs.
I left there very perplexed, frustrated to say the least.
wouldn't you think that I could get more of a definitive answer from someone that treats this?
At the end of the appt we ended up changing the lariam back to mepron/zith/bactrim Ds.
I told him I felt much better and had no symptoms of babs while on this combo.
I'm still taking art as well.
Any suggestions?? Do most of you feel like you get solid answers to your questions?
Thanks and look forward to hearing from you. JKV
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
The symptoms overlap a lot and so it is difficult for anyone to say for sure which disease causes what symptoms. Plus, some of us have mystery germs in our blood, and what they are doing.....?????
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
He's being honest. (lou is right)
Hope you get rid of the babs now with that combo!!
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
You see the doctor who blogs (or did), right?
Posted by janice victorov (Member # 22937) on :
Yes, that's right. I see the llmd who was blogging but has stopped. JKV
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
You have to keep trying things to find what finally works for you. No doctor can tell you for sure what is causing each and every symptom. There are too many variables. It's like looking at an incomplete puzzle, you get the general idea of what the picture is because you've put most of it together but you're not done yet. You don't have all the details because there are still pieces hidden in the pile.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
From Burrascano, page 26, "Sorting out the Coinfections," this is shown as a bartonella, BLO, symptom:
"Tender sub-cutaneous nodules along the extremities, especially outer thigh, shins, and occasionally along the triceps"
Shin pain is a common bartonella symptom, as far as I know. This quote is talking about this tenderness on the shins. If you feel little bumps (nodules) under the skin on your shins, then that is exactly what Burrascano is talking about.
The calf cramps could be from one of the diseases or from insufficient magnesium as a result of having these diseases. But, it can also be from low Vitamin D. Here is Burrascano's statement about that:
"OTHER OPTIONAL SUPPLEMENTS VITAMIN D Surprisingly, most people in America are vitamin D deficient. In the Lyme patient, low vitamin D levels can cause diffuse body aches and cramps that are not responsive to magnesium or calcium supplements. Some also believe that vitamin D is essential for normal immune and hormone function. I strongly urge you to have a fasting blood level drawn. It is recommended that the blood levels be in the upper half or the normal range. If it is not, then 2000 to 4000 units daily are needed for several weeks to make up for the deficit, and then a lower maintenance dose may be necessary, based on results from repeated blood level monitoring. If vitamin D is needed, improvements take 2 to 3 weeks to note, but are well worth the wait." (page 30)
Have you tried increasing your dose of magnesium until it causes diarrhea? If that gets rid of the cramps, then they were caused by lack of mag. Take a little less than the amount that causes diarrhea.
Read what Burrascano says about magnesium. If you can't afford the brand he says is best, at least make sure you are not taking cal-mag.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
I never heard of shin pain being any other infection than bartonella.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
The latest on vitamin D is that 2000 IUs per day will not increase you D level. Sometimes you need prescription doses to get your D up fast, then somewhere between 4000 and 6000 IUs per day to maintain.
Posted by hadlyme (Member # 6364) on :
My LLMD stated to me when my muscles and tendons were tight and sore (this summer) that I was herxing to strongly.
We backed off a bit, and it went away.
Like with this disease.. it's so individualized that I think there isn't one answer that 'fits all' with this.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
I've also heard it can be from a potassium deficiency.