I haven't posted here in a while, as not much has changed. I was on the bactrim/cipro combo which seemed to be affording me some improvement, even if ever so slowly. Now, however, I have gotten tendonitis in both achilles tendons...'had to stop the cipro...'have been off of it for a month and I am backsliding, which points me to bart being the crux of my problem.
Any ideas on what I can do now, since the fluroquinolones seem to be problematic for me? I am currently on doxy, bactrim and zith. And...for those of you that kicked bart, how did you do it...what was the most effective for you?
Thanks in advance.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
I'm still treating Bart...but Rifampin is a good second drug to try..just watch your liver. Also..A-Bart from Byron White is good.
Posted by triathletelymie (Member # 26456) on :
Thanks, bcb!
Are you treating it with a fluoroquinolone...or rifampin? What has worked best for you? If you tried A-bart, did it help...I have read mixed reviews on it...
Again, THANKS!
~tri
Posted by triathletelymie (Member # 26456) on :
up
Posted by squashlyme (Member # 12865) on :
I supplemented with a lot of magnesium and vit C when on Cipro and Levaquin. It helps with the tendonitis! Just a thought!
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
Yea, I got the tendonitis while on Levaquin but not now while on Cipro. The Mag thing is likely key. If you run the Mag at safe intervals from your med, you should be golden.
Perhaps take a break until the tendonitis subsides--could be a while--then restart with adequate Mag preloading...
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Yes, sufficient magnesium is key when taking the bartonella meds. You may be successful in taking these meds if you first "load up" on mag and then be sure to continue the mag while taking them.
On page 26 of the Burrascano Guidelines, he acknowledges that magnesium loading may prevent tendonitis with levaquin.
So, you have a number of sources saying the same thing.
I kicked bart by taking levaquin for 1 month followed by nearly a year of Bactrim DS.
I did weight lifting throughout these treatments.
Posted by triathletelymie (Member # 26456) on :
Yes, I was taking both Mg and Vit C prior to and while on the cipro. My LLMD said nothing about loading up on each prior to starting the cipro. I probably was not taking enough though...only 400 mg Mg and 3000 mg Vit C.
Not fun! I just can't seem to climb out of my daily 40% functionality...and I have been treating for 16 months! Frustrating...very, very frustrating!
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
I got tendonitis from levaquin. It was very effective against the bart so it was tempting at times to think about trying it again. I finally tried Bactrim DS with a macrolide and it worked for me.
I went on to treat babesia and the zithro kept the bart symptoms at bay but since I developed an allergy to zithro I have began to feel symptoms coming back.
For the tendonitis I took a supplement called Rapid Response. I had pain for 8 months and had to sleep sitting up as my shoulder would ache when I was lying down. It was miserable. The first night I took RR, I had no pain.
It is very expensive so when I ran out I tried to re-create my own version of it. I feel methionine is the magic bullet along with other amino acids (lysine, cysteine, acetyl l carnitine), alpha lipoic acid and magnesium and B100. I also took 100 mg good quality hyaluronic acid which replaces collagen. When I did not take the methionine the pain returned. Now it is gone.
Methionine helps to repair tendon damage. So I would suggest to anyone starting cipro or levaquin to use this amino acid as well as the vitamin c and magnesium. I took 500 mg a day.
Posted by LAXlover (Member # 25518) on :