How can I tell the difference between Babesia and Menopause? I hate to sound like an old lady, but I know hot flashes can occur at my age. I am defiinitely struggling with heat intolerance, sweating that just comes on any time of day or night and makes me feel like I want to kill someone, night sweats, feeling hot one minute and cold the next, and sometimes I'm fine. I decided to bite the bullet and start Malarone today, I've been holding onto it for some time because I didn't want to add another med.
In the past, Babesia has presented for me as soaking night sweats, nighttime fevers, and fatigue. Since the symptoms I am having now are not exactly the same, I have held off on treating. I am starting to wake up with soaking sweats though. Can a coinfection have different symptoms when it recurs? The last couple times it has recurred I could tell without fail. Now I'm confused.
I'd actually prefer it to be Babs because Malarone works really well for me, and I'd know I could get rid of these sweats in a couple weeks! Could this all be menopause? I hope not!
Posted by Sammi (Member # 110) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tracy9: Can a coinfection have different symptoms when it recurs? The last couple times it has recurred I could tell without fail. Now I'm confused.
I'd actually prefer it to be Babs because Malarone works really well for me, and I'd know I could get rid of these sweats in a couple weeks! Could this all be menopause? I hope not! [/QB]
I think symptoms could be a bit different when a co-infeciton returns if it was treated and the load was lessened.
I think it could be very hard to decipher between Babs and menopause symptoms. It is definitely not fair to have to deal with both simultaneously!
Since Malarone seems to help you quickly, I think you will have your answer soon now that you started it.
Good luck!
Posted by beths (Member # 18864) on :
I'm having the same issue-no night sweats, just burning up at night.
However my period cycle has changed, so I know something hormonal is going on.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
If you have babesia duncani, you do not get the drenching sweats. I too was thrown off guard. But if you take bio identical hormones and still have these symptoms, then you know it is not menopausal. You could have your hormones levels checked.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by nefferdun:
But if you take bio identical hormones and still have these symptoms, then you know it is not menopausal. You could have your hormones levels checked.
- That was my thinking.
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Hi Tracy. I'm on malarone now too. My hot flashes started increasing (pre malarone) along with my returning babs symptoms, so I think it's babs generated.
I seem to notice them more at night. I don't know if that's because I'm sitting still (more apt to notice them?), or if there is actually an increase in them at night.
I can tell you that acupuncture really helps lessen these. I recently went on a trip and was without acupuncture for 2 weeks (usually get it every week). I had WAY more hot flashes than I did with my weekly treatment. Ladies, run, don't walk to try it. Acupuncture is worth it.
Posted by Dogsandcats (Member # 28544) on :
I could tell the difference between the two because my body temp has always been on the warmer side.
A hot flash comes (to me) from the inside. Like a hot pepper explodes and heat spreads outwards then with "dew" sweat.
Babesia is like a flash flood. the flood gates open - on the outside of my body- there are not enough tissues to keep up with the down pour.
hope this helps - everyone probably experiences it differently.
The babesia drenches cause my hair to be wet, face and is very obvious to anyone around me.
joy o joy.
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
My fatigue, brain fog, insomnia and extremely frequent intense hot flashes resolved 2 weeks after starting bioidentical hormones.
Posted by Catgirl (Member # 31149) on :
Wow, Dekorator, sounds nice. I wish I could do those, but my doc told me absolutely no bio identicals (history of cancer in my family).
He said that everyone wants the hormones (even men). I've found that passion flower tea (tastes yucky) helps calm me down, but for now, I've been tolerating the hot/heat flashes and mild sweats at night. I get the hot flashes in the day too.
I've also asked some senior ladies I know about hot flashes. They all told me that they get better in a year or two. I do think mine are babs related too.
Posted by tickalert (Member # 7033) on :
Have your Gynecologist or an MD who understands hormones check your hormone levels to be sure.
Hormones can fluctuate dramatically and can be a huge cause of hot flashes. I too have babesia and it hasn't caused the hot flashes, perimenopause has.
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Wow, this is confusing. Well if I go by dogsandcats description it's Babs. The sweats will wake me up in the night because it's pouring down my face and the itchiness of the trickling sweat awakens me. Also the sweats in the day are pouring down my face, especially around my neck sweats, the front of my neck just gets drenched, the back....it's so uncomfortable. They are also really sticky yucky sweats, I can't stand it. I feel on fire. I get really grumpy. It happens during the day too. Sometimes it goes on for hours and then I get a little break. It definitely happens with very little exertion.
I used to always be freezing cold. This started with babs, that's for sure. I started the Malarone last night, but I will look into seeing someone for bioidentical hormones. I just know I really can't afford them.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
A couple years ago, True Blue told me that drinking two or three cups of sage tea per day would help the hot flashes.
Huh, what do you know, it worked.
Posted by betty1939 (Member # 18240) on :
Tracy9 -
I wondered about this very same thing about two months ago. I asked my LLMD about this but he never answered this question, so I felt a strong need to figure out what symptoms were menopause, babesia, and which ones were related to hemobartonella and lyme.
I stopped my babs medication for a little while and noticed that I was not seeing much difference in my symptoms of sweats, so I went to my doctor who treats me with bioidentical hormones and had my levels tested which showed way too much estrogen and testosterone in my system. I had my hormones tweaked and will be starting them this week with less estrogen, testosterone.
I think we have to pay attention to our own bodies and be sure what it is that we are supposed to be treating. I read the book "Is it hot in here or is it just me?" and the list of menopausal symptoms in that book is astounding.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
there is a simple conclusive testn your gyn can do to show menopause
Posted by fflutterby (Member # 28081) on :
Tracy, you should get your hormones tested.
I just tested positive for menopause by my LLMD. I am waiting for a call from a compounding pharmacy and will start bioidentical hormones soon.
Hopefully these will work for me. I will keep you posted.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Tracy -- your med listed included cytomel. Isn't that a thyroid hormone? Probably a good idea to check thyroid levels as well.
Bea Seibert
Posted by klutzo (Member # 5701) on :
Black Cohosh can work quite well for hot flashes/sweats.
klutzo
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Thanks everyone. I think I do need to get my thyroid checked. I am on two thyroid meds but don't think it's been checked in a while. The good news is since I've started Malarone, the sweats are a LOT better. I'm still having some hot flashes which I'm pretty sure are menopausal, but not those sweats anymore. I haven't had a period now in 3 months so maybe they have stopped?
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
I too have been wonder the same thing.
Problem with checking hormones in the perimenopause stage is that they are constantly changing so blood test at 2pm may not accuratly show what the hormones are doing at 10pm -this is what my gyno told me..
My sweats are more like a rubber band snaping inside my body, followe by a warm flush and some mild sweating. Also sometimes like a power surge followed by the flush /sweat.
I do get some night sweats but more like a warm flush and very mild sweating.
For me, I think it is hormones when I get these flushes/sweats but do not feel sick otherwise.
My periods are still like clockwork but I certainly have some very common perimenopause symptoms. Still..very hard to tell..
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
My mom always said she never knew when she went through menopause. She had a hysterectomy at 46, but her ovaries were left intact.
My only sweats have been related to Babs. My gyn tested my hormone levels 11 years ago when my health was going down the tubes and all the other docs said it was in my head, or they just rolled their eyes at me.
My results came back showing I was NOT in menopause. Several years later my periods finally began to change. First they became shorter and lighter, then there would be a longer time between them.
I had always been as regular as clockwork. I could predict to the day when I would get my next period. Then I couldn't. I had my last period four months before my granddaughter was born.
I have Babs Duncani, but when I went on cryptolepis after be in off Babs meds for a few months I got sweats/hot flashes and I knew it was working.
My LLMD monitors my thyroid levels regularly, but he also is my PCP and basically does everything except orthopedic stuff and my annual gyn check up for me.
When my gyn retires I'm not sure if I'll look for another, or just switch it all to the same doc. I've been with my gyn for almost 34 years now.
Posted by AuntyLynn (Member # 35938) on :
Tracy9 - Glad to hear your drenching sweats have alleviated with the Malarone. Babesia can present very much like malaria, so I am not surprised to hear that you are feeling better.
Menopausal night sweats can be a b---- too, and will often soak nightclothes and hair, so your question was very legitimate - and not easy to answer.
As for your three-month hiatus, the rule of thumb on menopause is that you have not completed the transition until you have not had a period in one full year.
I know gals who went 6-7 mos. and then... surprise!
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
Also, if you are on rifampin keep in mind that will mess with your hormones as well as any other meds you are taking. I am currently on rifampin and take estradio. Since starting the rifampin my estradiol is not working.
Posted by annxyzz (Member # 20404) on :
Personally speaking , my number one babs symptom was SEVERE chills that would come out of nowhere . Terrible chills that gave me goose bumps and made me want a sweater in any weather . I hated those chills . Mine are better now. I think the sweats I have at night are hormonal - the chills are almost gone. Fatigue ? Somewhat better but still lousy .
Posted by Bethbe1 (Member # 37696) on :
OK folks... I'm a newbie here. Was bitten by something on my left hand in Feb. 2009. first itching, then burning, then very ugly. Dermatologist thought it was a precancerous something, but i knew it was a bite. Was out on the ground the night i got it. Dog's around... but didn't see what bit me. 2 wks to the day after the bite, I had a high fever. Flu like Sx, every muscle and joint in my body screamed. Sore throat, dry cough, etc. Went to ID doc who put me on Doxy 100 bid for 2 wks. It did no good. Was tested for everything! Even parasites from Africa, as I was there the year before. But I KNOW it was the bite! After the first bout, the fever, rigors, flu Sx returned about every week. then every 2... now, after 3 years, about every couple of months. I've been Dx'd with Fibromyalgia, IBS, other regular stuff, and last week... chronic mono. Test was +, but I never knew I had mono at all. The typical Sx that ya'll have had. Recently my balance is way off. Tripped and ripped my knee last week. Weird. I don't have hot flashes anymore (58), but I can not handle heat at all. My hair stays soaked in back. Sweat pours from my face and neck. some night sweats, but they've gotten a bit better (sheets aren't soaked now). The fatigue is massive. When the fevers come, I'm out of commission for about a week. I think the worst for me now, or most obvious, is the sweating. Had wondered for a couple of years why my knees started hurting. Had cortizone in L knee to attempt to get rid of pain and inflammation. SED rate can be up or normal. Makes no difference of the Sx. As I've been reading, I'm just sure I have Lyme. Was pretty sure of that 3 years ago. Now it's becoming obvious to me. Looking for a specialist in Lyme as I type. I'm lost as to the use of Melarone. I was negative for Malaria x 3. But, if it helps the sweats, I'm all for the nasty dreams! (Took Melarone while in Africa) yuck. AND I can't think anymore, obviously! Scattered, can't think of easy words. Fogged out. Scared... HELP! This RN is lost!
Posted by Sammi (Member # 110) on :
Hi Bethbel, sorry you had to find us but welcome.
If you could, click on the pencil icon on your post and break up the type. Many here have a hard time reading posts that have no spaces between sentences.
To me, many of your symptoms sound like the co-infection Babesiosis. It is similar to malaria and is treated with a combination anti-malarial and antibiotic. It can cause fevers, rigors, sweating including night sweats, feeling off balance, fatigue, muscle pain, shortness of breath, headaches, heart palpitations.
It is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor and be evaluated for Lyme and all the co-infections.
I suggest posting in "Seeking A Doctor" for your area.