I went to my doc yesterday with notes I had taken from here and other forums about Babesia. When she saw a list of anti- parasitic medications people take along with the herbals and ABX she said she didn't see why that was necessary. She said they were for gut parasites. I am not knowledgable enough to answer her. It would be helpful to get a complete and accurate explanation of why they are used. . lolo
Posted by lolo (Member # 43186) on :
If know one has an answer or the time to answer if you could point me to an article or other website that may explain the reason I would very much appreciate it. lolo
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- She is neither lyme literate or literate about Babesia.
You need to find another doctor to treat you. Sorry I don't have time to sort out the very best links for you but antiparasitics such as flagyl are mostly to help prevent lyme from becoming chronic.
When exposed to antibiotics, alone, borrelia spirochetes - some may be killed off but many will also quickly retreat in the CYSTIC form. Antibiotics can't touch them there. Flagyl (antiparasitc) can.
Sometimes, antiparasites (although other than from flagyl, and a combination of Rx) are used to treat Babesia as it's a blood parasite - not the same as gut parasites and different Rx that address blood parasites are used (similar to malaria).
Bottom line: you should not have to educate your doctor; you cannot bring a doctor up to speed fast enough for them to have the skill to treat you.
If at all possible, find other ways. In the meantime, you might suggest they attend the ILADS conference that is to be soon. -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- In as friendly a manner as possible, you might share this with your doctor, suggesting so much more detail is here. And that they offer a physical training program, too. Because it's all so very complex.
- How taking just antibiotic, alone, can cause Chronic Lyme. The spirochete is not the only form of lyme. And the cystic form is not the only other form. There are several forms of lyme. And each requires a different approach. For starters:
Flagyl is one anti-parasitic Rx used for the cystic for of lyme.
BABESIA is a whole other thing, though. Different kinds of anti-parastics (as Babesia is a blood parasite. Treatment is similar to Malaria but malaria is much easier to treat, actually).
Babesia also requires combination / rotation in treatment and it may need to be ongoing for months (or longer). Babesia can become chronic, too.
Babesia can be very tricky to treat. It's not a recipe treatment that works for everyone. Some drugs work (or are tolerated by) some well; some are not and frequent changes to protocol may be required.
It may take even more knowledge and experience to treat Babesia that if someone had "just lyme" but we all know that lyme rarely ever exists alone. -
[ 09-04-2014, 04:11 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- TBD = tick borne disease. At first, some wonder why not use TBI for tick borne infection. However, before all this even came into awareness, TBI was coined to mean Traumatic Brain Injury. So, for our purposes, then, it's TBD.
A very sad feature of having lyme / TBD is that it's so hard for us to communicate. We are still smart people -- and some do better than I for sure in the communication department.
But cognitive symptoms, sheer exhaustion, vertigo, etc. really slow my down and also just prevent me from being able to explain just about anything verbally to anyone - in a concise manner. That seems to be true for many others, too.
And even gathering up the perfect article, that explains it just so, short enough to keep their attention -- yet covering all the important aspects, well, it is nearly impossible.
Lyme / TBD really is a sub-specialty. I would hope that any doctor willing to treat you would be willing to reach out to the ILADS community so they could learn more, too.
Maybe they just don't even know ILADS exists. I hope they want to learn more and will connect.
And I hope you can find a LLMD or LL ND who already has the knowledge, skill and experience to be a proper doctor for you.
Okay, I just searched your posting history and see you can only go to a doctor who takes Medicare & also just get drugs that medicare part D will cover.
Hopefully, your doctor will reach out to someone at ILADS and then still be able to help you.
Be sure to refer back to previous threads you posted for Babesia treatment option. You can just click onto your screen name to see your posting history and then trace back previous replies.
Buhner is very good, by the way. Glad you have his books. I'm all out of steam now so I hope you find what you need.
Good luck.
Posted by jlcd1 (Member # 18138) on :
check out the parasite warrior thread. Ask there!!
Perhaps she does not know about DR H's book where he mentions that parasites are the number one coinfection of Lyme.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Babesia is a protozoa.
Lots of anti-parasitics are anti-protozoas.
Tinidazole, flagyl, alinia, albendazole.
All good for protozoas.
Tinidazole, alinia, cryptolepsis and another herbal formula got rid of 85% of my babesia symptoms.
Mepron, zith et Al did not.
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
A lot of people with chronic Lyme ARE infected with gut parasites. Filarial worms were also found in dissected ticks. Google parasite symptoms and check out the PARASITE WARRIORS SUPPORT THREAD here on lymenet.