Is it likely for us with lyme to NOT have co infections, or pretty much a given we also have accompanying infections? Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
My impression from those on here, those in my support group and myself...
These days coinfections are present.
Whether they are prior infections the immune system can keep in check UNTIL lyme disables the immune system,
Whether the tick regurgitates its filthy innards into us,
Or whether we acquire them after lyme, and our immune systems are so confused it cannot fight...
Yes, coinfections are present.
Posted by unsure445 (Member # 15962) on :
I know about an equal number of people with lyme by itself as with coinfections.
There are many less symptoms, fatigue is usually profound, treatment is shorter and more straightforward.
A good llmd can help sort this out. I remember reading a statistic for this somewhere. It stated the percentage of ticks that carry Lyme, 1 coinfection, 2 coinfections etc…
Maybe someone else will recall the specifics.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
I was talking to another patient in my doctor's office. She said she got infected several years ago and just has Lyme, but people more recently infected seem to have a bunch of coinfections.
I was infected with Lyme in 2012 and 2013. I had several more coinfections the second time around (though I did have a bunch the first time). The total ones I've tested positive for are 13.
I also have babesia and bartonella, but never tested positive (I had the telltale red streaks though and other symptoms the second time around that were completely different than the first time I was infected).
This is completely anecdotal though. I know people who have been infected with the 3 Bs for several years.
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
From what lyme doctors are saying, most patients who have lyme also have babesiosis and bartonella.
Lyme docs call these "the big 3."
Burrascano said a few years ago that if a person has had lyme for at least a year, then they also have coinfections. That is the rule.
See the Guidelines, pages 3-4 where he talks about having lyme for one year and the coinfections then becoming an issue.
I have found that the more a person educates himself, generally the further back he can see lyme symptoms in his past. So, it is good to study the disease and try to estimate how long you may have had it. That helps the doctor in determining your treatment.
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
I did not begin making progress till I treated for co-infections.
Posted by nikkabelle (Member # 43604) on :
Yep, that's what I thought, that they are very common.
My llmd just diagnosed me with Bart (clinically) even though my blood test was negative.
Has that happened to anyone before? Is that pretty normal?
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
Yes, I tested negative for Babs but had all the classic symptoms. Treated for a long time and got better. Stopped tx and relapsed and there goes the merry go round. But yeah, it is very common. Good luck w/ treatment. DW
Posted by Brinkley929 (Member # 43812) on :
I think that's common too!
I tested negative for Bartonella but my LLMD just clinically diagnosed me with it.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)