posted
This dang disease is draining me financially (and physically...and emotionally), but I'm sure ya'll know what that feels like.
Anyway, I'm not getting better. at all. I was on malarone for a couple months (August-October). My llmd prescribed this based on clinical symptoms. Well, it didn't help either (but I'm sure that could be because I wasn't on it long enough).
I want to find out once and for all if I have Babesia or not. I need to know what I am up against, kwim?
I have an appointment this week with my doctor so I'm going to discuss that. I know IgeneX offers a test for co-infections... I may end up having to go that route. Even though I don't have $500 or whatever it costs.
My doctor knows another doctor who treats Lyme Disease and co-infections. I never went to him because he is completely hollistic.
Anyway I want to kick myself because back in September my dr. told me to call the other doctor right away because he was going to be at a conference just 2 hours from where I live.
He said he has a FREE program where he tests for Babesia (by taking a blood smear and then taking pictures of it). If it were positive he would of given me ozone treatments (don't know what that is exactly).
I never called him. I was confused about everything and just didn't call for some reason.
Anyway, could someone give me some advice. I'm so sick of being sick. I just want to be better! I feel hopeless these days and feel like I will never be better. I can't live like this anymore! I'm not as strong of a person as some of you...
p.s. I'm going to see if I can see this hollistic doctor. The only thing is he is in Mexico! Which is only 5 hours or so from me, but still.... I'm to ask my doctor what he thinks first.
Posts: 248 | From Tejas | Registered: Jun 2007
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
Drink a 1/2 bottle of tonic water??? (Just an idea, not the best one! Sorry)
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
go to the board where they refer you to dr's and find a LLMD in your area. no need ot go 5 hours ot mexico. there might be one closer.
Posts: 615 | From maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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robi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5547
posted
sent PM
-------------------- Now, since I put reality on the back burner, my days are jam-packed and fun-filled. ..........lily tomlin as 'trudy' Posts: 2503 | From here | Registered: Apr 2004
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Lauren, don't kick yourself for not doing something. Sometimes we have so much information coming at us all at once, and we can't remember everything that comes our way.
Sometimes I can't remember what I was doing just one minute ago. lol You have to laugh sometimes to keep from crying. OKay?
So you missed a free seminar, recommended by your LLMD, that a holistic doctor was doing free blood smears to see babs in the blood cells of people that wanted it? Maybe the blood smear he would of got from you that day, would of been a bad sample?
Maybe the blood that is sent to Igenex will test negative because the strain you have isn't being tested on people who live where you live?
Maybe you picked up babesia in New York on vacation 2 years ago? Does Igenex test for all known strains of babs across the world/USA?
I've tested negative for bart, once from Igenex (4 yrs ago), once from Lab Corp recently a month ago.
There is no doubt in my mind until proven otherwise, that I am experiencing some type of bartonella type infection on this very day. I don't know where I picked the infection up for sure????
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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jamescase20
Unregistered
posted
you would have to drink about 2 2 liters of tonic water, at LEAST hylands leg cramps have quinine, you have to get the strong one though, its PURE quinine...Swansonvitamins.com sells it...make sure its the strong one...the other has other garbage in it...or pure quinine can find powder on the net. I did live blood anal. 200.00 babes would appear next morning after the red cells die...ask tech too look at smear again in the AM (next day) you see the babes dots then.
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posted
It cost $295 but you can send a blood sample to Fry labs and they will send acutal photos of the beasties if you have them in the sample you send.
Posts: 237 | From WV | Registered: Mar 2007
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Dear Lauren,
I had the Igenex Fish for babesia. It was negative.
It only tests two strains.
Yet, I herx like crazy on babesia meds.
Two months is not long enough for babesia.
My LLMD is now treating a minimum of four months.
When I started seeing him, it was one month.
So.....either we are dealing with resistant strains (my thought)
Or we aren't hitting it long or hard enough may be the answer.
I have talked to my LLMD about adding art in for my next babesia treatment.
He isn't crazy about it due to neuro toxicity issues,
But I would like to try it..
BTW, if you test positive for babesia....according to the Blood band in our state
You can never, ever donate blood. What does that tell you???
I think remission for babs too.
Scary huh?
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
quote:Originally posted by motownlyme: It cost $295 but you can send a blood sample to Fry labs and they will send acutal photos of the beasties if you have them in the sample you send.
I vote for this as the very best thing to do.
IGeneX is good, but Fry has found babesia in smears where IGeneX tested negative.
That is not to slam IGeneX in any way -- there are just WAY too many strains of babesia. Only 2 are tested for. However, ALL are seen on blood smear by a good lab like Fry.
Their contact info is in the Newbie Links. Why don't you ask your doc to call them up and get a kit? They've been doing a very impressive job finding not only babesia but bart as well.
Money well spent.
Assuming you have it, I would opt for treatment by an LLMD. I have never heard that ozone will treat babesia, but it's possible I've missed something. Standard treatment is Mepron, Zithromax, and Artemisinin. For 3-6 months.
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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tailz
Unregistered
posted
I forgot something really important, too, though right now I even forget what it was I forgot.
I even showed up at the wrong doctor's office at the height of my Lyme, and no little lightbulbs went off in my doc's head at that time - which makes me feel pretty intelligent in comparison. I remember feeling confused driving, trying to remember all my doctor's names and appointments and where they were located. It didn't hit me though until I was walking up to the building.
Take artemisinin and quinine powder. (Only make sure quinine won't react with any of the antibiotics you are currently taking - I know Cipro is a no-no on quinine.)
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tailz
Unregistered
posted
I forgot something really important, too, though right now I even forget what it was I forgot.
I even showed up at the wrong doctor's office at the height of my Lyme, and no little lightbulbs went off in my doc's head at that time - which makes me feel pretty intelligent in comparison. I remember feeling confused driving, trying to remember all my doctor's names and appointments and where they were located. It didn't hit me though until I was walking up to the building.
Take artemisinin and quinine powder. (Only make sure quinine won't react with any of the antibiotics you are currently taking - I know Cipro is a no-no on quinine.)
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Areneli
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6740
posted
None of them - Igenex or Fry lab would pick up 100% of the cases.
So you do one of the babs test (Fry or Igenex) and if negative, you do the other.
You may start with Igenex or Fry; it is your preference.
Posts: 1538 | From Planet Earth | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
if you have insurance that covers labcorps testing, they can do titer tests for babesia microti and WA1.
you may be lucky and show up positive there, then not have to do the fry or igenex test.
Posts: 35 | From Washington, dc | Registered: Jul 2007
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groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Hi Lauren -
You can get Free Mepron from -
Bridges to Access - Google it --
Have your LLMD sign you up -
Takes 5 minutes --You doctor of health person has to make ONE phone call --
Fill the Forms out Carefully - about 11 things to fill in -Easy -
They give you One year supply- UPS to your house --
Your dock has to write 2 scripts for the mepron- One for 3 months - one for 9 months -
Have your dock write your script for 3 teaspoons aday -- then you some will have extra --
You dont have to be broke to be accepted -
--- Jay --
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Some LLMDs do an ART challenge I heard for a couple of weeks to see your response. It's relatively inexpensive for just a couple of weeks. Zhangs ART would be about $50.
Great suggestions above also.
Posts: 85 | From here | Registered: Jul 2007
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I was confused about everything and just didn't call for some reason. 
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