mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
Could I possibly be one of the few that have no co-infections? I've been in treatment for almost 2 1/2 years (I'm a 30 year Lymie, though) and I am 75 to 80% better and gaining everyday.
It's hard for me to believe that I have no co-infections, though. I've studied the symptoms o co-infections and don't seem to have symptoms except some minor ones:
Very mild sore throat occasionally and fatigue: Bart?
My sister is pretty much the same.
I'm on Cowden for a while so tehcnically I'm treating all of them now, thankully.
Was it more rare to have the -coinfections 30 years ago??
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
ByronSBell 2007
Unregistered
posted
did you ever do a Fry antibody ans blood smear test?
IP: Logged |
mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
No but I'm going to ask my Dr. about them on Monday.
Do you happen to know how accurate they are?
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
There are people without co-infections, but most of us have them. Sore throat my LLMD says is Babesia.
I have had 2 co-infections (Bart was horrendous -causing many nuero problems - now gone) I have one left.
This is only my opinon, but it seems you would have been well before this if it were only Lyme. 2.5 years , it seems something is hanging up full recovery.
I assume you have been tested in the past for co-infections. It took 3 tests and well over a year and several Igenex tests for my husband to show Babs. I would either do another Igenex test or Fry test. But in the end your LLMD should be able to tell if you have co-infections by symptoms.
Even viral co-infections could hold up full recovery, I'd also consider viral testing just in case.
randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
when a doctor in bedford diagnosed me with lyme from igenex, he said i had no co-infections.
so do most people have them? what's the difference in plain ole basic lyme and then co-infections? do you treat both the same, i mean with one drug or do you have to treat everything differently? do lyme co-infections get cured before the lyme or do they hang on?
geez, this is confusing...
how do i know i have one? symptoms only? i assume igenex knows what they are doing? could they show later?
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
| IP: Logged |
The reason coinfections are such a big deal is that basically Lyme, Babesia and Bartonella all require different meds. There is some overlap, but if you have severe Babesia or Bartonella those need to be treated with very specific meds that aren't usually used for Lyme only.
Ehrlichia is usually successfully treated with Doxycycline.
There are a few other more rare coinfections that require specialized meds also I think.
Bart or Bartonella Like Organisms wasn't even recognized by LLMD's until around 2004 I think. And at that time the "standard" treatment per Dr B was 3 months Levaquin. Many have found out that that is not enough meds or not long enough treatment.
this is one of the reasons new patients here are advised to see an LLMD. Only LLMD's have enough experience to recognize coinfections based on symptoms and only they will treat clinically because the test results are so poor.
Testing from the Fry Lab is a great place to start, but even those tests are not 100% accurate.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
djf2005
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11449
posted
imo there is very little chance you are only infected w borrelia.
almost everyone has multiple infections, its just a matter of what ones are symptomatic.
testing is junk, fry and the rest, make sure you have a llmd that will treat you clinically.
if youre on cowden, youre covering most of the co infections anyway, so id say youre good.
best of health..
derek
-------------------- "Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."
posted
I tested negative for all co-infections except Erlichia when I first started this round of treatment after remission.
3 years later, I now test negative for my original co-infection (erlichia) and positive for mycoplasma. This co-infection can be picked up in the community though, so hard to say if it's from a tick.
I believe it's possible to have no co-infections, if your tick only carried one and your immune system was otherwise strong.
But, FYI, it is also possible to pick up new ones without a new tick bite. Bartonella is cat scratch disease, and mycoplasma is walking pneumonia.
This seems to just be a case of picking something up cuz your immune system is already worn down.
Posts: 168 | From Delaware | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged |
CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
I would say it's unlikely, but I'm no doctor. Bartonella/BLO is likely ubiquitous, most LLMDs are now saying. Erlichia and babesia, 25-75% depending on who you talk to.
The reason is there are way too many strains of these bugs to test for. you need a doc who will make a clinical diagnosis.
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
| IP: Logged |
mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
I agree with the clinical diagnosis - and my doctor does, too, but how can a clinical diagnosis be made if I have no symptoms? I am getting stronger and feel better and better but I still have doubts.
I was going to ask for testing but they are so unreliable.
The Cowden Protocol is my comfort right now - I guess I'll just keep up with the treatment and if new symptoms come up I'll deal with it then.
Thanks for all the replies for a difficult question.
So many unanswered questions with this DD.
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
lou4656
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10300
posted
It seems that I did not have co-infections. And although testing is not reliable, I did not test positive for bart or babs.
I treated the lyme for a year, and have been without treatment since January. And so far, no recurrence.
I may just be one of the very lucky ones . . . for which I am grateful.
-------------------- LouLou Posts: 1276 | From maryland | Registered: Oct 2006
| IP: Logged |
mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
Thanks, Lou. I am happy you are better.
I love sucess stories!
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
djf2005
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11449
posted
lyme abx do not only treat lyme.
many classes treat multiple infections.
hence doxy being the first abx of choice for ducks.
the point is, you probably covered bases you were not even aware of.
albeit, it doesnt matter, you are feeling better and the infections are under control.
i think the average lyme patient has about 8 or 9 active infections if im not mistaken although i cant seem to locate the data.
glad you are feeling better mojo, keep w cowden, hope it does the job
derek
-------------------- "Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."
randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i had a igenex test done in 2005 and it said i did not have coinfections.
the doc said it was "very uncommon" but it did happen.
should i have the test redone???
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
| IP: Logged |
mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
Thank you, Derek
Randi - I'm not sure - the testing is very unreliable as I know it - even worse than the Lyme tests so many Dr's go by sypmtoms.
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic