posted
I have been treating Lyme for several months, and recently added in Mepron because further testing showed postive Babesia.
I recently sought a 2nd opinion from another LLMD (both the prescribing LLMD and the 2nd opinion are highly regarded and considered among the best).
The 2nd opinion LLMD said it was imperative that I immediately stop Lyme treatment and focus only on treating the Babesia for the next several months. He said that you must treat the co-infections first because treating both Lyme and the co-infections simultaneously counteract each other.
I will not see my prescribing LLMD for another month, so it will be awhile before I can ask him about this issue. In the meantime, I don't know if I should stop my purely Lyme abx. I worry about stopping my Lyme treatment, but I also worry that I may be making both the Lyme and Babesia worse by treating them simultaneously.
Does anyone have any ideas or recommendations about this issue?
Thanks!
Erica
Posts: 408 | From California | Registered: Apr 2008
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
I treated the Lyme first, now working on the babesia. Seems to be working.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
I've seen many LLMDs, there is no consensus on this issue. Even if you did treat soley for Babesia, with Mepron + Zithro. for a few months, Zithro. is still a Lyme treatment, so you are treating Lyme too. I don't think it matters.
My best combo. was Doxy. + Rifampin + Malarone- Hitting all 3 of my infections at once.
Different things work for different people.
Posts: 371 | From CT | Registered: Jun 2008
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quote:Originally posted by JKMMC09: I've seen many LLMDs, there is no consensus on this issue. Even if you did treat soley for Babesia, with Mepron + Zithro. for a few months, Zithro. is still a Lyme treatment, so you are treating Lyme too. I don't think it matters.
My best combo. was Doxy. + Rifampin + Malarone- Hitting all 3 of my infections at once.
Different things work for different people.
Did that combo of meds give you a lot of side effects...nausea and such?
Jenny
-------------------- Never, Never, Never give up! Posts: 395 | From Connecticut | Registered: Nov 2008
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Vermont_Lymie
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Member # 9780
posted
quote:Originally posted by sutherngrl: I treated the Lyme first, now working on the babesia. Seems to be working.
posted
up
Posts: 348 | From maryland | Registered: Jul 2008
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CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
It seems like every LLMd has a different answer to this. Mine goes after Lyme for a couple of months, usually to see what symptoms of co's bubble up to the top. Then based on what is really prevalent, he will treat that co-infection first.
He will order tests, but goes on clinical diagnoses.
Seems like a good approach.
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
Sutherngrl and Vermont: Can you clarify what you mean by treating your Lyme first, then treating Babesia? What I mean is: Are you still treating the Lyme along with the Babesia? If not, then does that mean your Lyme has cleared, or that you will further treat the Lyme after the Babesia is gone?
It makes sense to me to start with the obvious (Lyme) and then continue to treat the Lyme with any co-infections that surface. However, both LLMDs are a nationally reknowned experts...so that is why I'm so confused.
I'm guessing ILADS does not have guidelines on the order in which the infections should be treated, or if the co-infections need to be treated first or simultaneously?
[ 04. December 2008, 12:52 PM: Message edited by: Erica741 ]
Posts: 408 | From California | Registered: Apr 2008
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seekhelp
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posted
I don't think ILADS docs could even agree on the same recipe for chicken soup honestly. Really ridiculous.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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tdtid
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Sadly, I think there's still so much research that needs to be done on this topic. I know different LLMD's have different thoughts on this topic.
It would be nice if the bill for govt funding for lyme research would go through since it's long overdue, but at this time, I don't think we have enough hard core fact to know which is right.
On the other side, it appears that no two cases of lyme and co's are quite the same so I don't think it's going to be a "one size fits all" type protocol....so a lot of trial and error is going on.
Good luck and hopefully one of your doctors will stumble on the right combination for YOU personally.
Cathy
-------------------- "To Dream The Impossible Dream" Man of La Mancha Posts: 2638 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Oct 2006
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CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
Erica, is your prescribing LLMD Dr H? Who did you see for the 2nd opinion? I'm curious about this.
I had always heard that Lyme and babesia tx went nicely together. Why not hit two birds with one stone, etc.
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
I think that many doctors over treat and this can be overwhelming to our bodies. My LLMD treats separately or at least so far with me that has been the case. First treated for Lyme and all bacterial infections, then treated for Babesia.
If my symptoms are not gone after this, I'm not sure which one he will assume he needs to treat for, or if he possilby would treat the 2 together. I go back the middle of Jan, so I guess I will find out then.
I am concerned that when we stopped treating for Lyme and started treating Babs that maybe we didn't treat long enough and the Lyme was not completely gone. But really there is no way to know except going off meds and seeing what transpires. I did not feel any improvement while on antibiotics, but feel a good bit of improvement on Malarone.
This is the hard part of this illness. Kind of like trial and error. I do believe though that less meds at one time is better and I have seen so many ppl cured this way.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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quote:Originally posted by seekhelp: I don't think ILADS docs could even agree on the same recipe for chicken soup honestly. Really ridiculous.
Too funny Seekhelp!
Bumping up for more input. My LLMD appointment is Tuesday, and I'd like to hear more of your experiences.
Posts: 408 | From California | Registered: Apr 2008
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