posted
So I have been in Lyme treatment now for almost 9 months.
The two symptoms that don't seem to go away are fatigue and on/off pain in my left knee.
My LLMD thinks it may be due to Bartonella. I never noticed a Bart rash but I do have heel pain in my right foot every morning when I first get up.
Also, I sweat every night under the covers. It is not a heavy, heavy sweat but just enough to make my night shirt damp.
Posts: 88 | From DC Metro area | Registered: Sep 2009
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posted
Sounds like it could be to me. I would do the treatment if you are having symptoms that are resisting lyme treatment. Thanks my two cents worth! Take care and I wish you luck with whatever you decide.
posted
Have you had any tests for coinfections yet? I have heard that foot pain is sometimes associated with bartonella, but I thought night sweats were more commonly babesia.
Posts: 758 | From now TX | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
Dr W is treating me for Bart. I have pain in both knees, calf pain, and both heels burn. It is very hard to walk in the morinings. I also have sweats both day and night. So I would say you have a good chance at having Bart. He put me on Rafampin.
Posts: 39 | From Oklahoma | Registered: Feb 2010
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bcb1200
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25745
posted
I strongly suspect I have Bart, but haven't started treatment yet. Only on day 17 of Lyme treatment (but whose counting.)
My Bart-like symptoms... mild night sweats (just posted a topic on this.) These are the drenching sweats I hear you have from Babesia. These are mild..enough to make my pillow damp. THey come and go.
I also had gastritis, but it is much better. No rash.
I was borderline on the tests..just under the cut off. I will be doing Rifampin in a few weeks.
-------------------- Bite date ? 2/10 symptoms began 5/10 dx'd, after 3 months numerous test and doctors
IgM Igenex +/CDC + + 23/25, 30, 31, 34, 41, 83/93
Currently on:
Currently at around 95% +/- most days. Posts: 3134 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2010
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posted
Sounds like Bart rather than Lyme/Bb. Bart can be harder to treat than Lyme due to the tenacity of the bacteria and the smaller number of effective antibiotics.
-------------------- Ideas not advice. Posts: 448 | From Downeast Maine | Registered: Jul 2009
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Lyme affects primarily the left side for some reason, and really likes to attack knees, but the morning foot pain is pretty definitive of bartonella.
Pay attention to whatever neurological symptoms you might have, bart patients usually have horrendous mood swings that may cycle every 6-7 days. Fever spikes are common, too.
Posts: 161 | From Southern United States | Registered: Sep 2009
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posted
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses. I have tested Igenex positive for Lyme.
I am negative for Bartonella by LabCorp.
My LLMD clinically diagnosed me with Bartonella due to the lingering left knee pain. The knee pain didn't start till I started Doxy.
I had panic attacks that disappeared 1 month into my Doxy treatment.
I was wondering because my symptoms are mild compared to others which of course I am grateful for.
I thought the soles of your feet were supposed to hurt with Bart not just your heel.
Posts: 88 | From DC Metro area | Registered: Sep 2009
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posted
Ariel1, Just curious if your knee pain is just at the joint or if it extends slightly to the muscle and bone above or below the joint, I think I have a similar pain for past 3 months.
Beachinit.
-------------------- Ideas not advice. Posts: 448 | From Downeast Maine | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
I have been suffering with a swollen left knee on and off for twenty years. 12 weeks into doxy treatment my left knee was so swollen for about a week i had to use crutches. has been ok for a couple of weeks now. never had burning soles. I tested positive for bart.
Posts: 65 | From Sussex UK | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
Sounds like it could be bart...my symptoms are worse than you describe but I'm pretty sure my bart is all over my body.
A warning about Rifampin...If you suspect any level of adrenal fatigue, you should not take rifampin. It has a warning that it can Cause adrenal insufficiency. (also interferes with steroid absorption for anyone who has adrenal insufficiency).
Feel better soon, Paulette
-------------------- Paulette
Staying positive - One Day at a Time! Posts: 10 | From DFW, Texas | Registered: May 2010
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posted
Beachinit, my knee pain is only at the joint.
wealdsteve, Wow! Based on your post, I could indeed have Bart even though I haven't tested positive.
Paulette-2-Lively, thank you for the warning about Rifampin. I hope you feel better soon also!
Posts: 88 | From DC Metro area | Registered: Sep 2009
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
I was told by the LLMD that there are over 200 strains of bart and the labs only test for two. I tested negative but there is no doubt I have it.
Painful feet in the morning or painful shins, is classic and it is a good thing yours is not that bad - yet. Bart causes hot flashes sometimes with a thick sweat, while babesia has drenching sweat. It can cause frontal headaches and bladder irritation as well - feel you need to go especially at night (for me). You feel like you are getting a UTI but test negative. It also can cause muscle twitching, cramps, and dry sensitive eyes.
Mood swings, depression, lack of motivation, anxiety, feelings of depersonalization - basically not feeling like yourself or happy with life. It has really made my emotional life miserable. I believe forgetting nouns is another symptom.
There are skin changes that do not always include red streak rashes associated with cat scratch, or stretch marks. You can feel lumps (nodules) under your outer thighs or arms that hurt when you press them. Pea size brown spots, loss of pigmentation, spider veins, crusty moles, papules, "stacked clams", tiny blood blisters and swelling that appears like edema but does not leave an impression when you press it.
I have occasional knee pain too which I think is lyme related because it is one sided.
I suspected Bart 9 months before I was diagnosed and started treatment. Wish I had known sooner! The herxes for bart are very emotional - purging.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
nefferdun, what are you on for the Bart? I have alot of the same symptoms and I am on Rifampin for it. Monday I start bicillin 2x week for the lymes. Right now my calves, heels, and soles are killin me!
Posts: 39 | From Oklahoma | Registered: Feb 2010
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posted
Hi Nefferdun-- I too would love to know your regimen for Bart-- my feet are killing me... and I have the night sweats-- not drenching like when I had babs... Thanks for your help!
Posts: 243 | From Charleston, SC | Registered: Oct 2008
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