I went yesterday for alot of my neurological symptoms and told him I was treating for Babs. He almost pitched a FIT at me and told me in no uncertain terms that no one gets treatment for Babesia because it doesn't produce symptoms!!
I fought with him, gave him websites, led him to literature but to no avail.
It simply never ceases to amaze me what DOCTORS, supposedly highly educated men and women, believe and don't believe.
I left his office challenging him to gather some information and let me know what he thinks after he has met some of us that are truly sick with this "no treatment required disease".
Fuming in NJ Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
There is even less known about babesia by doctors than lyme, if you can believe it.
[ 26. May 2007, 11:29 AM: Message edited by: Vermont_Lymie ]
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Yes, in my reading I've found that they say in most people the babs resolves itself. Posted by Kayda (Member # 10565) on :
How can he say that? I know, let"s give him Babesia and then he can tell us it doesn"t need treatment.
Where did he get his info?
And years ago, no one was treating depression or other illnesses.
Doesn"t he know Babesia can cause 200 different symptoms?
Does he live in Stupidville?
Kayda
Posted by breezywings (Member # 9222) on :
Yes, I think he lives in Stupidville on Ignoramus Street.
It really got to me because as he and I were talking, I told him that I was aware that the literature says that Babs usually resolves on its own. But I tried to tell him in a rational way (to educate him) that years ago we thought that AIDS was just Gay Pneumonia and through the closing of the eyes of many in our nation, we lost valuable people to AIDS. Now we know better
I think that it really bothered me to talk to yet another doctor that dismisses these diseases as *cultish* because as long as they close their eyes to these dreadful diseases, they stop the progressive flow of needed information and research.
Someday, we will have some answers. I talk to an Aids patient and he says to me that Lyme/tick disease patients are today where they were in the 70's.....dealing with two factions, fighting for treatment and acknowledgment and all the while watching friends, family, loved ones suffer and die. I think he summed it up perfectly.
Posted by Beverly (Member # 1271) on :
I can't believe a doctor would say that, how awful. What a duck!! When I hear these stories about ducks and how horribly we all get treated I am so very grateful for my LLMD.
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
Ask him to get bit by a tick voluntarily and do nothing, see how quick he changes his tune.
Does he think malaria "resolves itself" too? Good grief. Posted by breezywings (Member # 9222) on :
Pretty insane I know. Makes me really wonder. But I am thankful that I have a good LLMD. I don't know what I would do without him and his reassurance that this is not all in my head.
Just for the record, I offered to do a mutual finger stick with the duck just to be sure 1) it isn't transferred by blood; and 2) to be there for him when he gets bit and gets Babs. I offered to help him find a good doc whilst he suffered through the horrendous sweats, headaches, et al. That I would take him seriously because I have compassion. I told him I would even search out the tick, have it test etc.
He turned me down. Hmmmmm...... Posted by Marnie (Member # 773) on :
Med Pregl. 2004 Jul-Aug;57(7-8):349-53. Links [Human babesiosis--recent discoveries][Article in Serbian]
INTRODUCTION: Babesiosis is caused by intraerythrocytic parasites of the genus Babesia, which is a common animal infection worldwide.
This protozoa requires both a competent vertebrate and a nonvertebrate host (Ixodes sp. etc.) to maintain the transmission cycle.
HUMAN BABESIOSIS: Human babesiosis is predominantly caused by Babesia microti (rodent-borne piroplasm, an emerging zoonosis in humans in North America) and by Babesia divergens (bovine pathogen, in Europe).
Occasionally, infection in America is caused also by a newly recognized species, so-called WA1 piroplasm.
The spectrum of human babesiosis in the USA is broad, and ranges from an apparently silent infection to a fulminant.
In Europe, babesiosis is considerably rarer, but more lethal (42% mortality rate in Europe and 5% in the USA, for clinically apparent infections) and mostly in splenectomized patients.
Various determinants are involved in the severity of infection, such as age, immunocompetence and coinfection with other pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi).
B. microti antigens can trigger specific activation of T-cells and the infection can be effectively controlled by a Th1-dominant CD4+ T-cell response.
The diagnosis of babesiosis should include examination of blood smears stained by Giemsa, as well as serologic evaluation with indirect immunofluorescent antibody tests and possibly PCR.
The treatment of babesiosis depends on severity of cases; if it is mild it resolves spontaneously, whereas very severe cases with B. divergens require prompt treatment that includes erythrocyte exchange transfuision along with intravenous clindamycin and oral quinine to arrest hemolysis and prevent renalfailure.
This paper offers an overview of recent developments in the investigation of Babesia sp. and babesiosis.
PMID: 15626291
Babesiosis is carried by species of Ixodes including the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) in the north and mid-west of the United States and in other countries, including Europe.
Babesia microti is the usual causative organism and is a hemoprotozoan, that is it circulates in the bloodstream.
Normally, the two host of Babesia microti are ticks and peromyscus mice (Peromyscus leucopus).
The tick infects the mice with sporozoites, which reproduced asexually in erythrocytes.
These escape to the blood stream where they may form male and female gametes that are taken up by the tick during a blood meal.
In the tick, the gametes fuse and go through a sporogonic cycle to form more sporozoites.
Humans can also acquire sporozoites when bitten by an infected tick and
are usually dead-end hosts but babesiosis has been transmitted to other humans via blood transfusions (figure 29).
In most cases, infection is asymptomatic but after a week to a month, symptoms can appear.
These include fever, chills, sweating, myalgias and fatigue.
In severe cases, hepatosplenomegaly and hemolytic anemia can occur.
Normally, the patient recovers, although severe cases occur in immuno-compromised patients and the elderly.
Disease cause by another protozoan, Babesia divergens, can cause more severe and sometimes fatal case of babesiosis.
Diagnosis Diagnosis is by serology, immunofluorescence microscopy and by direct observation of the parasite in blood smears in which ``Maltese Cross''-like inclusions in erythrocytes are seen (figure 27, 28). These consist of four budding merozoites attached together.
Treatment Usual antibiotics used are clindamycin plus quinine or atovaquone plus azithromycin."
In areas where malaria is endemic, babesia is often misdiagnosed as malaria. In the U.S. the incidence of babesia is highest on Nantucket Is.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Do you have to go to this "duck"?
Sheesh!
These pompous, arrogant idiots need to do some homework.
It is a real shame that this is typical of your average every day duck.
How many people have not educated themselves on Lyme and co-infections and just
Relied on their ducks word for treatment.
When I did stroke therapy in the local hospitals around here,
I found neurologists (whom I worked with daily)
To have some of the fattest heads!!
I wouldn't waste my time and energy sending this duck any information.
He already knows it all.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Truthfinder (Member # 8512) on :
Just look at what Marnie posted.....
And I know I've read that if left untreated, Babesia has a mortality rate as high as 30% in the U.S. (I think depending on strain).
So, this guy is taking a big chance with SOMEBODY ELSE'S life. What a jerk.
Tracy
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Why go to neurologists? Most have nothing to offer but tests and erroneous opinions on tickborne diseases.
Posted by Foggy (Member # 1584) on :
Goodby, C-Ya Next!
Excluding the 1 Neuro I met who saw merit in IVIg for the demilinating aspect of Lyme, they've just added to my collection anti-depresant Rxs. And they love the E(asy) M(oney) G(eneratr) tests. Posted by breezywings (Member # 9222) on :
Thank you all for the great replies. Marnie, thanks so much for taking the time to post this great info. I would run it off and give it to him but like some of the others said, he isn't treating me and I suppose it would only make him madder.
All of your responses are always so great. I don't know how I would have made it through this far without signing on and reading so much wonderful information. It has saved my life on many occasions.
I lurk alot, but I am oh so glad that you are all here when I come out of hiding.
Be blessed all of you and I hope you all sleep peacefully. I know that is hard for alot of us though...... Posted by Katcon (Member # 9812) on :
Hi Breezywings
I hope the bab's treatment helps.
I started taking Malarone a couple of months ago, and I am seeing improvements.
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