LymeNet Flash: LLMD visit today

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Posted by yanivnaced (Member # 13212) on :

So my wife's been on Mepron/Zith for more than a month and feels pretty bad.

We had to see the physician's assistant since we went on a Saturday.

She said to continue for a couple more weeks on the current combo and see if she doesn't get better. If not then switch.

She mentioned Flagyl at the next possible step - she said it treats 'Coinfections'. I asked which one Babesia or Bart? She said both. I asked about Rifampin - she said they don't do Rifampin but they do Levaquin.

Is that right? Does Flagyl work on coinfs? And I was surprised they don't use Rifampin.

I asked if next we could get Bactrim, since I heard that can work on Babs and Bart at the same time. She said 'no problem'.

I like that they are accomodating but not sure about the whole Flagyl suggestion.

Any ideas?

Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :

I was on Mepron/Biaxin for a lot longer than a month before I started feeling better. Is she seeing anything? Herxing? Any changes at all?

I believe Dr. H in NY suggests adding Bactrim to Mepron/Zith to treat bart at the same time babs is being treated.

I've never heard of treating coinfections with Flagyl .... I thought it was for the cystic form of borrelia.

Levaquin was a wonder-drug for me ... my babs had been treated for 10 months, and I really turned the corner on Levaquin. I was also on mino/Tindamax/Plaquenil for Lyme, and Malarone/Art/Lariam for babs when I took the Levaquin.

Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :

I've treated both bartonella and babesia. While I was on one flagyl a week

At the time (250mg) that was to prevent C.Diff not treat the co-infections.

I did Bactrim DS also with babs therapy and it helped a lot.

BTW, I herxed for almost 3 months straight on my first go around with babesia. [Eek!]

I couldn't do levaquin......and it can cause tendon damage.

I tried it, but tendon pain, racing heart and insomnia within 6 hours.

I did rifampin instead.

I would check with the LLMD about treatment options.

Two weeks into initial treatment and I felt worse too.

In fact, the first two whole months were horriffic! [Frown]

Make sure your wife is drinking lots of water.

Hope she gets past this soon.

Hugs,

Geneal

Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :

My head goes spinning with all these various abx and what treats what as well. I only wanted to comment that my LLMD also said he doesn't like to use Rifampin either.

I had been on cipro for the bart along with my zith and mepron but he took me off the bart and went to doxy when I asked if we could try Rifampin.

In any case, as the others have said, it does take awhile to get in your system before you start to feel better. It's a rough long hard road, but it DOES get better.

Cathy

Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :

no personal experience; up for more advise! [group hug]

Posted by adamm (Member # 11910) on :

Rifampin's supposed to be good for bart--but it sure didn't work

for me. Maybe that's because the bugs acquired resistance the day

I forgot to take it.

Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :

I felt horrible my first two months on malarone (which has the same active ingredient as mepron) to treat babs. It got easier after that. It is not surprising that she feels awful after one month on that combo, I am sorry to say! Best wishes.