My oldest has been sick for the past few years...really, really sick. She can't go to school, rarely is able to go out and feels awful most of the time. She has LD along with Babesiosis, and who knows what other coinfections.
She has been on several protocols. The most helpful one was rocephin, but she only improved after being on it for more than 3 months, and once she stopped it, she declined again.
She started having bad yeast infections a few months ago and did the usual monistat in addition to the nystatin she was already on and of course has been taking probiotics since she began taking antibiotics.
She was put on diflucan a few weeks back to help control the yeast and we were told that many people improved just from that. Yeah, sure. At this point, I don't believe anything I hear because we have been on the disappointment rollercoaster way too many times
Anyway she came off antibiotics about 10 days ago to try Cowden. Supposedly, people are helped by that, but I've heard other people/docs say it's useless. Before trying Cowden she was told to try just the diflucan for a couple of weeks to get rid of the yeast and to see if it made any difference in how she felt. This made sense, since she has been on the antibiotics for so long and it is important to get rid of any yeast.
Well, I don't want to jinx myself but for the past few days she has shown improvement, and I am happily and gratefully shocked. She actually did a few loads of laundry the other day (this borders on a miracle) and has been getting up earlier and doing more things around the house, like straightening up her room and doing crafts.
Now, don't get me wrong, she is still sick, and after exerting herself she is tired and needs to rest. Her immune system is shot to hell as well, and if there's a bug out there she will get it.
But she has not been able to do this much activity in years!!! The only factor that could account for this is the diflucan.
She is on artemesia and mepron for babesiosis, as well as supplements and all the "regular" meds she has taken for years like synthroid, florinef and an antiviral.
So, what do you all think? Has anyone else had this type of experience? Has anyone heard that diflucan itself can help LD?
Please let me know your thoughts, and please pray that this improvement will continue. And please keep all kids suffering from LD in your prayers as well. They've been through way too much.
Posted by lymebytes (Member # 11830) on :
In Buhner's book, he says that a small study of lyme treatment failure cases were treated with 200mg daily of Diflucan, I think for 6 weeks. ALL of them showed improvement...permanent.
Posted by dmc (Member # 5102) on :
It is call the Schardt protocal some info in PDF link:
Would this be something wise to do right when you finish Lyme treatment?
I had planned on doing something for yeast anyhow (humaworm has a product, herbs, garlic, etc)
Posted by Alana (Member # 14077) on :
Thanks lymebytes. I didn't realize Buhner's book addressed diflucan. How encouraging that after 6 weeks all showed permanent improvement.
dmc, I came across the study done by Schardt and was amazed at the findings. Thanks for the link...I hadn't seen the actual journal article.
For those who are curious, this study was published in the European Journal of Medical Research, July 30, 2004. The last sentence is: "The observed clinical effects after fluconazole treatment certainly warrant further investigation in vitro as well as in controlled clinical trials."
So why, in 2010, have no other studies or investigations or clinical trials taken place??? It infuriates me that this literature (along with so much other literature) was published years before my child became ill.
Posted by radfaraf (Member # 11909) on :
I took diflucan for two months at 150mg twice a day with no improvement with any symptoms, so sadly it is not a magic bullet. It only helped with some of the yeast, which wasn't bad to begin with. I was trying to rule out yeast as the cause of my symptoms back them.
Posted by thomasx (Member # 13431) on :
Well, I've been on it now for a fairly short period and am happy to say that this is the first real improvement I've felt since starting treatment (2+ years). It has simply nailed my neuro-symptoms... decreased them by a good 90%. That's cool. And I'm stunned how quickly it started working.
Posted by Alana (Member # 14077) on :
cane,
My daughter's lyme treatment isn't over. The fat lady hasn't sung yet She is in the process of switching to herbals b/c after 1.5 years of antibiotics she has nothing to show for it.
Of course I'd check with your LLMD, but if someone hasn't seen significant improvement after a long duration of antibiotic therapy, there's nothing to lose IMO by stopping the antibiotics for a bit and giving diflucan a try. If someone would have told me this two months ago, I'd have laughed.
IMO, garlic and herbs are very helpful, but diflucan is a big gun when it comes to yeast, and it apparently has some sort of effect on the spirochete.
Don't really know much about humaworm, but b/c my whole family has LD and cos, we will investigate that as well. I used to think people were nuts when they posted about parasites/worms.
I used to also think people with LD were overreacting (geez...do all these people really think they have it that bad? All they need to do is take some doxycycline and stop complaining. They should only know the hell of Chronic Fatigue and Fibro). Those thoughts came back to bite me!
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
haha Understandable
My family was the same way when I was sick and at the beginning of treatment.
A few(more than that) tears later they get it now : )
Getting my family to understand this all has been a big part of my battle.
And I thank God I have em (I'm getting way off topic) hehe
Posted by Alana (Member # 14077) on :
rad, I am sorry to hear you had no improvement with diflucan. 300mg/day is a high dose...too bad that wasn't enough to get rid of the yeast, or to help with your symptoms.
Maybe the diflucan is only effective after a long course of antibiotics?? Were you on antibiotics for an extended time?
I hope you find something that helps you.
Thomas, thanks for your input. Sounds like you've had a very similar experience as my daughter. She has neuro symptoms too, but she is also very physically ill. The biggest improvement we've seen is her energy level and stamina.
We are stunned along with you...just so hard to believe that something could start working so quickly. I hope your improvement continues.
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
wow. all along I just needed to take Diflucan? Now you tell me
I am going to start taking my Diflucan as I have developed yeast.
I'm so tired of this IV. I think I need a break.
I recently saw a new LLMD he prescribed Sporanox. I have not used it yet. Has anyone tried this for yeast. If so what was your experience?
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
I have noticed that my sleep meds don't work as well when I take diflucan. I think it moves stuff through your liver quickly.
Posted by Alana (Member # 14077) on :
Sorry Haley!! If I knew sooner, I'd have told you lol.
I can understand needing a break from the IVs. My daughter had a PICC for 6 months. But, hey if IV antibiotics could have helped, great. Too bad they didn't.
Never heard of Sporanox. I would ask your doc about a trial of diflucan to see if you get any improvement. Don't know anything about sleep meds and diflucan. And I'm hoping diflucan moves things through the liver quickly...that's probably a good thing, but I don't know anything about that either.
Posted by tick battler (Member # 21113) on :
Alana,
So glad to hear your daughter has made some improvement! There is an LLMD near me who treats all of his patients with Diflucan as their primary lyme med. I don't necessarily agree this is the best approach, but it shows that it can work with some people. I met one of his patients at the gym and asked her how she was doing and she said that she had been on Diflucan for a year and only had some occasional pain in her hands remaining.
I did some posts on Diflucan or fluconazole a while back, so you might find it if you do a search.
My 3 young children are all infected and have made good progress on abx. However, one of mine has plateaued for the past 6 months and has not really improved since then, so I am looking into alternative treatments, such as the Cowden. One of my boy's behavior symptoms improved after adding Enula and Cumanda to his abx protocol for the past 2 months.
Also, they all still test positive for babesia after a year of treatment, so I'm considering other options in addition to Mepron such as cryptolepsis. My boys were making some progress when artemisinin was given with Mepron, but they both became allergic to it. It seems you really have to keep trying different things to see what works, as you are.
An alternative practitioner that I went to recently told me that grapefruit seed extract is excellent for getting rid of candida and even babesia! It is safe and I am giving it to my children as well for the next few months to see if it changes their babesia test results when we go back to the LLMD in April. I am a bit skeptical that the GSE will kill babesia, but if it works, I will certainly let everyone know. At least I know it does help with yeast.
Good luck to you and glad to hear you have some good news.
tickbattler
Posted by JOLA (Member # 23498) on :
I've been treating since March 09 all the usual
combos but always along w/4days a week diflucan
and I have yet to have a yeast infection.
Of course good probiotics but I wouldnn't stop
the diflucan under any circumstances for myself
Posted by swedish lyme sufferer (Member # 14579) on :
My experience: Diflucan is GREAT for lyme. it has great penetration into the brain, which is one of the explanations. It weakens the lyme - but it does not kill it---so try to follow the Shardt protocol, rotating Diflucan and a "killer" antibiotic. You might have to use the rotation protocol many times around. Best of luck to you!!
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
It could also be the babesia treatment that she is taking, the mepron and art. Those had a huge impact on my energy level, as babesia can cause profound illness and fatigue. I hope she continues to get better!
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
Its possible that she is feeling better simply from coming off the abx 10 days ago and switching to cowden, since cowden is generally tolerated much better than abx, and incorporates more detox measures. Also, this would make even more sense if she is not doing extensive detox on the abx alone.
It could be the Fluconazole though, and if it is, that's great! I have been pulsing fluconazole now for a few months at bedtime (100-200mg) and I think it does provide benefit.
I do believe from the science I have been able to understand that it works by using the body's cp-450 enzyme system which in turn weakens the bacteria's cp-450 system which in turn leaves them more vulnerable to anti mircrobials (herbs, abx, etc)
I think trying to use diflucan along w/ some type of anti microbial protocol w/ detox sounds promising.
Glad she is showing improvement.
Best
Derek
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i felt really great on diflucan. my red fingers went away, my head cleared, joint pain stopped.
the problem was getting a doc to prescribe it long enough. i actually cut the 200 pill in half so i could take it longer.
why won't they prescribe it longer? i truly do think if abx are not working try this.
Posted by Need Lots of Help (Member # 18603) on :
Diflucan has helped me tremendously. Mainly, sinus infections, allergies, and vag. yeast infections. It is the only thing I have taken which has shown me ANY improvement at all.
Shalome
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
It did nothing for me...
Good luck finding a doc who will do Diflucon and abx. Mine won't.
Posted by thomasx (Member # 13431) on :
Richdie... any specific reason(s) your doc won't prescribe the two together?
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
A lot of LLMDs are now experimenting w/ diflucan w/ abx.
The only reason some erroneously don't rx it is because they are worried it will place a burden on the liver, alone or with other medications.
With proper liver support and detoxification, fluconazole and abx are fine.
Posted by jkmom (Member # 14004) on :
My daughter is very sick like yours. She had been on abx for almost 2 years when her doctor told her to stop and offered no further help other than advice to see a local neurologist.
She did get worse after stopping. We took her to a new LLMD and to my surprise, he did not put her right back on abx. He did put her on a lot of supplements and nystatin and diflucan. She had been taking the nystatin but the diflucan was new.
Even without the antibiotics, she got better than she had been in a long while and this was coming from the worst she had ever been.
She did go back on abx and has stayed on her diflucan. It has been over 3 months and she continues to do as well. (Still not very well, but we'll take what we can get.)
I never really thought about her progress being due to the diflucan but it was a factor in her treatment.
Posted by Alana (Member # 14077) on :
Whew...thanks to all who responded to this post!!
tick battler...
I have never heard of an LLMD who treats patients primarily with diflucan! I am happy to hear that one of his patients (at the gym, noless), had improved while on diflucan.
This diflucan thing is very new to me, so I will check out previous posts about it.
So sorry to hear about your 3 kids being infected. It is just so difficult to deal with. I hope the child who has hit a plateau finds improvement with Cowden or another alternative. I am not familiar with Enula or Cumanda yet, but glad to hear it has helped one of your little ones.
My daughter was clinically dx'ed with babesiosis awhile back, despite negative test results. So, she was on zithro/mepron for quite a while, and we didn't really see any difference.
Recently, she tested + through both the NY and CA health departments, so this is no longer a clinical dx. She is off zithro, but remains on mepron, with the addition of artemisia recently.
I've never heard of cryptolepsis, but that's something to keep in the back pocket. Hard to believe that after a full year of treatment, they're still positive for babesia!!
What allergic reaction did your children have to the artemesia? Geez, who would have thought to even worry about that??
I've done some reading on GSE. It sounds like a great supplement. I do worry about it though, because of grapefruit's tendency to interfere with many meds.
I didn't realize it could also possibly help get rid of the babesia..you'll definitely have to report back on that one.
In the meantime, I hope your guys are feeling well and that you as their mom are doing OK too. It's just so hard seeing them sick.
JOLA...
Good to hear you've been on diflucan since the beginning, and have avoided yeast infections. How sick were you before treatment began? Do you think the diflucan has made a significant difference?
swedish lyme sufferer...
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with Diflucan! I have read that it weakens the lyme, but doesn't kill it, as you say. I've also read that Shardt recommends a basic penicillin in conjunction with diflucan.
Just have to wonder why, after years, I'm just finding out about this now....so frustrating, but yet so grateful if it helps.
Vermont_Lymie...
I'm not so sure that the improvement is due to the babesia treatment...she's been under treatment for quite a while, though she just recently started the artemesia. Thanks for your good wishes!
djf2005/Derek...
It is definintely possible that just coming off abx has helped her, but she's been on "medication vacations" before, and it hasn't done any good. Also, she hasn't yet started Cowden. The only thing different, aside from stopping the abx is the diflucan.
She needs to do some detox, but she doesn't have a significant overload of toxins, thankfully.
Why are you pulsing the diflucan, especially if you think it might be helping?? Just curious, as her dose is 200mg/daily.
I came across a study that mentioned the cp enzyme, but it was way over my head!
Thanks for your input, and I hope you have success with diflucan as well.
randibear...
this is good news/bad news. Praying you find a way to get someone to prescribe diflucan since it helped you.
Need Lots of Help/Shalome
Wow...my daughter, in addition to Lyme and co, has also had so many sinus infections and yeast infections. She also has many allergies. Thanks for posting your experience with diflucan. Have you been sick with Lyme and co for awhile?
richedie....
How long were you on the diflucan and at what dose?
Why wouldn't your doc prescribe it for you?
thomasx...
Ditto, both for rich and randi
djf2005/Derek, again...
Makes me wonder if there really is something to this diflucan thing if LLMDs are now incorporating it.
And, really, doesn't everything we take put a burden on the liver??? Hardly seems like an excuse for a doc to use.
Next stop for us is to inquire about liver support.
jkmom...
So sorry to hear about your daughter!
How infuriating that your doc didn't offer any help after 2 years! Good that you went to a new LLMD.
How inspiring and heartwarming that she has been doing well, after doing so poorly. I hope that her improvement continues. Diflucan seems to be making a difference for a lot of people (much to my surprise!).
And, as far as taking what you can get, I know the feeling!!!
Posted by thomasx (Member # 13431) on :
I don't know why it's making me feel better. I just know that it is. Normally when I'd switch to a new antibiotic, for example, I might feel a little better for 2-3 days and then back to normal(lyme normal). With Diflucan, I felt significantly better after 2-3 days and it's been pretty persistent since then.
Posted by djf2005 (Member # 11449) on :
I pulse it because I feel personally it is more effective to pulse & rotate meds as much as possible as well as adding new meds/herbs/detox measures as regularly as possible in order to keep things fresh.
Hope she continues to feel better soon.
BTW, I get the diflucan from the same dr tickbattler does who believes it is very powerful against lyme & co.
I have seen it help some, not all, but it's worth a try.
Best
Derek
Posted by Need Lots of Help (Member # 18603) on :
Alana,
I have had lyme for 20 years. I only got diagnosed and started treatment last year. When I found out I had lyme and started reasearch I realized that my husband had it too! Then, found out that my daughter had it. I just got her a prescription for nystatin and I am hoping it helps her as much as the diflucan helped me. OH, and the Nystatin helped my husband a lot too.
I think yeast is a larger obstacle than most doctors give it credit for.
Good luck to you, Shalome
Posted by Alana (Member # 14077) on :
Hi again djf2005/Derek...
Thx for your explanation. At this point I've heard so many pulse/not pulse explanations that I don't really know what is best. Both approaches make sense. Guess people have to find their own way/guidance on that issue.
Can you please PM with the doc that you and tickbattler see? We aren't too far away from PA, so I am very interested in this doc's opinion re diflucan.
Thanks again for your good wishes, and I hope you are feeling better too.
Need Lots of Help/Shalome,
Let me guess...you were told you had fibo or CFS initially. Well if you did and found out the culprit is really Lyme and coinfections, good for you.
Your family has had a triple whammy. Thank goodness you realized your hubby and daughter had it too.
Glad to hear that nystatin helped your hubby, and more importantly that you are aware of diflucan's benefits. I wish I knew this years ago.
But then again, I wonder if taking abx for so long has actually worked for many in terms of killing LD and cos, but goes unnoticed because the resultant yeast causes so many symptoms and is not eradicated.
I'd have rolled my eyes at these words a couple of years ago. But, the more I learn, the more I realize I need to learn more!
After this experience, I agree that yeast is a significant obstacle.
Thanks for responding, and good luck to you and yours as well.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
Last year when I traveled 500 miles to see an LLMD he gave me diflucan saying it was for yeast and also the cyst form of lyme. I didn't used it, at that time, because the levaquin gave me tendonitis and I could not tolerate chemicals.
This year when I went back on abx I remembered what he said. I was treating bart when I woke up with my right arm in so much pain I could not move it - it is my lyme infested arm. I figured I would be in pain for a month, just like always, but I took the diflucan as I did not have anything else that I knew was effective against borrelia.
The very next day my arm was miraculously better. I couldn't believe it. I continued to take the diflucan for 19 days, about all I had.
Then when I went to another LLMD yesterday she said she does not like diflucan because it is too hard on the liver.
I hope it is helping you daughter.
Posted by Alana (Member # 14077) on :
Hi nefferdun...
Levaquin, and other meds in that family, does a number on tendons. I've heard it's best to load up on magnesium prior to taking these floxins, and to keep taking the mag during treatment. Supposedly, this helps protect the tendons.
I am glad that diflucan helped you initially, but I am really puzzled and disturbed as to why your doc along with Richiedie's and Randibear's docs refuse to prescribe diflucan.
Diflucan has been around for a very long time. Don't really get why docs would hesitate to prescribe it, especially if they are LLMDs and could recommend supplements like milk thistle to help the liver, along with monthly labs to check liver function.
For now, since I am noticing a change for the better since she has been on diflucan, I'd move heaven and earth to make sure she can take it for at least the next few months.
Easier said than done, I know, but if you feel that diflucan (or anything else for that matter) has helped you, I'd be very pushy at the next LLMD appt and insist on a script.
In fact, since you just saw her yesterday, I'd call and request a phone consult asap and adamently request a script for diflucan based on what you've posted.
Hope you get what you need.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I have done the diflucan protocol for over 18 months.
Not by itself, but as a combination with biaxin and other meds (not antibiotics).
I take 200mg for 60 days then take two weeks off.
I was in remission from June of last year until December,
However, I continued with my diflucan as needed for yeast issues.
I had a babesia relapse in December.
My LLMD and I have talked many times about what one medicine or treatment
Did I feel was a turning point for me.
Adding in the diflucan daily for me did it.
It took a while. Four to six months to see initial results.
However, my brain fog lifted. My speech and language returned albeit slowly.
I think the diflucan with the biaxin was a good mix for me.
I am doing it again now with malarone added in.
I have treated for Lyme, bartonella and babesia.
This was the combo that I really started to see real results.
Just my personal experience.
Also, my liver enzymes never came back abnormal.
Never.
The only thing I had to watch out for was that I could not take
The biaxin and diflucan together. Caused pre-ventricular contractions for me.
I think the diflucan also works to enhance the biaxin in the system as well.
Hope this helps.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Alana (Member # 14077) on :
Hi Geneal,
Yes, your post helps!
Hugs back to you and thanks so much for your input!
I really had no clue that diflucan was even part of any protocol until recently.
My daughter hasn't been on biaxin at all, but was on zithro for years with no improvement.
What other meds/supps are you on?
The 200mg/daily of diflucan seems standard, but we are novices and haven't heard anything about the 2 week off cycles.
Geez....you were in remission for 1.5 years?? That is awesome.
The babesia is an issue for my daughter too. She is taking mepron and artemisia for the time being. She was on zith/mepron for a long time...with no noticeable improvement.
Gives me a lot of hope that diflucan made a difference for you.
I wonder if taking abx, anti-virals, and anti-parasitic/anti-malarials for so many years killed the bugs, but left behind the yeastie-beasties which cause similar sx.
Maybe diflucan is the agent that knocks the yeast out and puts people on the right track??
In your case, you saw promising results in 4-6 months of diflucan.
We saw noticeable improvement in just a few days. We are jaded and skeptical (been down the "improvement" road before, only to be disappointed).
We remain optimistic though, and are heartened by your experience and that of others here.
Thanks so much for sharing...we really appreciate your input.
Hope you are doing well, Alana
Posted by bv (Member # 9578) on :
I just finished 3 months of doxy 200mg 2x day, and diflucan 100 mg 1x day. Last 3 weeks was a herx from hell.
Doc ran some tests & said he thinks my LD is under control & switched me to Rifampin 600 mg a day & Biaxin 500 mg 2x day to treat Bart.
I felt terrible the last month on doxy & diflucan----don't know if it helped or not.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
but for the past few days she has shown improvement, and I am happily and gratefully shocked. She actually did a few loads of laundry the other day (this borders on a miracle) and has been getting up earlier and doing more things around the house, like straightening up her room and doing crafts. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
She is in the process of switching to herbals b/c after 1.5 years of antibiotics she has nothing to show for it. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)