my doc doesn't think I have any co-infections as I don't have any symptoms of them. From what I've read though here, many think you should be treated for them anyway. I don't want to take any more meds than I have to. What is the general consensus?
Posted by LightAtTheEnd (Member # 24065) on :
I don't know, but I am in the same situation.
My doc has been treating me for Lyme, and I am improving, so I guess his thought is to try that first and see if it works. So far, it has been.
If I have any silent coinfections, they haven't showed themselves yet. If they never do, then I don't have a problem, right?
Posted by BackinStOlaf (Member # 23725) on :
I guess. Maybe our immune systems are able to keep them in check? Let's hope it doesn't pop up later
Posted by LightAtTheEnd (Member # 24065) on :
One day at a time.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Yeah, just keep a watch out!! Let's hope it's all A-OK!
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
Good advice from light and tutu.
There have been posters here who get well without co-infection treatment and who don't seem to have any symptoms of co-infections.
Keeping my fingers crossed that you all are in that group of lucky individuals.
Terry
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
I did not test positive for babesia or bartonella but was diagnosed with both. After starting doxy I got the long red/purple bartonella streaks. Some of my best progress was with babesia treatment.
This covers some info about co-infections beginning on page 22. I'll cut and paste some excerpts of Dr. B's info regarding babesia.
PIROPLASMOSIS (Babesiosis) GENERAL INFORMATION It had been thought that Babesia microti is the only significant piroplasm affecting humans. Now it is believed that many of the over two dozen known species of piroplasms can be carried by ticks and potentially be transmitted to the human. Unfortunately, we have no widely available tests for these non-microti species. That is why, again, a clinical diagnosis is required.
``Co-infection generally results in more intense acute illness, a greater array of symptoms, and a more prolonged convalescence than accompany either infection alone.''
� ``Spirochete DNA was evident more often and remained in the circulation longer in co-infected subjects than in those experiencing either infection alone.''
� ``Co-infection might also synergize spirochete-induced lesions in human joints, heart and nerves.''
� ``Babesia infections may impair human host defense mechanisms...''
� ``The possibility of concomitant Babesia infection should be considered when moderate to severe Lyme Disease has been diagnosed.''
Babesia infection is becoming more commonly recognized, especially in patients who already have Lyme Disease. It has been published that as many as 66% of Lyme patients show serologic evidence of co-infection with Babesia microti.
It has also been reported that Babesia infections can range in severity from mild, subclinical infection, to fulminant, potentially life threatening illness. Subclinical infection is often missed because the symptoms are incorrectly ascribed to Lyme.
Babesia infections, even mild ones, may recur even after treatment and cause severe illness. This phenomenon has been reported to occur at any time, including up to several years after the initial infection! Furthermore, such Babesia carriers pose a risk to the blood supply as this infection has been reported to be passed on by blood transfusion.
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66% of lyme patients show serologic evidence of babesia, then add the many strains that there are no tests for and you likely have a pretty high percentage that have babesia.
Then consider that there could be a large number of lyme infected individuals who never become chronic because they don't have co-infections. Those could be in the group of people who have lyme but are asymptomatic OR who have a short course of abx and never have a relapse. So much that we don't know...
Terry
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
I had no symptoms of them, but I had babs and bart.
This is how you can tell. When you stop your lyme treatment once you are symptom-free, if you are sick as a dog in 2 weeks, as bad as you ever were, then you have coinfections.
Generally, if you can go for a number of months without relapsing, you may have just lyme. But, if you can't make 2 weeks without relapsing, you have untreated coinfections.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by TF:
This is how you can tell. When you stop your lyme treatment once you are symptom-free, if you are sick as a dog in 2 weeks, as bad as you ever were, then you have coinfections.
Generally, if you can go for a number of months without relapsing, you may have just lyme. But, if you can't make 2 weeks without relapsing, you have untreated coinfections.
True!!
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
This means I have untreated coinfections. Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
Seek: Notice that first you have to get symptom free. You have never gotten symptom free.
I got symptom free just treating lyme. But, any time I stopped the meds, in 2 weeks I was as sick as I ever was.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
I still have a lot of symptoms and when I stopped abx for a short time and symptoms came back right away, my LLMD said it was a co-infection, not lyme because lyme is slow growing.
Terry
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Good point. I sure haven't made it there yet. I hope to though!! I have done the two years of treatment you had though before getting well.
quote:Originally posted by TF: Seek: Notice that first you have to get symptom free. You have never gotten symptom free.
I got symptom free just treating lyme. But, any time I stopped the meds, in 2 weeks I was as sick as I ever was.
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