I started Rifampin and Clarithromycin for suspected Bartonella two weeks ago and have lost about 8 pounds, though I'm still eating about the same amount of calories and am getting LESS exercise because of herxing.
I read somewhere that weight loss can be impossible with Bartonella....
Thoughts/experiences, please?
Posted by pme (Member # 31621) on :
I havent had this experience but I started cipro today.
I have been exploring symptoms of bart, and they say weight gain, so maybe treating it would lead to weight loss? Just a thought! I hope this is a happy side effect for you.
Posted by Kudzuslipper (Member # 31915) on :
Jennifer, I am about to start rifampin. This would be a happy side effect for me, as long as it doesn't throw me into a tailspin. How are you feeling on it? Are you taking it twice a day? With food?or on an empty stomach?
Hope it's a happy thing for you and you are feeling ok... Have you noticed any relief?
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
Jennifer, I'm being treated for bart and am slowly but steadily gaining weight.
Kudzu, I initially herxed like crazy but seem to be feeling a little better. Actually, for me, the herx cycles seem to come more frequently for the co-infections than they have for Lyme.
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
Bart causes you to gain weight so I am not surprised. Good luck with your treatment.
Posted by jenniferk32 (Member # 30718) on :
Kudzuslipper- I am taking it on an empty stomach at least an hour before I eat or take any other medications in the morning, per the pharmacist's instructions. Apparently, it's a strong drug with a lot of interactions. Make sure to take lots of probiotics. If they have a store near you that carries plain Nancy's fancy yogurt, I highly recommend it over taking probiotics in pill form. It has a whopping 124 billion cfu's of probiotics, with 54 billion of them live.
Posted by Kudzuslipper (Member # 31915) on :
So you're just taking it once a day? Sounds like you're feeling good on it. I will check into nancy's yogurt.
Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
My LLMD asked that I make sure to take the rifampin on an empty stomach, and I could take both doses at 1x
so I take it 1x a day, very early morning, and then wait to eat.
By the way, I've put on close to 5 pounds since starting it- I was underweight, but still feels odd to put it on. I also found the stamina to start exercising again when I started it...
Posted by dbpei (Member # 33574) on :
jennifer, I lost a small amount of weight when being treated for bart, but seemed to drop weight faster when I started being treated for babesia. I am sure the dietary changes are a big part of this as well.
I have lost about 17 lbs in total since starting treatment last November. Fortunately for me, this is a good thing, as I have been struggling to lose 15 - 20 lbs for the last 2 decades!
I have returned to working part time and don't have much energy for shopping for new clothes but managed to get a few things online that were on sale. It is so strange to need a new wardrobe from losing weight and not be elated over this like I would have in the past...
I am grateful that the scale went down instead of up for me. I hope that when I am well, the weight stays off. (Good to hear those words "when I am well" out of my mouth...) Posted by Jennifer70 (Member # 30280) on :
I've lost 18 lbs but had to fight for every single pound. And it's been over the course of a year. Now that Im gluten free/low sugar I've dropped another six in four weeks.
Wt gain has been so frustrating for me becuase i was so active before all this. I also think fixing our adrenals and maybe thyroid as well. I have chronic fatigue and did a little better with exercise tolerance after being put on cortef and armour thyroid.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- This book & site explain why lyme, and Cpn, caused serious weight gain in some patients and how, once the infection(s) were addressed, it just seemed to nearly fall off.
The author interviews at least on LLMD here, and speak about one patient who gained a great deal (undeservedly, as they had good food habits) and that it nearly disappeared easily (but not exactly overnight, of course) with good treatment for the infections.
That book does not detail ADRENAL SUPPORT that is essential for all with infection-caused weight loss. He explains now the adrenal stress hormones contribute and why infection treatment is so important - however - along the way adrenal support really matters, too.
Topic: NATURAL SLEEP & ADRENAL SUPPORT -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Sudden weight loss can also be due to diuretic properties of some Rx and some herbs, too. And, while that may be part of the infection-attack, still, if you loose a lot of water weight be sure you are not getting dehydrated.
Keep up hydration - water, minerals, nutrients - in measured degree all throughout the day and even before bedtime as we can become dehydrated overnight.
Don't flood with water but also be aware that water intake may need to be increased to help dilute & move out the toxic load for all the cells - and the liver and kidneys (depending upon your previous habit).
Ask your LLMD for the amount best for your body. Likely between 3 & 4 quarts a day, never more than a glass at a time. But, some may need less due to certain issues around kidney clearance.
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