The gutless wonders at the CDC admit they have no FDA test for bartonella. They also state bartonella infection does not occur from a tick bite. Seriously, how do they get away with this GARBGE ?
I am the queen of Bart infection. I believe i have been exposed on 4 separate occasions in the past 5 years.
1st time was 5 years ago when my elder cat bit me. I ignored it over the weekend. I ended up in E.R with IV antibiotics. I had bartonella infection from bite in hand which ran all the way up my arm to armpit to lymph node.
I don't believe it was adequate treatment to kill it but I had a healthy immune system which resulted in me remaining asymptomatic.
Until I got bit by tick 4 years ago. All hell broke loose. I believe I was infected with borrelia burgdoferi and borrelia miyamotoi, as my county was 80% positive. I also think it carried Bart. Life has never been the same !
Then on Easter Sunday, my cat scratched me. See post (emergency cat scratch treatment.) If most cats carry Bart, then I was put at risk again. I applied iodine every 4 hours and was already on antibiotics. I believe this is what resulted in me being asymptomatic once again. Lucky indeed !
8 days ago was bite again by tick in stomach. Within 2 days flu-like symptoms and bartonella streak on abdomen.
Currently bedbound with headaches, stabbing brain, night sweats, ghastly B.O, dizziness, red palms and feet, burning tongue, can't taste food, muscle and bone pain, anxiety, crying bouts, exhaustion. These are bart symptoms for me.
My immune system is non-existant at this point in time from chronic infections and illness. I show NO antibodies.
I made remarkable progress at 6 month mark on Doxy, Rifamin, Amox, and supplements. LLMD said I was at 50%. Anxiety, pain, tinnitis, I.C. bladder, fatigue, and brain fog GONE!
Am I now re-infected, or is it a herx, flare, or relapse ? Whatever it is, it is AWLFUL. . .
Keep treating !
Posted by luvmycat (Member # 4984) on :
Wow, Bonnie, I'm so sorry to hear all this. I've seen your posts but didn't know your whole story!
When the vet & I were talking about cat scratches and bites yesterday she agreed with my analogy:
When a cat bites or scratches, it's like sticking a syringe under your skin and injecting that bacteria.
Yes, you clean the wound site but what's done is done. It's already in your bloodstream. That's why I'm infected with Bart now.
After all this, I really need to change the luvmycat name. :/
I see my cat as a giant 14 lb. tick!
Posted by Bartenderbonnie (Member # 49177) on :
Vets, are by far, on the front lines of all TBI's. They know how nasty these diseases are. My vet's dog died from Lyme disease.
When I left his office, I just sat in my car and cryed. I mean, what hope is there for us if a vet can't save his own beloved dog ?
But I got better with treatment. I tasted it, lived it, it felt fantastic! I ll get it back.
I practice good hygiene with all my animals. Wash hands after contact. Big fan of bleach for cleaning all surfaces. Even if they sneeze, I leave the room and turn on ceiling fan. No more sleeping in bed. We simply cannot risk it, unfortunately.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)