I tested positive over a yr ago to M.Pnuemoniea--by LabCorp via serum
I had three times the normal level (normal meaning the level that is considered positive) Anything that was over 700 was considered positive, and I tested at 2700
I still test positive after a yr of zithromax 750mg, via I.V. and oral treatments
I can not tolerate the Fluroquinolone class of antibiotics--muscle damage substained while on treatment with Levofloxacin
Sometimes the Tetracyline class of ABX are are employed when treating mycoplasma infections
See: www.immed.org for more info on Mycoplasma infections
This is the web-site of Professor Garth Nicolson--The gentleman credited with connecting GWS patients and mycoplasma infections( being that there is a correlation between the two)
quote:Originally posted by Mathias: My new LLMD just uncovered another problem for me. I just tested positive by PCR for mycoplasma fermentans in my CSF (17,600 copies/mL CSF).
I tested negative in my blood. I did previously test positive for IgG mycoplasma antibodies. My CSF was never tested for mycoplasma by my old LLMD.
He thinks that at this juncture, my lyme is probably in remission (after 8 months of abx) and that the mycoplasma is what is still keeping me sick.
Is anyone infected with this strain of mycoplasma?
Did you test positive in your blood or CSF?
What abx were used to treat this co-infection? I'm currently on only 500 mg/d of levofloxacin.
What about culture & sensitivity csf or blood culture????
Posts: 40 | From Brandon, MS. USA | Registered: Dec 2003
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ArtistDi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 2297
posted
If I remember correctly, Doxy is used in a lot of mycoplasma infections. Another friend of mine was on Doxy and Biaxin.
Posts: 1567 | From Hatfield, MA, USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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Mathias
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5298
posted
I've already been on Zithromax, Doxy and Biaxin for lyme disease.
Because I still have this infection, those antibiotics had little or no effect on the infection and my LLMD thinks the strain may be somewhat antibiotic resistant at this point.
you might want to look at the marshal protocol which was devised to treat mycoplasma and other cell wall deficient bacteria that some believe are at the root of many autoimmune diseases.
the protocol was originally developed to treat sarcoidosis, but some with CFS and chronic lyme are also now trying it.
I have tried Biaxin, Doxycycline, Minocycline, Ketek, Cipro and Levaquin.
My response is that they have all not worked to cure me, though they have brought me to a much better place than I was when I was not on abx. I really want to try Factive next but based on my previous abx trials, I am pretty sure it will be the same.
So far, the best combination for me has been Levaquin 750mg + Biaxin XL 500mg (which I have been on for 3 months). All of the abx I have been on have worked to some extent but it is like taking a pain killer - I feel somewhat better for a few hours and then I am back to being bad. I still feel very sick but am able to function normally after being on abx.
I continue to test positive for Mycoplasma antibodies (before was IGM and IGG, now just IGG). However, the only time I tested postive for M Fermentans was a PCR test after being on Biaxin and Doxycycline together (which by the way is a dangerous combination since it elevated my liver enzymes and had to stop)
Still looking for a cure but have lost faith in the medical community, mostly due to their arrogance....
Posts: 1 | From Washington DC | Registered: Sep 2006
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Jellybelly
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7142
posted
Hi Mathias
I am positive for Fermentans and Pnuemonia by PCR first. Was pretty sure the Pnuemonia was a factor but was surprised by the Fermentans.
I have been in about an 85-95% for about 4 years and I used Minocycline mostly at extremely low doses. I was also treated for hypercoagulation with heparin. I totally believe that it was the combo of the 2 that got me to the remission state I am in.
My doc just retested for Mycoplasma IGg or IGm and I was still low positive. Never the less, I am very functional.
Good thing is many of the drugs used to treat Lyme also treat the Mycos. Ssome are better then others and I think Mino is one of the best for Mycos.
You might want to go to the Road Back Foundation and take a look. They have tons of info on Mycos as it was originally implicated in RA. As with Lyme, I don't think there is a word cure when talking Mycos, but remission is attainable.
Hope this helps.
Posts: 1251 | From california | Registered: Apr 2005
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i wanted to briefly relate my boyfriend's experience so far with m. fermentans in case it gave you any additional ideas/information. there were actually multiple posts on this back when it happened... i think 2003... but they seem to be removed, and aren't coming up, at least how i'm searching. i'm not sure if you saw those or not.
after first being diagnosed with lyme, due to severe PET and SPECT scans of his brain and other advanced neurologic symptoms, he was put on agressive multiple combinations of drugs, including 9 months of rocephin, high dose long term zithromax and plaquenil, etc.
at the time we only knew he had lyme and babesia.
after about a year of this, he was still not responding well to treatment and our LLMD at the time decided to do a second spinal tap. while the lyme testing was negative in CSF (at MDL), and the resuls were somewhat complicated, but he did get a positive PCR for m. fermentans in CSF.
like you, his blood was negative for it, and had been for multiple previous PCRs done over the year. after the + CSF result, he was put on a new combination, of Doxy (400mg) and Levaquin (500mg). after 3 weeks they repeated his blood work, and his blood levels of m. fermentans were not only positive, they were extremely high -- 35,000.
the LLMD speculated that the infection had been sequestered in the CNS, and that particular combination had liberated it out into the body. he continued on that combo for several months and for the first time had very significant improvement in his severe and unrelenting headache.
i'm not sure what, if anything, this means for you. there were complicating factors, including that after many negative PCRs for bartonella, during that treatment he also got a +Bart PCR. so perhaps the combination aimed at CNS M. fermentans was actaully targeting bartonella, and that's what resulted in the symptom shift. who knows.
but i find it interesting that you also had negative blood tests combined with + CSF. and i do know that the symptomatic and functional improvement he had at that point was quite significant. so i'd be curious what your blood results would be once you started a tx that was effective... i would consider repeating the blood work if you change drugs or feel a symptomatic shift.
in terms of way to sort all this out, our personal story gets much more complicated after that moment, because he had to stop the Doxy due to liver issues after several months, and had multiple other complicating medical issues. it's several years later, and he now is being treated by an LLMD using ART testing and alternative combinations of conventional lyme drugs and herbs, etc. this change in our approach has been very helpful. but he still tests (via ART) positive for m. fermentans in his brain. we have not repeated lab testing in quite awhile.
recently, he was put back on Doxy, and he's had significant improvement again. when he stabilizes more, they plan to pulse Levaquin. of course, this brings us back to the question of whether it's actually the m. fermentans which we are treating....?
i'd be very curious to hear what and how you do, and what your LLMD says etc.
good luck -
flossie
Posts: 773 | From yahoo.com | Registered: Dec 2002
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Mathias
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5298
posted
This post is over two years old and I've become quite educated during that time. Thanks for bringing this up for others to see.
I'm 90% improved now thanks to 2+ years of various antibiotic combinations.
Currently I'm on 200 mg of Doxy with the addition of 320 mg of Factive for 7 days of the month. It has helped me tremendously. If I stop abx, I relapse in ~ 10 days.
My LLMD will order bloodtests after I am symptom free, which I am not yet. I was close to dead in July of 2004 and could barely walk 50 feet.
-------------------- Mathias Posts: 1242 | From New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
oops, didn't see the old date when someone brought it up to the first page... i thought your post gave me a sense of deja-vu.
glad you're doing better... and since you're clearly experienced with this, we might actually need your advice...
P is currently struggling with a bug that casues very quick relapse if he pauses abx. we're thinking it may be the m. ferm again, since lyme and other friends probably wouldn't grow out that fast....i might PM you soon....
best, flossie
Posts: 773 | From yahoo.com | Registered: Dec 2002
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