I went to see Dr. C in MO two weeks ago (its taken me a while to regroup since the trip.

I'm really glad I went and to know that now I have a plan to work toward full health.

BTW he said my prognosis is excellent, that I don't have too many symptoms and he thinks I should be able "fire him" in just a few months. YAY!

So I got lots of answers while I was there but ended up coming home and having more questions too.

Maybe some of y'all can give me some insight:

1. I failed the F.A.C.T (functional acuity contrast test) eye test.

Dr. C says that's because the neurotoxins have affected my optic nerve. He suggested that I consider a detox program-which I am definitely wiling to do.

Question: Will my optic nerve recover if I detox or will I just stop further damage?

2. I just started taking generic Ceftin about a week ago. I had a total yeast flare up which I didn't have a problem with at all during the eight weeks I was on Doxy.

So I'm on yeast/sugar free/lo-carb diet and taking nystatin and just this afternoon have noticed a little bit of a difference.

I'm an old yeast hand from my pre-LD days so I'm familiar with the anti yeast agenda but I've never dealt with it in conjunction with abx.

Questions:
Do certain abx make you more prone to yeast more so than others?

3. I've been looking at other posts on this forum regarding taking abx and acidophilous.

It seems that some think its okay to take everything (abx, nystatin and probiotics with your meal) and others say to wait two hours before taking the probiotics.

Question:
Will the abx kill the probiotics? Or will the probiotics interfer with the action of the abx. or neither?

Is this true for all abx.? I'm on the generic Ceftin now but I know that Zithromax, Flagyl and Mepron are in my future.

4. Re co-infections: I didn't get tested for anything because I don't need to prove to an insurance company that I'm sick since I don't have insurance to cover any of this stuff.

I sometimes wonder if I might have babesia too. Dr. C. mentioned it.

Question:
So is it typical to treat the LD first and then treat the co-infections?

Thank you all for all of your help. You're awesome.

3. You need to take your probiotics on an empty stomach 2 hours before your abx. Abx will kill the probiotics and all the other good bacteria, so by taking them together you defeat the purpose. Try taking them when you first wake up, around 3 pm, and just before bedtime.

4.Coinfections: Need to be addressed before Lyme is addressed. Can't get rid of the Lyme without treating coinfections first. I would think that Dr. C would have evaluated you for them, and suggested testing if suspected. And since you say he mentioned it, why wasn't the testing run??

Although many of the symptoms cross over, so it's often hard to tell ... testing would have been wise, but then again, the tests aren't very reliable.

I would think if you don't progress as Dr. C expects over the next few months, he'll be bringing up coinfections to you again.

I am also a patient of Dr. C and saw him last month.

Years ago I had horrible problems with yeast from abx for sinus infections. I'm not convinced that certain antibiotics will cause yeast and others won't. My understandng is all abx wipe out good bacteria and can cause yeast.

Unfortunately I can't answer the optic nerve problem. I didn't fail that but have problems with one eye, and am currently taking something to detox and have been on a strict diet for almost 2 years.

My local dr. who is excellent told me not to take probiotics and antibitoics together.. they neutralize each other.

My antibiotics are seperate from Nystatin and probiotics since I trust what my dr. says.

If unsure you can call Dr. C's office and ask them..they are very helpful.

Treating the lyme then co-infections I'm not sure about. Information I've read says that you ususally have co-infections if you have lyme but not always.

Sounds like your on the right road to recovery!

I am also a patient of Dr. C and saw him last month.

Years ago I had horrible problems with yeast from abx for sinus infections. I'm not convinced that certain antibiotics will cause yeast and others won't. My understandng is all abx wipe out good bacteria and can cause yeast.

Unfortunately I can't answer the optic nerve problem. I didn't fail that but have problems with one eye, and am currently taking something to detox and have been on a strict diet for almost 2 years.

My local dr. who is excellent told me not to take probiotics and antibitoics together.. they neutralize each other.

My antibiotics are seperate from Nystatin and probiotics since I trust what my dr. says.

If unsure you can call Dr. C's office and ask them..they are very helpful.

Treating the lyme then co-infections I'm not sure about. Information I've read says that you ususally have co-infections if you have lyme but not always.

Sounds like your on the right road to recovery!

How does one do it..when they get you through a disease like this..

Must have to take them out to dinner first!

You are in good hands..

I hope you can kick him (ever gently..) to the curb asap!!

Mo

quote:

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1. I failed the F.A.C.T (functional acuity contrast test) eye test.

Dr. C says that's because the neurotoxins have affected my optic nerve. He suggested that I consider a detox program-which I am definitely wiling to do.

Question: Will my optic nerve recover if I detox or will I just stop further damage?
NO way, no daMage allowed. It will recover. Im not sure on this one, honestly. I passed my neurotoxin test. Im not sure how as I couldnt see two feet in front of me, but I did!

2.
Questions:
Do certain abx make you more prone to yeast more so than others?

Yes. Some abx come with inserts that mention yeast, some dont. Differernt abx are definately more prone to yeast, but oddly, I think doxy is more prone to cause yeast! I know amoxy is a definate yeast causer.

3.

Question:
Will the abx kill the probiotics? Or will the probiotics interfer with the action of the abx. or neither?
Probiotics will interfere with the abx. Take the probiotics two hours away from ABX.
Yes, its true for all abx.

4. Question:
So is it typical to treat the LD first and then treat the co-infections?

Nope, more typical to treat the coinfections first. What meds did he give you? Bartonella, I have heard, is left til the end, babesia always up front.

Thank you all for all of your help. You're awesome.

-Shanna[/B]

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You'll be surprised just how many questions are answered there. He did these handouts keeping in mind all the same questions that are asked over and over...so don't discount them.

If for some reason you got away with not receiving them, by all means, call DR. C's office and have them send them to you.

I hope that helps he is my doctor as well as my daughter and her two daughter's.

quote:

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Originally posted by lymeinhell:
Can't get rid of the Lyme without treating coinfections first. I would think that Dr. C would have evaluated you for them, and suggested testing if suspected. And since you say he mentioned it, why wasn't the testing run??

testing would have been wise, but then again, the tests aren't very reliable.

---

Treating the Lyme first will ensure that you've hit the ehrlichia in case it's present. Ehrlichia can't be left till later.

Dr.C's protocol [which you have in your packet] does treat the co-infections early on. Maybe not in the first few weeks, but early. Don't worry about it, he knows what he's doing.

There is no reason to test for babesia, bartonella as long as you TREAT for them, which Dr C will do. [see your protocol sheet]

If a person does not have to prove they have the co-infections, then you may as well just TREAT them, since most of the testing is flawed anyway.

My babesia test was "borderline" but I herxed from here to Mars on the meds! The main thing is that it's treated.

About the toxins and the optic nerve. I'm pretty sure that removing the toxins will relieve any problems on the optic nerve. You can call his office to ask if you are still worried about that.

Good luck.......hope you can fire him soon!

thank you so much for your advice and good wishes. Both make a big difference to me.

I do have and have read the handouts...I didn't see the FACT info when I looked at them before but tonight I found it and it does seem like my optic nerve will recover.

The reason why I asked about treating the co-infections is because my treatment protocol is this:

1st-Doxy 400 mg/day (I did this before I went to Dr. C and plateaued).

2nd-Ceftin/100 mg/day (I'm taking the generic form.)for the "cell wall form of the borellia"

3rd-Zithromax for the "L form or cell wall deficient form of the borellia"

4th-Flagyl for the "cyst form of the borellia"

This is where the Rx's that he gave me stop but the protocol sheet continues with:

5th Clindamycin and quinine "for Babesiosis"

6th-Rifampin "for Bartonella."

The protocol says to try each abx for at least a month before giving up on it. I read this as taking the abx for a month whether I see improvement or not (unless the herxes are terrible when a break is necessary)

I'm supposed to have a phone consult with Dr. C at the end of Dec. So if I understood this correctly, it seemed like I wouldn't be treated for babesiosis or bartonella for several more months.

Anyhow thanks again for all the encouragement and wise words.

-Shanna