I've learned a whole lot already just reading these boards and also read "Coping With Lyme Disease".

Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone out there has ever tried combining Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments with any supposed cyst-busting drugs like Flagyl or Tinidazole? Wondering if that would help make the HBOT effects more "permanent"?

Thanks for any info!

quote:

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Originally posted by KeyLymePie:
Hi there - I'm new. Just got diagnosed a few weeks ago...

I've learned a whole lot already just reading these boards and also read "Coping With Lyme Disease".

Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone out there has ever tried combining Hyperbaric Oxygen treatments with any supposed cyst-busting drugs like Flagyl or Tinidazole? Wondering if that would help make the HBOT effects more "permanent"?

Thanks for any info!

KLP

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We were interested in the low-pressure HBOT, often called Mild HBOT...there's a website where it's discussed - you might want to post there.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/lyme-mildhyperbaric/

Maybe someone with experience will come along to give an opinion. Good luck with your treatment.

~Nancy

I hope and pray that you are steadily recovering from all of this...

Since some studies suggest that the HBOT treatments put the bug into a cyst state, I was hoping that taking a "cyst-buster" drug like Flagyl would make the HBO treatments truly bacteriocidal, and not just palliative.

So, I was hoping I'd achieve a lasting cure that way... but I guess that's too much to hope for right now.

My lyme, by comparison, is much less serious - so I thought I'd try a little "experimenting". The HBOT treatments are causing me to herx - and I've been doing some saunas too! (It really upsets the buggers)

Good luck with your recovery. Thanks again for responding.

KLP

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Originally posted by WildCondor:
Oh absolutely. I have done 130+ hyperbaric oxygen treatments, and a large majority of them were done while I was on Flagyl, along with IV antibiotics. I did HBOT twice daily, and my IV's an hour before each dive to ensure maximun potency in my blood. I also took flagyl before the dive, and oh boy did I herx!!! Its a very powerful and excellent combination. I did most of my HBOT treatments while on IV Zithromax, IM Bicillin, and oral Flagyl at high doses.
Before and after each dive, I took really hot baths too!

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We are going down slowly to 2.4 ata over several sessions. So far I've had 5 treatments, making it down to 1.6 ata, but had to come back up due to some pain in my sinuses.

So far, have not had serious relief, just herxing, although my sleep is slightly better... so we'll see.

thanks for the good wishes.

KLP

quote:

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Originally posted by KeyLymePie:
Since some studies suggest that the HBOT treatments put the bug into a cyst state...

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I've heard people guess and speculate about that, but nobody can actually produce the studies. That's just one of those rumors that gets passed along IMO.

It does not eradicate all of the spirochete, though probably nothing does. There's no proof of what state it puts the spirochete in, there's so much speculation about cysts etc but no in vivo studies to prove what makes a cyst and what doesn't.

Probably there is no special abx for use with hbo, it depends on what you've got and your strain

I understand wanting to try everything...I am there. Below are two sites that have good information on HBO and Lyme.
www.reimerhbo.com/lyme_dis.htm
www.hbotoday.com

Dr. Fife's research suggests going to 2.36ATA (45fsw) for effective treatment but he also recommends 30-60 treatments. WOW $$$$$$$$. You mentioned 1.6 ATA. At 19.8fsw you might as well sit at home in a recliner with a cylinder of O2 and watch a movie! 1 ATA is surface so 1.6 ATA is practically useless.

Because HBO is an fairly new and experimental treatment for lyme, there is no research yet as to the long term effects.

I have access to an incredible chamber and I haven't done any HBO yet (except as a tender but I am not breathing 100% O2. It is SO expensive, insurance won't cover it because it is not one of the recognized treatment areas for HBO and I haven't seen any evidence that it is effective long term. Even Dr. Fife says it is only an adjunctive therapy.

Oxygen is a wonderful drug. It helps lots of different things. If it makes people feel better--great--but you may get the same effects on surface Oxygen and it wouldn't break the bank.

I don't mean to sound negative. I have researched lots of things and because I have access to HBO, that was one of my first thoughts but the research is not convincing as of yet. Even Chico Hyperbarics says "most subjects began to show major improvement that in SOME instances has continued for 8 months." I guess it is up to the individual whether the benefit outweighs the cost.

The monoplace chaber mentioned is a Seachrist chamber. If you have one at home, make sure there is someone qualified to oversee the treatment. If you want pictures of chamber fires and explosions (remember we are dealing with 100%O2)let me know.

Good luck! Be sure and keep us posted if it is more than a temporary improvement. I would LOVE to change my mind about HBO and Lyme.

What you're asking KeyLymePie makes sense. To take abx while doing hbot. I stopped hbot since abx to recover (even slightly)from the herx.

Indeed, I felt awful. I'm still not recovered from it. I don't know if I will anytime soon. See, there was the travel to the hbot place (stress) as well as the actual dives.

WildCondor, I am still wiping some tears from reading your story. WOW! Good for you for preservering. You will make it. I pray you'll feel better really soon.

Let us known what you decide. Either way, all the best to you!

I've heard has worked very well for some, and not at all for others..others became worse.

So, I also think it shouldn't be considered across the board reliable, yet at the same time is a viable alternative therapy.
Treatment for TBD's is highly individualized.

I think the co-infection Babesia may be something to look out for with this treatment.
Perhaps success has to do with timing, state of infection(s), prior therapies and concurrant therapies.

I bet, as with anything else, it's safe to say that you need to read all reported info you can and monitor your individual responses very closely no matter what you use.

I believe M.Hoggard at Chico in CA knows much about Flagyl and HBOT, maybe he could help. (?)

There are as many treatments as there are patients it seems sometimes! Just keep blazing your own trail.