Zith may not be a problem, but with neuro and brain symptoms Rifampin could really knock you down.

Hubby only took total of 12 pills in 10 days I think and has been off this med for about 6 weeks now. Still not back to where he was before.

Never diagnosed with Bart-only Lyme, but I can certainly identify with the facial pain. I didn't have facial swelling, but all along the jaw bone, cheek bone and eyebrows was very sensitive especially to the touch. I thought it may have been due to regeneration of nerves after my Bell's Palsy. That's what one doctor theorized. But now my husband has the same symptom. He was diagnosed with Lyme three weeks ago and is on antibiotics.

I seems the stranger the symtoms the more questions we have. I hope it helps you to hear that after a year on antibiotics I am now feeling great and have lost 20 pounds on a weight loss diet (Jenny Craig) and with very slowly building up to aerobic exercise. When I feel any pain I slow way down or stop.
It seems a combo of diet, strength training and very slowly re-introducing aerobic exercise is the way to go.

Good luck to all of you. My heart goes out to you.

Two of my sons have bart with the purple "bart stretch marks" When the stretch marks fade or go away is your clue that the bart is under control or gone. This happened to one of my sons after being on high doses of doxy years ago. Then he was reinfected with bart and the marks came back.

You may have Babesia. Here is something I copied and pasted for you about Babeisa.

The following signs/symptoms may be present in those infected with Babesiosis:
Fatigue * Arthralgias* Myalgia* Drenching sweats* Headaches* Emotional
lability* Depression* Dark urine* Splenomegaly* Dizziness* Nausea and
vomiting* Cough* Dyspnea* Fever* Chills* Hepatosplenomegaly* Jaundice*
Malaise* Shortness of breath* Bleeding tendencies, bruising* Thrombocytopenia*
Hemoglobinuria* Hyperesthesia* Pulmonary edema* Encephalopathy* Low to
normal range leukocyte counts* Possible elevated levels of dehydrogenase,
bilirubin, transaminase* Anorexia*

Approximately 25%- 66% of Babesia patients are known to be co-infected with
Lyme disease. These symptoms may continue for long periods of time, decrease,
then return. A low Babesiosis titer (IgG) often indicates a chronic infection. An
acute or current infection may show a higher reading on the IgM test initially.
There are over 100 species of Babesia in the United States but only ONE or TWO
species are currently checked by commercial labs.

I have Babesia and have facial swelling around the eyes (no bones), swollen lympnodes, eye pressure, head pressure, cold hands and feet and itchy irritated eyes. (from your list) I wouldn't rule out any possible co-infection, the tests are not accurate.

and eyes and facial stuff along with her othr symptoms are very typical of bart.

bev, i have no doubt you have babs..but the eye stuff , swollen lymph nodes, and head pressure: textbook bartonella...don't forget..easy to have both...

Lisa

[This message has been edited by lla2 (edited 23 July 2005).]

I get cellulitis of the eye, only the left, and it gets all red. I have the stretchmark rash, I am very anemic, and well all of the listed stuff above.

I have to say my wildest symptom is the fever spikes. But only wild because you get delirious.

Hang in there, I have taken a lot of different combos for bart. Currently levaquin. Have not done rifampin but did IV zith for weeks and off/on orally.