posted
I have not tested positive for Bart, but had many of the symptoms. Swollen glands, especially underarms, fever, swollen nodules like an abcess in my ribs, severe anxiety, you name it- dementia even. Thanks to yoyr posts I asked my LLMD for Bart treatment. I saw a huge improvement in 2 weeks. He kept me on the meds for 6 weeks, but I took for 7 weeks. He says that that should be sufficient. A majority of symptoms dissipated, but I still have some encephalopathy, and swollen armpits. After stopping Avelox for the Bart ( I also had docy with it) a rash on myh face came back.
I started Ketek for one week, had a herx, rash went away, and now he has me trying Tindamax in low dose of 250mgs 3X daily.
Dr.B's new 9/05 protocol has section on Bart - but he doesn't discuss length of time for treatment. My doctor says Dr. B doesnt usually treat more than 2 months max, usually 2-4 weeks. My other LLMD says they treat max 3 months.
I read some people are taking it for 4 months? Help? Thanks Donna
Posts: 38 | From New York | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
Best case scenario is 1 month Tx with Levaquin and a Proton Pump Inhibitor, but I haven't heard of anyone getting rid of bart in 1 month. Most often Tx will take at least 3 months when using a Quinalone + Doxy. It all depends on what dose, and how you react to Tx. Nothing is set in concrete. It sounds like your Tx was not sufficient based on your returning symptoms after stopping meds.
-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
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liz28
Unregistered
posted
I'd like to stay on bart treatment for at least five months, and don't trust that anything is gone until you've really gone back to your old high-pressure habits, and still haven't seen a relapse.
I had a severe herx the first six weeks of rifampin, then had little flares every week, plus a big one this week, which is exactly on a four-week cycle. Of course, in the intervening four weeks I really ramped up the stress and exercise levels, so the bart is flaring under far different circumstances than before.
Since you so obviously have bart, you shouldn't run into resistance from your LLMD, although you could show him print-outs from people who stayed on abx for four months.
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I am a patient of Dr. B. I am currently on my 4th month of treatment with Levaquin. I asked him at my last appt. about the fact that in the DVD's I have of him speaking, he usually mentions that two months of Levaquin should do the trick. He told me that he as had many patients on Levaquin for longer than 2 months.
Posts: 366 | From Louisville KY. | Registered: Nov 2003
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Thanks for the information. I really trust Dr. B, as I was a patient of his 6 years ago. Unfortunately he doesnt have any more room for me. I think that I may go back to my avelox again or try Levaquin with the proton pump inhibitor. I am surprised though that that works since it was my understanding that you can not take antacids with floroquinines or maybe its just Avelox? The medicine bottle even says do not take antacids with it due to the high amount of calcium that lessens the Avelox. Is this not so with Levaquin?
Its so difficult to sort what is Lyme and what is Bart. I believe I may have been re-infected and acquired the Bart this time. No one is sure, except last time around I never had the swollen lymph nodes under arms like I do now. Have had Lyme for 17 years.
Thanks for your help.
Posts: 38 | From New York | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
A PPI is not the sane as an antacid. The reason that it is used is not to get rid of all the stomach acid. The drug somehow helps the Levaquin to penetrate better, I'm not sure how. I do know that Dr B says that one can still take HCL while on Levaquin. Levaquin is taken on an empty stomach anyway, so acid would'nt even be a concern.
-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
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