klutzo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5701
posted
Hi all, Sorry to be so ignorant about ABX, but I am allergic to all ABX but Cipro, and have been treating my LD with only herbs for yrs. now, so have not paid enough attention to ABX discussions.
I got the flu in early March and it settled into a sinus infection that herbs and saline flushes have still not budged.
Yesterday, my PCP put me on Cipro at 500 mgs.,twice daily for 10 days. (She preferred Levaquin, but I can't afford it. The highest dose of Cipro I've ever taken before was only 250 mgs. once daily.
Given my previous history with ABX, I am carrying my 911 Mobile phone in one pocket and my Epi-Pen injector kit in the other,and my stress level is sky high, esp. after reading the horror stories about fluroquinolones on this Board! But, I can't spend my whole life swallowing chunks of pus and blood all day and night (sorry to be gross).
I was only tested for Borrelia, Babs and Erlichia, not for Bart, but I have had cats all my life, so may have it anyway, even without the Borrelia being present.
My question is: If I have Bart, will this amt. and duration of Cipro be enough to a) cause a herx, and b) get rid of it?
This assumes I can tolerate it. It is already making me dizzy....better than not breathing though!
Thanks for any info and help, Klutzo
Posts: 1269 | From Clearwater, Florida, USA | Registered: May 2004
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posted
Wouldn't it be nice if Cipro would do the job all by itself! But I doubt very much that it would. The standard for Bart for a long time has been a Quinalone + Macroloid or Tetracycline. Many people have had success with Cipro/Biaxin, or Levaquin/Zith, or Lev/Doxy. It usually takes at least 4 months or longer. I recently did Rifampin/Zith/Mino and it was still unsuccessful.
From what I remember, you use Samento, and this is very similar to the Quinalones. So chances are that your Bart already has resistance to Cipro. And it is very likely IMO that if you have cats, that you probably do have Bart. It's impossible to keep them from knicking you with their teeth or claws, even if it is only in play.
-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
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klutzo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5701
posted
Hi Micul, Thanks for the bad news, lol! I have scars all over me from cat scratches, many which bled, and one which tore all the way down to the bone, many years ago.
Whatever is going on, I have started mild herxing again, or else it is just Cipro side-effects. My sinuses are running like crazy, so the infection is breaking up.
From what you've said, I guess I will just have to live with Bart also, since those other ABX are off limits for me. I am also very sorry to hear that you still have not gotten rid of your Bart.
Klutzo
Posts: 1269 | From Clearwater, Florida, USA | Registered: May 2004
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I remember reading about other people that were allergic to abx also, and there was something that they did to resolve the problem. I forget what it was, but I think that maybe it was Riversinger that had posted some info on it. She would problably know about it even if she wasn't the one. It sounds like your kitty's really did a number on you! Bad Bad Puddy tats!
-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
I've only recently started posting on this board, so forgive me if I'm mentioning something that is very old news. But have you seen the DVD of Dr. B. from a conference discussing the use of Levaquin for Bartonella-like Organisms? I can email you directly with where to get the DVD if you like. But I recently saw it and it sounded encouraging that Levaquin alone may work. That is the plan my LLMD and I are going to try. And yes, the quinolones are scary - when I've been on them I freaked out about every increased muscle pain.
Good luck. I relate about the cats - I got Lyme and all the coinfections from rescuing a cat. And I had been bitten and scratched before - this was long before I knew about any risks. But I still love cats!!
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
according to a cali LLMD there was some researchd done recently at Rochester that showed that in vitro bb didn't evolve resistance to cipro. Apparently cipro alone was the only abx of those they tested (I don't know what all they tested) to which bb didn't evolve resistance when it was given alone.
That of course says nothing for BART.
Pomegranite
Posts: 309 | From CA | Registered: Nov 2002
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klutzo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5701
posted
Thanks to all who replied!
It is encouraging that Cipro might work on Lyme, after all after all the experts saying it won't. Maybe that is why Samento makes me herx so much....the chemical structure is similar.
I cannot afford Levaquin. I am on disability and have a Medicare drug card....Cipro is free, but Levaquin is $20 per tablet!
What I am confused about, is why didn't Samento or Cumanda or Oregano Oil or MSM help me get rid of the sinus infection? If they did not make me herx so much, I would suspect they were all worthless now. If they can kill borrelia and candida, they should be able to kill simple sinus bacteria.
I did not know you could get LD from cats! I am sorry that happened. I still love my cats too. Puddy Tats rule!
I had someone who is a big deal in the Lyme movement here in my state insist to me that I had to take ABX or die, and that the way to do it is to find an LLMD who will give me steroids along with the ABX to stop the allergic reactions. There is a thread here right now on this very subject and apparently it isn't as unusual as it sounded to me. It seems to me to be at cross purposes, and that you would never know if you were just feeling better due to the steroids supressing your immune system.
The one time I had a large dose of steroids early in my illness, when I thought I had fibromyalgia, the symptoms all disappeared for 3 whole weeks.
Last year, I was forced to get a cortisone shot to save my life after fire ants got me, and it caused Lyme rages for 3 weeks straight (my poor husband!), so I can't imagine doing that, and can't afford it all anyway. I often wonder how those of you taking months and years of ABX can afford it, not to mention having to pay the LLMD yourselves.
Klutzo
Posts: 1269 | From Clearwater, Florida, USA | Registered: May 2004
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