posted
I tested positive through Igenex for Bartonella and Lyme. I didn't test positive for Babesia however I've been on treatment, including treatment for bartonella, for 15 months with no improvement. Could I have Babesia? From what I've read it seems some of the sypmtoms overlap and could be either bart or babesia. My symptoms have always been all neuro (fatigue, head-aches, heart palps, tingling in the face/neck, extreme neck stiffness and buzzing, mood issues and at first weakness and skin sensitivity)...I'm about to start IV Azithromycin and am wondering if I should discuss with my doc to add Mepron. Does it hurt to treat even if I don't know I have it???
Posts: 90 | From massachusetts | Registered: Aug 2006
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groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Hi scottie-
What Treatement for babs did you do?
Mepron is High $$$$- one year costs $20,000--Jay--
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I haven't done any babs treatment yet. Only Lyme and Bart. But even though I didn't test positive for Babs, I'm thinking and I think my doc too is thinking that maybe we should treat it - just to be sure.
Posts: 90 | From massachusetts | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
It is worth talking to the LLMD about. I tested negative for babs but herxed on the second day of artemisinin. Took art for 3 months and went off two months ago.
Symptoms have crept back over the last two months, so I'm starting Mepron on Monday if the pharmacy can get it in by then. No harm to try and see what happens, I'd think, but your LLMD is your best person to consult.
-------------------- Getting older is when we would rather not have a good time than have to get over it. - Oscar Wilde Posts: 386 | From Radnor, PA - where the ticks run free | Registered: May 2006
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posted
I'd like to find out what the best treatments are for babs - but I'm having trouble with this web site and can't do a proper search. If you have any thoughts about treatments, let me know.
Posts: 90 | From massachusetts | Registered: Aug 2006
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northstar
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7911
posted
Scottie, I noticed the "search" function was stalling out, too. I just kept stopping the search, and then re-punched the search button. It finally went through, albeit slowly.
One past poster, liz28, had lots of personal treatment information on babs threads, so maybe this may be an alternate search method.
Northstar
Posts: 1331 | From hither and yonder | Registered: Sep 2005
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tabbytamer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3159
posted
What strain of Babs have you been tested for?
I was negative a couple of times for Babs Microti (?)-whatever the typical Babs test was.
But positive on Babs WA-1.
When search is working, you might search for Mepron Buddies , or Mepron Buddies Reunite
Lots of info in those posts and then you can specifically PM different ones about their tx.
posted
I don't know which Babesia test I had and I don't have access to it at home. It was through Igenex - do they always do the same test?
Posts: 90 | From massachusetts | Registered: Aug 2006
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Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
posted
Hey Scottie,
In my opinion, all testing including that of co-infections are poor at best.
If your doc is willing to do a trail treatment for Babs, and I DO think he/she wise to do this since you are struggling, I would most certainly give it a try.
Your reaction to meds will give you and your doc a really good feeling for what you are dealing with.
I also tested negative, but my med reactions were so overwhelmingly strong, that we both knew I was suffering from Babs, even with negative serology.
Good luck, Melanie
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
I was given a clinical diagnosis of babs even though my tests were negative. My first LLMD appt. he prescribed Mepron, Doxy, Artemesia, and Biaxin for the babs. Last month he added Omnicef and Probenecid to get more of the borrelia.
The Mepron is expensive, but covered by insurance.
I know there is another protocol for babs using different rx's, but I don't know what the meds are. I think it's best to go by what your LLMD thinks.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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liz28
Unregistered
posted
Hi, someone just sent a private email on this subject out the blue. So what the heck, why not check in...
Actually, your symptoms do not sound like babesia. There are lots of different babesia species running around out there, but everyone seems to describe a variation of malaria symptoms. These are a relapsing fever, a constant full-body "moistness" (yuck), dizziness, vertigo, and convulsions. You feel like you are under a waterfall, and the fever abruptly rises and falls on a 24-hour cycle.
As Penn wisely suggested, you can use artemisinin as an unofficial babesia test.
Buy a bottle of Nutricology artemisinin from www.vitacost.com. Take 300-600mg per day for five days. You should have a flare in symptoms, followed by temporary relief. You can't miss it. If you don't see a flare, skip the babesia.
Mepron is nothing to pile on as a precautionary measure. It is damaging to the liver and kidneys, and many people who take it longterm (myself included) report kidney damage. In addition, a lot of people who DO have babesia get started on mepron, then relapse whenever they go off it. So they aren't really taking it as a cure, but as a stopgap until some other drug finally does the job.
Since you've been on abx for a long time, you have candida. Just assume that you do. Some treatments include probiotics capsules, yogurt, kefir, goldenseal, and coptis chenesis. And some godawful diet consisting of dust and wood chips--never tried it, never will, bleah.
Bartonella symptoms are also distinctive. The big clue is swollen neck glands, stretching from your shoulders to the backs of your ears. You also get splitting headaches, shin splints, rashes, scritchy eyes, and mood swings. You will feel like an arrow is sticking through your head. The only antibiotic that worked for me was rifampin--thank you to Auntybiotic, Minoucat and Lymelighter for the suggestion.
You can also check for aspergillus mold, because most Lyme sufferers tend to suck at housecleaning. Luckily, you can get a lot accomplished with Lysol II spray ($5) and a Hepa filter, which can be attached to either an air purifier and/or vaccuum. You don't have to get the big $300 model, just a nice normal one with an ionizer.
Another side effect of extended abx is a weakened liver. There are huge arguments on what you should or should not take, so take the following as strictly personal opinion, and do some research. I take NAC extended release tablets, phosphatidylcholine (or lecithin grains), milk thistle, and Dr. Zhang's Hepa Formula 2 when I can afford it. The main ingredient is schizandra, but he balances it with other ingredients. Schizandra is highly effective, but has side effects if you take it on its own.
There's tons of other possibilities, but those are the ones I've had.
The Lyme combination that helped me was omnicef and ketek.
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