Topic: Finally- Clinically diagnosed with babesia! Advice?
merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
I went to see a new LLMD and he felt strongly that I probably have babesia. I am starting Mepron/Zith in 2 weeks. I was just looking for advice.
My llmd said I would likely herx 3 weeks into the meds. Is that accurate?
I am afraid to ask but What is a babs herx like? Is it worse than a Lyme herx ? Any advice appreciated.
MElissa
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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posted
Glad to hear you're going to be treated for babesia! My husband herxed pretty hard especially after the first week or so.
Posts: 984 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2006
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
With Babs my experience has been that it can hit sooner, often on the 4th or 5th day of treatment, for me within a few hours of first med. For me I got dizziness, strange floaty feeling, top of head pain, flushing throughout body with greater feeling present in limbs than in years before treatment- I had numbness and peripehral neuropathy and what I thought was resiudal Lyme arthritis in my hands and residual Lyme brain fog but it was all Babs and went away pretty quickly. For me the symptoms went away within a few weeks but I could not go off Mepron wihtout them coming back, so I stayed on 2 years, the last year with Artemisia as well. I have a history of recurrent malaria however and this may explain some of my longevity in this regard, I have never met anyone on Mepron that long.
Remember to take Mepron with fat- it absorbs with it and if you don't take it with fat it will just pass through your system!!!
I am glad, I have personally been of the opinion that your kidney stuff may be due to Babs- so I am very glad to read this. I was JUST thinking of you last night and Babs actually, seriously, when someone was telling me re their babs stuff I was going in my head, "Darnit, that Merrygirl needs to get treated for Babs, she's a Babs-ian if I've ever seen one*)!" So I am very glad to read it.
VERY very sincerely, Sarah who is hoping this will improve your kidney situatioN!!!
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
Thanks for the advice and kind words, it really helps.
Thanks for thinking of me Sarah, I appreciate that very much.
My new llmd is top notch so we are finally on the right track (I hope). He was concerned about my kidneys and ordering some new tests to check on them. My kidney doc seemed to think that all is well since my blood tests on my kidneys are ok.
My new llmd is also concerned that my C-reactive protein is really high and climbing. He said it wasnt a good sign. I wish I had asked him what he meant, but I didn't. and I was "complicated".
I am excited and anxious to start the new meds, but have to wait 10 more days.
Wish me luck.. I am sure I will have more Q's.
Melissa
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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posted
For me, I herxed within 3-4 days, then again every 3 weeks. I honestly almost cannot tell the difference between herxing and the generally crappy feeling i have. I have not felt good since being on this treatment at all. I am going into my 8th week of it soon.
Johnny- the zith is making me exhausted too. I keep on falling asleep when I put my 2 1/2 year old to bed in his room. Usually I am such a night owl, so this is strange. I take both my zith pills at night with dinner and then i am completely wiped out.
i am getting that spacey feeling a lot and hardly ever got that before. Also lots of leg pain and weakness, some knee pain. I am thinking the leg muscle pain and weakness is babesia. OH, and the nightsweats are awful, but I have heard that mepron can cause them so not sure if it is the babs or the meds.
Posts: 871 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2007
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
Holey Moley!
These meds are expensive!
Luckily my insurance covered most of it, but my copay for the Mepron is $180 and copay for the Zith is $40! My husband is freaking out.
I believe these are the babs symptoms. I have other symptoms too but thinking they are Lyme.
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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posted
I herxed every 24 days on babs treatment. I was treated from the very beginning of Lyme treatment, so they herxes were very bad ... an exaggeration of symptoms I already had.
I was on Mepron/Biaxin/Artemisia for about 9 months, then switched to Lariam, Malarone/Artemisia for three months. I no longer have any babs symptoms and am on Lariam for maintenance.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
Lymetoo, I should have listened to you in the first place!
I am glad you are all honest with me.
Thanks again
Melissa
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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