posted
I just got test results back from Fry. They sent me a pretty little picture of about 100 of my red blood cells. In the center if the picture was a single cell with a squiggly little Bart ******* inside.
I don't have the results in front of me to quote from them directly, but they said something to the effect of "positive for Bart or Bart-like organism".
I've read little bits here and there, like on LymeMD's blog, about the challenges and mysteries of testing for Bart. Nobody seems to know -- even the people at Fry -- if what they're seeing is really Bart or some other yet-to-be-named bug (Bart-like organism or BLO)?
My LLMD discussed this with me, but I'm still confused. Can someone either explain it to me in plain English or point me to a link that does? If it's not Bart, what else can it be... Mycoplasms, aliens, Jimmy Hoffa?
posted
Don't know if the lab was referring to the "Mystery Bug" that is thought to be some sort of protozoa. I think people who's samples are showing that mystery bug are being told "hemobartonella/mycoplasma(?)" in the findings and are not being told that Bart or Bart-Like Organism was seen.
Perhaps you could get clarification from your doc whether this is the new protozoa infection that Fry lab is seeing or whether it is a Bart or BLO infection they are reporting.
I'd presume that if they didn't mention the protozoa or didn't say something like "suggestive of hemobartonella/mycoplasma", that they are, indeed referring to Bart or BLO. But that's just a mere presumption on my part.
Anyway, here is an article by Doc B on Bartonella and the Bartonella Like Organism.
BARTONELLA-LIKE ORGANISMS by Joseph Burrascano
It has been said that Bartonella is the most common of all tick-borne pathogens. Indeed, there seems to be a fairly distinct clinical syndrome when this type of organism is present in the chronic Lyme patient. However, several aspects of this infection seem to indicate that this tick-associated strain of Bartonella is different from that described as "cat scratch disease". For example, in patients who fit the clinical picture, standard Bartonella blood testing is commonly non-reactive. Furthermore, the usual Bartonella medications do not work for this- they suppress the symptoms but do not permanently clear them. For these reasons I like to refer to this as a "Bartonella-like organism" (BLO), rather than assume it is a more common species.
Indicators of BLO infection include symptoms involving the central nervous system that are out of proportion to the other systemic symptoms of chronic Lyme. There seems to be an increased irritability to the CMS, with agitation, anxiety, insomnia, and even seizures, plus symptoms of encephalitis, such as cognitive deficits and confusion. Other key symptoms may include gastritis, lower abdominal pain (mesenteric adenitis), sore soles, especially in the AM, tender subcutaneous nodules along the extremities, and red rashes. These rashes may have the appearance of red streaks like stretch marks that do not follow skin planes, spider veins, or red papular eruptions. Lymph nodes may be enlarged and the throat can be sore.
Because standard Bartonella testing, either by serology or PCR, may not pick up this BLO, the blood test is very insensitive. Therefore, the diagnosis is a clinical one, based on the above points. Also, suspect infection with BLO in extensively treated Lyme patients who still are encephalitic, and who never had been treated with a significant course of specific treatment.
The drug of choice to treat BLO is levofloxacin (Levaquin). Levofloxacin is usually never used for Lyme or Babesia, so many patients who have tick-borne diseases, and who have been treated for them but remain ill, may in fact be infected with BLO. Treatment consist of 500 mg daily (may be adjusted based on body weight) for at least one month. Treat for three months or longer in the more ill patient. It has been suggested that levofloxacin may be more effective in treating this infection if a proton pump inhibitor is added in standard doses.
Another subtlety is that certain antibiotic combinations seem to inhibit the action of levofloxacin, while others seem to be neutral. I advise against combining Levaquin with an erythromycin-like drug, as clinically such patients do poorly. On the other hand, combinations with cephalosporins, penicillins and tetracyclines are okay. Alternatives to levofloxacin include rifampin, gentamicin and possibly streptomycin.
Levofloxacin is generally well tolerated, with almost no stomach upset. Very rarely, it can cause confusion and insomnia- this is usually temporary, and may be relieved by lowering the dose. There is, however, one side effect that would require it to be stopped- it may cause a painful tendonitis, usually of the largest tendons. If this happens, then the levofloxacin must be stopped or tendon rupture may occur. Unfortunately, levofloxacin and drugs in this family cannot be given to those under the age of 18, so other alternatives, such as azithromycin and/or rifampin, are used in children.
Incidentally, animal studies show that Bartonella may be transmitted across the placenta. No human studies have been done.
Fuzzy
Posts: 503 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
And here are some symptom lists for Bartonella/BLO and a link to a Bartonella Information Thread here on Lymenet in case Bartonella is a factor for you.
___Joint pain and stiffness (often both Left and Right sides as opposed to Lyme which is often on one side only with pain and stiffness that changes locations)
___Muscle pains especially the calves; may be twitching and cramping also
___Foot pain, more in the morning involving the heels or soles of the feet (sometimes misdiagnosed as plantar fasciitis)
___Nerve irritation symptoms which can be described as burning, vibrating, numb, shooting, etc.
___Tremors and/or muscle twitching
___Heart palpitations and strange chest pains
___Episodes of breathlessness
___Strange rashes recurring on the body often, red stretch marks, and peculiar tender lumps and nodules along the sides of the legs or arms, spider veins
___Gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal pain and acid reflux
___Shin bone pain and tenderness
Bartonella is a bacterium that causes illness, the most commonly known of which is a disease called "Cat Scratch Fever." Thousands of known cases of Bartonella occur in the U.S. each Year, with the vast majority of known cases due to bites from fleas that infest cats or infected dogs (may also occur directly from bites and scratches from infected dogs or cats). Bartonella can also be transmitted by ticks that transmit Lyme Disease. In fact, in a study published recently, deer ticks from New Jersey had a higher prevalence of Bartonella organisms than of Lyme organisms.
It is unclear whether the organism that we see transmitted along with Lyme disease is actually a Bartonella species (such as B. henselae or B. quintana) or is "Bartonella-Like Organism" (BLO) that is yet to be fully identified. While BLO has features similar to organisms in the Bartonella family, it also has features slimiar to the Mycoplasma and the Francisella (causes tularemia) families.
____________________________________
Bart Symptom List -- (I "think" I got this from LymeInfo.net. Primary source, Tincup).
BRAIN: Encephalopathy may occur 1-6 weeks after the initial infection and is fairly common in patients with Bartonella. Note: Approximately 50 percent of patients who develop Encephalopathy can be affected by seizures (from focal to generalized, and from brief and self-limited to status epilepticus). Headaches, Cognitive Dysfunction, and CNS Lesions may be evident.
RASH AND LYMPHADENITIS: Erythematous papules (red splotches or slightly raised red spots) may develop. Such papules occasionally occur on the lower limbs but are more common on the upper limbs, the head, and neck. The papules may appear on the skin or mucous membranes. Bartonella may also cause subcutaneous nodules, with some bone involvement possible. The nodules may show some hyperpigmentation, be tender, fester, and/or be enlarged or swollen, but not always.
EYES: Conjunctivitis, Bartonella Neuroretinitis, Loss of Vision, Flame Shaped Hemorrhages, Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion with Vision Loss, Cotton Wool Exudates, Parinaud's Oculoglandular Syndrome, and Papilledema. BONES AND MUSCLES: Osteomyelitis, Myositis, Osteolytic Lesions (softening of bone), Myelitis, Radiculitis, Transverse Myelitis, Arthritis, Chronic Demyelinating Polyneuropathy.
HEART: Endocarditis, Cardiomegaly. Possible lab findings: The following may show up during standard testing: Thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia, anemia, elevated serum alkaline phosphatase level, elevated bilirubin, abnormal liver enzymes. X-ray of the bone may show areas of lysis or poorly-defined areas of cortical destruction with periosteal reaction. Cardiomegaly may show up on a chest X-Ray.
Biopsies of lymph nodes reveal pathology often indistinguishable from sarcoidosis. Reports of biopsies strongly suggestive of lymphoma do occur. Tests occasionally show an enlarged liver with multiple hypodense areas scattered throughout the parenchyma.
Posts: 503 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
I was reinfected with Lyme/Babs/Bartonella by a sandfly. So there are many modes of transmission in addition to ticks. That's my personal experience, anyway.
Posts: 503 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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Well, I reckon I can't entirely prove it was the darn sandfly that reinfected me. I did not get the sandfly tested because I smooshed the darn thing on my arm right after it bit me while sitting on a white, sandy Maryland beach. lol
But 24 hours later, I broke out in a rash that remained for weeks. Developed fever, flu-like symptoms, diffuse whole body pain, well I was severely ill ... the whole nine yards. It's been downhill ever since.
I had undiagnosed Lyme (and Lord knows what else) prior to that event. The sandfly bite is what finally did me in.
Hope this helps.
Fuzzy
Posts: 503 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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Alv
Unregistered
posted
Fuzzyslipers!
I have been treated for BART and this last one that I am treating is BABS /Protozoa.I have done LEVAQUIN ( except damages did not eradicated anything ) as well MONTHS of HH .
And I have everything right now that matches exactly the list above BUT I test positive and react only TO ANTIPROTOZOAL treatments!!!!
No hh , no levaquin , mino , knotweed and many others and I have been on them 19 months etc ..none of those.
The higher the load of it the more severe sick you are...
bart and blo are totaly two diferent things
I taste negative for BART treatment and FOR BART BUG and no positive even on BART frequencies with rife NONE period and still have had all the symtoms above..and the asnwer comes as babs and protozoas!!!!!!!
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I'm so glad that you seem to have found treatments that are working for you. Good job!
You are right Bartonella and BLO are evidentally totally different from the "new" protozoan mystery bug that Fry is now trying to investigate. At least that is what Fry is telling us so far based on his research.
All of the Bartonella and BLO information posted above was in response to ChronicTriathletes question about his particular Fry lab results which indicated "Bart or Bart-Like Organism."
One could reasonably conclude that if the new protozoa infection had been detected, then Fry would have listed ChronicTriathlete's results as suggestive of "hemobartonella/mycoplasma" as they have done with myriad other patients.
Just thought I'd clear that up. That's what I tried to explain in my first response above.
Keep up the good fight Alv and stay strong!
Fuzzy
Posts: 503 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
Thanks all for the comments. Like I said, I don't have the results here while I'm on vacation. I'll post the exact wording later this week when I get home. Maybe it'll help someone else.
springshowers
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19863
posted
Results in April say Suggestive of Hemobartonella, Hemoplasma, or Protozoan
Because of research and science and all the changes that have been going on and new findings in the past few months.. who knows this may change still.
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karenl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17753
posted
My Fry lab from January says hemobartonella or mycoplasma. But now people say it is a protozoa? I tested negative at ART testing for bartonella, but positive for a protozoa balatidium coli.So Fry would be right. An overdose HH helps me to survive, but I think when we need overdosing we are just changing the terrain, and that helps a little.
I herx if I eat wedges of lemon also if I use vitamin C. Will try grapefruit seed now. Anyone else tried those?
Posts: 1834 | From US | Registered: Oct 2008
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Alv
Unregistered
posted
I take GFS exstract and yes seems that helps the cyst form.I also have been saying long time ago that this is a protozoa .
LEMONS help me tremedously now..I could not have them before as I used to be sick of them ..now I drink A GLASS of lemon juice every morning..what I pleasure ..I feel like I drink a fanta .My body wants it desperatly .
I am trying to get them to exstremeties now.
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karenl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17753
posted
Probably you are right and it is a protozoa.Why is it so complicated? My Igenex on bartonella was also negative and band 41 could be from protozoa -as far as I read.
I get so sick from lemon, also from artichocs. You should also eat the inner skin of the lemon. Vitamin C from Alive is the best for me. Also the bee pollen make me sick. They work as antibiotic.
The ART practitioner also has remedies for it, with walnut. So probably they hate walnut. If you are interested, I send you a link.
Try to rife 786, it is working for me. It is a protozoa frequency, but also in the bartonella program.
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