My body temperature is usually 97 degrees or so, sometimes a smidgen lower of higher. I have recently had a sleuth of symptoms, Bart related. My temp has spiked a bit over the two years of IV treatment, but not significantly.
I feel hot all the time and I'm getting chills, as well. I lived in the NE and summer must be affecting me to a certain degree, but I have noticed that when my temperature goes up to 100, my throat hurts also, a classic Bart symptom.
My Bart rash keeps getting lighter and lighter and I am hoping that despite the neurological symptoms, sleepiness, and odd temp issues, that it may mean the bacteria is finally dying.
I also have been sweating a lot, but again it's getting warmer. Babs, I know, is tied to that and I have been diagnosed with it. I am on Azithromycin and Rifampin and the Zith is supposed to be effective for Babs.
I'm wondering if I should extend my IV combo for two more weeks and THEN get on orals and move on to the Bicillin shots. The first time we attacked the Bart it was only with one abx and while I felt much better I back-slid.
I don't want to stop aggressive treatment too soon. Any thoughts? Is the higher temp a good sign or possibly an indication that the abx combo had lost its efficacy.
Thanks for reading.
-------------------- Allanah Posts: 36 | From New York, NY | Registered: Apr 2008
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posted
Sweats, chills and fever are all Babesia symptoms.
Posts: 671 | From Fort Myers, Florida | Registered: Jun 2009
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
The treatment of choice for babesiosis is Mepron and zith and pulsed artimesinin. Do that combo for a minimum of 5 months. The doc I know that does this also checks mepron levels monthly. If the mepron level is not high enough, the treatment will not work.
So, that is what I recommend for babs. Increase the Mepron if the blood level shows inadequate levels. And, be sure to eat sufficient fat with the medication or it will not be absorbed, thus wasting your time and money.
I know one doc who puts resistant cases on both Mepron and malarone. Be sure not to take the artimesinin every day. Just 3 or 4 days per week. Otherwise, I understand you body will stop absorbing it.
Here is the Burrascano discussion of this therapy:
Because of these dismal statistics, the current regimen of choice for Babesiosis is the combination of atovaquone (Mepron, Malarone), 750 mg bid, plus an erythromycin-type drug, such as azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), or telithromycin (Ketek) in standard doses. This combination was initially studied in animals, and then applied to Humans with good success. Fewer than 5% of patients have to halt treatment due to side effects, and the success rate is clearly better than that of clindamycin plus quinine.
The duration of treatment with atovaquone combinations for Babesiosis varies depending on the degree of infection, duration of illness before diagnosis, the health and immune status of the patient, and whether the patient is co-infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. Typically, a three-week course is prescribed for acute cases, while chronic, longstanding infections with significant morbidity and co-infection will require a minimum of four months of therapy. Relapses have occurred, and retreatment is occasionally needed.
Problems during therapy include diarrhea, mild nausea, the expense of atovaquone (over $600.00 per bottle enough for three weeks of treatment), and rarely, a temporary yellowish discoloration of the vision. Blood counts, liver panels and amylase levels are recommended every three weeks during any prolonged course of therapy as liver enzymes may elevate. Treatment failures usually are related to inadequate atovaquone levels. Therefore, patients who are not cured with this regimen can be retreated with higher doses (and atovaquone blood levels can be checked), as this has proven effective in many of my patients. Artemesia (a nonprescription herb) should be added in all cases. (p. 24)
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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