posted
I am in tears. I just learned that I tested positive for babesia.
This was the first test that was slightly abmormal for me, but the LLMD restested twice with negative results.
So now...this will finally be addressed even though I could have treated it in 2008!
I don't know if I can handle this. I am really scared.
How did 1 year of Doryx get me into remission for over 8 months if the bart and babesia were not treated?
Two LLMDs told me Doryx does not treat these coinfections.
Anyway, I am on Ceftin and just ramping up on Bactrim because I flared up recently.
Do either of these drugs also treat babesia? That would at least be easier.
My anxiety is through the roof, and I am so scared that I will never get back into remission.
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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BackinStOlaf
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
I think Bactrim hits babesia a little
-------------------- First Symptom 9/09 Multiple docs, negative Labcorp test LLMD: 1/10 Positive Igenex/CDC test Treatment 2/10 2/10-8/10 Amox, ceftin, zith, flagyl Currently: Bicillin, Minocycline, still dealing with severe breathing issues
Posts: 1121 | From New York, New York | Registered: Dec 2009
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I hope that my new LLMD can get me through this mess.
Can coinfections be eradicated, or do they become chronic the way lyme does?
I need a gigantic serving of hope. Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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BackinStOlaf
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posted
I'm not sure but I am in a similar boat. I have been treating Lyme for 6 months and not treating any possible co-infections. I think maybe I have Bart but my doc didn't think so at first and now they are coming around..so I think I should have treated it months ago.
It doesn't help to think this way though. It doesn't do us any good.
-------------------- First Symptom 9/09 Multiple docs, negative Labcorp test LLMD: 1/10 Positive Igenex/CDC test Treatment 2/10 2/10-8/10 Amox, ceftin, zith, flagyl Currently: Bicillin, Minocycline, still dealing with severe breathing issues
Posts: 1121 | From New York, New York | Registered: Dec 2009
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janet thomas
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posted
Doxy is used as a prophylatic for malaria so it may have suppressed Babesia.
-------------------- I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice but only my personal experience and opinion. Posts: 2001 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
I know that it's so important ot stay positive. I just had a really bad 2 days.
I didn't know that about Doxy. Thanks for that information. That seems to make sense.
I'm just still in shock that my highly recommended LLMD - who knew I was positive for bartonella and at one time abnormal for babesia - never did anything about it. Unbelievable.
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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posted
Bactrim DS and Artemisinin seems to be working on my Babesia. Been on it roughly 3 months.
TF also treated her Babesia with Bactrim DS.
But, I would definitely consider adding in an herb like Artesunate, Artemisinin, Enula..
Stay up, it will get better. If testing positive concerns you, I understand you're feeling upset, but it doesn't sound like the symptoms are very disturbing, so you should be OK.
Posts: 829 | From MD | Registered: Dec 2009
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TF
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Member # 14183
posted
My now famous lyme doc treated my babesiosis microti with Bactrim DS and pulsed artemisinin.
I got rid of it that way. But, his preferred treatment is mepron/zithromax.
He said that Bactrim takes twice as long to erradicate babesiosis compared to mepron/zith.
I couldn't take zith, and I couldn't take biaxin, so he couldn't use the mepron combo on me.
It has been over 5 years since I completed my lyme treatment and I am still symptom free, enjoying my life. I have the same life I had before lyme disease.
I had lyme and babs and bart for 10 years undiagnosed. So, don't get upset that you cannot get rid of "chronic babs" or long-term babs. You can.
Once you treat the babs, I expect that you will not relapse in the future. That is really something to look forward to. It sounds like you have done well. There is no reason to think that you will not be able to get rid of this disease also. Your immune system must be working REALLY well for you to be in remission 8 months while having babs. So, no need to worry.
It tells you the best meds for treating babesia.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Also, from p. 24 of Burrascano Guidelines, regarding treating babesia:
"Artemesia (a nonprescription herb) should be added in all cases."
Your doc may not add the artemesia right away, but eventually, it should be added to your babesia treatment.
You should not take it daily. You should take it just a few days in a row, like 3 days on and 4 days off. Otherwise, your body will stop absorbing it and it will be useless to you.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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Janet and TF are both right. There is some good advice there for you.
I was diagnosed back in the beginning of 2007 and I got a positive Elisa for BB and bartonella in the one shot in the dark test round in the hospital. Thats is very rare. Ever since then I have been on the lyme train and studying the ILADS info.
I was with a very conservative LLMD for the first year who only had me on one antibiotic at a time. I did a month of cipro for bart a followed by a few months of amoxicillin then cipro then switched to doxy 400 mg full time.
I got better slowly on this regimine and I was convinced I was on the mend. I remember after 4 months on doxy and a year later(jan 08) I was saying to my LLMD I am 90% and still have some residule eye and ear stuff going on.
Well about a month later things began to slide. Deep brain fog came back and I was in a bad way. I had always been aware of the air hunger symptom which is classic babesia and I never had it so I was always convinced and thanking my lucky stars I didnt have babs.
Well come April and I started getting severe bouts of air hunger for the first time. So it is possibly for it to appear later, for me it was over a year after starting treatment. As janet said the doxy was probably suppressing it for a while like in my case.
You must treat this first if you can. I have been banging away at bart and lyme with combos for two years but I realise that everytime the babs flares it undermines all your efforts as it sucks the oxygen out of your body and makes great terrain for bart ad lyme which strive in a low oxygen environment.
Hope this is useful info for you.
-------------------- Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos) Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007. Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
Wow...thanks so much to all of you for your responses!
This is some very helpful information. It also gave me some of that hope I so badly need right now.
I'm thrilled to hear that Bactrim can help to eradicate babesia. I see my doc today and will see what he has to say. Since the Bactrim gets the bartonella, too, that might be great. Maybe he'll eventually add the herbs to assist.
Of course, this is all assuming that I can handle the Bactrim. I took 1/4 pill for the last 4 nights to start. So far, no issues, but I have to work up to 2 pills daily.
The Ceftin/Bactrim is not being kind to my stomach.
It is really nice that you took the time to provide this information. Thanks again. I'm having a rough time, and the support really helps.
I'll let you know how it goes today. All the best to each of you.
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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posted
I jut had a babs flare whilst hitting the bart hard with high dose rifampin and mino. I just added bactrim DS 2 tabs in a single dose once a day and It sorted it out pretty quickly. I can handle such doses now because my lyme load is way down now. I am also doing a few days on mepron for extra support.
Bactrim should work quite well as long as you can tolerate it.
Good luck
-------------------- Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos) Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007. Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
Thanks, NMN. I'm glad that this is working for you.
One of the things I'll be asking the doctor today is about the Bactrim tolerance. If I did not react badly to a partial dose, I am hoping that it at least indicates that I do not have a severe allergy to it.
If I did, I think I might have reacted by now...even with a small dose.
The upper and lower back pain is pretty bad. The lymph nodes in my neck seem to swell a lot every couple of days. I use warm compresses to get them down.
My hope is that this is not a drug reaction, but a sign of the infection. It sometimes feels like my throat is tight because of this.
I hope the spine pain (and everything else, of course) goes away with treatment. I fear being left with permanent damage.
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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posted
well the bright side of this is your treating in the right sequence, dr b's says in his guidlines treat lyme,bart,erlichiosis first before treating babs some of the bart meds can render the babesia meds less effective if you take them in the wrong order.
Posts: 294 | From sw chicago suburbs | Registered: Apr 2007
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quote:Originally posted by NMN: As janet said the doxy was probably suppressing it for a while like in my case.
You must treat this first if you can. I have been banging away at bart and lyme with combos for two years but I realise that everytime the babs flares it undermines all your efforts as it sucks the oxygen out of your body and makes great terrain for bart ad lyme which strive in a low oxygen environment.
NMN, Greetings to you on the Emerald Isle! May it never fade to lyme...
I appreciated reading your take on Babesiosis and air hunger enabling Borrelia and Bartonella infections.
My successful LLMD trained in NY with Dr. B. and thinks we must conquer my Babesiosis first to achieve long-term remission.
I have Babesia duncani, two Borrelia spp., Bartonella sp., yeast, and several other parasites. Trying to remain "calm but curious" about the tough and less common B. duncani. Some members posted that it isn't affected by Mepron & azithromycin.
We need to keep in mind that the current (16th) edition (Oct 2008) of ILADS Treatment Guidelines by Dr. B are already outdated in some respects.
The throat tightness issue is a very common Babesia symptom, and one that I deal with as well. It has improved, all though it took several months.
It might get a little worse before it gets better, just keep that in mind. This illness seems to fight to stay in you, just like you're fighting it off.
I'm glad TF popped in, because I should have mentioned that I'm also on Zithromax. If Mepron & Zithromax is a good combination, I don't see why Bactrim & Zithromax can't be a good combination for Babesia as well. Although, my LLMD put me on Bactrim initially for Bartonella.
This is my current regimen, and it's working slow but consistent..
posted
While babaesia is a harsh co-infection (the symptoms seem the most unbearable at times), it is possible to get rid of fully, at least for periods of time in some. After 9 months of Mepron and Lyme/ Babesia antibiotics, my fiance is babesia free for sometime now. (Now if only the Lyme and Bartonella would go away!)
-------------------- "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear." Posts: 16 | From Austin | Registered: Jul 2010
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I think treating babesia first of course makes alot of sense. But in cases such as mine and and Jwicks you can only treat what is in front of you. I think getting the lyme and bart numbers down is not a bad idea if they are your primary symptoms such as in my case.
I tested neg for babesia and my malaria like illness was acquired in Thailand so it is difficult to know what it is. I think all of these protozoa would have the same synergistic effects with lyme and bart as babesia would.
Jwick,
the lymph node swelling tends to be bart related but of course this is not always the case. I had this in the beginning of my illness but I have not had it since.
I dont think my immune system recognises these infections at all anymore as I never have any kind of immune response to them anymore. I have read Bartonella has been known to turn off certain immune processes to allow it to float in large numbers in the blood.
-------------------- Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos) Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007. Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
I have Bart Babs and Bb and was 85% better after 90 days on doxy. I stopped the doxy thinking all was well. Within 3 months I relapsed, tried doxy again and when that did nothing I knew I had the coinfections, first Bart then Babs. I later saw both bugs on microscope slide myself which was yucky but am now treating all 3 infections and coming along steadily.
-------------------- Ideas not advice. Posts: 448 | From Downeast Maine | Registered: Jul 2009
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So, I had my appointment yesterday. Upon learning that I tested positive for babesia, my LLMD altered my treatment plan accordingly. He advised that (at least in my case) the babesia should be treated first.
Otherwise, it will be nearly impossible to get rid of the lyme and bartonella.
He is putting me on Mepron (liquid) and Zithromax for the babesia. He is having me continue the Bactrim DS to help with the bartonella and keep it under control.
In addition, he had run several other tests last month. I tested high for yeast, so he prescribed something for that.
I tested very low for testosterone (for a female), so he prescribed a cream.
My cortisone levels are very high in the morning, which helps explain my AM anxiety, and very low around dinner time...which explains why I am exhausted by then. Noon and evening levels are normal.
I was tested for food allergies, and now know which foods to avoid. I'm hoping this helps.
I'm still pretty scared because this just seems like so many things to be on at once. This is in addition to many supplements. However, I know that I have to trust the LLMD.
I'm scared about how I might react to the new treatment plan. I'm terrified of having a major herx. However, the LLMD advised that not everyone herxes. There are people who just start to feel better.
I will be drinking lemon water and dry skin brushing to help detox.
Are these drugs typically well tolerated? I had no idea Mepron is a liquid form. I'm just so scared how I might react as the babesia has been untreated since 2008.
I am supposed to go away for a couple of nights soon, but I have no idea if I will be ok to do so.
Deep breaths.... Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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Levofloxacin include rifampin, gentamicin and possibly streptomycin. A very recent article suggests that prior use of quinine-like drugs including atovaquone (Mepron, Malarone) may render Levaquin less effective. Therefore, in a co-infected patient, treat the BLO before you address Babesia species.
Posts: 294 | From sw chicago suburbs | Registered: Apr 2007
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up.
Posts: 711 | From Bucks County, PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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quote:Originally posted by pj1954: this is a clip from dr b's guidlines A very recent article suggests that prior use of quinine-like drugs including atovaquone (Mepron, Malarone) may render Levaquin less effective. Therefore, in a co-infected patient, treat the BLO before you address Babesia species.
This is OLD NEWS. The "current" ILADS Guidelines (16th edition) are nearly 2 yrs old.
I asked my LLMD specifically about those lines, and was told that LLMDs used to try eradicating Bartonella first but have found greater success for patients by treating Babesia infections first.
I understand clearly that's not an option for people who learn of a Babesia co-infection later, and it doesn't mean those patients won't acheive long-term remission.
I remember a post about a recent 2010 presentation by Dr. B in Wisconsin, too. Will need to do a search...
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quote:Originally posted by jwick25: Upon learning that I tested positive for babesia, my LLMD altered my treatment plan accordingly. He advised that (at least in my case) the babesia should be treated first.
Otherwise, it will be nearly impossible to get rid of the lyme and bartonella. [snip] I tested high for yeast, so he prescribed [fluconozole] for that. [snip] the babesia has been untreated since 2008. [snip] Deep breaths....
Sounds like you've a good plan of attack for Babs.
I've always gotten numerous stabbing needle pains around my rib cage (front & back) when I have to take a deep breath. I believe i've had a Babs sp since i was 6 yrs old. Long time ago... My B. duncani test was "very high."
I believe we'll both get well!
I have had battles with yeast overgrowth most of my life, even despite being on GF Candida control diet for past 16 yrs.
Just had a fight another yeast infection when Mepron & zith were added to doxy. I got rid of it with:
"AZO yeast" homeopathic tablets (Target had best price in my area. CVS stocks it, too.)
My LLMD likes to avoid Rx pharmaceuticals when possible, so we've added:
"Candicid Forte" anti-fungal herbal blend. I take 6 caps/day, 1 at start & one at end of each meal.
I also use lots of garlic (to keep the vampires away). Remaining hopeful!
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