HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Bartonella Help Please

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/4/2008 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Saw doc today and he thinks I have co-infection of Bart.  I know a bit about Lyme, but little about Bart.  Web sites, links, books, etc. would be a great help right now.  My spleen is already affected and tender when my abdomen is pressed.  I have a rash that comes and goes on my neck (does not look one bit like scratches and is itchy). 

I could not tolerate the dose of azith I was on and doc suggested I cut the pill in half and take at different times, not all at once, plus the probiotics. 

Doc also stated that the choking incident I had could have been a very severe herx.  Has anyone else experienced something like that happening.  That is pretty scary. I have been off meds for about a week and a half, not looking forward to starting again.  He thinks the lyme/bart is focused in the upper chest and neck area and that is why I am getting the symtpoms that I have.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 10/4/2008 1:52 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Anne.  If you click on the "Search" button on the blue bar and type in Bartonella for the Lyme forum and ask for posts from the last six months, several should come up.

It is important to get photos of any rashes.  Have you seen the Bartonella rash photos at http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/PhotoAlbum_RashBart.html

I highy recommend getting tested for all the co-infections.

Posted 10/4/2008 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Does the rash always accompany Bart?
Posted 10/4/2008 7:20 AM (GMT 0)

Ann - So...so...sorry to hear that you might have Bartonella.  I have a rough case of it.  It is the only thing I tested positive for.  I am really frustrated with this infection.  It is the dirtiest of them all.  It is very difficult to treat.  I felt liked I was choking for the first 6 - 10 months of the infection.  I dont know if I would consider this a herx or just the infection entering the red blood cells and cutting off oxygen to the brain?

I had an appointment with Dr Z and have one coming up with Dr F this Wednesday.  This is a very crucial appt. for me and I think I can help others after this.  I am very confused, because of how I tested.  I tested negative for Babesia, but when taking Artemesia I got big rashes and terrible fatigue.  Dr Z thinks it is only for Babesia, but Dr F thinks it hits Bartonella just as much.

I feel like trash and am having a difficult time winding down at night.  I am on HH, Allicin, Zithromax(500mg), Circulation P, Probiotic, Vitamin D3.  I dont know if I am not detoxing or what?!

I sympathize with you...I couldnt sleep, so I thought I would post.  I hope this helps you.  Tell you Dr to try Biaxin and see what happens.  Up your Vitamin D3 if low and try to find a way to detox....cause I am sure struggling with it.  I will say a prayer tonight for you.

Posted 10/4/2008 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info everyone.  I actually don't feel bad, just aggravating symtpoms that are liveable.  I am taking an internal cleansing capsule and drops ( 3x daily) to cleanse the intestines.  Just checked with the doc's office and they said it was ok to combine that with the abx.  The doc's office also suggested I split the azith in half and take half a pill twice a day to cut down on the gastro problems from the abx. 

Posted 10/4/2008 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Take the Zithro with food...that is a must. If you dont, it will kill your stomach.
Posted 10/4/2008 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry to hear about your choking incident, Anne and Snake.

I don't actually get this choking feeling especially for 6 - 10months. What is it like?

Does it feel like your out of breathe or something is stuck in the thoart?
Posted 10/5/2008 6:32 AM (GMT 0)
Feels like impending doom, food in throat and throat closing up. Severe Panic attacks.
Posted 10/5/2008 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Agreed, feels like you are choking.........can't breathe, can't cough, can't talk.  Doc said could have been a severe herx, well I certainly don't want that to happen again.  He suggested cutting the azith in half and taking it at two different times during the day.  I will see how that works.  I won't take it unless I am with other people in case the same thing happens.

Posted 10/5/2008 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
That sounds terrible. Can you actually pass out or is it a feeling you will get pass? I get panic attacks but that's usually from worrying and after an incident, I had a panic attack and irregular and chest pain settle in for three months and after that felt like "something" let go of my heart. I woke up out of breathe and felt like I was choking in my sleep. I saw a psychologist and she taught me muscle relaxation techiques. Whenever, I get down, I just practice some relaxation and hope I don't stay depressed long enough for the panic attack to take hold.

Is this odd? Panic attack that once hits stays on for days and months with chest pain and like something has a hold of your heart and irregular heartbeat and after whenever you're able to deal with it, it let's go and you're back to "normal". I haven't had a weeks or months long episode, usually couple minutes and as soon as I start feeling my heart rate get fast and chest pain, I try to relax and it goes away slowly throughout the day.
Posted 10/5/2008 11:39 PM (GMT 0)

I don't believe it was a panic attack.  I was out eating at a restaurant and talking away.  One minute I could breathe, the next I couldn't.  I don't remember food becoming unstuck or anything like that.  If I could have talked I would have told the good samaritan that was doing the heimlich on me to stop since he was crushing my ribs. Some other man came along and eased me back into breathing calmly once I got air back.  I was probably near hyperventilating at that point. 

Doc said since this happened two days after starting meds that it could have been a herx, also said some people develop dysphonia ( which I think is inability to speak).  Good grief.   He stated there have been some very severe herxes after starting meds.  Office did say to call them if this happened again.  Happen again................hopefully I will live through it to give them a call. 

I believe I stated that I was off meds for over a week before I got back to the doc.  Since then I have resumed meds but very slowly.  One cef yesteray instead of two.  Two cefs today and 1/2 of azith.  Stomach seems to handle this better. 

Also should mention that he wanted me to take metamucil before taking the abx and to drink plenty of water while taking the two abx and the metamucil.  Thinking back to that night I probably didn't take enough water.  Also read info about metamucil and it did state that if taken without plenty of water choking/breathing problems could result.  So it could have been the lack of water. 

Posted 10/6/2008 5:33 AM (GMT 0)
Ann, just to let you know....It only happens to me after meals.  I havent had a panic attack in a long time...almost a year and then tonight my throat got real tight, felt like I was going to stop breathing.  Happened after eating.  I just started HH capsule 1.5 weeks ago and anxiety has increased, so I think that it has something to do with the blood entering the stomach and since that takes away a lot of oxygen...I think it creates a panic attack, because the meds are destroying the bad red blood cells which leaves us less oxygenated cells.  Just my theory since Bartonella attacks Red Blood Cells.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_blood_cell

http://www.personalconsult.com/articles/bartonellanewinfo2008.html

 

Posted 10/6/2008 10:07 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Snake,

  What is HH?  What other meds are you on?  I have not yet had a reoccurence of the throat closing.  I take my meds right before I eat so I do think that taking them then has something to do with the tightening of the throat as you said.  I am taking so much stuff now that today I forgot to take the meds before I ate.  I teach and I did bring everything I needed to school and still forgot!!!!!!!!!  I will ask one of my students to remind me, they are really good about helping me out.

Had some leg cramping today as well, Herx?????

Posted 10/7/2008 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
HH is Dr Z's capsule for his protocol.

Proprietary Herbal Extracts of: 250 mg*

Houttuynia cordata THUNB. entire plant
Posted 10/7/2008 10:46 PM (GMT 0)

Upon being diagnosed doc gave me a sheet explaining how to take the meds:

Metamucil or citrucil five minutes before eating with glass of water.

Take abx after metamucil since the metamucil helps absorb the abx.

Well I read the info on the bottle of metamucil the other night and there is a warning there that states:

Throat can close if not enough water taken.

Well, that probaly explains what happened to me.......not enough water. 

I really am not interested in taking it again and having the same thing happen.

Posted 11/13/2009 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
When I was sick, I got the choking too, it felt like I was being choked felt like air supply was being shut off I did this numerous times over the years and they lessened as I got bettter. Throwing uo and then curling on couch helped me. you might want to see if your neck is swollen by looking in the mirrorer I know the last thing you want to do at this time, but my doc suggested it to me. lisa
Posted 11/13/2009 4:35 AM (GMT 0)
Holy cow! Good thing you brought this up. I have feelings like I am choking too.
Posted 11/13/2009 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
I have never had a choking feeling - thank goodness. Are you sure it is not a reaction to the meds? I had burning stinging tongue and difficulty talking from amoxi. It felt like my tongue was swollen.
I have read and been told by the LLMD that you usually do not herx with bartonella like you do with borrellia.
So when you begin to experience a lot of symptoms it is probably worsening of the disease and not a herx. I don't know if this is true. Seems like I get a little worse physical symptoms after starting abx but the brunt of it is emotional.
As babesia causes shortness of breath, it seems like that would cause a choking feeling. Schaller's book on bartonella is good for diagnosis by skin conditions.
My symptoms are/were hurting shins, headache, dry sensitive eyes, muscle twitching, muscle cramps, urge to urinate (painful bladder but no infections), heart palpitations, emotionally detached from self and life (apathetic), no motivation, mood swings especially depression and irritation, then the skin findings - spider veins, pea size brown spots, swelling around ankles, marble like nodules under skin that hurt when pressed on, lumps along shin bone that don't hurt, lumpiness under skin, lack of pigmentation in some places, tiny blood blisters,.. . .
Posted 11/14/2009 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
Bartonella can also be treated with Bactrim and Levaquin, (the drug of choice), there are more drugs that can be used intravenously. It is important to treat. I think those of us who are chronically ill have all 3 - Babs, Bart and Lyme (in all of its various life forms).......no matter what testing does or doesn't say.

Good luck- I used HH but it wasn't enough-- I have been on IV for few months now- I am finally reentering life- my personality and mood are back. Lamictal has been huge for me for stabilizing my moods.........
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply