An Update

It has been eons since I provided an update and since I’ve recently made some significant progress I wanted to do a post to share the information.

I recently got re-tested for Coxiella burnetti (Q Fever), which I’ve been actively treating for about 8 months now, and the lab results have reduced dramatically to a point where it is almost considered a negative result. I attribute my success to both an herbal protocol (which essentially is a Rickettsia protocol - in my opinion the most important herb I have taken for this is Dong quai) and an antibiotic combo of Minocycline, Plaquenil, Augmentin and Flagyl (the latter two I alternate every 2 weeks). My doc still wants to add in Rifampin to put the final nail in the coffin for this sucker, but that is probably a month or two down the road at least.

As some may know Coxiella is a relatively rare co-infection that can be passed through a tick bite (as well as through exposure to animal feces). If left unchecked and it advances to the chronic stage it can cause endocarditis, liver issues, pneumonia and other nasty, ugly issues.

I’m also pleased to report I am officially free of MARCoNS! I just received a nasal swab test result back and it came out completely negative for all MARCoNS species.

Of course I’m still not out of the woods and certainly have other issues to deal with, but wanted to celebrate/share these successes and in general give a little hope to those who may have lost it due to being on such an uncertain journey. Progress is indeed possible!

MM!

This is really fantastic - congratulations. You've worked hard on this, I know.

Coxiella - VERY interesting. Would not have thought of that.

Thanks so much for updating us - it's INVALUABLE for people to read these success stories and it's not always easy to come back to share them.

-p

Good for you. I am so glad some of your symptoms are resolving. Looking forward to another update.

Patty

willy b's paper on the swiss agent was very interesting he believe rickettsia to be the cause of lyme syptoms not borrelia ...thanks for the update ...did us beg spray for your marcons?

That's great news MM.

Hi Lotus - welcome!

So you had a recent tick bite with an EM rash. Can you get more doxy - from another Dr.?

It needs to be treated until sign/symptom free PLUS another 4 weeks with a minimum of 6 weeks treatment.

You should be taking 200 mg twice daily of doxy.
If you don't treat it right away - then you're going to be looking at a chronic lyme infection which will take a lot longer to treat.

There are some LLMD's in England - shoot me an email if you'd like the names.

So you're taking 300 mg daily of doxy....go to another Dr. and get more if you can.

You also need to be taking probiotics - everyday - to replenish the gut bacteria that the doxy is killing.

Since you are new here, it would be helpful for you to read through the thread: "New to Lyme?..Start Here!" It's packed full of useful information.

Take a look at the ILADS Lyme Treatment Guidelines - page 18 and 19 for length of treatment and antibiotic choices.



www.lymenet.org/BurrGuide200810.pdf

Thanks all!! I really appreciate the positive responses.

Girlie - thanks! My doc uses Labcorp, although I've had other Coxiella tests with Arup.

P - holy moly eh?! What a long strange trip it has been... Coxiella isn't my primary issue that has been bothering me since way back when. I assume I was infected in the summer of 2015 and my test results certainly back it up as the titers increased x4 in about 2 months, which is the sign of a new infection. I am just so thankful for the initial doc who found this (although she had no clue how to treat it) and my current doc who agreed with me that this needed to be addressed asap before anything else. Now that this is looking better, there will be a shifting of gears.

PeteZa! Awwww - thanks!

Blue - yup, good ol BEG burned those suckers out...