There are tests for *some* Babesia strains and they're less reliable than Lyme tests....and cost a whole lot more.
Same deal applies for Bartonella.
Throw in the fact that new strains are being discovered every few months and we are once again back to the need for a clinical diagnosis - one based upon symptoms.
Yes, even LLMD's drop the ball on this one. We're seeing more and more LLMD's not willing to treat without positive test results.....even though they are aware of the situation surrounding these tests.
It all has to do with the persecution LLMD's have faced over the years. Insurance companies don't want to pay for protracted treatment and get medical boards involved. Just read Cure Unknown and you'll see what I'm talking about
:
www.cureunknown.com/And, just because a person tested negative for a particular strain does NOT mean they are not infected with one or more *other* strains.
Healthy people are walking around with asymptomatic Babesia and Bartonella infections. Even the CDC acknowledges this on their website:
www.cdc.gov/parasites/babesiosis/"
Although many people who are infected with Babesia do not have symptoms, for those who do effective treatment is available."
www.cdc.gov/bartonella/clinicians/index.html"
Most cases of cat scratch disease (CSD) resolve without treatment", although some patients may develop complications from disseminated disease.
Cat scratch disease is the henselae strain of Bartonella which is very common in NJ.
If healthy people can have no symptoms of Babesia or Bartonella and still be infected, it's entirely possible that those of us dealing with any of these infections could also be infected with Babesia and/or Bartonella....and not necessarily have any symptoms...or they have mild and few symptoms.
I only had an occasional hot flash - that was it. My LLMD chalked it up to Lyme.
Yet, he had no explanation why almost 6 months on the full Cowden protocol did not break the plateau I'd hit after 5 months on abx.
I had herxes on some of Cowden's coinfection-specific herbs that got me wondering if I'd been dealing with Babesia/Babesia-like infection along with the Bartonella/Bartonella-like infection I always suspected I had (because my symptoms are all neuro).
Once I started following a more expanded protocol specific for Babesia, I herxed with air hunger, chest pressure, head pressure and anxiety - all hallmark Babesia. Same type of deal for me with the Bartonella herbs.
My LLMD refused to consider diagnosing these infections without running tests. I decided to spend the money on herbs instead.
Treating for these coinfections brought me from the 90% I was at when I went off abx and after almost 6 months on Cowden.... up to my estimated 98%.....and that was after only 4 months on my current protocols and not being at full doses until mid-December of this year.
I lost a LOT of healing time because I wasn't properly evaluated for coinfections.
I know this can be overwhelming - especially when clueless doctors cause us to question ourselves.
Still, these infections are best addressed in a step-by-step manner. People do heal from these infections. It just takes time....a lot of time.
You can do it.