HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Babesia treatment- how long and how severe

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/30/2018 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
In the beginning of February 2018 I started treatment for babesia ( I've been in treatment for lyme and bartonella since January 2017). My doc put me on clindamycin and bactrim. I made huge improvements but still had some breathing and heart issues so she upped the ante. At my May appointment she kept me on the clindamycin and bactrim but also told me to start taking clarithromycin and A Bab drops.
I am now severely exhausted (stayed home from work today) and my heart, while it's not "beating hard" as it has in the past, is racing. Along with this I have labored breathing. Im sure this topic has been discussed many times but I would appreciate any feedback. You can herx from babesia right? And how long does it last. Also has anyone been on these exact meds to treat babesia? I'm freaking out! I got a taste of the good life for about two months (even went back to the gym) but now I feel like I'll never get back to that level of feeling good. Its only been two weeks of these new symptoms. But as you all can all understand being ill all the time gets so old. I want my 2015 health back- I want MY life back. Im sorry for the rant. Thanks in advance.
Posted 5/30/2018 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sure you can herx from Lyme, bart, and babs, and probably others, too.

I'm so sorry. I had those symptoms in 2009 and 2015. It was scary and exhausting. That was long before being diagnosed or starting treatment. Hopefully others will offer suggestions and answer your questions about the antibiotics.

I know hawthorne is the recommended adaptogen herb for the heart. I take it daily but kind of doubt it will bring noticeable symptom relief.
Posted 5/31/2018 1:45 AM (GMT 0)

Wisco woman said...
In the beginning of February 2018 I started treatment for babesia ( I've been in treatment for lyme and bartonella since January 2017). My doc put me on clindamycin and bactrim. I made huge improvements but still had some breathing and heart issues so she upped the ante. At my May appointment she kept me on the clindamycin and bactrim but also told me to start taking clarithromycin and A Bab drops.
I am now severely exhausted (stayed home from work today) and my heart, while it's not "beating hard" as it has in the past, is racing. Along with this I have labored breathing. Im sure this topic has been discussed many times but I would appreciate any feedback. You can herx from babesia right? And how long does it last. Also has anyone been on these exact meds to treat babesia? I'm freaking out! I got a taste of the good life for about two months (even went back to the gym) but now I feel like I'll never get back to that level of feeling good. Its only been two weeks of these new symptoms. But as you all can all understand being ill all the time gets so old. I want my 2015 health back- I want MY life back. Im sorry for the rant. Thanks in advance.

I know exactly how you feel about wanting your life back. some days that's my mantra and all I hold on to. I took clindamycin for about a month last November and havent had any additional Babs tx. I have been noticing the last 2 weeks or so that I am having some tightness in my chest area, some irregular beats and shortness of breath, like my chest is getting congested/tight when I am breathing. It's almost like anxiety/panic (which I also have since being infected). It's hard to tell if it's anxiety or Babs. All my Babs labs have been neg which I know doesnt mean much. Now I dont know what to think. I spoke to my LLMD about it and she kinda brushed it off. She mentioned Artemisin (sp) and tonic water. Have you tried Artemisin?
Posted 5/31/2018 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you both for your replies. I hate the anxiety too. I never had anxiety before getting sick. I feel emence stress at random parts of the day that are not at all strefull.
Lovemy3 I have never tried Artemisin. What exactly is that. And my doc didn't think I had babesia for the longest time but finally agreed that my symptoms must be from babesia due to treating lyme and bartonella thoroughly and still having specific symptoms.
Posted 5/31/2018 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, you can herx from Babeisa.

Babesia can take many , many months to heal from. I have heard the minimum treatment is 4 to 5 months and can be much longer(even over a year for some) .

Make sure to be detoxing and incorporate the use of binders like activated charcoal or zeobind.


Artemisin is very potent, so always start slow and low dose with it. Always check for side effects and for contradictions.

You may want to back off or stop the dose of A BAB until you stop herxing and get back to a more stable place.

Take care.
Posted 6/1/2018 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

Babesia is not something to mess around with. It becomes resistant very quickly, so you must go at it from multiple angles, and whatever you do, never stop treating (unless you need a day to recover from a herx) until you are symptom free for 2-3 months. I would say anything less than 3 herbs/medications at a time and you're asking for trouble, i.e. you will be treating forever, always trying to find the next thing-like me.

I've been treating Babesia duncani (the stubborn version that I got in Wisconsin) since 2012 and it's not gone. I've had it since 2003, but my Lyme docs didn't realize I had Babs at all until I brought it up. The Igenex Babesia test was positive in 2012, however, I still have most of the symptoms, but tested negative last year. The tests aren't that great.

I've tried multiple rounds of Mepron, Malarone, Zithromax, Clindamycin, Biaxin, Bactrim, Artemisinin, Doxy, Tetracycline, etc. but I never stayed on any of it long enough because both of my LLMD's were inexperienced at treating Babesia.

Actually, what did work for about a month or two were the following combinations, which I recommend. Start slowly and just don't stop them like I did: 6 drug combo of Bactrim (2 drugs), Zithromax, Malarone (2 drugs) (and you can add in an herbal aremesia or super artemisinin pulse). The other combo that worked for me was a 3 day pulse of artemisinin (high dose) and non-pulsed herbal tincture of quinine (like Nutramedix Quina). The first 6 drug combo I mentioned is probably the best because it goes at Babs from so many different angles, that it would be almost impossible to become resistant, although with Babesia, anything is possible.

I think I have a stubbon tissue form of Babesia, so after a bunch of research and searching out other people's experiences, I started Coartem last week and will be adding 14 days of Primaquine (for the tissue/liver forms) in 2 days. I'm scared as hell, but nothing else I've tried has worked long term. Prior to beating Babs down with Alinia and herbs, which by the way eliminated my heart palpitations (woo hoo!!!!!), I started the Coartem "slowly" and did a 4 day pulse instead of 3 day pulse.

Prior to starting this new Coartem/Primaquine regimen, I had my G6PDH status tested, scheduled an EKG during Primquine pulse, and made sure that my electrolytes were adequate by taking magnesium and eating bananas for the potassium. I also got a standing order for bloodwork from my doctor to make sure I can check my electrolytes and other labs if I start feeling weird(er). From the Coartem, I experienced a herx which was an increase in air hunger, insomnia, and a few heart flutters, but it improved last night and today.

We will see what the Primaquine brings... Good luck to all of you suffering with Babesia, it's a hard one. Never give up!!
Posted 6/2/2018 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
"I'm freaking out!"

Please try to keep it together. This is so hard, I know. Do you trust your doctor? If you're working with someone you can rely on for guidance and expertise, stay in touch with them whenever you need to.

Yes, there are herxes from all the bugs. Eat to keep your immune system strong. Babesia is a difficult one to treat, but is treatable.
Posted 6/2/2018 9:23 AM (GMT 0)
I do trust my doctor; she is a very smart woman who stays very up to date on all of these diseases. I plan on asking her questions about the drugs/herbs momoftres- thank you for all that info. I appreciate everyones help. I'm just trying my best to take it one day at a time. But it really helps talking to others who understand the crazy/disturbing things I feel on a daily basis.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply