How to do the pulsing?

Hey, I should have asked this already earlier but my energy levels are so poor that I considered the task overwhelming. But better late than never:

When one is supposed to do the pulse with antibiotics, should one discontinue the other so-called main antibiotics while on the pulse antibiotic? In my instructions (which could be more detailed in my opinion!) it says I have to pulse every month with Amoxicillin and Metronidazol, both 5 days and separate from one another (two pulses).

On a more regular basis I have been taking Tetracycline and Azitromycin for one month now. Before that we tried different IV ABx and other IV treatments (not to mention all the other things that I have tried more or less on my own) but I didn't respond clearly and I'm not sure what's wrong but now with this oral protocol we are trying to target neurological CPN and Mycoplasma at least...

I hope it's not too late to start the first pulse tomorrow... It should have been "every month" but now it's more like "after one month". Could it still work out for the good?

I have not done it yet because I'm not sure whether I should take the, let's say Amoxicillin, alone for 5 days or together with the basic stuff? I guess alone...? Why? It's very difficult to contact the doctor. :/

Girlie said...
so, you don't know if you're to continue with the tetracycline and azithromycin when you add in the amoxy and flagyl?

I would definitely call and ask - they should say discontinue the others' if you're supposed to.

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. In general when people do the pulsing, does it mean they just add on more antibiotics or does it mean that they will have a break from others and take only one "new" antibiotic as a means of an attack or something?

My doctor is in another country and I already tried to contact the clinic via email but they didn't answer to that question (only to the other one I had)... It's difficult since the dr is so busy and the secretary doesn't understand English very well and ye... here I am.

Hmmm... I really wonder what would be the best approach. I wish I could have breaks from these main antibiotics as I am afraid of their possible toxic effects. I am pretty much panicking because I'm not feeling any better nor worse and I don't want any additional problems...

Do you think it's a normal way to treat without those gaps like what you have? With this LLMD it seems that we have to take things everyday.

I asked another patient of his just a while ago. She thinks it means I just have to add the pulse ab to the basic protocol.

I hope they'll answer tomorrow and I'll try to call also.

sebreg said...
My guess is it sounds like you are supposed to stay on the old abx and pulse the new ones. Def want to confirm that though! Also, might want to talk to your dr about your treatment strategy if you are uncomfortable with having to take antibiotics every day.

There are various pulse strategies where patients don't take anything for days (even weeks). It's a sensible strategy imo, the bugs get used to meds and seem to cocoon themselves, then whenever they sense the threat has disappeared they pop back out. I think pulsing gives you a better chance to surprise them and punch them square in the mouth. Plus the pulse strategy can give patients a breather, especially if they have issues with herxing.

Thank you for your thoughts, thank you. That's how I see it aswell but honestly I really don't know what should I do. I'm afraid because I'm not feeling any different (apart from a little worse ringing in my ears) and that's why it's difficult to say what's going on.

Do you think the pulsing would work even if I didn't start it yet tomorrow? If I have to wait for an answer from the dr first? I really wish there could be some breaks like you described but it's nearly impossible to contact him in a proper way... The clinic has some serious faults.

I have a slight feeling somewhere in the back of my memory that the dr said (after I asked him how to do the pulsing, when I was present at the clinic) that I should stop all the other abx and take new one for 5 days. But could be that I am only imagining...

sebreg said...
Oh yes, I know it's hard not to get impatient or worried, especially when we are taking days off of meds it feels like we are not progressing. At least that was my somewhat my psychology. What has helped me in those moments is remembering this is a marathon. The infections won't be treated in a day, it will take time and consistent effort over time. Waiting to hear from your doctor shouldn't be a problem, if symptoms get worse you can always get back on the base protocol you were on and then wait to confirm how to take the new protocol.

Ringing in the ears, I've heard this can be a babesia symptom, plus the head pressure... I mentioned this in another thread, but if you aren't responding much to most of those meds, you might want to push your Dr for a more concerted treatment effort against babesia. Dr J in DC has a hypothesis that patients with these infections need to treat babesia first, otherwise it's very hard to treat the other infections. I'm not saying he is right, but he has a lot of experience so it's worth considering some of his views on treatment strategies.

And there are also a lot of great herbs for babesia, like cryptolepis (I personally really like CSA from woodlands essence which is an herbal combo that includes this herb).

I really hope it is Babesia... Since last November when I joined this forum people have been telling me it sounds like Babesia... It was very eye-opening back then. And now again. Thank you. In May I finally got a chance to see a LLMD and as I explained my situation to him, I did remember what people had said to me. I told him I suspect Babesia based on my symptoms and especially my resistance to treatments. I told him I have read it needs to be treated first in many cases as it acts as a sort of blocker. But somehow he didn't seem to take it seriously... He just wanted to go the basic route first...

Do you know if there are any other labs/signs/symptoms that could point out to Babesia? In Elispot it was +18, later after abx 0 or 1. CD57 low of course. Also serum iron. Endocrine stuff not optimal etc.

I also wonder if those Babesia herbs could be used when on antibiotics or should I wait?

If anyone is interested here are the older threads where others made me understand Babesia could be the one:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&p=1&m=3948794#m3948801

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&p=1&m=3960385#m3970390