Advised to take a break from antibiotics - scary?

There’s always a plethora of great advice on here so hoping to hear some thoughts / experiences with this.

My son has been on triple antibiotics + herbals since April 2019 for borrelia/Bartonella/chl pneum. This was after 3 weeks doxy in Nov 18 (a few weeks after EM rash) and amoxicillin for 3 weeks in Jan 2019.

Generally he has been improving. His recent WBC have been low for the second month in a row and this week our LLMD suggested he take a break from the abx for a few days but stay on the herbals to give his white blood cells a chance to improve.

He’s keen to be moved off the abx - as they make him feel generally groggy and he doesn’t necessarily feel these are ‘lyme’ symptoms but of course it’s impossible to know. He is a bit worried that a break will be a negative thing to do. He’s been on doxy/rifampin/azithromycin for 16 weeks and minocycline/rifampin/azithromycin for 4.

Any thoughts welcome. Thanks

Thanks Girlie. That’s reassuring to hear. I’d like to think that a break could be useful to see how he’s doing generally but it feels like there’s no right or wrong direction with all of this stuff and that’s so unsettling.

I was on triple dose Zithromax/Cipro/Pen until insurance wouldn’t cover.
then Byron White herbals for like 4 years. I took 6 day breaks to detox every few weeks because i was so toxic...but I couldn’t handle breaks any longer than that without my neuro symptoms raising their ugly head. after a long battle, I was able to take a 5 month break!!!! (just recently) with only taking the herbals on the full and new moon. I am more stable than i’ve ever been, (up until last week.... but we won’t speak of such things)

I think you just have to learn and listen to your body (a little diff cuz it’s your son) and be wise and not over do it. also be wise and not go without abx for too long!!! (like I am afraid I did...)

Donjr said...
Sign of bartonella infection in the bones or marrow

What is?

Hey you might get a flare but don’t let that scare you. I stopped antibiotics for a week after nine months of treating and a few symptoms did pop up but once I started the Cowden protocol they settled down again.
Does anyone know does the bacteria hide from herbals like they do with antibiotics?

Quick update. White cells back in the normal range so we guess that does indicate antibiotics could be the culprit. Was good exercise taking a break from them - he took 5 days off and now back on the regime. He can see much clearer what symptoms are side effects so it’s been worthwhile. Next week it’s time to check T cell activity again so here’s hoping.