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12+ Weeks of Bartonella Treatment - nothing??

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Posted 6/16/2020 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone!

I was diagnosed with Bartonella in mid-March after almost 4 years of progressively debilitating symptoms. End of March, I started herbal treatments (A-Bart, Banderol, Myc-P) and used them for almost 11 weeks. I felt nothing, no better, no worse, except for a new symptom (pain/aching in the soles of my feet) that flared up and went away after a few weeks. There has been zero changes in my current symptoms (painful low back, painful knees, chronic tendinitis in hands/arms, crunchy neck).

After the 11 weeks, I asked my doctor for antibiotics because I thought something harsher would give me some results. I started Rifampin and Azrithomycin, and I've now been on that for 1 and half weeks, again with ZERO results and ZERO herxing.

I'm so over this pain. Is it normal not to feel anything from treatments? I've read a few posts, and so many people mention herxing. I honestly wish I experienced herxing because at least I would know my body is fighting SOMETHING. This is so frustrating. I'm halfway through week 13 of treatments now.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Should I keep being patient and wait it out, or should I be looking into something else (new treatments, new doctor, etc.)?
Posted 6/16/2020 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
Keep this In mind: You’ve only been using antibiotics for 10-11 days. My LLMD says 3 months is the minimum time typically for Bart with abx. Rifampin is the first tier drug for Bart and it’s usually paired with another drug - zith is good but one of the tetracyclines may be better (minocycline specifically, since Rif decreases Doxy’s effectiveness) since Zith doesn’t cross the BBB. It took me until about week 3-4 to notice the improvements. Start your treatment clock from day 1 of abx, not from when you started herbs.
Posted 6/16/2020 12:20 PM (GMT 0)
I had the same experience as you. I'm not saying you're in the same situation as me but I treated bart for 3.5 years, both herbal and antibiotic and had no results. Went back and treated lyme and babesia heavy and still no result. I guess for some of us the infections aren't the main driver
Posted 6/16/2020 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
As you can see, there's a diversity of opinions about this. smile Welcome to the forum!

Maybe you detox well and aren't herxing noticeably because of that. Maybe you don't have active infections anymore and just have the long-term damage that can come from them. Maybe your main issue is mold exposure or a chronic virus, so antibacterial treatments aren't going to help (Bartonella and mycotoxin illness can be indistinguishable). Maybe treating longer will help, but I hear you that you want to see some change and get some relief soon!

If I were troubled by the pain issues you mentioned, then I would do the following for more immediate help: 1. take omega 3 fatty acid supplements, curcumin, glucosamine, and anything else you find appealing for joint and connective tissue health, 2. load up on CBD, and 3. see an excellent bodyworker (craniosacral therapy, physical therapy, osteopathic manipulation, chiropractor, etc.) and acupuncturist.

Pain in the soles of the feet most likely is a Bartonella herx.
Posted 6/16/2020 3:47 PM (GMT 0)

Clairry said...
Hi everyone!

I was diagnosed with Bartonella in mid-March after almost 4 years of progressively debilitating symptoms. End of March, I started herbal treatments (A-Bart, Banderol, Myc-P) and used them for almost 11 weeks. I felt nothing, no better, no worse, except for a new symptom (pain/aching in the soles of my feet) that flared up and went away after a few weeks. There has been zero changes in my current symptoms (painful low back, painful knees, chronic tendinitis in hands/arms, crunchy neck).

After the 11 weeks, I asked my doctor for antibiotics because I thought something harsher would give me some results. I started Rifampin and Azrithomycin, and I've now been on that for 1 and half weeks, again with ZERO results and ZERO herxing.

I'm so over this pain. Is it normal not to feel anything from treatments? I've read a few posts, and so many people mention herxing. I honestly wish I experienced herxing because at least I would know my body is fighting SOMETHING. This is so frustrating. I'm halfway through week 13 of treatments now.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Should I keep being patient and wait it out, or should I be looking into something else (new treatments, new doctor, etc.)?

You've had symptoms fro 4 years - definitely chronic...ie not an 'easy' fix.
1 1/2 weeks on abx is nothing...you need to give it a few months before you determine the abx aren't working. Try to be patient...and keep at it.
Posted 6/16/2020 6:13 PM (GMT 0)

saraeli said...
As you can see, there's a diversity of opinions about this. smile Welcome to the forum!

Maybe you detox well and aren't herxing noticeably because of that. Maybe you don't have active infections anymore and just have the long-term damage that can come from them. Maybe your main issue is mold exposure or a chronic virus, so antibacterial treatments aren't going to help (Bartonella and mycotoxin illness can be indistinguishable). Maybe treating longer will help, but I hear you that you want to see some change and get some relief soon!

If I were troubled by the pain issues you mentioned, then I would do the following for more immediate help: 1. take omega 3 fatty acid supplements, curcumin, glucosamine, and anything else you find appealing for joint and connective tissue health, 2. load up on CBD, and 3. see an excellent bodyworker (craniosacral therapy, physical therapy, osteopathic manipulation, chiropractor, etc.) and acupuncturist.

Pain in the soles of the feet most likely is a Bartonella herx.

Thanks! I've tried taking glucosamine and curcumin but got no relief from those. I've tried every single bodyworker you named with no improvement. CBD I have not yet tried. I'll look into that.
Posted 6/16/2020 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for your input! I will just try to be patient with the antibiotics and see if anything unfolds. My doctor only has me taking them for 2 months and then she wants me to go back to using herbals.
Posted 6/16/2020 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
Monocycline is most often used with rifampin.
Dosage does matter also.
Erythromycin with minocycline brought me my first relief from neck and joint pain.
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