Bartonella Literate LLMD / PA area

Hello forum members,

I was wondering if anyone has worked with a Bartonella literate LLMD in the PA / NJ / NY area?

Specifically one who is familiar with Rifampin / Rifabutin / MB and up to date on all the newest research.

I have been with my current LLMD for 4 years and made amazing progress but he is no longer practicing.

I have used Dr. MR in Seattle and will consult with him for now. I am aware of Dr. J in DC and am familiar with his protocols. I am not concerned if they accept insurance or not. My current LLMD did but I understand he is the exception and not the rule.

Thank you

JMF84 said...
Hi BrianinPA, I'm not sure who would be the best LLMD in your area but am curious as to how you are doing. Last I heard, you had that bad "herx" from MB and Rifabutin. Did you come out of that? And were you able to continue with those?

Hello JMF84,

I'm doing very well. I'd say back to 95% of my health. The bad herx (or autoimmune response) I had to calithro / rifabutin / MB was insane. I was bed ridden for a week. I realized after that experience that I had to go low and slow with any changes to my treatment plan. Based on principals Dr. Neil Nathan describes in his book "toxic". I learned that if you change too many things at once you don't know what is giving you side effects and what is working.

Anyway I went back on my protocol I had been on for a very long time: mino / rifampin / bactim / mepron and stabilized within a week or two. about 6 months ago I started to slowly titrate in MB into it. Starting with 1 25mg tablet a day, then 2 days off. Over the course of a few months I have slowly moved up to 50mg in the morning (every other day) and 25mg at night. Taking MB and all my other drugs every single day. My LLMD had also recently started using MB with a lot of great results. It was tough to take for many patients and a lot reported very bad herxing (including me). When I increased the dose I herxed. Then I backed down and went back to the normal dose. Slowly stepping it back up. I have been able to tolerate the doses and the herx by doing this and it has been working very well. I've had all kinds of weird Bart rashes come out during the treatment and it seems to get very deep into the tissues (eyes, ears, CNS). It seems to have cleared my hyper sensitive ears (which was very annoying) and has helped me a lot.

Sadly the LLMD I had been seeing for the past 4 years is no longer practicing and it is a great loss to our community. He was really willing to try a lot of new things and I feel like I have tried almost all of them. So at this stage I am planning on going back to Dr. MR in Seattle. Its a big lift to travel across the country but I am willing to do it if he can help me.

I would like to find someone local that may be able to help me as well. Someone with a lot of experience with Bartonella. I have contacted Dr. M (Bart expert) and he is no longer seeing new patients.

I contacted some people I know in Bart research and they recommended Dr. SP in Connecticut.

Thanks so much for that update, BrianinPA. Hope your improvement continues.

Brian, is there a specific reason why you are still on Mepron if you think you are only fighting Bart now? Or are you not sure you are rid of Babs?

Interesting. Thanks.

BrianinPA said...


Would you mind PMing me the info for Dr. AC in Phila? Thank you

There’s no PM’s on here. Look up ILADS speakers from last annual conference. I’ll add my email to my bio if you still have trouble.