HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

18 year old son Lyme/Bartonella

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/12/2023 11:04 AM (GMT 0)
I was recently diagnosed with Bartonella that I suspect I had for the last 24 years and I’ve heard it can cross during pregnancy. My son had very weird symptoms his whole life that came and went and I recently got him checked. He’s positive for both. He’s starting college and he really doesn’t have symptoms that he complains about besides poor memory and I’m at a loss if we start treatment now and will it trigger symptoms and make it worse as he’s going to college. His immune system is doing a good job now but I know that anything can change that quickly. Don’t know what to do….
Posted 7/12/2023 11:46 AM (GMT 0)
its a tricky one

if he is able to go to college and study and retain information - then his immune system is doing a decent job - i think its probably worth him just trying to stay on track for the next few years to get through it - and perhaps compensate with a super healthy lifestyle
this can improve the immune system and keep lyme et all in the box - and even improve things to the point where he is completely symptom free - so that the way i would go - knowing what i known now

whereas when the immune system gets suppressed that's when things flip and the pathogens get the upper hand and people can go down hill rapidly

things that help the immune system get stronger - are things like

-getting good sleep

-a regular exercise plan

-good diet - low inflammatory ( remove sugar, processed food, artificial foods, low alcohol, gluten free etc - add lots of whole foods and veg)

-active stress management - mediation, yoga, time in nature

of course these things are not exactly compatible with the average college goers lifestyle

so it may be that in the end that is pretty much out of your hands to decide - rather, it will simply be his choice to either live for the moment as he wants, and take his chances - or focus more on his health and the longer term outcomes.

a lot will depend on his personal beliefs and values - but i think i would defo provide him with the information

to that end - i see Dr J in his youtube videos talks a lot about the immune system - what helps it get on top of the infections - and ways in which people can compensate - of the prominent LLMD's i think he has perhaps the best understanding of how this illness works - so i would start there
https://www.youtube.com/channel/ucoon1xk3dmcrl6idxjhjgbw
Posted 7/12/2023 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
As usual you are a pillar onto this community. Thank you. My son is an interesting kid and thankfully loves his sleep, doesn’t party and picked his school based on the best library so I think we are ok in terms of avoiding the crazy college lifestyle which I think he will still enjoy and be up late some nights but not to his detriment (I hope). He has had weird issues like brain fog, memory, tics growing up that I understand is part of Bartonella especially in kids. I want his memory and moods to be better so I’d like him to get to 100% and he does to but I just don’t think right now would be the best time to start all the therapy? I’m scared it would trigger something. His doctor also left it up to him….. argh.
Posted 7/12/2023 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
@grazie that’s link isn’t working. What should I search?
Posted 7/12/2023 12:31 PM (GMT 0)

Ruly6117 said...
@grazie that’s link isn’t working. What should I search?

i fixed it

i think it was one of the later 1hrs long Q&A videos that i was watching where he talks about how to support the immune system - and how some people with lyme don't get ill at all by compensating with sleep etc

but really just listening to him on any of his videos talk about lyme and co infections and how he thinks they work is well worthwhile - its that whole picture and philosophy that is think is super helpful

edit - i forgot to say thank you for your kind words - they are appreciated!
Posted 7/12/2023 5:42 PM (GMT 0)

Ruly6117 said...
I was recently diagnosed with Bartonella that I suspect I had for the last 24 years and I’ve heard it can cross during pregnancy. My son had very weird symptoms his whole life that came and went and I recently got him checked. He’s positive for both. He’s starting college and he really doesn’t have symptoms that he complains about besides poor memory and I’m at a loss if we start treatment now and will it trigger symptoms and make it worse as he’s going to college. His immune system is doing a good job now but I know that anything can change that quickly. Don’t know what to do….

I have 3 younger sons ages 6, 11, and 12. They all have a myriad of different symptoms. I too was told it's passes along during pregnancy bt only recently found out from my llmd telling me. All other doctors told me that was impossible despite my kids symptoms and signs of them having it. Also getting a kid on treatment when starting up school or college would be tough if not impossible because of herx, brain fog, etc. If cognitive is impaired just imagine trying to focus on school and treatment . I felt so bad not getting my kids help sooner due to financial issues and lack of knowledge of passi g it on during pregnancy. Most docs and therapists always suggested it was adhd or nothing wrong just not studying enough and not practicing reading or writing at home with the kids. That passes me off and hurts me !! If college needs be postponed until treatment then in my oppinion that'd be the best option instead of starting college and possibly having to waste money or drop out due to treatment and side effects. Did you talk to your child about waiting for school and doing treatment first or?
Posted 7/12/2023 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
It will be super important for him to avoid moldy and water damaged buildings when he goes to college. I have heard that college dorms and campus buildings are often problematic places in terms of mold exposure.

As far as treatment, I would suggest herbal and/or supplement support without directly treating the infections. If you don’t have Stephen Buhner’s Healing Lyme 2nd edition book and his Herbal Antibiotics and Herbal Antivirals books, then I recommend getting them. Buhner passed away not long ago, and I don’t know how long his books will remain available. It’s good to have those resources in your possession when you live with these infections.
Posted 7/12/2023 8:33 PM (GMT 0)

WalkingbyFaith said...
It will be super important for him to avoid moldy and water damaged buildings when he goes to college. I have heard that college dorms and campus buildings are often problematic places in terms of mold exposure.

As far as treatment, I would suggest herbal and/or supplement support without directly treating the infections. If you don’t have Stephen Buhner’s Healing Lyme 2nd edition book and his Herbal Antibiotics and Herbal Antivirals books, then I recommend getting them. Buhner passed away not long ago, and I don’t know how long his books will remain available. It’s good to have those resources in your possession when you live with these infections.

I do have his book!!! Thank you. Also I am going to have to reach out to the school I guess and let them know. I wonder if a doctor note will help bc his dorm is old and getting torn down this year and I heard it has mold. Ugh thank you for bringing this up. One more thing for me to worry about. I just feel so lost. Thank you so much for your response.
Posted 7/12/2023 8:34 PM (GMT 0)

Garzie said...

Ruly6117 said...
@grazie that’s link isn’t working. What should I search?

i fixed it

i think it was one of the later 1hrs long Q&A videos that i was watching where he talks about how to support the immune system - and how some people with lyme don't get ill at all by compensating with sleep etc

but really just listening to him on any of his videos talk about lyme and co infections and how he thinks they work is well worthwhile - its that whole picture and philosophy that is think is super helpful

edit - i forgot to say thank you for your kind words - they are appreciated!

I think I’m going to reach out to his practice. Have you heard good luck with them? He seems knowledgeable and I’d love another opinion. Thank you again.
Posted 7/12/2023 8:37 PM (GMT 0)

MedicalNerd said...

Ruly6117 said...
I was recently diagnosed with Bartonella that I suspect I had for the last 24 years and I’ve heard it can cross during pregnancy. My son had very weird symptoms his whole life that came and went and I recently got him checked. He’s positive for both. He’s starting college and he really doesn’t have symptoms that he complains about besides poor memory and I’m at a loss if we start treatment now and will it trigger symptoms and make it worse as he’s going to college. His immune system is doing a good job now but I know that anything can change that quickly. Don’t know what to do….

I have 3 younger sons ages 6, 11, and 12. They all have a myriad of different symptoms. I too was told it's passes along during pregnancy bt only recently found out from my llmd telling me. All other doctors told me that was impossible despite my kids symptoms and signs of them having it. Also getting a kid on treatment when starting up school or college would be tough if not impossible because of herx, brain fog, etc. If cognitive is impaired just imagine trying to focus on school and treatment . I felt so bad not getting my kids help sooner due to financial issues and lack of knowledge of passi g it on during pregnancy. Most docs and therapists always suggested it was adhd or nothing wrong just not studying enough and not practicing reading or writing at home with the kids. That passes me off and hurts me !! If college needs be postponed until treatment then in my oppinion that'd be the best option instead of starting college and possibly having to waste money or drop out due to treatment and side effects. Did you talk to your child about waiting for school and doing treatment first or?

Thank you for sharing. I know I passed it and feel so guilty. This needs a lot more exposure than it’s getting. He doesn’t feel very symptomatic at all and is really eager to start so there is zero chance he will be delaying and that Is why I’m just watchjnh to make the right decision and feeling stuck. I’m grateful his immune system is working properly but any slight hit can change that and I’m aware. I know it’s better to start asap but he’s had this for 18 years and so I dont know if I start next may when he graduates. Ugh.
Posted 7/14/2023 6:15 AM (GMT 0)
Successful treatment of bartonella can cause a pretty intense herx. In particular it caused me bad diarrhea, more than the usual diarrhea from antibiotics as bartonella tends to infect the GI tract.

I would think this could be pretty disruptive if someone is taking college classes, so maybe your son would want to do treatment during the summer months?

Bartonella can be asymptomatic for long periods of time (and was for me) but it will eventually relapse and cause problems, so you really want to eliminate it if possible.
Posted 7/14/2023 6:50 AM (GMT 0)

Quin said...
Successful treatment of bartonella can cause a pretty intense herx. In particular it caused me bad diarrhea, more than the usual diarrhea from antibiotics as bartonella tends to infect the GI tract.

I would think this could be pretty disruptive if someone is taking college classes, so maybe your son would want to do treatment during the summer months?

Bartonella can be asymptomatic for long periods of time (and was for me) but it will eventually relapse and cause problems, so you really want to eliminate it if possible.

I’m having the same thoughts plus he has Lyme. I’m thinking to start it when he’s done with his first year in May and just keep him not working and focus on treatment for 3 months. Hoping that will give enough time for side effects. Unclear
Posted 7/14/2023 12:42 PM (GMT 0)
For bartonella, maybe. Once I found some antibiotics that it was not resistant to, I was able to kill most of it in a few months. Bartonella can be real hard to completely eliminate though, and I had to keep treating for up to a year to make sure it was really gone, because it kept coming back. Most of the intense herxing was in the first few months though. After that I just needed to take antibiotics occasionally to deal with what was left.

Lyme (borrelia) has been more difficult. It was tolerant to an even wider range of antibiotics than bartonella. I did finally find some meds that seem to work on it, and the herx is just insane. Borrelia forms large colonies and killing some of it just seems to expose more. After a year or so, I am finally starting to see some improvement. I don't think I could have done a year of college while treating this, because I was just so tired and slept so much. I suppose it depends on how long it's been there. I had been sick for around 10 years, so quite a lot had built up. Hopefully for you and your son, it has not gotten that bad, but if it's been there for a long time, it can form real thick layers that are hard to break up. For the last year, I have done pretty much nothing.
Posted 7/14/2023 1:10 PM (GMT 0)

Ruly6117 said...

MedicalNerd said...

Ruly6117 said...
I was recently diagnosed with Bartonella that I suspect I had for the last 24 years and I’ve heard it can cross during pregnancy. My son had very weird symptoms his whole life that came and went and I recently got him checked. He’s positive for both. He’s starting college and he really doesn’t have symptoms that he complains about besides poor memory and I’m at a loss if we start treatment now and will it trigger symptoms and make it worse as he’s going to college. His immune system is doing a good job now but I know that anything can change that quickly. Don’t know what to do….

I have 3 younger sons ages 6, 11, and 12. They all have a myriad of different symptoms. I too was told it's passes along during pregnancy bt only recently found out from my llmd telling me. All other doctors told me that was impossible despite my kids symptoms and signs of them having it. Also getting a kid on treatment when starting up school or college would be tough if not impossible because of herx, brain fog, etc. If cognitive is impaired just imagine trying to focus on school and treatment . I felt so bad not getting my kids help sooner due to financial issues and lack of knowledge of passi g it on during pregnancy. Most docs and therapists always suggested it was adhd or nothing wrong just not studying enough and not practicing reading or writing at home with the kids. That passes me off and hurts me !! If college needs be postponed until treatment then in my oppinion that'd be the best option instead of starting college and possibly having to waste money or drop out due to treatment and side effects. Did you talk to your child about waiting for school and doing treatment first or?

Thank you for sharing. I know I passed it and feel so guilty. This needs a lot more exposure than it’s getting. He doesn’t feel very symptomatic at all and is really eager to start so there is zero chance he will be delaying and that Is why I’m just watchjnh to make the right decision and feeling stuck. I’m grateful his immune system is working properly but any slight hit can change that and I’m aware. I know it’s better to start asap but he’s had this for 18 years and so I dont know if I start next may when he graduates. Ugh.


I'm having the same issue with moving from CT down to VT and debating when to start me and my kids treatment and when to hold off due to herx. I feel more awful thinking about delaying their treatment as well as then having it since birth .
Posted 7/15/2023 1:14 AM (GMT 0)

Garzie said...
its a tricky one

if he is able to go to college and study and retain information - then his immune system is doing a decent job - i think its probably worth him just trying to stay on track for the next few years to get through it - and perhaps compensate with a super healthy lifestyle
this can improve the immune system and keep lyme et all in the box - and even improve things to the point where he is completely symptom free - so that the way i would go - knowing what i known now

whereas when the immune system gets suppressed that's when things flip and the pathogens get the upper hand and people can go down hill rapidly

things that help the immune system get stronger - are things like

-getting good sleep

-a regular exercise plan

-good diet - low inflammatory ( remove sugar, processed food, artificial foods, low alcohol, gluten free etc - add lots of whole foods and veg)

-active stress management - mediation, yoga, time in nature

of course these things are not exactly compatible with the average college goers lifestyle

so it may be that in the end that is pretty much out of your hands to decide - rather, it will simply be his choice to either live for the moment as he wants, and take his chances - or focus more on his health and the longer term outcomes.

a lot will depend on his personal beliefs and values - but i think i would defo provide him with the information

to that end - i see Dr J in his youtube videos talks a lot about the immune system - what helps it get on top of the infections - and ways in which people can compensate - of the prominent LLMD's i think he has perhaps the best understanding of how this illness works - so i would start there
https://www.youtube.com/channel/ucoon1xk3dmcrl6idxjhjgbw

Quick question for you. I want to post his ignex lab results here but I don't understand how or if I can add the image?
Posted 7/15/2023 2:04 AM (GMT 0)

Ruly6117 said...

Garzie said...
its a tricky one

if he is able to go to college and study and retain information - then his immune system is doing a decent job - i think its probably worth him just trying to stay on track for the next few years to get through it - and perhaps compensate with a super healthy lifestyle
this can improve the immune system and keep lyme et all in the box - and even improve things to the point where he is completely symptom free - so that the way i would go - knowing what i known now

whereas when the immune system gets suppressed that's when things flip and the pathogens get the upper hand and people can go down hill rapidly

things that help the immune system get stronger - are things like

-getting good sleep

-a regular exercise plan

-good diet - low inflammatory ( remove sugar, processed food, artificial foods, low alcohol, gluten free etc - add lots of whole foods and veg)

-active stress management - mediation, yoga, time in nature

of course these things are not exactly compatible with the average college goers lifestyle

so it may be that in the end that is pretty much out of your hands to decide - rather, it will simply be his choice to either live for the moment as he wants, and take his chances - or focus more on his health and the longer term outcomes.

a lot will depend on his personal beliefs and values - but i think i would defo provide him with the information

to that end - i see Dr J in his youtube videos talks a lot about the immune system - what helps it get on top of the infections - and ways in which people can compensate - of the prominent LLMD's i think he has perhaps the best understanding of how this illness works - so i would start there
https://www.youtube.com/channel/ucoon1xk3dmcrl6idxjhjgbw

Quick question for you. I want to post his ignex lab results here but I don't understand how or if I can add the image?

/////////////////////////////

I used PhotoBucket
Posted 7/15/2023 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you. I am going to post it in a new thread.
Posted 7/17/2023 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
I think it depends on how he handles stress of changes. My son was very very leary about starting school and a very stressful kid so college brought his lyme to the surface and it did not work out for him. However, he is healthy again now.

Best of luck to him!!
Posted 7/17/2023 3:59 PM (GMT 0)

springsjean said...
I think it depends on how he handles stress of changes. My son was very very leary about starting school and a very stressful kid so college brought his lyme to the surface and it did not work out for him. However, he is healthy again now.

Best of luck to him!!

Did you treat him in college???
Posted 7/17/2023 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
No unfortunately he dropped out and never went back. But we werent sure it was going to be for him anyway and he is happy and healthy now.
Posted 7/17/2023 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
How to post images
The forum does not support posting images directly from your PC or phone –
But to post a picture is actually v simple - just 2 steps really

step 1
just go to this site https://imgbb.com/upload
then drag your image to the box where it says "drag and drop here" - there is a picture of a cloud shape with a white arrow in it (or click the link where it says "You can also browse from your computer" (or phone) manually)

then click upload - to upload your image to that site
(that site will then provide you with a unique url/link for your image)

step 2
then copy and paste the url/link that website gives you into your post here on the forum
( it will give you the form of URL you need complete with the code needed to display it properly as a clickable link on the forum)
Posted 7/17/2023 11:05 PM (GMT 0)

Garzie said...
How to post images
The forum does not support posting images directly from your PC or phone –
But to post a picture is actually v simple - just 2 steps really

step 1
just go to this site https://imgbb.com/upload
then drag your image to the box where it says "drag and drop here" - there is a picture of a cloud shape with a white arrow in it (or click the link where it says "You can also browse from your computer" (or phone) manually)

then click upload - to upload your image to that site
(that site will then provide you with a unique url/link for your image)

step 2
then copy and paste the url/link that website gives you into your post here on the forum
( it will give you the form of URL you need complete with the code needed to display it properly as a clickable link on the forum)

Thank you!!!!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply