How do you know which coinfections you have, since so many have similar symptoms?

When I was seeing Dr. L. in NY, I tested positive for Bart. and Babs., and I had a positive PCR for Lyme.

When I was bitten two years ago, I had a large EM rash.

My current LLMD uses Labcorp, partly bc she knows her patients can't afford some of the more expensive testing.

So, according to Labcorp, I tested negative for everything, which I know is wrong, seeing as I have very intense symptoms of Babs (and most likely of Bart), not to mention Lyme, which I already know I have.

But if you look at cos websites and lists, there are tons of cos out there. Unless I see someone really expensive, and/or get expensive testing (neither of which I can afford), I might have to figure all of this out myself (my LLMD wants to treat me primarily for Babs).

Besides, I don't trust any testing anymore, regardless.

Some of my symptoms really seem to match Brucella, for example, yet, I've heard it's really rare.

Then, there's Chlamydia pneumoniae, etc. etc., not to mention weird ones, like Powassan.

Buhner has protocols for many of the cos, even Brucella, so I could self treat, but I don't want to add too many treatments.

I'm really starting to think many of us have cos we don't even know about, and unless we see high-dollar LLMDs, how are we going to know?

I know you're going to tell me to ask my LLMD, but she doesn't test for all that stuff, and I don't know if she knows where to start either. Right now, I have mixed feelings about her anyway, though I like her examinations.

I think someone should start a song: "Yersinia, Chlamydia, Bartonella, oh my!"



Margaret

Yes I think Lymie Girl is right. One of the reasons LLMDs don't test for other coinfections and pretty much consider lyme, bart, and babs to be the big ones is because they're the ones that are biologically different from the lesser known coinfections. It takes different herbs and abx to kill each of these infections. But when taking herbs and abx for these infections, you are also killing the lesser known coinfections that you mentioned as well.

For example, Buhner's mycoplasma protocol is essentially a collection of different herbs and vitamins that he already recommends for lyme and bart as well. My LLMD said that lyme, bart, and babs are the big ones and that any other coinfections will be taken care of with treatment for the main infections.

Sida Acuta treats Bart and Babs. Many herbs can also be anti-fungal and/or anti-parasitic. For example, grapefruit seed extract acts as a cyst buster and anti-fungal.

As far as the lesser known co-infections, I would see what Buhner recommends for them. See if any Babs and Bart herbs might treat them too. I have to read Buhner's books. I'm starting with the Babesia book.

For me, I was suspicious of Bart and Babs due to some specific symptoms. I seemed to experience a lot more mental symptoms than my friend who only had Lyme and recovered. I also had heel pain in the mornings that is mentioned in Bart symptoms. This made me believe I had Bart, plus the day sweats. Eventually I tested positive for it, but it took almost 2 years. My air hunger and cycling drenching night sweats would not let up and this made us think that Babesia is involved. I don't know if all coinfections have distinct, strong symptoms that are not as strong in other coinfections.

Who knows what else I might have. There are thousands of infections out there that still have not been identified my LLMD told me. Hopefully treating Lyme, Bart and Babs will cover other infections that I possibly might have.

So, morning heel pain made me think Bart, and drenching night sweats made me think Babs.

I can't find the link to the thread where I posted my whole story, but my suggestion would be to find a practioner of applied kinesiology and muscle testing-- that was the only way I was able to find my dominant infection. I've also heard about practioners using bioresonance machines to diagnose.

I always wondered how Dr's determined what infections cause specific symptoms since they only present themselves when co-infected usually. Too many overlaps.

They need to be careful not to make bold claims to not cause confusion. But if evidence and logic support it, its important to know

I think a lot of it is from Dr's like Horowitz who have seen thousands of Lyme patients. Although it's not conclusive since testing is so unreliable, I believe doctors have seen patterns with patients who Do test positive, and what they're experiencing. I think eventually you can make sensical observations but it gets hard when you start blaming very specific symptoms on one infection. I think it's easier to separate some babesia symptoms, but when it appears subclinically, things get very misleading. It's weird to me how all TBD's behave the same even though it's bacteria, parasites/pyroplasms, and viruses, different organisms altogether.