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Posted 10/9/2015 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone,

I have been diagnosed with Lyme(positive PCR), bartonella and babesia in June 2015. My LLMD thinks I have had it for 2 to 10 yrs.

I also have candida...thrush in mouth and possibly throughout.

I have been on Doryx DR 200mgs since June and Mepron which I was on for two months, but started to have bad headaches and panic attacks.

I am currently 112lbs. Which is smallest I've been since about 7th grade haha. I have a two year old baby girl and my husband travels for work. We are by ourselves about 17hrs from family. I only mention the weight because my LLMD said I am very small so doesn't want to wipe my body out.

I am now on azithromycin 250mg, Doryx which he had me take a two week break from and Malarone(i haven't started that yet). My problem is I am getting hive like eruptions on my face and sometimes on my back that itch so bad. I still get the shakey internal feeling and panic feeling with bad headaches about every 4 days...I am on strict no sugar, no alcohol, no gluten diet. I have cheese and an apple once in a while.

My LLMD thinks it may be the bartonella coming out and told me to take my azithromycin at half dose to see if hives stop. I have been on half dose for over a week now and have head pressure and the hives or rash that itches so intense and then just goes away. My muscle and joint pain is also a lot worse. I have also been taking diflucan 1/2 a pill only on both weekend days.

I guess I am wondering if this sounds like a good regimen and I feel really discouraged that I am not able to do the treatment at full dosing because my body keeps reacting. Has anyone had this? Could the hives just be bartonella coming out? Some are in lines like my original Bart rash but some are not. Or could it be the candida die off? I'm so confused as to what is what and I have been researching a lot.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice! I appreciate it! God Bless!

Leah
Posted 10/9/2015 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Leah - welcome to our community!

Sorry you are having such a rough time with your treatment. It sounds to me like you are herxing, and the rashes are part of the herx.

You may need to do a lower dose of the antibiotics until some of the bacterial load has decreased.

As far as the hives/rashes go - I'm not sure. I have had rashes that were originally thought to be an allergy to the zithro and biaxin, only to have them appear when I wasn't on them, too.
I have deduced that it was lyme and/or bart rashes in my case.

The hives/rashes could be bartonella or lyme...or babesia.

When you have time, you might want to take a look at the thread at the top of the page titled "New to Lyme?..Start here!" It's full of good information - symptom lists, info on probiotics, detoxing suggestions.

Re: detoxing. Are you doing a lot of detoxing? This is crucial when treating lyme disease and co infections. You need to be doing several detoxing methods every day.
This will help flush out the toxins that are created when the treatment kills the bacteria. The toxins create an increase in your symptoms, and also new symptoms.

I hope you keep reading, posting, and asking questions. We're here to help you!
Posted 10/9/2015 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for the reply. I always read the threads on here, but have never asked a question. You all are so kind and brilliant(really).

As far as detoxing...I am doing warm lemon water through out the day. GI Detox from Bio-Botanical Research Inc. usually two pills twice a day an hour away from supplements, Meds and food. I know usually it says 2 hrs but this one says one hour and the doctor said 1 hour too.

I take Epsom salt baths once a day for about twenty minutes.

I recently purchased:
Tri Fortify Orange Liposomal Glutathione
Dr. Nicolas Smilax
Dr. Nicolas Detox #2 support formula

I haven't tried the 3 above yet as I didn't want to try too much at once.
Any suggestions are so welcome.

Thank you!

Leah
Posted 10/9/2015 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to hear you are doing the epsom salt baths. You could try dry-brushing your skin before the baths - with a natural bristle brush. That helps by removing dead skin, to allow the pores to be more open and thus expelling more toxins. Also, brushing gets the lymph system moving...again aids in flushing out the toxins.

I'm not familiar with the Dr. Nicolas supplements. Are you taking anything for your liver? Milk thistle extract is good for the liver (unless you have a ragweed allergy - then don't take it).

Also, Alka Seltzer Gold - good either daily...or when herxing (or both).

I also use Nutramedix Pinella - Brain -nerve cleanse...and Burbur. They are particularly useful for me when I herx. A lot of people take them every day. They can be purchased online from Amazon and iHerb.

A binder is also a good idea - Activated charcoal, or chlorella are two examples.

That is good that you aren't starting everything at once.
Posted 10/9/2015 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
Leah-The rash and headache sound like they could be an allergic reaction. It's really hard to tell the difference between an allergic reaction to abx's and a herx.

Try taking Zyrtec before you take your abx's. It's an antihistamine. If the rash and the headache are lessened then what you are dealing with is a reaction not a herx. You could also try benadryl but with your little one you want to make sure you don't get drowsy.
Posted 10/9/2015 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Leah!

Sorry for the reason you're here and glad you decided to post. Please don't ever hold back from posting - even if you just need to vent. We certainly understand.

I agree with what's been said already and can only emphasize the need to continually increase your detox.

You're doing a lot of great things but, truly, the more you do to detox, the better able you'll be to handle treatments.

The site I'm linking below has quite the comprehensive list of detox suggestions (including explanations of how they work):

www.tiredoflyme.com/detox-methods.html

For whatever it's worth, I'm hooked on dry skin brushing and anticipate doing it for the rest of my life. It's relaxing and invigorating at the same time. So is the cold rinse I do at the end of my shower. I regret not adding activated charcoal sooner. And, Alka Seltzer Gold is just wonderful. I used to take it when herxing but now take it twice daily.

Best of luck to you moving forward!
Posted 10/9/2015 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the responses.

I think that's the main thing is I'm so nervous that if it is an allergic reaction I won't have anyone here with me if it gets worse when I up the dose. Is azithromycin the only thing that will work? I'm sure there have to be other abx out there. If it is an allergic reaction would it wait for hours before getting the hives and such? Or would it usually hit immediately? I never know.

does anyone else feel like they herx daily? Or is it just my symptoms are that bad with the infections. The painful joints and such don't bother me as much. They hurt really bad, but it is the fast heartbeat when walking and head pressure/ache that get me down and out along with the dizziness and spacey feeling

I will definitely try the mentioned detox methods.
Posted 10/9/2015 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
There are other pharmaceuticals you can try as well as herbals to treat babesia.

I think zithro and Mepron are used a lot. But, I have read that biaxin can be paired with Mepron, as well. (From LLMD Dr. M.R.'s TreatLyme book).

There are other pharmaceuticals and herbals.

With the reaction you are having...you should not raise the dose of zithro - Whether it's an allergy or a herx.

I have always flared daily...usually late afternoon/evening my symptoms get worse. And when I herx. they get ramped up all day.

Yes, please continue to add in more detox methods - one at a time...to help.
Posted 10/9/2015 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for all the replies. My husband is home tonight so I am going to skip the dose tonight and see if the hives and scratches come on tonight. Maybe I can try to get w good nights sleep. Thank you guys again :)

God Bless

Leah
Posted 10/9/2015 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
I've been treating for about 14-15 months. My LLND never keeps me on the same abx's for more than about 12 weeks. There are lots of different abx combo's that work.

I've switched to intramuscular injections. It took me a few weeks (3 injections a week) to realize that I was having an allergic reaction to Rocephin. If I took Zyrtec about 15-20 minutes before the injection I was fine. If I didn't take the Zyrtec I would get a rash and pretty intense pressure at the base of my skull.

If you are concerned about a reaction have a bottle of Benadryl nearby. I do think it's worth determining if it's a herx or an allergic reaction you are dealing with.
Posted 10/9/2015 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
One more thing...sorry do you all ever get the swollen lymph nodes in your neck/under chin area? I have had one that started back in June when I started treatment and has not went away.
Posted 10/9/2015 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
Jrpsf- I think you're right. I will try the Zyrtec ahead of time. I couldn't do the vitamin b 12 injections either as I would get huge raised welts that swelled and itched for days. I tried methyl and hydroxy. Both did it to me. If my body would just cooperate haha!

I will grab a bottle of Benadryl as well. Thanks again :)
Posted 10/10/2015 12:18 AM (GMT 0)

Leah2013 said...
One more thing...sorry do you all ever get the swollen lymph nodes in your neck/under chin area? I have had one that started back in June when I started treatment and has not went away.

I had swollen lymph nodes in my neck and groin when I was on abx. Thankfully, they subsided during that part of my treatment and I haven't experienced them since (except for an occasional tenderness in the lymph node on the left side of my neck).

Gently dry brushing those areas really helped me feel better...
Posted 10/10/2015 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much. Puts my mind at ease to know other people are going through same thing. At the same time I'm so sorry everyone is. I will try that! I pray we all heal really soon!
Posted 10/10/2015 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
I get swollen, sore lymph nodes - in the clavicle area at the base of my neck. But, rarely now...only when I herx...and occasionally when my symptoms flare.
Posted 10/11/2015 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone :)

I didn't take the azithromycin for two days and I still have gotten a few hives. I also got the Bart scratches on my back and leg pretty bad yesterday. My right eye also randomly itches so bad and gets so blood shot. This has been going on for weeks. Is that common with Bartonella?

Thanks again for everything!
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