One week switching protocols thoughts?

So I was on Zithro/Mepron since early Nov and it was helping me cope but I wasn't getting any better with my head issues. My chest issues were daily since late Nov and getting worse of late so last week my LLMD switched me to Cipro/Rifampin as he thinks I might be dealing with Bart instead of Babs. Well my chest is definitely better after only 48 hours not perfect but much better. The head issues too early to tell i've had some flare ups.

So question for everyone. Am I better because I'm hitting bart which I didn't know I had or is the fact I'm taking new meds not specifically targeted for babs causing less die off and hence less symptoms? Is there any good way to tell? Is it a certain duration? I'm sure there's no canned answer so looking for some sign posts. Thanks.

Congratulations on feeling better, Rikky!!

Yes, that means that most likely, you had Bartonella and it was causing those issues.

Generally speaking, if you aren't suffering from a die off issue, which I don't believe you were since a change in abx has made a difference, then your improvements are because you are now targeting the infection that is causing those issues.

I just like to celebrate any little improvements. We have so much pain, sickness and frustrations, that a bit of celebration when we improve -even if it's only for a short while - can be such a relief.

What kind of head symptoms are you having? They could be from toxins, not the infections. And are you sure you don't have Lyme? Head symptoms are pretty common for Lyme. Just tossing out a few things for you to think on if need be.

Good point Traveler us lymies tend to get very pessimistic considering the roller coaster ride we're constantly on so we should celebrate anything that goes in the right direction.

Girlie I've never been on a tetracycline I started right away on Zithro and Cefdinir. I did try Bactrim but that did something wacky to my eyes so I had to stop. My LLMD said if needed we should try Doxy next go round.

My head issues are so tough to explain my LLMD asks me every visit and I just can't seem to articulate it in a way he gets (and he's had lyme!). It feels like I'm coming down with something like a head cold. When its bad I feel woosiness and head pressure but no pain. Another way to describe it might be a bit spaciness. If feels like its in my forehead and backwards not quite behind the eyes a bit above it. It's been cycling maybe 70% of the time weekly usually on Thursday's now. When it was really bad it would get worse in the early afternoon to evening and spike weekly.

The best my head felt was last summer when I was only on Cefdinir and Tinidazole pulsed MWF for a bit over 2 months. Note I wasn't on an anti-malarial specifically yet this is the best I've felt. I always attributed it to Babs since it flares weekly but I've recently learned that Bart can also do that.

Cefdinir and Tinidazole both cross the BBB so maybe that's why I felt good on it. I switched because I went through 10 straight days of symptoms + I realized I was having side effects from Cefdinir so had to stop.

Maybe a Doxy, Tinidazole, Rifampin combo might be the ticket to full health!