How do you know what co-infections to treat?

about the best we can do is look for 'classic signs' of an infection - but that doesn't always rule them in or out, due to the overlapping symptoms that you mentioned.

Classic symptoms of Bart - the really sore soles of the feet - although Lyme can bring this on, but it's not generally as severe as Bart produces. Often, when neuro Lyme and Bartonella meet in the body, the neuro symptoms are more severe than if the person had just one of those infections.

Classic symptoms of Babesia - air hunger - although Lyme can produce something similar and Bart can cause costochondritis, which can feel similar.

There are specific headaches that Babesia can also produce, but I have not been convinced that Lyme doesn't produce some of the same types in the same areas.

I'm sure others will be along soon to help point out more 'classic symptoms', but until then, these links may be of help:
www.gordonmedical.com/unravelling-complex-chronic-illness/babesia-like-organisms-bablo-consideration-signs-and-symptoms/

http://www.gordonmedical.com/unravelling-complex-chronic-illness/bartonella-like-organisms-blo-consideration-signs-and-symptoms/

columbia-lyme.org/patients/tbd_spotted_fever.html

I was tested for Babesia - negative. The only thing that can point to Babesia is air hunger which was with me from the beginning but it is intermittent - some days I have it like once per hour , others I do not. If I think about it I usually get it, if I forget it is missing for days, and sometimes I yawn more.
At some point in the first year of infection I had pain in my soles when I was pressing the pedals in my car - I thought it was my shoes, but it is long gone now. Recently I got facial pressure below eyes so that may point to Bartonella too. Also right side, just below ribs pain from time to time. I have UT discomfort the last 2 years and this can be linked also to Mycoplasma.
But it is all too hypothetical. I decided to throw some more herbs in the mix just in case.

One of these days I'll type out the abx protocol sheet that was given to me that came from a fairly well known LLMD.

From the way he words it, you get the impression each step is an attempt to reach anything that has missed. None of them have 100% results. He recommends giving each one 4 weeks to see a change, or no change, before moving to the next one.

By the time he gets to the last step, he says you should have targeted everything at least once(because of the overlaps). His final step is IV, which he gives the highest success rate, but even so it's 80%.

His list of oral abx has 6 types. So conceivably that is a min. of 6 months treatment, but could conceivably last twice as long.

The IV drug is Claforan with lidocaine to dilute it. These are done twice a day. First shot in a controlled setting, the rest can be done at home if you keep two epi-pens on hand each time.


I dont see any form of bacteria surviving that onslaught, but not everything we're trying to control is bacterial in nature.

When was the last time you were aware of not having a particular symptom since the start of the Doxy?

You almost have to keep a diary or journal to remember these things. Even a little bothersome symptom is important. If you, after honestly have not had a cessation of any symptom in 4 weeks, then it's time to move on to something else, whether abx or herbal.

Well I am also on samento and banderol, glutathione, ashwaganda/rhodiola/schisandra/eleuthero tincture, plus other stuff for my hormones and methylation. My doc told me samento and banderol are good for the other forms of Lyme that doxy doesn't hit. I haven't really had a cessation of symptoms yet, my light sensitivity is a bit improved but that's about it.