Update - Dr. J Protocol - Bartonella

either. Ho do they differ?

Crystal
yes, I have most if not all of those symptoms - sick for 5 years now - positive Lyme test Negative for Bart - but the test only looked for Bartonella H. not any of the others that infect humans.

some improvement on Doxy, Azithro, and Rifampicin for 3+ months

Taking all the Buhner herbs for Lyme and Bart and about to do another cycle of the ABX

I have a v strong herx reaction to any systemic anti-microbial - eg sida, Cryptolepis etc and to berberines and teasel.
have also wondered about Mold - but nothing much on the OAT test, no damp or mold in the house, and the above reactions to anti-microbials argue against it.

no short sharp treatments have brought lasting improvement ( although Buhner bart protocol made me very ill for 5 weeks and then noticeable improvement for a few weeks afterward) so currently think going low and long is the only way - focus on the immune system seems to be the key for me. this includes sleep, perfect food, exercise, stress management, etc.

overwhelming fatigue was the most debilitating symptom for me - now gradually improving - I can walk for 1hr a day now at a good pace and have recently been able to run for 100yards or so. so gradually getting stronger.
this improvement started on the Buhner Lyme and Bart herbs - before starting the antibiotics

Quin said...

Garzie said...
some improvement on Doxy, Azithro, and Rifampicin for 3+ months

I've found that these only kill bart when it's active. Have you tried to stir up the dormant bart with eg mepron?

no, not tried that - this approach is a new one on me.
isn't mepron is a babesia / anti protozoan drug ?
i would be interested in reading more on which LLMDs promote this approach for Bart ?

I have never had any obvious high fevers or shortness of breath so have not had pyroclasts/babesia in my sights
currently, I am favoring long duration of immune-modulating herbs and medium length courses of antibiotics as my liver can tolerate them.

Girlie, AW is not planning to work for Dr. J until at least the end of the year because of Covid.

Woodduck12, I did have a lot of brain symptoms and had some pretty strong herxes on Rifampin. When I relapsed, it seemed to get worse in my brain, and I'm still struggling. So far I'm tolerating 300mg Rifampin 1x day with the biaxin okay.

I think Dr. M will do Biaxin 500mg 2x day for 4-6 weeks and then add Rifampin at 300mg 1x day and build up gradually to 600mg 2x day. Then he changes Rifampin to Rifabutin in most cases, I believe. I'm sure he tweaks the protocol for individual patients, and he also does a lot of supportive therapy from what I've heard like for adrenals and thyroid.

Mepron may have flared my bart also.