What a month! Update and question regarding abx challenge

[skarey]

Haven't posted in awhile.  My LLMD started me on Artesunate which is an antimalarial and is supposed to treat babesia.  I haven't even been tested for Babs, but because of my lack of improvement he suspects I have Coinfections.  

Anyways long story short, it made me horribly ill.  Hours after taking my first dose I was up in the night with chills and uncontrollable trembling/shaking.  My head felt like it weiged a million pounds and I hurt everywhere.  Lasted a few hours and I finally went back to sleep.

Was afraid to take it again, but did two days later.  Was ok until 3 days into it.  Became extremely weak, increased pain, dizziness, and bad depression.  Was pretty much bed ridden for a week.  Ended up stopping the meds on my own and within a day I felt better and could get out of bed.  Still haven't resumed taking it.  Can't get a hold of my LLMD either to see what he suggests.

Also, now my GP is referring me to an Infectious Disease dr. in Germany at a military hospital.  I know that ID docs are always lyme literate, but I think the second opinion will be good and he can check me for other viruses/ bacteria.  Also told her I'm thinking of going back to states to stay with my mom so I can have help and also get treatment over there.  She said she could refer me back to states and have the military pay for my way back and treatment/ accomadations over there.  But only if I'm not recieving adequate treatment here.  She thinks it is very possible to do, but I need to see the dr in Germany first.

So, I'm guessing that the ID dr will want to retest me for lyme. I'm wondering if I should stop my abx 10-14 days prior to appt in hopes that it will help my test be more positive (the abx challenge).  However, I've already been treating since July and wondering if the challenge even works after being on abx so long?  It may be too late?

[anonymous680]

If you are in Germany, and you are close enough,  you might want to see the Dr. that uses the Bionic 880. I've heard of quite a few cured people lately after seeing that doctor, and they had been ill for years.

That's just the rumor I have been hearing.

[skarey]

Oh GEEZ!!!  I mean to say that ID docs AREN'T always lyme literate!!   OOPS!  Yes, they don't normally follow ILADS guidelines, thus undertreating.  

Anyone have a comment on the antibiotic challenge?  Is it too late for it to be helpful in my situation?

Thanks Jackie :)

[JackieCalifornia]

I don't have any comment on whether you should stop your abx, but do have a comment on "I know that ID docs are always lyme literate."

Many ID docs are NOT Lyme literate, but they think they are because they adhere closely to the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) standards, which are very tough to meet to get a diagnosis of Lyme.  ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Disease Society) was founded because nobody in IDSA would pay attention to the data coming in.  The CDC adheres to the IDSA standards.

Testing for babesiosis is not that hard to do, so I wonder why they treat you with such strong meds instead of testing you to see if you have babesiosis and/or other tickborne ailments.

The strains of Lyme+ in Europe may also be different, so depending on where you got the disease and where you are being tested (that is, if they are using a German test and not a test for US strain) may give an inaccurate result -- something to ask about.

It's possible your feeling so lousy was a Herx reaction, meaning the abx were killing the bugs and the toxins etc they release when they die could have been upsetting your system severely so that you felt so poorly.  Dunno.

Best wishes, let us know how you do.