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Know any good articles on Bartonella?
If you've read any good web pages or research articles about Bartonella, could you post a link here please?
I haven't found much other than the usual superficial stuff.
I'd really love to read something that goes into a bit of depth on what bartonella can do to your guts, how it damages joints, something up to date on which abx or herbs are best for treating it.... frankly anything would be interesting.
Thanks folks.
I haven't found much other than the usual superficial stuff.
I'd really love to read something that goes into a bit of depth on what bartonella can do to your guts, how it damages joints, something up to date on which abx or herbs are best for treating it.... frankly anything would be interesting.
Thanks folks.
Thank you so much for all that info. I'm going to ask my doc about tindamax and all the other stuff at my next appointment.
Yeah, some docs don't like the drugs in that family of abx (Levaquin, Avelox, Cipro) as eventually they're going to get a patient with a bad reaction. Nothing like a ruptured achilles heel requiring surgery, crutches, and rehab to **** off a patient! ;)
I just did my second set of blood tests today, and I see my LLMD on Wed. I have slowly declining kidney function, but I don't know if that's related to the Levaquin or what. The GFR is supposed to be over 60, and I was 59 in October, 57 in February, and 55 two weeks ago. Not good. I didn't start the Levaquin until February, so it might not be related. My liver is fine as are my achilles heels...at least so far.
I started on Rifampin, which is a good choice for Bart. But my stomach pain was very stubborn and I got mild heartburn from it. After treatments with a PrevPac for h.pylori and Xifaxin for parasites, I felt better, but the ache & chronic tenderness still held me back. I switched to Avelox and the stomach pain reduced quickly, so I do believe Rifampin was making it worse. About 2 weeks into Avelox I had some cramping in my left Achilles heel, so they switched me to Levaquin. If I have a problem with Levaquin, then no more drugs in that family for me. I don't know what the next choice is.
It's all about risk vs. expected benefits. If the drugs you've tried so far aren't working, then the question is, Is it worth the risk to try Flagyl or Levaquin, or whatever drug to deal with a particular illness? I would imagine at some point, I would be willing to take a greater risk on a drug vs. staying sick indefinitely. As I told my PCP who was a bit nervous about all the risks involved in my lengthy medication list, I assured her that my LLMD had disclosed all the risks and that the drugs were MUCH better than the Lyme. That made her feel better.
(My doc goes for Tindamax before Flagyl... Tindamax is better tolerated, has fewer side effects and works nearly as well.)
I just did my second set of blood tests today, and I see my LLMD on Wed. I have slowly declining kidney function, but I don't know if that's related to the Levaquin or what. The GFR is supposed to be over 60, and I was 59 in October, 57 in February, and 55 two weeks ago. Not good. I didn't start the Levaquin until February, so it might not be related. My liver is fine as are my achilles heels...at least so far.
I started on Rifampin, which is a good choice for Bart. But my stomach pain was very stubborn and I got mild heartburn from it. After treatments with a PrevPac for h.pylori and Xifaxin for parasites, I felt better, but the ache & chronic tenderness still held me back. I switched to Avelox and the stomach pain reduced quickly, so I do believe Rifampin was making it worse. About 2 weeks into Avelox I had some cramping in my left Achilles heel, so they switched me to Levaquin. If I have a problem with Levaquin, then no more drugs in that family for me. I don't know what the next choice is.
It's all about risk vs. expected benefits. If the drugs you've tried so far aren't working, then the question is, Is it worth the risk to try Flagyl or Levaquin, or whatever drug to deal with a particular illness? I would imagine at some point, I would be willing to take a greater risk on a drug vs. staying sick indefinitely. As I told my PCP who was a bit nervous about all the risks involved in my lengthy medication list, I assured her that my LLMD had disclosed all the risks and that the drugs were MUCH better than the Lyme. That made her feel better.
(My doc goes for Tindamax before Flagyl... Tindamax is better tolerated, has fewer side effects and works nearly as well.)
That article is so informative, thanks so much ricobord.
I never imagined there were SOOOO many ways Lyme and Bartonella could be cauing my tummy problems. :-(
My Lyme doc has refused to prescribe either matronidazole or Levaquin as he says they are too heavy on the liver and have to many potential side effects. Yet I keep reading they are great for treating bart as well as lyme.
I wonder if I should insist a bit more and keep on at him. What do you think?
I never imagined there were SOOOO many ways Lyme and Bartonella could be cauing my tummy problems. :-(
My Lyme doc has refused to prescribe either matronidazole or Levaquin as he says they are too heavy on the liver and have to many potential side effects. Yet I keep reading they are great for treating bart as well as lyme.
I wonder if I should insist a bit more and keep on at him. What do you think?
There's an excellent article by Virginia Sherr, MD on Bartonella. Just Google "Bell's Palsy of the Gut". It's on multiple websites.
There are two Virginia Sherrs in Pennsylvania who write about Lyme. One is a psychiatrist (retired, I believe) who has written stories about how she got Lyme and was told by various MDs that perhaps she had a psychiatric problem.
The other one is a GI doc and wrote this article to explain what Lyme + Bartonella do to the gut.
Burrascano's Advanced Topics paper also talks a bit about Bartonella.
http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf
Hope this helps!
P.S. I have Bartonella and I did not have the expected symptoms of a streaked rash and sore soles. However, I did have intensified gut and neuro symptoms as well as anxiety, all of which are attributed to Bartonella. I am still on Levaquin for it even though my anxiety is gone.
There are two Virginia Sherrs in Pennsylvania who write about Lyme. One is a psychiatrist (retired, I believe) who has written stories about how she got Lyme and was told by various MDs that perhaps she had a psychiatric problem.
The other one is a GI doc and wrote this article to explain what Lyme + Bartonella do to the gut.
Burrascano's Advanced Topics paper also talks a bit about Bartonella.
http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf
Hope this helps!
P.S. I have Bartonella and I did not have the expected symptoms of a streaked rash and sore soles. However, I did have intensified gut and neuro symptoms as well as anxiety, all of which are attributed to Bartonella. I am still on Levaquin for it even though my anxiety is gone.
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