order of treating coinfections

[lady999]

I have lyme, babesia, mycoplasma and possibly also bartonella. Could anyone share in what order their ILADS MDs treated their coinfections please!

[JackieCalifornia]

fwiw, my Lyme doc didn't ever suggest Cipro (or its cousins) to treat Lyme and babesiosis, so there are good options available.

My doc also insisted that patients take capsules to replenish the gut flora killed by the antibiotics.  He recommended Florastor, which is a brand name of the generic Saccharomyces boulardii (S.boulardii for short).  Florastor is not affected by the antibiotics and so can be taken at any time without worry of interaction between the Florastor and the antibiotics.

Unfortunately I couldn't take Florastor (I am apparently sensitive to its [fungal] ingredients, which my doc said he had never seen happen before, and I believe him), so instead I would take the more common acidophilus-based probiotics if I needed them now.  The only trick is that acidophilus *cannot* be taken within something like an hour (?) before or after taking antibiotics, because the antibiotics will kill the acidophilus bacteria, and they would not be able to replenish the gut bacteria.  

I know others who have take Florastor, and they did fine.  If you are concerned tho, then timing your meds carefully would allow for spacing the acicophilus from the antibiotics.  Talk with your doc about it.  (And welcome to the MedHelp Lyme page!)

[Sandyside]

Hi mojogal -
I also have 15-year old Lymes, Babesia, and Bartonella. I was diagnosed this spring. Since I have (fortunately!)  not been terribly sick, I have been treating with herbs so far.  Do you feel they've done a good job for you?

I can' t take the Cipro relatives  (tendinitis!)  and am concerned that antibiotics will damage my gut/immune system just when I need it most.  Thoughts??

[lady999]

Thanks Mojogal, looks like we have exactly the same combination of co-infections. Im only on meds for lyme so far, but will have to deal with the co-infections soon! Have had lyme for 5 yrs and been on meds since four!

[JackieCalifornia]

My doc treated Lyme first, then babesia.

Mine were likely recent infections  -- a few months at most, unless I already had a mild case of Lyme that my immune system was keeping in check until a re-infection that really laid me low.    

[mojogal]

It really depends on the Dr. I started treating Lyme first. Then I did Babesia with the Lyme and then Barts with the lyme. I alo have mycoplasma. I switched over to an herbal protocol after 2 years on abx. I am still treating everything herbally and I am much better than I was. Mine is an old infection, over 20 years old.