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Post by LymeEnigma on Sept 16, 2007 15:39:35 GMT -8
Those wanting to know more about babesia might benefit from the following links: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babesia gives a short but informative overview on the different strains. Study published by American Family Physician, on the most commonly used treatment strategies: www.aafp.org/afp/20010601/tips/3.htmlAccording to John-Hopkins: * Preferred: atovaquone 750mg bid PO x 7d, plus azithromycin 500mg-1gm IV/PO x 1 dose, then 250mg PO daily x 7d OR * Clindamycin 600mg PO tid or 300-600mg IV q 6h x 7d plus quinine 650mg PO tid x 7d. * Clindamycin regimen is tolerated better if it can be administered with quinine (or IV quinidine). * Critical illness: clindamycin regimen preferred. Give IV and consider exchange blood transfusion to decrease parasitemia. * Response to therapy:mild-moderate disease should begin improvement within 48hrs, resolve in 3 months. * Severe disease: monitor hematocrit and percent parasitized cells daily until <5%. * Longer courses than 7 days may be required with persistent symptoms and persistent parasitemia. prod.hopkins-abxguide.org/pathogens/parasites/full_babesia_species.htmlMerck suggests: "Asymptomatic patients require no treatment, but therapy is indicated for cases with persistent high fever, rapidly increasing parasitemia, and falling Hct." and recommends 7-10 day treatment with the usual antimalarial/antibiotic combinations. www.merck.com/mmpe/sec14/ch186/ch186c.htmlMore later...  |
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Post by LymeEnigma on Sept 18, 2007 16:27:37 GMT -8
I've really been thinking a LOT lately about the validity of what various doctor I've seen have said to me, and I hope I can inspire those who have felt uncertain or felt the need to question their treatment to educate themselves better on the diseases they're being treated for.
It is clear that the majority of the medical community agrees that 7-21 days of Mepron/Zithromax is enough to clear most, although not all, cases of babesia.
Dr. Burrascano states in his guidelines that four months of the same combination is the bare minimum in all cases.
The doctor who treated my babesia insisted it would take at least ten months of that same combination in order to treat my case, even though my titer was a low positive, right on the cutoff point of 1:640.
Which one are you going to believe?
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Post by LymeEnigma on Sept 18, 2007 16:36:19 GMT -8
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Post by cobweb2 on Oct 14, 2007 18:37:05 GMT -8
LLMD mentioned adding Mepron to the Artemisinin I am supposed to be taking for Babs.
Notice I said supposed to be taking. I felt so awful last month I didn't take it this month-cause I didn't want to feel worse-
Just wanted to see if Artemisinin was contributing to head issues.
Don't know if that makes sense-but anyway-stopped the Art and i had such a bad day today I am willing to start it again-
besides I have an appointment Thurs. and she's going to get frustrated when she finds out I didn't take it.
I haven't read the links you posted but plan to -tomorrow.
Sometimes it just feels like the treatment is keeping me sick-I want to stop, but I'm afraid to.
Have to go fill out my lymelog for today.
BLAH BLAH BLAH
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Post by LymeEnigma on Oct 15, 2007 9:32:24 GMT -8
I understand that. I think Mepron made me feel sicker than anyone should feel while on meds ... remember that Mepron is one of the meds that is often in the cocktails of AIDS pneumonia patients; I'd be willing to bet that it is one of the many notorious for their intense nausea. Ugh, just thinking about taking that awful stuff again gives me the willies ... I have enough stomach issues as it is. I think a lot of people are given the false impression that they need to continue taking Mepron until they feel better, which just isn't going to happen given all of its nasty side-effects.
My doc recommended I take artemisinin as well, but I never did. I know that it shows promise against babs, but keep in mind that it is one of the active ingredients in absinthe and might be more damaging than we know (might not, though). I'd give it a try if I had no other options, but I'd make sure my doc really understood the herb, how to take it, what special considerations and precautions need to be taken, etc. before beginning. For example, I know Dr. Schaller (who I have mixed opinions about) says that one should take iron with artemisinin, while most mainstream publications containing information on the herb mention nothing about iron. I know its safety definitely varies depending on the article one reads.
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kelmo
Active Lurker
Posts: 8
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Post by kelmo on Nov 6, 2007 20:09:03 GMT -8
Mepron was VERY hard on my daughter. It made her hallucinate, and have terrible depression. She was ready to be admitted to the hospital, maxed out on her anti-depressants. She was very glad to stop taking it.
I have heard that Heparin is excellent in treating babesia. It keeps it from sticking to the red blood cell.
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Post by LymeEnigma on Nov 7, 2007 8:21:37 GMT -8
Kelmo, I remember that intense depression that came with Mepron ... I almost forgot how bad it was, utter anguish with no relief in sight. I could see how someone might need hospitalization as a result of that; I could imagine that a lot of people might even get to the point of suicidal on Mepron. I know I've never experienced anything like it, and I pray I never have to again. As soon as I am confident that all of the other antibiotics are out of my system, I plan on getting a CBC and another babesia titer; I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's gone for good.
I've never heard of using Heparin for babs. Is that a relatively new treatment? I've heard of using artemisinin ... but I've also heard that can be a bit dangerous. That would be great if there was another good, relatively safe alternative to Mepron ... I know I'll never look at yellow street paint the same ever again....
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Post by LymeEnigma on Dec 13, 2007 10:48:46 GMT -8
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Post by cobweb2 on Jan 15, 2008 13:26:34 GMT -8
I declare myself not sick anymore. I am enforcing the placebo effective attitude.
I am not sick. I am not sick. I am not sick. I am not sick. I am not sick...
I refuse to be sick any longer.
I am well. I am well. I am well. I am well.
None of these articles apply to me. ;D
Okay- so I just have to get used to a new normal.
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Post by itsybitsyone on Jan 15, 2008 13:31:21 GMT -8
Allllrighty, then.
Gonna go back to work?
Hey, I am happy for you. I hope it stays better.
They giving you anything for pain? Misery? Stress?
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Post by cobweb2 on Jan 15, 2008 13:42:53 GMT -8
Allllrighty, then. [glow=red,2,300];D LOL[/glow] Gonna go back to work? [glow=red,2,300]Ummmm well, errrrr, heh-are you playing devil's advocate?[/glow] Hey, I am happy for you. I hope it stays better. [glow=red,2,300]Now I get to find out what life is like without antibiotics. I forgot.[/glow] They giving you anything for pain? Misery? Stress? [glow=red,2,300]No, and I can't[/glow] [glow=red,2,300]actually say I am pain /misery/stress free[/glow]. Truth?  She suggested I go to another doctor, because she can't figure out what's going on. So there's my bubble bursting for all to see. But I can pretend can't I? I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. So I am declaring myself well. |
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onecrazystitch
Established Member
Loves2Knit!
Knitting for Lyme Awareness
Posts: 99
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Post by onecrazystitch on Jan 15, 2008 18:55:39 GMT -8
There is alot to be said for the mental link to physical ailments. Absitively posolutley. Spelled phonetically.  |
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Post by LymeEnigma on Jan 15, 2008 20:05:17 GMT -8
Truth? She suggested I go to another doctor, because she can't figure out what's going on. So there's my bubble bursting for all to see. But I can pretend can't I? I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. So I am declaring myself well. I kind of came to a similar conclusion a while back: I'm pretty sure I'm as well as I'm going to be, and I just need to learn to be happy with the symptoms that have gone away. Working with my limitations as opposed to against them has brought me a long way, I think ... but the contingencies are uncertain, and I don't know what the future will bring. I don't declare myself well, but rather in a sort of "pseudo-remission," with a handful of symptoms that may or may not go away eventually. I could be totally wrong in this, but I'm really thinking more and more that sometimes the bugs just might be impossible to eradicate completely ... and, for those with autoimmune predispositions, the constant low-level presence of the Bb (or similar Borrelia), even kept in check, might cause persistent joint pain and other OspA- reactive responses. |
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Post by LymeEnigma on Feb 14, 2008 9:59:35 GMT -8
It seems that a good portion of the "Lyme literate" community feels that babesia requires several months, if not years, of treatment ... like Lyme. Does anyone know of any peer reviewed studies that support this?
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Post by cobweb2 on Feb 14, 2008 19:50:10 GMT -8
Sorry, can't don't have any studies, but just thought I would tell you I stopped taking the Artimisinin when I stopped the Omnicef-unbeknownst to my LLMD.
I fessed up at my last visit. She was a bit peeved that I hadn't followed the written instructions she had given me to stop Omnicef but continue Artimisinin.
I pleaded innocence and said I thought she had told me to stop all treatments specific to TBD's.
I don't think I have Babs anyway.
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She suggested I go to another doctor, because she can't figure out what's going on. So there's my bubble bursting for all to see. But I can pretend can't I? 
