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Posted 8/30/2018 8:29 AM (GMT -5)
Hey everyone so I was diagnosed with Lyme, bart, & babesia about 8 months ago. My western blot came back negative but I had band 23 igg positive. On top of that my CD57 was pretty low and things like C4a & VEGF Was low also.

I was on antibiotics for about 6 months & ive been off of them for about a week. So here’s wheee I need your help figuring this thing out

So the whole time I was on antibiotics I never noticed a herx or anything so I was really questioning my diagnosis.

Well the 2nd day off the antibiotics I felt great!!! The 3rd & 4th day was the same.

Well the 5th day wasn’t so great & I have felt lousy like always since then.

First off would you say that reaction alone would be enough to guarantee a for sure Lyme diagnosis?

& my next question is what now? Do I go back on antibiotics or what?
Posted 8/30/2018 8:53 AM (GMT -5)
I understand that uncertainty as I was in the same position (and sometimes still am) myself. I’ve never had any positive blood test results, and for the four months I was on bactrim I didn’t have any noticeable herxing. Being on minocycline now, however, I started herxing within a months time. That is a huge relief to me, as I take it as reassurance of my LLND’s diagnosis and a sign that the antibiotics are starting to work.

The fact that you felt better after stopping the antibiotics could mean that you were experiencing some degree of herxing while taking them, as symptoms generally worsen from herxing. The fact that the herxing wasn’t very noticeable could either mean that you’re detoxing well, your dosage was low, or you werent’t on the ideal antibiotic.

What detox methods have you been using? What antibiotic were you taking and how much? Were you taking an anti-biofilm supplement as well? Also, was it yours or your LLD’s decision to take you off antibiotics?

I’ve never had the good fortune of having any positive blood work, so one thing that helped me feel more confident in my diagnosis was ruling out other potential conditions through seeing different specialists to get tested for other possible cardiovascular, neurological, etc. causes of my symptoms. For me those results were just as negative, so while none of it proved I had lyme disease, it helped rule out other things that I could have instead. That process of elimination could be helpful for you as well.
Posted 8/30/2018 8:53 AM (GMT -5)
Unfortunately nothing is for sure with these infections, but to me I think it would be a strong indicator of some infection bouncing back and causing symptoms.

I never really herxed either. Luckily for me, several antibiotics made my symptoms abate while on them. Have you had any improvements? Or have you had no reaction at all?
Posted 8/30/2018 8:59 AM (GMT -5)
Welcome to our forum. There is some good info in the first topic at top of this page titled "New to Lyme... Start Here" scan thru it and you may get some advice.

Just having one positive lyme specific number on your Western Blot is reason to continue treatment.
I had only IgM 23 myself and never got a CDC positive test result.

Treating for six months is not that long. Many of us don't have dramatic herx responses so don't base your treatment decisions based on that alone. Share with us what ABX protocols you have tried. Most all LLMD's will rotate different combos to fine tune your treatment or make dramatic changes when you hit a plateau.

Have you treated for your co-infections yet? Most LLMDs with address Babs first and that treatment will take 4 months minimum and most of us treated Babs much longer than that and some have treated several times.
Posted 8/30/2018 12:44 PM (GMT -5)

Blankkkk said...
Hey everyone so I was diagnosed with Lyme, bart, & babesia about 8 months ago. My western blot came back negative but I had band 23 igg positive. On top of that my CD57 was pretty low and things like C4a & VEGF Was low also.

I was on antibiotics for about 6 months & ive been off of them for about a week. So here’s wheee I need your help figuring this thing out

So the whole time I was on antibiotics I never noticed a herx or anything so I was really questioning my diagnosis.

Well the 2nd day off the antibiotics I felt great!!! The 3rd & 4th day was the same.

Well the 5th day wasn’t so great & I have felt lousy like always since then.

First off would you say that reaction alone would be enough to guarantee a for sure Lyme diagnosis?

& my next question is what now? Do I go back on antibiotics or what?

Welcome to our community, Blankkk.

Band 23 is enough to back up a clinical diagnosis of lyme. It is specific to lyme.

And the improvement on the abx confirms that you're dealing with a tick-borne infection (or 2...or 3...)

If you do have lyme, bart AND babesia - then 6 months is most likely not long enough.

Babesia and Bartonella each need a few months (minimum) treatment....Babesia is generally treated for 4 months or longer...and Bartonella can be stubborn - can take many months. And they are often treated separately due to the fact that the usual Babesia medication doesn't 'go' with the usual Bartonella antibiotic. (unless of course you take Cipro or Levaquin)

How long were you sick before starting treatment?

The good news - is you responded so well.....i wouldn't wait too long to get back on the antibiotics.
Posted 8/30/2018 4:41 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you all for the replies!

Sicklyskald, I drink plenty of water, activated charcoal, epsom baths 2-3 times a week, & excercice 3 or 4 times a week. Probably not enough but I try.

As far as medicine I’ve been on rifampin, minocycline, tindazole, & some kind of a parasite medication.

My doctor had me on a low dose of antibiotics because I’ve been following a protocol named will wiegman & he believes in taking low doses and only taking antibiotics every other day. Idk how much I agree with that but I’m not a doctor.

Girlie, I was sick about a year and a half before getting a diagnosis.

Thank you all again for the replies. With the way Lyme disease is it feels like I almost owe you guys money for getting this kind of advice haha
Posted 8/30/2018 4:55 PM (GMT -5)

Blankkkk said...
Thank you all for the replies!

Sicklyskald, I drink plenty of water, activated charcoal, epsom baths 2-3 times a week, & excercice 3 or 4 times a week. Probably not enough but I try.

As far as medicine I’ve been on rifampin, minocycline, tindazole, & some kind of a parasite medication.

My doctor had me on a low dose of antibiotics because I’ve been following a protocol named will wiegman & he believes in taking low doses and only taking antibiotics every other day. Idk how much I agree with that but I’m not a doctor.

Girlie, I was sick about a year and a half before getting a diagnosis.

Thank you all again for the replies. With the way Lyme disease is it feels like I almost owe you guys money for getting this kind of advice haha

If you’re doing all of that for detoxing without ever having a strong herx reaction it seems entirely possible to me that you’ve been effectively cleansing your body of toxins before they’ve had the chance to accumulate and cause a herx, especially if you’ve been on comparably lower doses of antibiotics and therefore are producing less toxins to begin with. That is by no means to say the treatment is inadequate, however, but rather that your detoxing is simply more than adequate. Keep it up!
Posted 8/30/2018 8:38 PM (GMT -5)
Not everyone herxes. And if you can treat without herxing...that's wonderful....(I wish!!!)
Posted 8/31/2018 8:36 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you all!

Should I request getting on stronger antibiotics maybe?

& if so how long should I stay on antibiotics before maybe switching to herbs?

I’m sure my doctor will have something ready for me & my appointment is in a few days thankfully.
Posted 8/31/2018 10:52 AM (GMT -5)

Blankkkk said...
Thank you all!

Should I request getting on stronger antibiotics maybe?

& if so how long should I stay on antibiotics before maybe switching to herbs?

I’m sure my doctor will have something ready for me & my appointment is in a few days thankfully.


As far as medicine I’ve been on rifampin, minocycline, tindazole, & some kind of a parasite medication.

Rifampin,minocycline and tinidazole are good for lyme and bartonella.
Not sure what parasite med you're taking...and if it's 'enough' for babesia.
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