What am I doing wrong?

I started treatment for Bart and Lyme about 9 months ago. Ive been on rifampin and mino then switched to azithro + rifabutin and just started the full Buhner protocol for Lyme (JK, Cats Claw, Chinese Cats Claw, Eleuthero, C. Skullcap, red sage, Licorice root, Cordyceps) I have been taking it slow. Im maybe at like 20% in those 9 months. All my symptoms that were there in the beginning are still here just slightly improved I guess. Why am I not improving at the pace most people do. Im so thankful that im able to take all the antibiotics and herbs with generally no problem. I feel like im always herxing but never feel the relief after the herx. I took a deferral for medical school so I start in July. I have 7 months to get to a functional standpoint but the pace im at im worried I won't be where I want to be. Im on binders and detox like a madman, lemon water alka epsom baths all 3 times a day. When will there be relief. At this pace I don't know if ill ever be normal. Im 21 and so desperate for this crap to go away.

You havent treated Babesia, right?

My LLMD always treats Babesia prior to Lyme and Bart.

He says it will get in the way of treatment success for the other two.

Maybe do a couple of months of Babs treatment - with Mepron or Malarone (plus another antibiotic)

Girlie, I didnt test positive for babesia but I know this could be inaccurate. I also don't have classic babesia symptoms like night sweats and air hunger.

Q Surge Im not taking cholestyramine currently. I am already taking so many things I have 50-60 pill bottles and only to be at 20% in 9 months. It is discouraging adding more because what is it really going to do. Im already taking the most powerful things and its barely hitting a dent

Do you have past or current mold exposure? Have you been tested for mycotoxins? Mold and bartonella symptoms overlap significantly and mold can make you feel like you are perpetually herxing with little to no improvement.

I had no symptoms of babesia but was treated for it. And I reacted to the treatment. Most LLMD's (and I could be wrong) treat for all three: lyme, bart and babs.

I think the biggest problem people here make is that they focus too much on treatment and supplements, and forget that those are just a part of getting better.
Improving diet, sleep routine, having a routine of mindfulness exercises most days of the week, and starting with cold therapy(finishing showers with cold water), are a good start.

1) I included an Ayurvedic in our regimen, who included this Detox Diet as one important factor: consume good fats (saturated fat), moderate amounts of healthy proteins (i.e. grass-fed and pastured animals), a lot of organic non-gmo leafy greens and non-starchy vegetables....grass-fed dairy, legumes, nuts, seeds, and low fructose fruits in moderation. Healthy sweets, like dark chocolate or stevia-sweetened desserts in moderation. You are what you eat: you do not have an artificial body, so don't ingest artificial products and for crying out loud do NOT eat sugar, fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners/colors/flavorings. She also placed us on organic vitamins in liquid gels (higher solubility), minerals and herbs (such as ashwagandha, tumeric) plus a high-end multiple strain pro-biotic with live organisms (keep refrigerated). This means around a 50 billion live cultures.
2) Second and at the same time is drug treatment by an ILADS doctor who provides open-ended treatment; that is, treatment until at least 2 months after symptoms have basically resolved or mostly resolved. Also a doctor who does not rely on the antiquated testing methods which are non-specific, or inaccurate at best....a doctor who relies on historical and physical findings of the patient and does not withhold treatment.
NOTE: Alternate the drug regimen about 4 hours prior the vitamins, herbs and minerals. Take the pro-biotics with the vitamins. Also don't eat at the same time as you take drugs because many foods, vitamins, minerals and probiotics taken at the same time as antibiotics/antimalarials cancel each other out (chemistry). A good schedule is upon awakening take your drugs. Around 10 am eat breakfast. Around 12-1 eat lunch with probiotics, vitamins, minerals and herbs. Eat healthy snacks and dinner. At bedtime take your drugs again.
3) Get good rest even if you have trouble sleeping, then read a book or something distracting so your body rests and rejuvenates the cells. Make yourself walk but be safe from tick bite, because you could contract more tick-borne diseases compounding your problems.
4) Sharing our trial and error years upon years of different pharma therapies, we finally landed a successful combination for our multiple infections of Lyme, Babesiosis, Bartonella, Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis, Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis. We treated all at the same time, because it's common sense, kind of like having hypothyroid and diabetes, you don't just treat one and let the other worsen. Lyme: 500mg Ceftin BID, Sulfameth trimethoprim 800/160mg BID. Babesiosis: Mepron 750mg(5ml) BID for 3 weeks on, 1 week off. Bartonella: Bactrim (the Sulfa-Trimeth for lyme) works here. HGE and HME (the Ehrlichiosis group) eradicated well with 200mg Doxycycline BID. Keep in mind, you must attack biofilms and persister cells,so methylene blue, oregano oil, and clotrimazole are single agents that work effectively.
Unfortunately we were refused treatment and accurate diagnosis in the 90's, it took 4 years of trial and error and much assertiveness by us before we found the best combination of treatment. It seems this combination has also worked for many people we've shared it with over the next 2 decades, so I hope this works for others. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me, and good luck, God bless.