According to Horowitz......

"I have found that 30 days of treatment is adequate in up to 80% of cases in determining whether or not the patient will respond to a specific regimen. Therefore, I consider rotating the regimen after 1 month if a particular treatment does not appear to be working."

(Pg 132)


This tells me that my treatment has been wrong so far. I have not noticed an improvement at all. According to Horowitz, I should have felt *something* by the 1 month point on any particular abx/herbal. So, the advice from people to "give it more time", doesn't jive. IF you believe Horowitz, you need to switch things up after one month of failed treatment.

I know not everyone will agree with this. I'm just reporting what I read in his book, and what I personally have experienced so far.

....

I think Dr. H really has a good understanding of a whole lot of what happens with these infections, but I too would have had thoughts on those kinds of numbers.

The only thing I have ever felt within the first 30 days is worse - so he's saying that there will be a response - I had a response - herxing!!! I'm glad that I've not had to go more than 2 months without feeling a slight improvement, but I also had all of my body functions that were weakened by the infections, supported so that all my body had to deal with was fighting the infections.

And this is to play the devil's advocate (I always do this to myself) what if we on the forums are that 20% that won't respond within the 2 months? We are the worst cases usually, or we wouldn't be spending so much time on the forums searching for answers.

I think Dr. H's statements are good guidelines, but not something to say is an absolute.

I agree with Trav - re: response could be a herx...not necessarily improvement in 30 days.

My Dr. changes things up often, too. Often monthly...unless there is still changes.

I have read many posts, though of people who said it was 6 months before they felt any improvement.

It's really difficult to know what is best.

have you tried to get on dr H's waiting list? I know he is full but you said you are not too far-- maybe you can get lucky and get in there with him?

Go with your gut. your doc said she'll try anything in Horowitz's book.
I myself found that abx would only work for a couple of weeks, and then i would start going backward again. It's definately possible, the bacteria figured out how to survive the abx you are currently on.

I agree with Dr H. He's not going to quit treating after one month, he's just going to hit them a different way or start looking for something different to kill.

On the other hand, I had these infections for 40 years, and I was herxing by week 3 of my treatments.

I believe that the other 20% that aren't showing responses in the first month should still be moved to another treatment of some type (sometimes just a switch in the abx used), otherwise you won't know. If, after say 3 or 4 months, depending on what all may be going on, there is still no response, not even herxing, then it's time to try a different approach. Maybe they need to be on abx longer, or switch to a different type of protocol, or it could be mold, or some other thing that is stopping the progress.

To assume that someone just needs more time on abx is what happened to me. 12 months on abx even though I was only getting worse. I honestly felt like I was knocking on death's door by then (bed ridden, seizures, passing out, and so much more), so I don't see that just having someone stay on abx no matter what's going on is helpful to the healing of the body.