You may have a co-infection, but you may just have Lyme. Antibiotics do not penetrate biofilms or parasites…there are so many places the spirochetes will hide and antibiotics just keep them from replicating. If your immune system is weak from fighting a chronic infection and dealing with the abx it will not be able to eliminate a certain amount of the infection. If you relapse every 3rd or 4th month perhaps you can try to boost your immune system with higher quality or different supplements (I am assuming you are taking a strong multivitamin and other supplements that fight Lyme.)

The other HUGE considerations are sleep, stress and diet. Most Americans don’t sleep enough but those of us with Lyme need extra sleep which is hard if not impossible due to neuropathic pain. I use 5 to 6 grams of Melatonin and GABA which help tremendously. The Salt/Apple protocol is great with or without antibiotics.

Blessings, Jenna

Also below is some information based on top veterinary Bartonella expert and a new copyrighted scale which is just for reflection and not reprint based on over 1,000 articles and experience.

By the way, people should expect to get better–period.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

JAMES SCHALLER, M.D.
Bartonella Preliminary Abridged Checklist
1. Insomnia [If profound fatigue this might not apply].
2. Current anxiety that was not present at age 10
3. Current anxiety or depression not present at twenty years old.
4. Knee-jerk emotional responses
5. Unusual discomfort on the soles of your feet
6. A temperature under 98.3
A temperature under 99.0 if Lyme disease or Babesia is present
7. Puffy tissue on insole or any part of ankles
8. Depression
9. Depression that is not fully controlled. [Improvement of mood is not success in depression treatment].
10. Gingivitis or bleeding during flossing
11. Anxiety is poorly controlled
12. Depression is poorly controlled
13. Sleep medicines work poorly
14. Rage
15. Irritability
16. IL-6 is very low
17. IL-1B is very low
18. Skin markings or growths greater than most people
19. Blood vessels or color on skin greater than most people
20. Impatience > in personality when compared to ten years ago. [in a child, any can be a possible +]
21. Cursing or hostile speech
22. One or more medical problems with aspects that are unclear
23. Red papules
24. Skin tags
25. Unusual blood vessels of any kind
26. Any skin finding in excess of most humans
27. Skin findings showing increased blood vessels of any size
28. Skin findings showing increased tissue formation that is increased over the flatness of surface skin.
29. Skin showing blood vessels that are too large or too many for the location of the blood vessels, e.g., surface thigh and calf skin have very thick surface blood vessels. Or legs, upper arms or shoulders have explosions of many fine blood vessels.
30. Increased addictions
31. Increased impulsivity
32. Burning skin sensations [this may have many causes or multiple causes].
33. Skin erosion without a clear cause.
34. Minor cuts or scratches heal slowly.
35. After a surgery, you heal very slowly.
36. You have two tick or flea infections [Bartonella has >30 published species and has more vectors than possibly any infection in the world. Therefore, the presence of other infections such as tick borne viruses, bacteria or protozoa, should raise suspicion.
37. Exposure to cats and dogs in excess of incidental rare contact.
38. A mother with Bartonella based on newer direct and indirect testing.
39. A sibling, father, spouse of child with any tick or flea-borne infection who shared a residence or vacation with proximity to brush.
40. Exposure to outdoor environments with brush, wild grasses, wild streams or woods.
41. Outdoor expose in locations mentioned in 34 happened without the use of DEET or very high off- gassing essential oils on exposed areas.
42. The outdoor exposures mentioned in 34 occurred without permethrin on shoes, socks and all clothing.
43. Clear exposure to lice, fleas or ticks. [Bartonella is carried by a huge number of carriers, but for now, the % that carry and the capacity to detect all new species in the vectors does not exist or is not routinely available].
44. Stretch marks in eccentric locations, e.g., arms, upper side under armpit, around armpit or on the back.
45. Stretch marks filled with red, pink, purple or dark blue color.

Dr. Schaller is the author of 29 books and 27 top journal articles. His publications address issues in at least twelve fields of medicine. He has the most recent textbooks on Bartonella, which was only discovered in 1992. He has published on Bartonella under the supervision of the former editor of JAMA, and his entries on multiple tick and flea borne infections, including Bartonella [along with Babesia and Lyme disease] were published in a respected infection textbook endorsed by the NIH Director of Infectious Disease. He has approximately six texts on tick and flea-borne infections. He reads full-time on these emerging problems.
C COPYRIGHTED 2011 JAMES SCHALLER, MD version 3.

The new info in next post

I’ve been on an antibiotic for 1 1/2 months, with a pro-biotic and anti-fungal. We have just started an herbal remedy for the Babesia. I’m wondering if this is all in vain? The more I read, the more discouraged I get. Is it true that I’ll never get better? Am I to suffer with debilitating pain and depression the rest of my life? Is there no hope?

I shed tears with you as I wake each day to another day of pain and a total feeling of worthlessness…I do know how you feel, just as the other Lymies do. Its hard to find true understanding from anyone who has not suffered long term as we have.

The trick is to redefine “quality of life” and look ahead with new expectations – leaving your old life behind – understanding that it’s never coming back. It doesn’t have to be a catastrophe, although it is so much harder to do than to say and I wrestle myself with the struggle to conquer my daily expectations of myself…we are our own worst enemies! Stop pushing and striving dear Jeanne and rest in the knowledge that all things have a purpose under the sun…

We are all so different – I don’t know what your inner voice is asking of you, but if you listen quietly, you will find a new purpose, a new life that will rise out of your pain and suffering, and hopefully help others. I promise you that will help you feel better even if it is making a casserole dish for a young mother with Lyme…or it could be the kindness you could show yourself Jeanne – you didn’t ask for this!

Thank you for reaching out because you are NEVER alone, and if we can hold each other up through the dark times…well, then we can all be angels of compassion. You too Jeanne!

Blessings,

Jenna go to May you be blessed!