Health Update

I had my follow up appointment with Dr. F and Gladys, my nurse practitioner and got some interesting lab results. I am still positive for Lyme Disease and Bartonella, one of the co-infection I'm presenting symptoms for. This wasn't surprising, but it was gratifying. We added the Rifampin back in, but at half the dose I took when the flaky naturopath prescribed it for me; the hope was that I wouldn't have the Herxheimer reactions I describe in this post. Unfortunately, I have. My symptoms are exhaustion and burning in my forearms. Additionally, my forearms feel like they're in a vice.

Dr. F is taking me off the Rifampin, and I'm trying Factive instead. If this doesn't work, I'm not sure what we'll do, but I'll cross that bridge if and when I come to it.

So, here's how my antibiotic regimen looks now:

Sundays: off

Mon./Wed./Fri: 300 mg Azithromycin

Tues./Thrs./Sat.: Minocycline

7 days of Factive (320 mg) followed by 7 days off

My energy is very low, and my mood is crummy: it's hard not to get sucked into self-pity when I'm this incapacitated. All I know is that we have to get this sorted out before Passover, because I can't cook for a seder if I'm in this condition. More later when I can type with less pain.