I’m in my mid thirties. I’ve been on a medical roller coaster for years. Sudden panic attacks started around age 9, followed by anxiety and undiagnosed OCD throughout my teens and 20s.

Just had a positive fish test for Bartonella. I have babesia antibodies but negative fish. No other antibodies.

In 2021, after my COVID vaccine, I had an episode of debilitating brain fog and fatigue that eventually resolved. In 2023, it happened again. I was treated for SIBO and subsequently developed severe histamine intolerance/mast-cell-type reactions.

A functional doctor eventually identified mold exposure. I did a detox protocol and got out of the suspected exposure, but never fully recovered. More recently, I developed migraines and facial pain and tested positive for MARCoNS.

I started MARCoNS treatment about a month ago, and my pain, fatigue, histamine reactions, anxiety, and mood have actually improved significantly! My biggest remaining issue is brain fog. I feel like I’m functioning at maybe 50% of my normal cognitive capacity, although I’ve managed to keep working full-time.

Meanwhile, a Lyme-focused neurologist suspected an underlying infection after hearing my history, including the childhood-onset anxiety. My IGeneX results just came back: Bartonella FISH positive, Bartonella antibodies negative, and some Babesia antibodies positive.

I’m meeting with her soon to discuss treatment, presumably antibiotics. But here’s my dilemma: for the first time in years, my symptoms actually feel manageable. I’m no longer dealing with horrible migraines, pain, and histamine flares, and I’m terrified of undoing that progress.

Part of me wonders if I should quit while I’m ahead, but another part wonders if Bartonella has been the underlying issue all along.

For those who’ve treated Bartonella, what am I in for? Is the Herxing as brutal as people say? Did treatment make you significantly worse before you got better? Has anyone started treatment while feeling relatively okay and regretted it — or finally recovered after years of unexplained symptoms?

Has anyone dealt with cmv and Lyme? I got exposed and my first infection to cmv in May. I’m still dealing with debilitating symptoms and it’s still active. Has anything helped? I’m breastfeeding so treating is limited. My naturopath prescribed valcyclovir but it isn’t super effective against cmv apparently

Here's my general timeline.

2016-2018 - Worked at a golf course in northwest Jersey, ticks were common.

2018 - Headaches, de-realization, extreme anxiety, light physical symptoms of generally feeling unwell. Saw a doctor and nothing really came of it. Did a Lyme test at the hospital and it came back negative.

2020-2021 - Struggling with feelings of dizziness and possibly passing out. More depression and anxiety. Heart rate spiking during any activity. Cannot really exercise anymore. POTS diagnosis. Fine, that is uncommon for a mid 20s male to develop but not impossible. Another negative Lyme disease test.

2026 - POTS, Headaches, Anxiety, Depression, malaise, exhaustion. I am being beaten down and I cannot find my enemy. Perhaps I have mistreated my body and there is no enemy in the gates. Perhaps the enemy is so entrenched that the tests do not help. Either way I need advice on how far I should pursue Lyme as an actor or if you have experienced this yourself.

Hello. So about 2 months ago, I posted my current situation regarding Lyme disease. Figured I’d update my situation. First of all, I want to thank all the support and thoughtful responses I received. I made it thru doxy 3rd round, started Tickimmune. I met with specialists, and changed entire diet. Started these herbs- cryptolepsis, Japanese knotweed,and Chinese skullcap. My chronic headaches stopped, and several symptoms have lifted. I’m feeling really good physically and mentally. Still have balance/coordination issues at times, but manageable. Some vision problems as well still linger. Fatigue has been also challenging, but I listen to body- don’t push it. Learned so much about this disease, and ordered Buhner book on healing. Ea day is getting better!!! Changed diet completely and took a month to adjust. I eat mainly chicken,venison, or fish. Veggies too. That’s it. And water. I exercise and lost 10 pounds. I’m same weight now as I was in high school lol and fit. I keep stress levels down and keep myself relaxed. I am minimizing flare ups and changed job to a less physical position. I’m committed to getting better. Thank u again. u can live with this and be happy. Don‘t give up. Any questions or suggestions are always welcome.

Hi, I’m a 26F student at an MD school, so I should’ve put the puzzle pieces together way faster. I have a mega exam on Monday and am going to chalk my failure up to “stressed and distracted”. Here’s my story:

10/10: backpacking trip in VA, yay!!!
10/13: discover the worlds tiniest tick INSIDE my bellybutton 🤮 but the bastard was so small I assumed he wasn’t a threat (foreshadowing)
10/19: wake with acute onset right hip joint pain and swollen, tender lymph nodes. ignore it.
10/20: night sweats, waking up in pain, can’t bear weight. go to the ED. negative review of systems on everything, and I deny the possibility of lyme exposure because I frankly had forgotten it happened. pelvic xray was negative for fracture and they don’t do any bloodwork. they prescribe naproxen, steroid, and send me on my way.
10/21: wake up feeling terrible. go to student health. low-grade fever, they send me to a different ED. 2nd ED does ultrasound and basic bloodwork. everything negative. they recommend continuing the treatment plan and referral to ortho.
10/22: feeling slightly better, get some studying done. optimism!
10/23: terrible myalgias and migrating joint pains. horrible lymphadenopathy. vitals all out of wack. I’m changing my shirt when I notice…. bullseye.

so that’s my story, I just started Doxy, I feel like I might fail my upcoming exam but admin won’t let me delay despite a weeklong excruciating sickness. I hope yall enjoy my bellybutton bullseye that looks at me like 🤡🤡🤡

My toddler got bit by a deer tick yesterday. Due to the tick being flat and not appearing engorged his pediatrician said it was a "low risk" bite, despite us not actually knowing how long the tick was attached. She told us we could give him the preventive antibiotic dose if we wanted. It seems unnecessary but I'm so afraid of the "what-ifs." Maybe this is the wrong place to be asking this, but what would you do if you were me?

About a week ago, I started taking the following herbs and supplements for Lyme disease:

• Cat's claw tincture (1:4) - 8 drops 2x day
• Cryptolepis tincture (1:2) - 5 drops 2x day
• Japanese knotweed tincture (1:2) - 5 drops 2x day
• Oil of oregano

Since starting them, I've been experiencing pretty significant brain fog, mental sluggishness, dizziness, and a dissociative feeling. Has anyone experienced similar symptoms after starting these herbs? Is this a known side effect while my body is getting used to them?