I mentioned in a previous update that I would post my Bart (or whatever) pix. Here it is.

Bartonella Results from Fry Labs

I’ve looked around the web for other pix of Bart, but didn’t see any that looked like mine. Most show little dots floating around both inside and outside of the cells.

I’m becoming increasingly focused on this aspect of my infection. I recently read this by Dr. Burrascano…

“Indeed, there seems to be a fairly
distinct clinical syndrome when this type of organism is present in the
chronic Lyme patient. However, several aspects of this infection seem
to indicate that this tick-associated strain of Bartonella is different
from that described as “cat scratch disease”.

For example, in
patients who fit the clinical picture, standard Bartonella blood
testing is commonly non-reactive. Furthermore, the usual Bartonella
medications do not work for this- they suppress the symptoms but do not
permanently clear them. For these reasons I like to refer to this as a
“Bartonella-like organism” (BLO), rather than assume it is a more
common species.

Indicators of BLO infection include symptoms
involving the central nervous system that are out of proportion to the
other systemic symptoms of chronic Lyme. There seems to be an increased
irritability to the CNS, with agitation, anxiety, insomnia, and even
seizures, plus symptoms of encephalitis, such as cognitive deficits and
confusion.

Other key symptoms may include gastritis, lower
abdominal pain (mesenteric adenitis), sore soles, especially in the AM,
tender subcutaneous nodules along the extremities, and red rashes.

These
rashes may have the appearance of red streaks like stretch marks that
do not follow skin planes, spider veins, or red papular eruptions.
Lymph nodes may be enlarged and the throat can be sore.

Because
standard Bartonella testing, either by serology or PCR, may not pick up
this BLO, the blood test is very insensitive. Therefore, the diagnosis
is a clinical one, based on the above points.

Also, suspect
infection with BLO in extensively treated Lyme patients who still are
encephalitic, and who never had been treated with a significant course
of specific treatment.”

I find what he says to follow along with my situation. I’ve been treating for a year, have not experienced any dramatic resolution in symptoms, tested negative for Bart via Igenex and have CNS symptoms that are off the charts in relation to any typical Lyme symptoms. In fact, they seem to be the only symptoms I have. The only thing I don’t have from that description is the rash. I’ve never experienced that.

If anyone has any insight into successful Bart treatment, please shoot me an email. I’d love to talk to you about it. I want to gather as much info as I can before my next LLMD appointment in a few weeks. My email address is ChronicTriathlete (at) gmail.com.