My 31-Year Journey to a Babesiosis (Babesia) Diagnosis

I always say to others with a chronic illness that getting diagnosed is half the battle. But what if that battle takes 31 years? What does it take to motivate yourself to seek out a diagnosis for most of your life, and is it worth it? I believe the answer to that is yes!

I grew up in a suburb of Chicago, and when I was 16, I worked as a camp counselor across the street from the Sand Ridge Nature Center. It was a forest preserve we would take our campers to a few times a week, and we spent the rest of the time at our day camp site.

At the end of that summer, I was entering my senior year of high school. And that September is when I started noticing a slowly growing number of symptoms and deficits that no one else around me seemed to be experiencing…… Join or login below to continue reading.

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4 Reader Comments

salemdigger says:
January 17, 2017 at 3:56 pm
I was being treated with Doxy for Lyme in September of 2016 when I developed terrific night sweats for two nights ending up going to the emergency room by ambulance. Fortunately my primary Dr. had done the labs a week before and that morning the tests came back positive for Babesiosis. I was immediately put on IV Atovaquone (Mephron) and azithromycin and was hospitalized for 3 days. After going home I had to go through two, two weeks of oral treatment before getting a negative test for the Babesiosis. I am 74 and my immune system has taken a real beating from this. Started at 180 lbs. went down to 153, now stable at 160.
Kristin Kuja says:
February 18, 2017 at 1:37 pm
I was diagnosed with Lyme 4 years ago but have been suffering with symptoms for 15 years. Recently I was diagnosed with Babesia an given oral Mephron and azithromycin for a month. I ggot so sick that I coul not continue the medication. I once was healthy at 135 lbs. I now weight less than 90 lbs and I can’t eat anything without getting severe stomach aches and diarehea, no gluten, no soy, no dairy, no sugar only plant based protein shakes. I feel like I am dying. Nothing works.
Maria Hoffman says:
April 24, 2017 at 8:35 pm
I feel your pain. I was just diagnosed and have had this for over 20 years. At this point the meds are killing me.
Mo Carlson says:
August 21, 2017 at 2:54 am
Although you might know this already, I still want to point out the absolute importance of taking active ProBiotics of very good quality when being treated with antibiotics and similar medications. Taking ProBiotics is even good for many Americans who simply feel the side effects of our over-processed foods, I would say.
Meds for Lyme and similar aggressive illnesses are in themselves rather destructive on the gastrointestinal system and one needs to take something that will act as a buffer to guard against the cramps and related problems resulting from the treatment.
I have found that my very sensitive stomach likes to be coated with a coconut oil/brewer’s yeast concoction that I also feed to our pets in treat form. Coconut oil has healing components but many do not like the taste of it. Brewer’s Yeast is something that makes it more palatable. Try it out but don’t forget your highly dosed Probiotics. Hugs,