Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation Bulletin Board

[pinda]

My liver enzymes have gone down but still too high to start back on antibiotics. Been off for 5 weeks, another test next week. If down enough will start back on antibiotics for babesia. Been having this problem when on antibiotics but this is the longest I have been off since starting last Oct. Some symptoms of babesia I lost have come back. Cannot take milkthistle or dandelion root for support liver. Drink lots of lemon water, eat well and foods that are suppose to help liver, ND suggested coffee enema but sensitive to coffee, (as well as enema . Suggestions from anyone. Want to support liver especially when on antibiotics. Feels like I am the one trying to treat me. ND somewhat educated about lyme disease but seems I have more issues than others he has treated, MD is not knowledgable but supportive, concerned re elevated enzymes, monitoring what I am doing and ND has been in contact with her and sent a CD for her to watch. All good but still feel I do not have someone knowledgable to go to for info. Do talk to Dr. M when I can get a hold of him but he is away. I know, we all have simaler problems, just venting. Anyways, any suggestion would be great, thanks, Linda

[RitaA]

Linda,

Vent away. It sounds like some of the standard methods for dealing with elevated liver enzymes aren't available to you. Have you tried juicing veggies? How about soaking in an epsom s-a-l-t (have to spell it this way so it doesn't getting changed to "sodium chloride") bath? Hopefully others will stop by with other suggestions.

Take care,

Rita

[Pippi]

I don't have any suggestions for bringing the enzyme levels down (other than time) but I can share my related experience.

My liver enzyme levels soared after adding diflucan to the ABX regime I was taking. So I had to stop the treatment completely for four months while my liver enzyme levels settled back down. The levels actually went up even higher after I stopped, but then slowly went back down. It was incredibly frustrating to have to stop the treatment for that long. I also had to go off all supplements. No milk thistle, nothing.

When I restarted the ABX (and supplements) , the levels did start to go back up, but not beyond the danger level and fortunately I was able to continue and finish the treatment, including adding in flagyl for 4 months at the end and my liver could tolerate it all.

Hoping that your next test will show that the levels are starting to drop. Hang in there and all the best.

[pinda]

Thank you for your responses Rita and Pippin. I spoke to my ND Tues. and he put me on liver care and Berberis-Homaccord to help support my liver. Had blood work today and ALT is 7 below flag# and AST 6 below. ND wanted the ALT to be 10 below but lower than 2weeks ago, 1 below, and hope he gives the Ok to start back on antibiotics. Another blood test in 2 weeks no matter what I do. Do take epsom sodium chloride baths once in awhile. They bring on strong symptoms so do not do at night, cannot sleep, and hard to do during the day when I want to do stuff. Will be doing more. Been 6 weeks off antibiotics and symptoms I had lost are coming back. At least I know it does work, now my body has to work with it. Thanks, Linda