How long was your Bart treatment?

I herxed for close to two months when I started my bart treatment (rifampin and bactrim). I actually started Bactrim two months earlier, but on its own it didn't do much for bart. When I started the rifampin, I felt terrible. 3 months in, I felt a lot of improvement, and my doctor thinks I will only need 1 more month (6 months of rifampin and bactrim, 2 months bactrim total) of bart treatment.

With Zith/Rif, I had relief from my muscle pain after a month, but that came back. I thought, ok this is not working.

My doc told me the pain may come back after I told him I had relief from that symptom. I did not believe him. Sure enough, the pain did come back. He said there is a prolonged herx from Bartonella.

A month after the return of the pain, it again dissapeared and has not returned in the months since. The pain was in my feet, groin and legs.

It took me 4 full months of the Zith/Rif combo for me to feel like I was going to get better and I have started to feel like my old self lately. That is, much less dizziness, increased energy and no pain to complain of.

I am about to finish my 6 months of Rif and will continue to treat the Lyme. I am not better, but much better then I was 6 months ago when I started this combo.

Long story short, it can take months to feel the beginnings of relief. And there are other meds for Bartonella if this doesn't do it.

I think we see the same doc.