posted
I've been herxing on and off bad for about 10 days (functionally paralyzed, pain, etc).
I was in contact with my dr.
Never felt as if I had to go to hospital.
When people say that a herx sends them to the hospital, what happens?
How will I know if i should go to the hospital?
What could they possibly do for me there?
Posts: 368 | From freehold, nj | Registered: May 2007
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
My theory is that if you think you are experiencing something life threatening, then go to the hospital.
In general, the hospital won't be able to do much to relieve symptoms. Many people are frustrated when they come back from the hospital.
Although if you have really intense pain, it's possible you will be able to get pain relief. But you need to remember that you will likely be waiting a long time in an uncomfortable setting and, you can't use the hospital for regular pain relief.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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Cobweb
Unregistered
posted
What usually sends me to the hospital is a feeling that I am either having a heart event or a stroke.
Sometimes I am monitored or held for obvservation.
Usually by the time a doctor in the ER sees me though I am feeling better and just want to go home.
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Back in the old days I had a habit of ending up in the hospital quite often. One year I was in there 7 times. And every year for 14 years I had at least one or more trips there.
Back then they didn't know what a herx was. Or if they did.. they never told me! NOT cool!
I'm with cave on this situation. Be prepared at home for much of this.
BUT.. there can be things going on you can't measure (CBC- blood work- liver panel, etc). I was in septic shock at least once.. and it was good to go... although they were all idiots that time too.
The way I FINALLY figured out what to do was to learn about herxes. They CAN kill.
Not wanting to die from a herx at that point.. I learned to lower my normal doses of antibiotics BEFORE having that severe of a herx... and to IMMEDIATELY stop the meds when the going got too rough.
I refuse to end up there again if I can prevent it. My family took me many of the times I went years ago because they got worried and I was too weak to fight.
Once I knew what a herx was and that you get worse FIRST.. my mind was settled a good bit. Not knowing that was unsettling and confusing.
BUT... If at any point you just feel you need to go... by all means...
GO!
Regret it later if you must.. but never hesitate if YOU feel the need.
lymeladyinNY
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10235
posted
Yes, I used to go to the ER quite often with severe muscle spasms. At the first sign of spasms my husband called the ambulance.
I got the reputation of being a nutcase, drug-seeker. They thought I was faking seizures for attention. (That would be the day!)
We finally figured out that if I drank magnesium in water and took 3 to 4 valiums I usually became relaxed enough to avoid a trip to the ER.
Sometimes, though, when that doesn't work and my breathing is erratic and I'm becoming exhausted, I still go to the ER. I don't care what they think of me so long as they stop the spasms, and they do.
-------------------- I want to be free Posts: 1170 | From Endicott, NY | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
I'm still fairly new to this treatment (11 weeks) and have already been to the ER twice. 3 weeks into a new treatment, I herxed really bad. I was litteraly uanble to eat or drink anything so for me, it was about getting fluids.
The first trip involved getting IV fluids and a lecture from a doctor that there is no such thing as a herx and that I should have been cured with the first 4 weeks of antibiotics.
The second trip (3 days later) turned out to be a 6 day stay at the hospital. Blood pressure was extrememly low and the hospital team thought that I couldn't possibly be that sick from Lyme that was being treated. Needless to say, after much poking and testing, nothing else turned up.
Posts: 561 | From mass | Registered: Jul 2007
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ByronSBell 2007
Unregistered
posted
Only thing they can really do at an ER is just give you IV fluids for lyme disease patients. Pain killers have never worked for me at all, they actually make me much worse.
I don't go to the hospital anymore, I just tough it out. Take some sleep meds to make me sleepy and an Ativan to relax me while I feel like crap.
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i gave up on the ER a long time ago. One year I went six times -- the last time they put me in a room waaaay down the hall and nobody came to see me for 5 frilling hours!!! i was so po'd.
i went one time and my bp was 187 over 165 and all they did was tell me i was having a panic attack.
every single time they told me to go to a shrink and one time even called my doc and told him i was a nut case!! i was livid, i mean i stomped out of there.
unless you're in a car accident, i'd never go.
they have primary care centers where i go now if my doc's office is closed.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Hi All
Threw my 3 years of treatment I only thought about going to the ER 2 times--
First time was when I just started my treatment- I took One Alaina -and it Hammered me Hard --
the second time was 4 months into treatment when I ran out of Mepron- Babs came roaring Back in One day --
For 5 Long horiable days I thought I was going to drop dead any second- SCARED the Hello out of me--
I up dated my Will but I was so sick it took me 3 days to write one page -
I did not know a person could be so sick and still be Alive --Im Serous
The moral to my story is --- Never run out of mepron - not even for a few days
I lost almost ALL of the progress that I had made in the previous 4 months- Ouch -
Take care -- Jay --
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
so I wound up going to the hospital last nignt....
Got to the point where breathe hunger was so bad that I was very scared. Couldn't even speak. I think my husband was scared more than me. so off we went.
Thank goodness it was just a herx and nothing else serious (but we already knew that right...)
The IV did help though-I have more energy today. Found that when I was herxing bad I was not eating or drinking enough. I've got to work on that.
Now I know....
Posts: 368 | From freehold, nj | Registered: May 2007
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