I would have to say it's different for everybody but it's usually a time you feel absolutely the very worst after you've been taking the abx. for awhile......

While they say that herxing is good and means the abx is killing the lyme, it's a very hard and trying time for the patient...It does reassure us that the abx is working according to my LLMD......

There is some consolation in herxing that we are getting better so I hope and pray you do get better and soon.....God bless you during this tough time.......

Hang in there!

I go from feeling like my usual slapped dog crap lymed arse when not herxing to:

Vertigo, neck pain, head pain, neck and head pressure, irrability, rage attacks, mean beyond all belief ( see irritability ) , fevers, sleeping, muscle aches, sore throats,

blurred vision, HUGE acceleration of my orthostatic hypotension.

Im also accumstomed to smashing things when I herx. Plates, windows ( its been done), nick nacks.

Uh and getting suicidal.

Then again, some of my other herxes were just sore back and sore throat. Some were just vertigo.

it ALL depends on what abx I am on, and what exactly is being killed off, how much is being killed off

and if Im actually in the mood to flush the toxins off or resorting to being a two year old screaming child locking myself in my bedroom.

That help ya any ?

You are funny! I think you summed it up pretty well and quite eloquently.

Areneli:

I never had headaches before starting abx. I got such a whopper of a headache, along with hypotension, after 5 weeks on abx. My PCP sent me for a brain MRI. The MRI was clean except for something that she indicated was "migraine activity". I declared that I do not get migraines. She said, well you do now, welcome to the world of Lyme Disease. She was 4 weeks ahead of me in her own Lyme treatment and knew the ropes.

So, yes, you are herxing. But, put your seat belt on because the headache is just one part of the ride. If the abx is working you will soon feel like you are at Six Flaggs. It will get better and you WILL be able to handle it better. It sucks at first.

Don't smash plates or break windows. I once kicked in a kitchen cabinet door. Crime & I are not good examples to follow. I think it is better to just tell your friends and family that you need to be in your bed and alone for their safety. ;-)

Hang in there. The stuff is working.

I also have the SUPER sensitivity to lights, glare, reflections, and SOUND/NOISE!

Since starting abx, doxy; they are 200% worse!

You should have NO LIGHT at all due to much vitamin D coming in thru our eyes.

Do a search of NoIR, no infrared sunglasses, I have posted on here. I got 2 pair: 907 and 901....both amber: light & extremely dark wraparound ones. Excellent! I use the light ones inside for tv and on computer. I can't read with the light ones.

Darker ones used outside on bight SUNNY days. I have experienced SEVERE herx with them: extreme pain in right side of neck/shoulder area. Couldn't even roll over in bed. I still grab that side of body when rolling/getting out of bed.

I have noticed one improvement; my hearing ... I do not hear the noisy garbage men who come and then compact near neighbor's driveway...whoopee!

How many times a day do you take cholestyramine ?

How many times a day do you take antibiotics?

I know it's hard to fit both in a day.

http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/030829.html

TROLLS are huge time wasters whose only aim is to cause eventual KAOS on the board.

I too had a "problem" with some of his earlier posts and along with others provided feedback. I think he heard us and I have no issue with his recent posts. Let's forget the earlier stuff and give him a chance. Stress is bad for my Lyme, lets try to get along here.

Now, in answer to your Herx question: My herx symptoms are distinctly different from my regular symptoms. My herxes occur around the same time each month. Last month was the worst. It was the first month after switching from Doxy to Tetra. I spent the whole week from Christmas through New Years propped up on various friends sofas. I was doing so well a few weeks before I thought I'd be able to ski a little. Ha, when the herxing started I tried to exercise and could only do 2 leg lifts. A few hours later I could do 80!

My herx symptoms include: a vibrating or electric feeling going through my body especially my arms. I feel like my blood is vibrating as it is pumped through my body. Increased thumping in my ears. Brain fog, increased itching and pin pricks especially from my knees down to my toes. I get very cold for days at a time. When I finally warm up I get too warm, never just right.

I get sudden extreme drops in energy level to the point where I can't sit up. I need to get to a sofa fast and lay propped up on pillows. At the worst point last month it hurt too much to lay propped up on pillows and I had to hang upside down with my feet up on the back of the sofa and my head lower than the cushions. I had to stay like this until the "wave" passed otherwise the pain in my bones was unbearable.

Now as I'm approaching the tough time of the month I'm feeling the electric feeling starting and suddenly running low on energy. Last night I slept for 13 hours. This is the most I've been able to sleep in the last 6 months. I'm hoping this month won't be as bad.

h&s