LymeNet Flash: My husband is having trouble breathing

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Posted by Meemer (Member # 6620) on :

Dear Friends,

My husband was diagnosed with Lyme three weeks ago, and has been on Rocephin IV 2 grams a day. He woke up this morning with difficulty breathing in all the way with pain on the top of the inhale. He is forced to breathe in shallowly. Is this herxing? Has anyone had this? Will it go away?

Meemer

Posted by Lymied (Member # 6704) on :

I had this before and after treatment. I also was diagnosed with Babesia too and I believe this caused more breathing difficulties for me then the lyme.

When I started treatment and I herxed the chest pain and breathing issue got more pronounced for me.

I would definitely check in with his LLMD and let them know what he is experiencing.

Take care and I hope he finds relief from that soon. It can be scary and certainly no fun.

Posted by Lisianthus (Member # 6631) on :

I agree with Lymied. Breathing problem are associated with Babesia: shallow breath, feeling like you can't get enough air, or your lungs hurting like you just got through swimming.

If his tests do not come up positive for Babesia it really doesn't matter. They have to go by symptoms more then tests.
Babesia has hundreds of strains but they can only has a test for two of them. So be aware of the symptoms.

This is copied from 50 questions and anwsers about babs:

The following signs/symptoms may be present in those infected with Babesiosis:
Fatigue * Arthralgias* Myalgia* Drenching sweats* Headaches* Emotional
lability* Depression* Dark urine* Splenomegaly* Dizziness* Nausea and
vomiting* Cough* Dyspnea* Fever* Chills* Hepatosplenomegaly* Jaundice*
Malaise* Shortness of breath* Bleeding tendencies, bruising* Thrombocytopenia*
Hemoglobinuria* Hyperesthesia* Pulmonary edema* Encephalopathy* Low to
normal range leukocyte counts* Possible elevated levels of dehydrogenase,
bilirubin, transaminase* Anorexia*

Approximately 25%- 66% of Babesia patients are known to be co-infected with
Lyme disease. These symptoms may continue for long periods of time, decrease,
then return. A low Babesiosis titer (IgG) often indicates a chronic infection. An
acute or current infection may show a higher reading on the IgM test initially.
There are over 100 species of Babesia in the United States but only ONE or TWO
species are currently checked by commercial labs.

Hope this helps,
Lisi

[This message has been edited by Lisianthus (edited 23 July 2005).]

Posted by NP40 (Member # 6711) on :

Could be babs, could also be the infusion of abx itself. My son had trouble w/the breathing during infusions, but he also had babs !

I wouldn't be overly alarmed as it's fairly common, but I'd defintely check w/the doc when you can.

Posted by mallasani (Member # 7470) on :

I had short breathing or breathlessness two to three time in one years time, recently i am detected with babesios and two bands of lime, please have a proper ventilation when you have short breath, dont get tensed too much, if possible use some kind of fan, try to make sure to have some natural ventilation.
Looks like it will become serious when a person with lyme/babesios starts abx, first one week after starting abx will give little problems, but it is worth to continue.
If you have not already seen a LLMD please make sure you visit one of them, insted of waiting for a super special doctor, please take an appointment with whomever you can get, later you can visit.
IF you need any help please email me.
[email protected]
-Venkat

Posted by liz28 on :

Your husband's symptoms sound too serious to make a guess about this. But my first rocephin herx was that bad. I was standing in a deli, reaching down to grab a carton of milk from the fridge, and suddenly it felt like I had abruptly developed a 104 degree fever and could barely move. It happened with no warning. I was in bed for a week, barely able to move.

First, if it is a rocephin herx, your husband should be on some kind of anti-inflammatory. I take Celebrex, but as you know, it can have side effects. Some Lymenet people suggest a natural supplement called bromelain.

Also, I'm not sure if you can take rocephin and ketek at the same time, but if you can, ketek seems to hit Lyme in the lungs especially hard.

If your husband may have babesia, he should consider artemisinin, an herb that has become the premier treatment for malaria around the world. My local vitamin store manager calls it one of his "honest products," if you get his drift. It doesn't cure babesia, but it will reduce the symptoms to a point where he isn't so incapacitated.

It's also possible that your husband is taking the rocephin too quickly. You don't mention how he is administering it, but you have to take it slowly and well-diluted, or your system can get overwhelmed.

[This message has been edited by liz28 (edited 23 July 2005).]