Years before diagnosis up to today 13 months into treatment, I keep track of my symptoms and have flares exactly every 28 days.
This occurs the week following my period.
So is this true for everyone and for women...when are your flares? Before, during or after periods.
Also for those in remission, do you still get some stuff at the 28 day point? Is this considered the "vulnerable" time for spiroketes? What are they doing?
Thanks Kim
Posted by Visual Afterimage Man (Member # 10435) on :
Kim,
I can't comment on the period. Sorry.
But my flares are anywhere from 24 to 30 days apart. I can always feel them coming on.
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
I get them aprox in a one week time frame before my period. Almost like clock work. Although some months a few days right before I get my period I have a few days where I feel some extra nervous energy but those are rare.
Every month I go to my hubby " I don't feel well I think I am coming down with something: & then he goes no, you're getting your period. I keep forgetting. I don't feel better till I am well over it.
I think the hormone fluxuation triggers my lyme symptoms.
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
human
I have read some where they replicate big time every 3 weeks?
I think the average time for replication is something like 24-48 hours .
But I also believe something "big goes on every 3-4 weeks but can't find the articles I saved on this.
take care
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Spirochetes replicate every 3-5 wks. I believe that is found in Dr B's guidelines. If not, it is in my dr's handouts.
Hope this helps!
For the question about those who are in remission, I do sometimes notice a mild herxing near the full moon. [seriously!]
AAAAHHHHOOOOOOOO!!!! Posted by AliG (Member # 9734) on :
Ditto, Dana.
About a week before, I feel like I've been run over & dragged by a bus. It probably lasts a good week or so after, leaving me with around a week or less/ 28 days where I don't feel like something scraped off the bottom of a shoe.
(My mom used to remind me. Makes you feel sorta stupid, doesn't it?)
I have had missed periods here & there, but I think the flares stayed the same. Posted by Patrick (Member # 8108) on :
Like the other gentleman above I cannot comment on a period but I can say my flares are every 28 days like clock work and have been throughout this whole ordeal. The women in my office do get some amusement from this especailly since my flares cause me hot flashes and facial flushing.
I actually get one day where I feel just horrible with extreme fatigue one week prior to the flare. It only lasts a day then ok til the 28th day them Wham! I call it my one week warning.
My flares last 7 to 10 days then receed so that I only feel like partial crap the rest of the month.
Patrick
Posted by Marcie (Member # 10070) on :
I too get a worseing of symptoms around my period. My periods are not every 28 days so I
get this every month and half apart. It only lasts for about day or two, but I can feel it
coming a week before. I also wondered too what those buggers are doing around that time?
Posted by clairenotes (Member # 10392) on :
Quote from Marcie:
"...but I can feel it coming a week before. I also wondered too what those buggers are doing around that time?"
Me too. If we could only know what they are doing, maybe we could head them off at the pass, so to speak, before they multiply? Or come out of their cysts?
I hate this time period! If not for this, I think I could go back to work. But I feel so moody and irritable off and on during this time period -- there is just no way. Just coming out of it now, so it is very much on my mind.
For me it is every 21 days and lasts up to 10 days.
Claire
[ 30. January 2007, 08:19 AM: Message edited by: clairenotes ]
Posted by siggy (Member # 8654) on :
Before I became really ill with LD and not knowing I had LD, I would normally feel really bad, like having the flu, a week before my period. Then a couple of days into my period it would all ease up. I always thought that a) I needed to stress down or b) pms.
After getting really ill it all just went bananas, and then after starting treatment I just felt bad, bad, bad (flagyl, you know... ).
Now I am feeling better and trying to work out what my cycle is - it is really hard keeping a job when one gets about 10 days when one can't cope with anything! Fortunately it has improved so far!
There is this female MD that has done some research into lyme disease and women; Marylynn Barkley. Try googling her, and you'll find some articles. Interesting stuff.
sigrid
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
When I have seen a cycle, it is closer to 20-21 days, with the flare lasting several days.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Hi Kim.
When I first started abx. for Lyme, I had about a 29-30 flare up.
Somewhere things changed and I started getting flare ups around that monthly time and about two weeks later.
Now it seems as I live in a flare up as I herx a great deal for a long time with new meds being introduced about every four weeks.
It is always worse during that time of month. I even had my hormones checked, but they were ok.
Geneal
Posted by Ruth Ruth (Member # 11059) on :
I can't remember where I read it, but someone said that the stuff likes progesterone.
Progresterone is at it's peak sometime between ovulation and your period. So if that is the connection for the periodic flares, some one could make an arguement for a connection that way.
Posted by humanbeing (Member # 8572) on :
Thanks everyone,
It seems the consensus (for women) is just before or during menses...I must be dealing with some kind of weirdo spirokete that wakes up off cycle...
Thanks siggy for your idea on Maryln Barkley..I checked her out and found a really intersting read..too long to post but go to the link and click on her name...
There is sooooo much that we all don't know about these nasty critters. I still can't get my brain around this 28 days---cause they say that their life cycle is actually 48 hours--so I don't get it.
Kim
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
28 to 34 days for my herx's
Posted by sweet pea (Member # 6495) on :
I've been sick for 2-1/2 years and never had a cycle of flares. And I do get my period regularly.
Posted by Boomerang (Member # 7979) on :
Hubby runs 30-35 days or so......no periods.
Posted by david1097 (Member # 3662) on :
every friggin 15 days... now for over 7 years. If I ever forget what hell is like, I am always reminded within a few short days.
And guess what's worse.... IT IS TRANSMISSIBLE TO OTHER PEOPLE... ABSOULTELY 100% FOR SURE.
Posted by humanbeing (Member # 8572) on :
David, How do you know it is transmissable? Have you been on abx for seven years? Do these flares feel the same as herx to new abx?
I thought maybe I would dodge this months flare as I have been really feeling better on the mepron/zith...but here I am day 28 and the big hand of pain landed on my brain and I feel bad...
Don't want this every 28 days forever...
Posted by Anneke (Member # 7939) on :
Like AliG, I flare several days before I start my period, and the week during - plus a few days. Basically, the best time is right after ovulating, and five or so days before starting.
Using compounded progesterone cream has helped with the PMS. If you haven't tried it, have your dr. check your hormone levels, and use it if needed.
Anneke
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
Something I want to put out here is also. That when I first started getting treated I didnt herx or so I thought but now I believe it was because I was so full of the little buggers I was in a continual herx.
Now months later I was herxing every couple of weeks.
Then after about a year it was down to once every 28 to 34 days.
Now I have a couple of strains for sure and maybe more because of the number of times I was bitten over the years.
At least 90 to 100 tick bites and at least 15 immbedded in me.And thats just the ones I saw dont forget nympths.
Never had a rash ever at site of bites.No bullseye or rash.
Also my llmd treated me for lots of coinfections.
And now in 2006 so far to 2007 being treated for babesiosis & Lyme. Basicaly starting over because of how bad I was originaly infected when I started with LLMD he would like me to test more but Iam not ready for that yet.
After this year I am going to try testing again this time one at a time starting with babsiosis then bartonella,mycoplasmas,hge,etc.
So there are many reasons for herx's not being exact timing at first but after 6 months to a year they become quite regular.
Posted by Lymeindunkirk (Member # 7118) on :
I personally see it the week just before my period. I'm not regular so my flares aren't either.
My 11 yr old son seems to go through flare times every two to three weeks. I had been told once that it might be due to a coinfection flare and not necessarily the lyme. Unfortunately for my son it always seems to be around test/quiz time.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
My cycle was every 21 days. Still is today 7 yrs later. I'm doing alternative treatments and doing much better, but I still cycle and have those days that are worse.
Pam
Posted by humanbeing (Member # 8572) on :
Is it considered a herx if you have been o the same abx for a couple months...
Posted by Marnie (Member # 773) on :
Let's clear up Bb's replication/division time...
Borrelia burgdorferi grows slowly compared to most bacteria. Each spirochete divides into two cells after 12 to 24 hours of elongation.
Although the organism can be cultured in media, continuous passage may result in biological changes resulting in a population quite different from their naturally occurring ancestors.
The spirochete has a long generation time of 12-24 hours in vitro (possibly longer in vivo) and may undergo periods of dormancy, during which time antibiotics will be ineffective against the bacteria.
Our neutrophils (most abundant WBCs) regenerate every 3 weeks (about). They bind zinc and release lactoferrin.
RESEARCH LACTOFERRIN!!!
Posted by humanbeing (Member # 8572) on :
Thank Gd for you Marnie, I guess what happens then at the monthly flare is a new breed of WBCells that launch themselves into the mix and cause neurotoxins to inflame tissues...
What do we think of that non scientific analysis of monthly flares...
Posted by clairenotes (Member # 10392) on :
Just thinking today how much I missed Marnie's chemistry and science lessons. Almost posted a separate topic...
So is it a fight that is occurring every three weeks with a new army of WBC?!
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