Been on doxy now for a little while. Positive Lyme. Numbness and joint pain subsiding/getting better in hands and elsewhere, but now my skin on face and knuckles feels like it's burning when I'm outside in the wind. What is up with that? Are things getting better or worse? Is it because my nerves are now coming back or because this is going downhill. Anyone?
Posted by chamade (Member # 11472) on :
Noone can answer that with certainty, believe me. However, I had a neuro tell me that sometimes patients whose nerves are healing will complain of burning. I think the fact that your numbness is going away is very positive so your burning could very well be from reinvervation.
Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
Hi T
This is called Photo Toxic Reaction (PT) -- It can happen when Taking Doxi - The tingling is the Light burning your skin-
It is Very Important to Not Eat ANY type of Citrus or Cranberries --
Even TINY amounts of these can cause the PT reaction to Be MUCH worse - ie -Lemon in your tea --
The skin damage is Perminate --
Do A search on me 2 years ago -Read-- -- Doxi and Sun equals Pain --
I give more info on this in several posts --
Sun Block dose Not help much if Any at all -- Be careful --Jay--
Posted by thomasx (Member # 13431) on :
I do understand that Doxy can have reactions to the sun, but I don't think that this is what's happening. I don't have to be in the sun, just the wind. It's more of a temperature thing. The nerves in my face and knuckle skin seem to be almost hypersensitive. It's like either having fire or ice on my skin. (I guess this is better than numb as at least they're feeling something!) Oh, and there are no marks or any redness, etc. just sensitivity.
Oh, and chamade, what is "reinvervation?"
Posted by chamade (Member # 11472) on :
We have similar issues, except my hypersensitivity/tingling/burning progressed to both of my legs and hands. The hypersensitivity started in my knuckles, and as in your case, the wind would give me this intense prickly feeling. B12 injections/alpha lipoic acid/NAC/fish oil/magnesium are supposed to help with these issues. Reinvervation refers to your body growing back small fiber nerves(the ones that are responsible for sensations such as tingling/burning/hypersensitivity). In the process supposedly some people feel burning.
Posted by thomasx (Member # 13431) on :
So what is your status? How long have you been treating what? Did the burning subside? Plus, if the nerves are growing back, does this imply that the Lyme is getting under control, or will they try to grow back even if Lyme is still flourishing?
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
Hey! When you are on Doxycycline stay indoors! That tingling/burning skin IS burning skin and it's a side effect of the Doxy. You can burn in minutes! You can burn trough clothes, driving your car...and then it will tingle when you put water or wind on it! SUNBLOCK SPF 55 and thick clothes!!!
Posted by chamade (Member # 11472) on :
thomas...my burning started a year ago, over the months it spread to all my limbs despite treating lyme/babs/bart with many abx combos. I assume it's because I have gone undiagnosed for 15 years so my case is difficult. I am not disabled, the neuro pain is mostly an annoyance that I learned to live with - and am hoping it won't get much worse.
I never had numbness so I think your burning is a sign of improvement.
wildcondor and groovy...I have been on doxy for a year and didn't protect myself from the sun when spending time outdoors. If doxy was causing some of this neuro pain due to sun exposure, wouldn't it show up on the face first? I have no problems there. I never had sunburn marks anywhere after spending time outdoors.
[ 13. April 2008, 01:29 PM: Message edited by: chamade ]
Posted by roro (Member # 13383) on :
thomas, from your two posts, it seems that you have had numbness in those areas, and now that you are getting your feeling back, instead of normal feeling, you are feeling burning instead (from the wind, but what about from other things?)
I also think if it were from the doxy/sun you would get a sunburn.
When you have numbness, your feeling is different than normal. when my limbs go numb, when the feeling starts to come back, it feels like a tingling instead of regular feeling. so it could be your nerves coming back.
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
Thomas search under my name and doxy and burning.
I thought the same thing that it was from the sun. It was not!
Posted by thomasx (Member # 13431) on :
Firstly, thanks for all of the responses. Very helpful. As far as the "burning" sensation goes, it feels like it's very much in my skin on the "surface." But like I also said, my hands don't look at all red. They respond to wind and are generally quite sensitive/perceptive to heat/cold. I called it hypersensitive before.
LymeHerx001, I did a search on your posts... what was your conclusion regarding this burning sensation?
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
My conclusion was that it was a herx.
At first the doxy was great!!!!!!!!!!!
I felt %80 better I was so happy. Then I started to get burning on my face. Thought it was photo toxicity. Then on my legs and arms....
Then all over! Finally I had to stop because I because suicidally depressed (not that I would take my life) but thats how it gets with me.
My brain felt like it was swelling.
So I took a break and tried it again. Same thing. Burning Burning Burning.
I dont know at all what that means. Even my LLMD is stumped.
Its causing some type of immune reaction that is irritating my nerves and especially my brain.
Now even if I take 1-2 mg I have this effect. Im serious, even with that small of a dosage I get burning and depression. ITs almost if I have developed some allergy to it.
Posted by chamade (Member # 11472) on :
lymeHerx: how long have you been taking it before the burning started?
It's the only abx that I took every day for 1 year so I wonder if that's whats causing my skin sensitivity/burning - I left a message for my LLMD explaining my concerns.
Posted by BJG (Member # 4723) on :
Hi,
My primary symptom is severe total body skin burning.
It started before Lyme diagnosis and before any meds.
It may be neurotoxins, Heavy Metals or Lyme in the nervous system.
No doubt Doxy can cause skin burning from the the sun, I think you are describing something different.
Bart appears to be conected with Skin burning.
goodLuck
Warm, not hot, warm epson salts baths are wonderful.
Peace, BJG
Posted by dbourne (Member # 13833) on :
I had to stop Doxy two weeks ago for stomach issues. However, when I was ready to take another dose my hands would burn.
In addition, when outside my hands were supersensitive to the wind, cold, and heat. When gardening the slightly cool soil would feel like ice.
This was a different sensation that then burn from sun, that wasn't pleasant to say the least.
Posted by chamade (Member # 11472) on :
quote:Originally posted by dbourne: I had to stop Doxy two weeks ago for stomach issues. However, when I was ready to take another dose my hands would burn.
In addition, when outside my hands were supersensitive to the wind, cold, and heat. When gardening the slightly cool soil would feel like ice.
This was a different sensation that then burn from sun, that wasn't pleasant to say the least.
Are you saying that doxy caused your hands to burn and be sensitive?
Posted by thomasx (Member # 13431) on :
A couple of things...
First, one of my first Lyme symptoms was sensitivity in my hands. Cold tap water felt really cold. That was very early on. That exact feeling has gone away.
Regarding Doxy, I've been on it for months now. My hands didn't have any of the burning until recently.
As I indicated, the numbness is subsiding and I'm getting more and more normal feeling... except for this funny burning which seems to be related to temperature changes... particularly colder.... wind, water, etc. create funny burny feelings. Hopefully just things coming back into whack!
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
Is the sun out? If so, that's your answer. If not, you're just crazy. Ha! No, but seriously it is likely a nerve issue, as it's a symptom so common in Lyme, as well as with cycline use.
Posted by thomasx (Member # 13431) on :
Well, the sun's *always* out somewhere... But regarding this, I think it's more a temp thing. I don't think that my skin, at least yet, is actually burned. It seems like, as you said, a nerve event.
Posted by dbourne (Member # 13833) on :
Yes, the doxy caused my hands to burn and feel sensitive.
The best description I can give you is a hot arthritis like feeling that began when I starten the medicine and then occurred about one hour before it was time to take my next doxy dose.
I am not sure but it seemed like maybe the doxy was working and attacking my joint pain.
I had to stop doxy though, no matter what I tried I couldn't keep food down when on the medicine.
Posted by dbourne (Member # 13833) on :
Also, my hands were super sensitive to temperature. For example, when running my daughters bath water it would feel VERY hot or VERY cold rather than the true temperature.
Posted by chamade (Member # 11472) on :
dbourne...thats the exact feeling I have in my hands and it started after doxy. I was taken off of it and hope the symptoms go away.
How long did it take for your symptoms to improve before starting doxy?
Posted by thomasx (Member # 13431) on :
Well, after some more "science," I believe I've discovered the source of my "burning skin" feeling. It's known to some as SUNBURN. I had some time out today. The parts that weren't well sunblocked are now feeling burny like my knuckles and face. I guess it just feels different with the Lyme stuff mixed in. Well, at least I've figured that out. And kudos to those who thought it was sun/doxy.
Posted by charlie (Member # 25) on :
Oddly doxy never made me sunburn....and it didn't do anything else either, regardless of what brand I took or how I took it.
I thought you were talking about burning skin as in peripheral neuropathy. Now that's nasty....
Charlie
Posted by thomasx (Member # 13431) on :
Oddly enough, I don't know that I'm burning any more than normal. As many of you know, we just had a very nice couple of days in the northeast. My skin is just much more sensitive to the temperatures and sun being on it. Parts of my skin are red and burn a lot and other parts are not red and burn alot too. So it's probably a combination of the doxy, the sun and my nerves being hypersensitive at the moment. As I indicated earlier, I'm hoping that the hypersensitivity is a move in the healing direction.
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
My LLMD says that burning skin are biotoxins released from Lyme or any of its infections. He said to be aggressive in detox.
CherylSue
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
My LLMD says that burning skin are biotoxins released from Lyme or any of its coinfections. He said to be aggressive in detox.
CherylSue
Posted by laurie sm (Member # 14584) on :
Cherylsue- Have terrible burning skin!
What does your LLMD recommend for de-toxing??
I am going out of my mind!!!!!!!!
Laurie
Posted by thomasx (Member # 13431) on :
The weird thing about this is that when exposed to sun (and while you're on abx) the redness that you'd normally see doesn't show up immediately. You get burned and it stings like crazy but eventually for me the redness did come. And all the while it's super pain sensitive.
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
Laurie sm, my LLMD recommends activated charcoal. It's cheap and it's OTC at your local store. You can take 2-4 pills late morning, and then 2-4 pills late afternoon. Drink plenty of water, fiber, and dried fruit with it.
Also, don't take 2 hours within your meds or vitamins.
Good luck.
CherylSue
Posted by Nal (Member # 6801) on :
First off Im sorry you are dealing with skin pain. I too have severe sensitivity in my skin. It burns like mad. The pain had gone away for quite a while and this past week I spent a lot of time in the sun.
I am not currently on any antibiotics at all. However shortly after being in the sun for a long time, the skin burning pain came back (not from a sunburn cuz i did wear sunscreen). Its kinda weird.
![[woohoo]](graemlins/woohoo.gif)
Heavy Metals or Lyme in the nervous system.![[Cool]](cool.gif)
But regarding this, I think it's more a temp thing. I don't think that my skin, at least yet, is actually burned. It seems like, as you said, a nerve event.
![[bonk]](graemlins/bonk.gif)
I had some time out today. The parts that weren't well sunblocked are now feeling burny like my knuckles and face. I guess it just feels different with the Lyme stuff mixed in. Well, at least I've figured that out. And kudos to those who thought it was sun/doxy.