LymeNet Flash: Babesia herx question

This is topic Babesia herx question in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/75832

Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :

Hi all.

Finally got my LLMD to let me add art into my babesia protocol.

I started yesterday with 100mg.

Today with 100mg.

I am so sick! [Frown]

I had to take a nap today out of the blue.

I just had to lay down.

Nauseated, headache, brain fog, joint pain.

The nausea is pretty bad.

It has been quite some time since I've felt so bad.

Please tell me I am herxing and killing something.

I swear I feel like something is killing me.

Hugs,

Geneal

Posted by laura miller (Member # 12703) on :

Geneal,

I am so sorry you are feeling so bad, what a bummer..

I do think this sounds just like a herx.

When I treat for Babesia I have a lot of nausea and major headaches! I think you have to just listen to your body and if it feels like it's killing something then I am sure it is! You are just getting one step closer to clearing you system for better health...Hang in there, I hope you can- I know it is hard to, when you have little kids, but you are strong, you've done this before..

I hope Monday is a better day!!!!
Hang in there!
Laura [group hug]

Posted by charlie (Member # 25) on :

Geneal, art will do that...I had to use artemesia annua from nutricology then work up to artemesinin...even then my leg muscles knotted up so bad I was on crutches.

Art caused the only true herx I've ever had. And it's worth it so cut back and restart if you want to but don't give up on it.

Charlie

Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :

Hi Geneal,

Yes, art is very powerful. Sounds like a babs herx. Unless you picked up the flu, this time of year, it can be hard to tell.

That is good because you are killnig bugs, I hope!

Several llmds say to pulse art -- 3 or 4 days on and then 3 or 4 days off.

Hope you feel better soon.

Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :

Thanks for the answers and support. [Smile]

I could just sleep my way through this one if it weren't for the children.

It is a strange place to be.

I haven't felt this bad in a long, long time.

I plan to pulse it four days on with three days off.

Looking forward to those three days off for sure.

Hugs,

Geneal

Posted by wiserforit2 (Member # 18286) on :

Geneal!

I am soooo with you! I am taking Dr. Zhang's Artimesiae capsules 3x a day and I can barely function.

Achey body, sore throat, foggy head, heavy chest, nausea, depression/anxiety, heart palps, nightmares AND the need to sleep all the time. HERXORAMA!

I started this five weeks ago and it hit hard at the end of the fourth week.

This made the holidays a bit more difficult. Are your kids home for the holidays? Mine are home until January 5th and then back to school.

PM anytime for the Mutual Admiration/Herx Commiseration Society. Artimesiae is rough!

Best,

wiserforit2

Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :

Artemisinin kicks butt and it supposed to be extremely valuable when it comes to babesia tx. Good luck Geneal!

Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :

Geneal,

This is definitely an interesting topic.

I had done 7 months of oral babs treatment with mepron, zith and Zhang's Art. It was some rough herxing, but I was herxing on anything in those days.

I had started seeing the light at the end of the tunnel when I fell hard and my LLMD referred me to a more aggressive LLMD that had me doing IV.

Last Tuesday, he started me on IV Zith, artiminisin and mepron. During the IV, I was so darn sick. So nauseated and achey and all you discuss.

Since I had been on art and mepron in the past, I just assumed it was the IV Zith. This was just a few days from Christmas and I was so messed up, even crawling to the bathroom had me falling over on to the floor.

As I said, I THOUGHT it was the IV Zith, but perhaps the art has more to do with it than I gave it credit for. Or maybe this particular trio, but wow....by what you are saying and what I have been feeling, I definitely need to believe we are killing something off in high gear.

Good luck to you and keep us posted.

Cathy

Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :

I hate to even admit it....but it makes me feel better to know

That there are others feeling crummy like me.

Misery (in my case) loves company. [Big Grin]

I just took my art (100mg).

Immediate headache, body aches, etc.

Weird thing is I did mepron/biaxin for 10 months straight.

LLMD switched me back to malarone in November.

Just gave me the green light to add in art.

Bought it, but have been waiting until after Christmas day to start it.

I wanted to enjoy Christmas.

I've been feeling pretty good lately.

Major decrease in air hunger, joint pain, etc.

Then the art.

First day not so bad. Hardly noticeable except for night sweats (all night!).

Yesterday it hit me like the Herx truck.

Except it didn't park outside my door, it parked on top of me! [Eek!]

Off and on nausea (yuck!), headache from heck, neck pain, body pain, etc.

I actually am only taking malarone (4 a day), diflucan and art.

I took a month off of other antibiotics.

First time in two years without any antibiotics except diflucan.

My LLMD put me on periactin for weight gain and told me to get off my diet.

My weight had dropped to 94lbs. He was very concerned.

So, here I've been....happily eating sugar (it is an adjustment),

Eating carbs, eating everything I can get into my mouth (Thanks periactin),

Putting on weight (Now up to 102lbs!), feeling pretty much okay.

No yeast issues as no antibiotics.

I knew the Honeymoon had to end.

I'll be in touch with you all as my aching head allows.

Hope this passes before I go apply for a job in the next two weeks.

(Hope springs eternal for me). [Smile]

Hugs,

Geneal

Posted by ctlyme (Member # 9022) on :

Wiserforit 2 - do you pulse the Zhangs Art or do you take it as he suggests in his book?

Are you on the full protocol and do you feel you are having good results?

Thanks

Posted by wiserforit2 (Member # 18286) on :

ctlyme -- Yes, I'm doing the Zhang Babesia protocol first: Allicin, Artemesiae, Circulation P and IA#3. Once symptoms subside and I graduate, I'll move onto different herbs as listed in the book.

Two weeks ago when I was feeling pretty rugged, Dr. Z gave me acupuncture and it stopped the symptoms for about a day. Right now he's in China, so no relief around the corner yet.

I don't know about improvement yet, because I'm having my butt kicked by the Herx Monster. I am also taking Bicillan 1.2 MU once weekly and together with the herbs -- things are rough. Something is definitely happening....but no light at the end of the tunnel yet.

So if you can be happy about nausea, headaches, dizziness, etc... I'm pushing in that "happy" direction!

Are you thinking of trying Zhang's Protocol?

Best,

wiserforit

Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :

This is interesting and timely for me, as I've not been treated for babesia yet but have 2x added in artemesinin to do some killing of it, in the event I have it. I've been on a Rizol for bartonella which has oil of art in it, and darned if it hasn't been 5weeks and something brutal is happening! Incredible fatigue, headache and body pain, imbalance/vertigo@! I bet it's babesia!

Posted by ctlyme (Member # 9022) on :

I will try Zhangs soon. Waiting for phone consult after his return.

I have been of ABX(IV for 8 months) and want to switch it up a bit and give Herbs a good try.

My tentative plan is to use Zhangs to see how i respond and to what i respond to(especially Art.) and then to maybe add in Mino(have not tried that yet).

Part of my problem is my LLMD doesn't combo drugs or use cyst busters.

Funny how some think you must pulse the Art but others don't.

I will try to keep up w/ your progress. Hope you see real improvement soon.

Posted by MariaA (Member # 9128) on :

Geneal,
I lost weight too and it was starting to be concerning. I started eating 'bad' foods like sugar, and had quick weight gain and no yeast for some reason. however, I don't think it's ultimately a good way to go for weight gain.

ONce my babesia nausea subsided I started trying to eat other kinds of high-calorie foods rather than just sugary ones. I'm sure you know all of this, but I was worried for a couple of months that all the sugar I was eating (because nothing tasted good and I had no energy to cook) was actually delaying my improvement in ways that perhaps weren't related to candida but more related to other bad effects of sugar on the body. This is all speculation on my part.

Posted by lymielauren28 (Member # 13742) on :

Hey Geneal,

I've been out of town for the past week and almost missed both of your threads.

So, the art packs that big of a punch, huh?! So sorry that you're feeling bad, but how encouraging that it's doing something!!

I just ordered my art not even 5 minutes ago, so it should be here in the next couple of days [woohoo]

I do have a question: Does anyone know if it's okay to take minocycline and artemisinin together? I was just wondering b/c I know mino and malarone are a no-no. I just started 300 mg of mino a few days ago,but would like to continue treating babs...

I sure hope your herx ends soon!!

Lauren