My wife started low dosage of doxy back in April. Recently she added biaxin (about 10 days ago). Today she woke up with puffy face, especially on both eyes and nose area. She feels fine, she claims.
So far she has not seen any great deal of herx, except that her left side knee becomes swollen.
Could this be the further sign of herx or anyone thinks we should call her doc. to make sure if she needs to address other issues?
Thanks.
Posted by Ocean (Member # 3496) on :
I'm not sure. Is the puffiness accompanied by redness or itching? I assume not, since you said your wife feels fine.
I know people can get edematous due to release of toxins. Does she have a fever, or is her resting heart rate higher than normal?
I would assume it is OK, but how swollen is she? Can she open her eyes normally? Is the area surrounding the nares being hindered in breathing capability?
I think calling the doc may be a good idea, he should be able to tell you whether it is a significant finding or not.
Please keep us updated =)
Ocean
Posted by LittleLymie19 (Member # 15610) on :
I have this same issue, and I've always wondered what it was.
My feeling is that it has to do with detox. Ocean is right, when people become too toxic, they often develop edema. The strange this is, is that I only get it in my face. It sounds like your wife has this same issue.
Is your wife doing anything for detox?
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
Ocean and Littlelymie,
Yes, she can open her eyes and breath. Without me saying so to her this morning, she wasn't even aware of her face.
She is not doing anything particular to detox, other than she takes probiotic, Vitamins, Fish oil, that sort of thing.
How exactly does one detox?
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
Ocean - I will also try to call. Have a good weekend.
Posted by Tabby (Member # 13917) on :
Oh my gosh, I'm so happy someone else is writing about this, I have had this problem for going on 3 or 4 years now, starting with just my eyelids and slowly progressing to nearly my whole face, as well as gums. My LMD has no clue what it is from though he thinks maybe it could be from yeast. I think it might be from a thyroid issue, I've read that hypothyroidism can cause facial swelling. I would love to figure it out though and have it fixed, I'm an actress and though I don't look horrible it definitly has made me less attractive and less like myself. If anyone else has more info or anyway to fix it, I know I would appreciate it so much!
Posted by Leelee (Member # 19112) on :
I am not sure if my puffy face is from herxing or Lyme symptoms, but it swells up like I have the mumps. My face feels like jelly or like I have fluid underneath the skin.
I also get swelling under my chin. I believe that is where the sub-mandibular nodes are located.
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
When I grew up, people always thought that puffy face is somehow related to weak kidney function. Stress or lack of sleep were often blamed for it. I wonder if that has any truth to it.
Posted by psano2 (Member # 11711) on :
If she's not wheezing or itching, then there's a good bet that it's not an allergy.
I experienced swelling of lymph nodes under the jaw and swollen knees several times. I think it's a sign of a lot of die off which is being drained out of the area by the lymphatic system. When there's a large die off of bugs, that would be accompanied by the release of toxins which can cause inflammation of the area, stimulating swelling.
My swelling was temporary. I don't have any explanation for having it for extended periods of times though, unless you've been having a continuous die off.
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
psano2 - Good to hear that. From what yo said, it makes sense that it is not an allergic reaction to drugs. There is no irritating sensation other than the slightly puffy look.
We will just keep watching for a few days and see if it goes away.
Thanks for all who responded.
[ 06-20-2009, 10:53 PM: Message edited by: wtl ]
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I have swelling in my eye lids even when I am not on meds. There is no irritation just swelling. Some days it goes away. I think I am holding fluid but don't know why.
Posted by Amy C (Member # 19297) on :
I get this on my eyes. I haven't noticed if it is anywhere else on my face?
For detox she could try some herbs. I buy mine through this company.
The membership is free and you get money back if you spend so much.
Here is what I use: ~Liver Cleanse Formula (you can also use Milk Thistle) ~Bowel Detox ~Urinary Maintenance ~Lymphomax (detox for your lymph nodes)
Valerie recommended these to me and this company. Compared to other places I checked out they have good products for a good price.
Posted by janis1023 (Member # 15942) on :
The facial swelling is the result of a possible allergic reaction to parasites, an unchecked inflammation cascade, Eosinophilic Fasciitis autoimmune disease or hereditary. Whatever the cause, the swelling is called angioedema.
It took me five years to figure this out. Concentrate on supplements that reduce inflammation and acidic ph.
Also really work on trying to relax. Stress can bring it on just as it can bring on an asthma attack.
Detox baths with epsom salt and hydrogen peroxide can also help.
Good luck to all.
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
Amy - Thank you for the reference from Valerie. I assume that once you become a member, you can order the product and have them shipped to you online?
janis - Thanks. That's a lot of info. I bet stress is a big factor. I will also look into autoimmune and hereditary part of your statement.
[ 06-22-2009, 09:38 AM: Message edited by: wtl ]
Posted by LittleLymie19 (Member # 15610) on :
Janis, would that mean that treating parasites would reduce the inflammation (if one were to try to detox while killing them)?
Posted by Amy C (Member # 19297) on :
Yes it gets shipped directly to you. I think I joined through her? I can't remember. LOL Maybe you can just join on their site? If you decide to join and can't get it to work let me know.
Posted by Jenna77 (Member # 16737) on :
I frequently get the puffy face. Mostly my eyelids and under my eyes. My LLMD told me this symptom was typical of Bartonella.
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
Well, there you go, Jenna. She definitely is bartonella positive. Maybe that's what she got. Today the puffiness seems to go away already.
Posted by janis1023 (Member # 15942) on :
LittleLymie19, I have an LLMD and an ENT who referred me to the LLMD. My ENT witnessed tissue swelling but until I saw angioedema on Mystery Diagnosis, looked it up and printed pictures of various swellings, did he realize that was it. Knowing I have Lyme he naturally decided to treat allergic reaction to parasites. I go everyweek for allergy shots and am shrinking little by little.
Meantime I am taking wormwood and samento for the parasites because it seems logical to me that eliminating the parasites would accomplish the same goal.
The autoimmune disease I mentioned is definitely linked to Lyme.
Posted by Tabby (Member # 13917) on :
Janis, Thanks for putting a name to what I've been dealing with for so long. I looked it up in detail and that definitly seems to be what it is.
Did your doctor give you any strong antihistimine to try and deal with it? And have any of your shots or herbs made a differance so far in the swelling?
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
Hi Janis - Can you provide me a link to those pictures? I do not seem to be able to find it. Thanks.
Posted by Healing in Santa Cruz (Member # 7798) on :
Also look into Pyrroluria. You can do a search here.Its been around for a long time but new to lyme and chronic illness. It has a lot to do with not being able to detox and many other symptoms,one being swelling of face. I have the problem with the swelling in my face.Its also very uncomfortable. Hopefully the KPU protocal I am on will help.
[ 06-27-2009, 02:01 PM: Message edited by: Healing in Santa Cruz ]
Posted by LuLuFlorida (Member # 12066) on :
Sorry you are experiencing this, so am I and have been for years. It started with just my eyes swelling up like an allergic reaction or like I had been crying. Now my whole face swells up, sometimes worse on one side. My LLMD calls my face "puffy". I am really embarrassed about it because it makes me feel very ugly and not look like myself. When I smile my teeth barely show because they are my cheeks get so swollen. My face went from being slender to being pear shaped. I have a hard time detoxing so I would like to know whats the cause of this too. My lips and tongue also swell now as well. Ugh, lyme can cause anything... I also have horrible bartonella...
Posted by janis1023 (Member # 15942) on :
Tabby, I am so happy to have helped someone! They say this condition is rare, but I bet it's just NEVER DIAGNOSED.
I am taking Zyrtec on my own hoping to speed up process but Dr, did not tell me to. He just does 2 allergy shots, one is COT and one is homeopathic.
LULUFLORIDA, In the beginning I would tell people "I am not supposed to look this" but stopped bothering to cause they thought I was in major denial about how fat I was could not possiblity understand what I was talking about.
WTL: google Hereditary Angioedema. Their websites informs of all types of angioedema.
Later!
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
Thanks again, Janis. I saw some pictures and some of them are amazingly similar to what my wife looked like.
So I assume that you went to your regular doc for the allergic shots and then follow up your own by taking zyrtec? I will print some pictures up and try the doc here. I don't hold any hope though that she will know anything about Lyme though because in the past she agrees that ticks respect Ohio borderlines.
Posted by janis1023 (Member # 15942) on :
wtl, No, I have fired both my recent regular doctors because I tried every way I could think of to get them to help me with the swelling and weight gain and all they would do is insult me and call me fat.
My ENT (ear, nose, throat) doctor is very much into alternative medicine. He gives me the allergy shots.
My LLMD now understands what I was talking about because he sees me shrinking and changing. At my worst I had no neck, no chin, stomach looked like I had a whole watermelon inside, legs and ankles were huge.
If I can figure how to post pictures I will show you.
I do not recommend this, but I read Danazol, a male (androgen) hormone sometimes fixes this, I ordered from an online pharmacy and it is really helping, too.
I will try anything to get rid oif this disfiguring horror. I told husband no sex till swelling goes down and it has been a long wait....