I have had Lyme since Mar. After taking months to get diagnosed, I was put on Doxy- thought I was going to die.
Then I found a wonderful integrative medicine Doc who put me on Samento.I have felt much better.
You start slowly with one drop and work your way up until you herx then drop back a drop until you feel better.
My question is- are you still killing the critters without herxing?
Posted by gemofnj (Member # 15551) on :
my llmd uses samento also to transition some folks INTO abx and also out of abx.
she also uses it as a prophylactic. i know it keeps the critters at bay because i am currently using it since i am in remission.
i do believe that abx is much more effective as it can penetrate better into the cells.
but it cant hurt if your doctor is ramping you up for another abx, or you are very sensitive to traditional abx.
as far as killing them, i'm not sure, but i have my doubts.
would anyone else have any info??
good luck in your treatment.
Posted by ott70 (Member # 18237) on :
Some doctors believe you don't need to herx. I believe the herxing comes from too much bacteria
die-off and the body not being able to handle the toxic overload. That's why some people use detox methods.
Comments from one naturopathic doctor:
In truth, a severe Herxheimer reaction is a sign of poor elimination pathway drainage, poor organ
support, and poor treatment by your doctor. The bodies of most chronic Lyme sufferers are toxic
dumps to start with, therefore, if a doctor does not get the pathways of elimination open and
working, the body grows even more toxic as the bacteria begin to die and their toxins dump.
Many doctors think good treatment is indicated by the fact that you feel like crap, i.e., worse
than usual, which they feel confirms that they have selected an effective antibiotic. Most of
my chronically ill patients cannot afford to feel worse just from the treatment. The person
with Lyme disease has already suffered enough; they don't need to go through a "herx" just to prove they have Lyme disease.
One of the more popular herbal remedies on the market causes such a severe herx that it is
advised that only one drop be taken. Because of my previous Lyme disease books, I have spoken to
hundreds of people from all over the world who have taken natural products and/or
pharmaceuticals and now not only have their old symptoms but many new symptoms as well.
Remember, no matter what you decide to take, whether the resulting herx is a true bacterial
die-off or is a direct toxic effect of the remedy/medication, these toxins must be given
just as high a priority as the actual infection. Chronic Lyme sufferers do not have adequate
detoxification mechanisms to detoxify these Bb toxins.
Posted by Buster (Member # 19472) on :
As long as you keep getting better and better and your blood work keeps looking better... Posted by eshorediva (Member # 20483) on :
Thank you for your comments. I'm feeling so much better on Samento than doxy. I just hope it's doing something. But as long as I feel good, I don't care at this point.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
You don't have to herx, but you have to take something that is EFFECTIVE and killing the keets. When that is taken, MOST people WILL herx.
Samento isn't very strong and may not work. Keep that in mind in case you begin relapsing.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I agree with Lymetoo. But you also have to do something to prevent yeast.
Posted by Cindy Ss (Member # 20797) on :
Are we supposed to go off of abx for 1-2 days to help herx so body can recover then go back on?
That is what my info from Dr. says...
I am on 2 day break and will start ceftin again Monday but anxiety is much better with short break. If you can get through herx with letting your body catch up, I was told it was better than suffering through it?
What are your thoughts...
Cindy S
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
You only go off IF you absolutely can't tolerate the herx.
Surviving is essential, suffering is optional. Back off only when necessary. Your body can handle only so much.
I see the same dr.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Yes I agree. If you kill the bugs that are inside
the cells the cells are damaged. It requires a
little time for the body to make those cells we
lost. Plus we have the damages to filter out and
get rid of so we don't have a poison buildup. But its a real good sign your hitting something.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Yes Cindy, I did the same. I eventually got angry and pushed through a couple. I think the approach of baking off makes sense if you are very ill.
I think the office was a bit too fast to say take 2-3 days off at times. I went with my gut and pushed through some bad times to avoid Abx resistant organisms. Overall though, if you're struggling horribly, destroying yourself with toxicity is a bad answer. I couldn't have pushed through in the beginning.
I feel pushing though helped me make some gains I never did before.
Good luck.
Posted by Leelee (Member # 19112) on :
I don't think one needs to herx to have successful treatment. If the right abx are used for the right amount of time and the bacteria is being killed that is what matters.
My LLMD used Samento for me too, but only in the beginning few weeks before starting me on abx. I don't think it is strong enough to really work long term and I have been told also that over time it loses its effectiveness.
Once I started on abx he told me to discontinue the Samento.
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