Ok, it took a week before it hit but now it has been nearly a week of herxing. I am achy and painful and weak all the time.
The most troublesome issues are the pains and weird feeling in my head. I have pains in my
head, side of my neck, and base of my skull. The one at the base of my skull will sometimes cause
an itching sensation but feels like it is along the path of a nerve. I also have some facial pain that I've not really had much of until now.
My left shoulder has also been causing me pain and makes it hard to get comfortable in bed ... even lying on the opposite side,
it is as if just the weight of my shoulder "relaxing" onto my chest area causes pain.
I swear, it feels like all of my bones are piling up on top of eachother and it's so uncomfortable.
I also have been feeling weak and kind of "woozy headed" and have to watch my balance when walking.
I am very prone to tearfulness right now as well but feeling bad all the time sort of allows for that, I'd guess?
Still having messed up words in my speaking and that gets really frustrating as well!
I am pretty much just rambling on here and just really needed to vent to others who know how this
all feels! Dang, here come the waterworks again!
Kim
Posted by Missyindc (Member # 27598) on :
Kim- That sucks...I'm so sorry! most of us have had something, maybe not as bad, but something similar. Vent all you want, cry, wipe them dry, and realize no, you're not alone. Rest and take it easy on yourself.
Posted by lyme987 (Member # 22148) on :
Kim,
I've been on rimfampin three times already-now I'm on IV 5 times a week. This stuff used to make me so sad and depressed, it was debilitating.
Are you taking any antidepressants? They really helped me while I was on rifampin. I'm on them all the time but when I'm on rifampin my doctor bumps me up by 10-20mg. this is the first time I don't have that overwhelming sadness feeling.
I can sypathize with the pain. I used to say it felt like I was hit with a truck. Pain everywhere and that awful mucky brain feeling.
It really should pass. Hang in there. Rifampin has always helped me. I've had bart for about 25 years (just found out 2 years ago) so I think my progress is great.
Rest if you can- and try and get something for your moods. Rifampin is notorious for causing severe mood disturbances. It's not you- it's the drug. It's always good to know
Hugs and prayers
Posted by TN Kim (Member # 26729) on :
Thank you both so much, Missy and Lyme987. I am on Celexa 40mg. and have been for many years. I have
major depression, Bi-Polar II disorder as well so this certainly isn't helping.
I know I have good reason to be depressed ... 1st losing my 9 week old grandbaby a few days after my tick bite ...
then becoming ill with Lyme and most recently, my youngest daughter got married and didn't want me
to come to her wedding. It's a very long and painful story but my heart is just broken and I
don't see a way for it to ever heal. She was my pride and joy and I spent the past 21 years absolutely
worshiping the ground she walked on and for her to treat me this way has really broken me mentally.
Sorry to share too much here but the physical pain along with the mental is getting to be just
too much.
Kim
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
Oh Kim, I'm so sorry for all of the pain, both physical and emotional, that you are going thru right now.
It sounds like you could use some xanax or klonipin to go along with your celexa while you are on the rimfampin.
Posted by TN Kim (Member # 26729) on :
quote:Originally posted by kidsgotlyme: Oh Kim, I'm so sorry for all of the pain, both physical and emotional, that you are going thru right now.
It sounds like you could use some xanax or klonipin to go along with your celexa while you are on the rimfampin.
I have had Xanax for panic attacks but oddly enough haven't really had any with my Lyme. Strange huh?
Of course, now I have probably jinxed myself! I don't have a current RX for the Xanax anyway so
I would have to request that from my LLMD. I'm thinking more along the lines of pain meds or something to just really help me sleep.
Of course, Xanax helps me sleep but I don't want to get too used to taking that on a regular basis.
Even when I have terrible panic attacks, I still always start with just 1/2 of a pill. My pills are only .5 mg. so I start at .25 mg.
Maybe I should ask for some more and just use them sparingly to get really relaxed ... body and mind ... so I can get good sleep. Hmmm....
I do know that even though I have been sleeping fairly well, my mind is riddled with some CRAZY
dreams every night. Disturbing dreams! Posted by arkiehinny (Member # 26546) on :
Kim, you've been through so much this summer. Maybe your doc could adjust your Celexa or something. I understand.
I finally relented. When I took the 3 weeks off work, I saw a new Psych doc. I'm now on Lexapro & feel so much better! What a relief!
Don't give up!
Posted by TN Kim (Member # 26729) on :
Thank you, arkie! I feel like my Celexa dosage is already higher than I like and sometimes "dream"
about one day going off of it, but I know I can't! Whenever I have let the RX lapse and miss even two
days, it is NOT good! I will consider asking for something for pain and / or relaxation though!
I'm glad that you have found something to help take the edge off for you! Lexapro is "related" to Celexa!
Is it helping with pain as well or just helping you to deal with the pain more easily?
Posted by nefferdun (Member # 20157) on :
You have been through so much, I hope the Rifampin helps you to regain some of your health. Bart is cruel in and of itself but throw in everything else you are dealing with, and you deserve a medal.
Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
Kim, I'm so sorry to hear of your pains. Really.
If it's any consolation, after my 3rd week on Rifampin (the 1st time), I felt like the emotional black cloud lifted and I there I was, just like the old regular me!
My best friend said to me, "Wow, you're back. You are yourself again (after 5+ years)." Lightbulb moment! Hope it happens to you too!
It makes the emotional side of lyme treatment with Rifampin so much easier to deal with if you can see it as a dark path that leads to light! It's so worth it!
Posted by TN Kim (Member # 26729) on :
Thank you, nefferdun. Having others like yourself is a great help to get through these dark days and
of course, my Faith in Christ is my driving force! Having a loving, supportive husband is also a great blessing!
I hate to be a downer here but sometimes we ALL just have to have those moments and I knew other
Lyme friends would understand like NO ONE else!
17hens, I am hopeful for good things from Rifampin eventually! I do have one question that
I may have to get straight from my LLMD though. I learned on my last visit that when I was "pulsing"
the Flagyl, I was supposed to have stopped my other abx but didn't! Now the Flagyl was switched
to Tinidazole (due to all my neuro issues) but I didn't ask if I was also to stop the Rifampin when
pulsing the Tini or just the other abx. Anyone happen to know?
Thank you 17hens also for your encouragement!!!
Kim
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
HI Kim,
What dosage of Rifampin are you on? I'm just curious.
Some LLMDs may give Flagyl (or tindamax) with Rifampin but it is known that the Flagyl will only be absorbed 30% so it's not a great combo.
Let me know if you find out what the doc says about taking both. I may be doing both Tindi and Rifampin but I may pulse the tindi.
How is the herxing today?
Posted by TN Kim (Member # 26729) on :
I haven't found out yet whether I am to continue the Rifampin while taking the Tinidazole or not.
I will try to remember to post the answer when I do find out!
My dosage for Rifampin is 600mg. per day. I take 2- 300mg. pills together first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
I am still herxing today ... very achy / flu-like, random sharp pains and extreme fatigue / weakness.
I'm wondering how long before the Rifampin will ease up on me a bit?
Posted by bncrump (Member # 20374) on :
Just FYI...
For me, I started out taking 1 pill of Rifampin a day, then worked up to 2 pills a day (1 in the morning and 1 in the evening), then 2 pills at the same time.
I did not have the terrible aches/pains that I thought I would to be honest. Maybe you can try splitting up the dosage a little? You may see some relief.
Good luck.
Posted by TN Kim (Member # 26729) on :
Thanks, Bncrump
Posted by TN Kim (Member # 26729) on :
quote:Originally posted by TN Kim: 17hens, I am hopeful for good things from Rifampin eventually! I do have one question that
I may have to get straight from my LLMD though. I learned on my last visit that when I was "pulsing"
the Flagyl, I was supposed to have stopped my other abx but didn't! Now the Flagyl was switched
to Tinidazole (due to all my neuro issues) but I didn't ask if I was also to stop the Rifampin when
pulsing the Tini or just the other abx. Anyone happen to know?
Thank you 17hens also for your encouragement!!!
Kim
I just received my answer from my LLMD on pulsing. He did say to stop all my abx (Ceftin, Doryx and Rifampin) and take the Tinidazole ONLY for 3 weeks then alternate on that schedule.
So, I am glad that I will get a break from the Rifampin!!!
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Dang, here come the waterworks again!![[Wink]](wink.gif)
I don't have a current RX for the Xanax anyway so![[Smile]](smile.gif)