Last week, I was diagnosed with asthma (which I've suspected for almost 7 years, but most doctors have been too incompetent to find it.) I am 31 years old.
Every time I take antibiotics (like Doxy, Zithro, Tindamax, Ceftin, etc..), it flares the HELL out of my asthma so badly that I cannot continue the antibiotic. I assume this is called a "herx". These "herxes" have been so bad that I've been to the E.R. about 20 times (no joke) since getting Lyme disease.
I also tried holistic treatments like Samento, and Artemisinin. But these cause me to LITERALLY SUFFOCATE!
Why do so many abx cause these "asthmatic" side effects? They are BRUTALLY UNBEARABLE!
Please help me!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
It could be from undiagnosed candida/yeast.
Many on the Body Ecology Diet had their asthma disappear after doing the diet.
Or perhaps you always "herx" in this manner due to that being your vulnerable organ?
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
It sounds to me like you have a severe babesia infection that is attacking your lungs. Doxy, Zith, Tindamzx, and Art all treat babesia to some extent.
If I remember correctly Buhner suggests cryptolepis to help with air hunger so maybe that would work on your babesia.
I posted babesia treatment notes from his conference last summer. Will look for the link for you.
Do you know what strain of babesia you have -- microti or duncani (WA1) or something else?
Bea Seibert
Posted by fourwinds (Member # 14114) on :
Isn't asthma "technicallY' inflammation? I'm not discounting the severity of your symptoms... I remember the first time I took 1/2 of a 250 mg tablet of azith... I literally felt like I was suffocating.
I also spent 3 days in the hospital unable to breath and could barely speak above a whisper... I was totally told it was all in my head...as my lung function tests were "normal" with the exception of some slight "difusion" abnormalities.
I have babesia and it affects my lungs as well... I have a constant cough, and pain in my lungs (again)... I treated for over 6 mos, but it's back...
I agree with Bea, the antibiotics are killing something and causing the inflammation in your lungs...
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Yikes! It sounds awful.
I am sorry you are dealing regularly with that suffocating-feeling.
I used cryptolepsis and something else that has helped my "asthma" is Iodoral 50 mg daily.
Be sure to clear it with your doc first, and obviously don't take if you're allergic to iodine.
But prior to the iodoral I was using symbicort and a rescue inhaler twice daily. More if I was exercising.
Since Iodoral I haven't used my inhalers at all and have had only one incidence where my lungs felt stuffy.
But be sure to take to your doc to make sure it won't interact with your other meds/supplements.
Posted by Damien9986 (Member # 42550) on :
Thank you everyone for your great input!
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
I do have a couple of suggestions on things that could help.
Hubby had asthmatic bronchitis once years ago long before tickborne illnesses. His doc gave him antibiotics and an inhaler. He had never used an inhaler before and it made him very jittery. What he felt was also beneficial was the mustard plaster I used on his chest.
I know as a child my mom used onion poultices on me when I had double pneumonia.
Not sure, but a castor oil pack might also be something to research.
And finally when hubby had a cough which was probably the babesia one doc had him do inhaled glutathione thru a nebulizer which he thought was helpful.
Your lungs are not like your liver. They do not grow back. It is very important to reduce inflammation as otherwise you could get scar tissue that would permanently affect lung function. Your body can go thru what is called remodeling I think in medical terms where it learns to work around scar tissue -- but it is a long slow process.
I still don't understand why hubby never had any shortness of breath symptoms or air hunger over the years from his babesia prior to his lung failure, but he did have mild scarring in his lungs from early in his illness but that did not affect his pulmonary function -- all tests were normal and the autopsy said those issues were inactive.
I will probably will never know if the pulmonary nodules and hilar adenopathy were from bartonella or lyme but I do not think that is the way that babesia attacks the lungs.
So, it is also important to remember that babesia is not the only tickborne infection that can affect the lungs.
Bea Seibert
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
Have you been tested to make sure you are not allergic to any of the meds? I had a severe asthma attack when beginning keflex a number of years ago. I ended up in the hospital for several days on IV steroids to breathe. The allergy was later confirmed by blood test. It may be worthwhile and in the interest of safety for your doc to check for allergies to cillins, cephalosporins, as well as others.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Just in case, this might be something you take:
This is about glutathione depletion from acetaminophen in all the body's cells, not just the liver (as most of us are are aware):
. . . Even a single dose of acetaminophen can reduce the body’s levels of glutathione, a peptide that helps repair oxidative damage that can drive inflammation in the airways, researchers have found. . . . -