i think i may have posted this before. but how do you know if you are herxing or if whatever you are taking or doing is ineffective and your lyme disease is just becoming worse. i usually feel lousy whether i take/do anything or not and sometimes i feel really horrible, so how do i know what is a herx?
Posted by AZURE WISH (Member # 804) on :
Honestly it took me a little while to figure that one out. So basically I dont think anyone can really tell you because we dont all react the same way - for me it was just making observations from my expereinces.
If you can keep a list of symptoms and how bad they are everyday. Then maybe you can notice some kind of pattern developing.
For me when I get worse it is usually a herx (Unless I went off abx)... Trust your gut instincts and if you think you might be getting worse I would discuss this with your dr.
Maybe someone else has a clearcut way to tell you to distinguish between the two - sorry keeping a symptom log is my best advice.
Best wishes
Posted by char (Member # 8315) on :
Hi Jerry,
It would help us if we had a little more information on what is going on with you...
Are you seeing a lyme literate dr? How long have you been on antibiotics and what?
In general, feeling worse is a good sign; and the way out is through.
Char
Posted by TheCrimeOfLyme (Member # 4019) on :
Jerry
It took me alot of patience, alot of tears, a pen , three months and a dollar store notebook to figure that out.
AFter 3 months of warping my brain with the same question you are going through, I sat down and read my journal that I wrote in EVERY DAY for three months. Im talking a health journal here. I never missed a day writing in it.
At the end of three months, I was clearly able to point out that when my journal said "holy crap I'd rather die"
that it was a herx. I found a pattern. It seemed that the third week of every month, I had been writing that, so I considered that my herx week.
Of course, the rest of the time I still had lyme pretty bad and the journal pointed out all the symptoms,
but my point being? write it all down. Some people NEVER see a pattern. I got lucky.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
The best way I know is to stop any abx and see if you feel better or worse.
If you feel better, it's a herx.
Posted by jerry travers (Member # 9774) on :
actually, i have not taken any antibiotics, just herbals and alternatives. my doctor told me i have a weak liver and don't detox efficiently.
Posted by SAK (Member # 7387) on :
Gosh, I wish I could help more. I'm still lost with abx and herx reactions. I keep a journal too!
A herx goes away after abx, like Lymetoo said.
I think it's great advice to trust your instinct. A good dr should hopefully steer you in the right direction.