I have finally brought myself to start the doxy today. I cannot believe that I have done it, I have begun.
It was dramatic. I had a nice lunch on the loggia near all of my flowers. I know that I will not see the sun for a long while. I had my pill on a small cystal plate and drank the water from a small crystal wine glass. As the pill went down I listened to my favorite boyhood song "I'll be seeing you" by Liberace. Yes, Liberace. I then did a no no, and smoked a cigarette and enjoyed it ever so much. I have not much contact with my doctor as I am away for the summer from Connecticut and I seem not to remember the rules as I seem to have no memories. A couple of question, my devoted friends. 1. If I herx do I stop drugs? 2. How do I know if it is a herx?
posted
Dear LCA, Carry on my dear brave soul.Its the only way to reach salvation.It didnt take long for me to begin the hammer that is the herx reaction.I was innocent and unprepared for the experience.Your DR. can help be your guide as to how hard a herx to battle thru.Some will say take it slower .Some like mine say tough it out.But make no mistake when it hits you are KILLING THE ENEMY and war is hell.
I began to take action after many an uncaring ID etc .Then one day on my radio program I had a wonderful scientist on named Dr. Katherine Poelman who put me and many of my grateful listeners in the right direction while looking for the causes or CFS FMS MS and other rhuematoid diseases.
My dear GP took a chance and RX the Doxy but I had not read thru the Herx info .I thought it was more of a side effect. HELLO by day four misery.But you know what Ive improved and now IM at this site looking at the strong possibilty of lyme.
The fact remains Im much better herx and all.There are several ideas to cope with the pain some say getting the PH in range is important as the toxins released from the bacteria causes the body to become acid which increases pain.Call you health food store and inquire about products for Ph. The anxiety was hard on me,so I take a valium every now and then to help.But most important your in my prayers. Blessings , Radiogirl
Posts: 140 | From Texas | Registered: May 2006
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posted
No one is ever annoying here, John! This place is where you ask questions, get sympathy, and vent when you have to!
If you herx you will have an exacerbation of your symptoms with maybe a few new ones cropping up! Hang on for the ride!
Occasionally when I was herxing and felt really wretched I would back off for a few days. Not good to suffer too much! Some doctors say you just have to tough it out; but others tell you to take a break. (like a couple of days?)They feel a really bad herx is bad for the patient.
Gather up as much patience and fortitude as you can......and keep thinking that the good days to come are worth the struggle.
I pray every night for lymies everywhere. That includes you!
Good luck! Pick up a copy of Coping With Lyme Disease by Denise Lang since you are far from your doctor.
-------------------- nan Posts: 2135 | From Tick Country | Registered: Oct 2000
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Excellent visual discription! You have a great sense of humor, and that will help you alot on your journey. Glad you have started treatment. What is your doxy dose? You are not annoying! This board is for questions and support, so please don't think that you are annoying, okay, we are all here for each other.
You should continue taking your meds while you herx. Remember a herx is a good sign. Try not to panic when you do start to herx okay, this is a normal and expected reaction. You may feel more tired than normal, some GI upset from the Doxy etc. make sure you take it with a full meal and then take the pill, then eat some more and have alot of water. Dont lie down after you take the Doxy, it can cause nausea if you do that. We have all been there...the herxing is normal when you have Lyme and take antibiotics. So again, try not to panic. I never stopeed taking my antibiotics when i herxed. The whole point of antibiotics is to kill the bacteria, and stopping the antibiotics meant stopping the killing, and I always kept going. I am glad I kept going because I am so much better now! You may notice an increase in symptoms, or the appearance of some new ones, possibly a fever, increased pain etc. of course we are here for you! Stay strong!
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
John, There are things you can do to help your liver process the toxins of the dead Lyme bacteria.
Milk thistle is very good for the liver, and helps it to dump the toxins into the intestines.
Sarsaparilla will bind endotoxins in the blood.
Antioxidants will help mop up the free radicals that result when the mitochondria in your cells produce energy.
Supplementing magnesium will help your body in lots of ways.
Read "Healing Lyme" by Stephen Buhner for other ways to help your body withstand the fight.
Carol
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
John, wish I'd thought of taking my first doxy with a wine glass and served it up on a crystal plate!
If you begin to have a really bad reaction, you may need to briefly stop the meds until you feel better. We don't want to hear that you ended up in the hospital!
My LLMD is of the school that says if you herx too severely you can do permanent damage and it can set you back even further. Not every dr agrees with that so ASK YOUR LLMD!
I had to stop meds for two months one time because I "didn't listen." I was too ill to take another pill...ugh, was I sick!
You're not boring....yet!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Jellybelly
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7142
posted
You sound like quite the character. Crystal, music and all. A sense of humor is a good thing when approaching the herx. Herxing for most of us is usually pretty bad. Some prefer to tough it out and others like myself believe to severe of a herx is not a good thing.
My LLMD says we don't have to be heros, and he doesn't believe in "no pain, no gain". For me, I have chosen to take it slow. My first herx ended me in the ER and kind of scared the beegebbies out of me. I have learned to keep the herx at a level that I can still function. When it gets to be more then I can stand, I back off. Doing it this way has given me remission of about 85-90%. So knock yourself out or be a weeny like me, seems like some of us have achieved similar results.
Listen to your body and know that there are always people here that will be there when you need encouragement.
Posts: 1251 | From california | Registered: Apr 2005
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LostCityAgent
Unregistered
posted
Thank you, dear friends. I will pray on this, still not sure. I remain sad, I just want to go outside like a normal young man.
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posted
What have you got to lose by treating the Lyme? You have ALOT to lose by NOT treating it.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Hi John.
Couldn't you tell we were there with you today, in spirit, of course?
I even had a couple of inches of wine in my wineglass.
That first pill is a hard one to swallow. It means commitment.
But it also is a promise. To vanquish the enemy. Step onto the path. You have lots of us to help you along the way! There is no such thing as a stupid question, unless it's the one not asked.
Keep us posted how you are!
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
Herxing is an absolute roller coaster. One minute you will feel fine, the next you feel like you can't stand it another second, and then you feel fine again. One thing that has helped me get through the toughest herxing is to tell myself just to hold on as long as I can, and it will pass. (and it almost always does!) Before I panic and call the doc, or stop all meds, or freak myself out...I wait a little while (as long as it feels safe, or as much as I feel I can take) and then the herxing usually moves on! It will be back in other forms, places, or pains....but if you keep in mind that it is not a permanent state, and it is actually part of the healing process, it helps get you through.
Just my humble opinion. Hang in there!
Posts: 393 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Jun 2005
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LostCityAgent
Unregistered
posted
OK, good morning Ladies!
I think that I had my first herx last night a little before bed and when I trying to fall asleep (it took hours) or were these side effects? I do not see how they could be side effects because nothing happened all day. No, not evem the nausea. I am going to test to sun little by little. I a, part Hawaiian so maybe I get a "get out of jail free card."
OK, so here is what happened:
Shortly before bed my started to suffer mild shortness of breath and faintness. No, not enough to faint, not enough to notice.
Then in bed, my left food became severly asleep then progressed to extra numb, then the left leg felt like jello. Such as if you were to left up the arm of a dead man it would easily drop. Hard to desribe, then weird sensations.
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yourself out or be a weeny ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
like me, seems like some of us have achieved similar results.![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
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