Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
Hello all I have had a puzzling week and am hoping others can shed some light. I have been fighting Lyme for 2 1/2 years, most recently took Biaxin and Plaquenil for about one year; and my LLMD (Dr. D in Boston)just switched me to Tetra, 1500 mg 2x day. In the past 3-4 months I have been increasingly better, the last couple of months only having 3-4 random days out of the month with any symptoms to speak of, usually occurring after several days of hard work. Just about 3 weeks ago I had a minor herx, 3 days, not too bad, and it had been over 3 months since the last one. I really thought the end might be in sight!
Well, about 4-5 days after starting the Tetra I am really sick. I have been flat out in bed for 8 days now, weak, unable to do much of anything, severe pain at times in my head, shoulders, neck, back, and often my skin just hurting all over. I have been sleeping some days 18 or more hours. Some days have been a little better, some a little worse; but not consistent. For example I felt worse today than yesterday, so when I think I am getting a little better, I'm wrong! Also if I am awake, it's at night. I am up for sure from midnight to 5 or 6 am, then sleep all day. So again, this has only been for about 8 days, I don't want to over dramatize it.
Here are my questions:
1. Clearly this is a herx from switching to Tetra; which I assume is a good thing. However I am taken by surprise as I considered myself to be close to being cured here....with several months of very minimal symptoms. Is it normal to have such a severe herx (this is probably the worst I've ever had) when one is seemingly so close to getting over the disease? Is that a bad sign, that there is lots of Lyme bacteria still in my body, and I'm not really that much better, or is it a good sign that I'm so much better the Tetra is easily able to quickly kill off the rest of the bacteria, making me of course really sick in the process?
2. How long might this last?
I am willing to ride it out; the worst problem is I can't work at all which is not good, but otherwise I can manage the pain and fatigue. I am taking Vicodan if the pain is really bad, otherwise ibuprophen.
I did email DR. D but he is away right now; sometimes I find the experiences of others here to be the best information anyway! I would love to know if anyone can shed some light on this...I just want to know it's an expectable reaction, and not a complete invalidation of the progress I thought I'd been finally making! Thanks!!!!!!
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
1.Yes it sound like your herxing and a VERY NORMAL thing especially when you change meds. Everyone usually has that kind of reaction when they add in something new, be it a herb or med.
2. It depends on each person how long it lasts. Mine was 4- 6 months of real bad fatigue and pain before it got better. But, if it gets too bad you have have to ask your LLMD to lower your dose for now so you are able to work, if thats what you need to do.
posted
I'm sorry you're feeling so bad after feeling so well for so long! Stinks!!!
I thought someone posted here that doxy [and I think tetra is in the same class??] can get to SOME of the babesia symptoms?
So maybe you need to be tested for that as well??
Hopefully, others will be along to help. Hope you get in contact with Dr D soon.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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JimBoB
Unregistered
posted
NO, it is NOT "normal" for just about EVERYTONE to have BAD herxes when adding in NEW HERBS. Totally NOT true. IF you add in the WRONG ones, then, MAYBE you will have a herx, even a BAD one.
I did this last summer when adding in COPTIS WHILE STILL TAKING Andrographis. A no-no.
Otherwise, any and ALL of my herxes with herbs have been VERY small. Certainly don't STOP ME from working. Just can't be on concrete for extended periods of time without quite a bit of pain.
I went on Amoxicillin almost two weeks ago FOR PROSTATIS. And I have been herxing more with that. But the herbs are EASY on the body, for the most part. UNLESS you happen to be alergic to ONE of them.
THAT is more what it sounds like to me. I canNOT believe you are taking 3,000 mg of Tetracycline a DAY?????? THAT is crazy amounts. I would be dead already FOR SURE. I could NOT handle even 200 mg a day of that.
IF it were me, I would STOP IT INSTANTLY. SO I could go on living. I for the life of me STILL CANNOT understand WHY some of you people THINK it is a GOOD THING to feel BAD?!?!?!?!
Personally, I HATE feeling bad, even a little. BUT I am 65+ and expect it as Chronic Arthritis runs on my mother's side of the family. Many were wheelchair bound before age 70.
Even Ibuprofin is NOT GOOD for you. Take as little as possible. I rarely take it. I have Strong Prescription Pain Medicine here, but never use it. It has been sitting on the shelf for OVER a year.
IF it is not "natural", it does NOT belong in our bodies. Period. There is ALWAYS another way to go. Always!
I fear for you. And anyone who would blindly believe ANYONE, including ME, without delving into it for yourself, from EVERY vantage point possible, BEFORE you destroy your body.
Sounds like your doctor doesn't even care enough to leave a phone number to be reached in emergencies? WOW!
I sincerely HOPE you find an answer while you still can.
Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
OOPS; I checked the bottle and I put up the wrong dose. I thought the pills were 500 mg but they are 250, so it's 1500 mg a day!!!!!! Sorry! And I'm sure he does have a phone number, I don't bother him unless I think it's an emergency; so I didn't even try. I really do think it is a herx, i just wanted to hear from others hoping they had similar experiences.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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quote:Originally posted by JimBoB: NO, it is NOT "normal" for just about EVERYTONE to have BAD herxes when adding in NEW HERBS. Totally NOT true. IF you add in the WRONG ones, then, MAYBE you will have a herx, even a BAD one.
Who said anything about HERBS?
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Tracy9: OOPS; I checked the bottle and I put up the wrong dose. I thought the pills were 500 mg but they are 250, so it's 1500 mg a day!!!!!! Sorry!
YIKES! No wonder!! I've done something similar before! Lyme brain!
Maybe you'll feel lots better in a day or two!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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When did I say you would herx BAD??????? I never said BAD herxes... I said "Usually" people CAN herx by adding in some NEW MEDS OR HERBS!!!! Go back and read my post before you rip it up.
I HAVE HERXED off of herbs.... like Rhodiola, Pau D' Arco, and even vitamin C and many others. Maybe your not aware of your own body and when you introduce something new but I am. I am very careful what I put in my body!
BTW -- JimBob---- Herxing is apart of taking abx. The question is... HOW MUCH WE HERX....... And Tetra is NOT AT ALL like Doxy and Mino. You have to take larger doses to get it to cross the BBB.....
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