posted
Oh, man. I feel worse tonight than I have since I can't remember when. Fever, sweats, chills, exhausted (like, don't want to MOVE), nauseated, headache, horrible pain that darvocet doesn't even touch and blurry vision. Plus I'm tearful and fitful and feel like clenching my teeth and screaming.
Oh, and I started my period today too - of course.
I feel like I have the worst flu in history.
I feel like I should be in a hospital.
This *can't* be how I'm supposed to feel after two doses of Doxy and one day on supplements.
Now I think maybe I shouldn't take any more supplements until I know if the doxy's making me this bad or what.
How am I supposed to know what to do??
Ouch, Ugh and bleh Sarah
Posts: 91 | From East TN | Registered: Mar 2007
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It's a long hard road and just know that the 'bad' or 'worse' feeling is truely a good sign, it means the meds are doing what they need to be doing.
I got alot worse while on meds myself, what got me thru was knowing what I stated to you above, not to mention prayer and also support from those that lived the illness with me.
Posts: 374 | From NJ | Registered: Aug 2006
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
I'm not a doctor but in my opinion it is best to start one thing at a time and keep notes so that you can track down the effect of each thing that you are taking.
I go through my diary right before I see my LLMD and pick out important info and type it up so that he can see the effect of each thing that he has prescribed for me. This helps him make decisions about what to do next.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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If it gets too difficult, call your LLMD and ask if you should back off the meds a bit.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Health
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6034
posted
Yes, it is tough, I had to start off with 100mgs of Doxy a day, and work up, and even with this dosage, had a herx that sent me to ER on the 14th day or so.
I had stabbing chest pains from Doxy EVERY time I breathed, I cried for over a week from this, and I dont cry easy, and had to sleep sitting up because the agonizing pain was so severe each breath I took, I was up at ER because I thought
it was my heart, it was really bad, waited a day, then up to ER, and waited 8-10 hours and nothing showed. Had to sleep sitting up
for over a week. I also dont take lots of supps, supps make me mostly very ill. The better the lyme is, the better I am at handling supps.
Even Vitamin C gave me immense pain when lyme is bad, I react to all supps if lyme is bad.
So, I agree, try only the Doxy and some probiotics for a week or so, see what is what.
It is tough, more then tough, I had to go into the deepest part of me and find some strenght it became so bad sometimes. I know... it can be more
horrid then horrid.
Trish
Posts: 1250 | From Canada | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
UPDATE: I'm a total wimp. I threw up for three hours straight, got a horrible headache and then made hubby take me to the ER. I figured they'd get an IV in me, some zofran and send me home. I was right on, except get this:
I made the mistake of mentioning I was being treated for Lyme. The duck spent three minutes on my history (try condensing 7 years of symptoms and doc's visits into 3 minutes, esp when you're vomitting) then ordered VALLIUM for me. LOL
I refused the Vallium and the duck never showed his bill again, though I expect we'll see his large bill in the mail in a few weeks.
Anyway, I feel relatively better now, still swelling at fingers and knees, headachey, achey achey and dizzy/droopy/loopy feeling.
I'm not taking *anything* tomorrow and I'll call my llmd on Monday about continuing Doxy. Maybe if I pair it with zofran? Do they do that ever?
I feel kinda special. I've had my first "Lyme? You must be crazy. Here, have a vallium." response from a duck. I feel like I went through some sort of initiation. Do I get a membership card? Nifty Lyme Aid pin?
Now, where's that alligator pit? I've got a duck and his vein-ripping nurse to toss in!
Sarah
Posts: 91 | From East TN | Registered: Mar 2007
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Dear Sarah,
Hang in there. I herxed for a full month when I started doxy.
I've been given more xanax and paxil....enough to knock an elephant out.
I never take it. Just throw it away...
Drink lots of water, especially with that doxy.
I had to take mine with food to eliminate any stomach upset.
I would call my LLMD and see what he/she says.
Hope this passes quickly for you.
Welcome to the "It's not Lyme. you're CRAZY club!!!
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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ByronSBell 2007
Unregistered
posted
i remember my first dose of ABX i got knocked on the floor in about 2 hours. i still get knocked onthe floor but not quite as bad as that time
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I'm so very sorry that your first treatment has hit you so hard. It's the pits as so many here can testify to.
I am glad you have a supportive husband. Not being alone is definitely a plus. And you have the support of people here who have been down the road you are on.
I am also glad you found someone to treat you. Sounds like you might need to go slower with the ABX and be sure to take your probiotics. I hope the practitioner who is treating you will have some good advice.
I'm here if you need me....pm me and I'll give you my phone number anytime.
Blessings, Janet
-------------------- DISCLAIMER: No information presented above should be considered medical advice or take the place of advice given by a medical professional. Links to other sites are provided merely for ease of research. Posts: 287 | From Tennessee | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
Welcome to herxing! Sounds like the doxy is working. I'd back off it some, but not completely. Also stop the supplements as someone already suggested and add them in one at a time.
Once during a particularly bad herx, skipping two days of supplements and the morning dose of meds was enough to make me feel somewhat better.
Call your LLMD tomorrow!
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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sometimesdilly
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9982
posted
just one small thing to add-
unfortunately, the timing of your period probably intensified everything.
just before and during periods is an especially wicked time for lyme symptoms to kick up. not sure if a first herx would be magnified too, but it would make sense.
you know that expression- this too shall pass? it is a keeper thought for the lyme treatment journey.
Sending you hugs and hopes that things brighten up for you soon.
dilly
Posts: 2507 | From lost in the maze | Registered: Aug 2006
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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minoucat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5175
posted
Sarah, some people just cannot take doxycycline because of the stomach upset. I was OK at the 200 mg dose, but after a while I could not keep it down at the 400 mg dose.
Do talk to your doc about this. You may be herxing, or you may be reacting to the meds. Extreme herxing is not a good idea, and neither is tearing up your stomach taking a med you can't tolerate. You really NEED your stomach -- also, you can't absorb oral meds if your stomach is a mess.
There is an alternative to doxy, called Doryx, which is a different formulation of the same stuff and is much easier on the stomach. The problem is it's very expensive if you don't have insurance for it. There are other drugs dnd drug combos, however, so you're not stuck.
In my experience it's best to ramp up slowly (at least over several days, maybe longer) to tolerance, eat a lot of bulky food with the doxy and keep something in your stomach at all times, don't lie down after taking doxy, and use hot packs (heating pads or the kind you microwave) to ease your stomach.
I don't know the dose you're on, but you might be able to stay on a lower dose than the usual 400 mg -- dosage really should be by weight, but docs tend to prescribe the higher end doses that are the same for the 100 lb ballerina as for the 250 lb linebacker.
Be sure you're on excellent probiotics.
This is pretty much how LD tx goes. Usually, and especially if you've had it a while, treatment is long -- 14 months is the shortest my doc says he's been successful in with a chronic Lymie -- and you have to keep recalibrating. It's upsetting and a lot of work, and not at all the norm that we think of when we think of medical treatment, but that's the reality.
Good luck.
-------------------- ********************* RECIDITE, PLEBES! Gero rem imperialem! (Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business.)
canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
minoucat - That is a fantastic sig. I think I'm going to add that one to my home e-mails! Is that OK with you? Where did you get that?
TuTu: Now this brings up a great great point. What _do_ we say when we get to that horrifying poing of not being able to avoid going to the ER. This is a particularly poignant problem for me as I'm in Canada, and my GP is "going along" with my US doc.
So...I'm on Bicillin for what, exactly?
BTW; I think my chocolate / sugar tolerance has gone the way of the alcohol. I had two *tiny* as in truly tiny easter eggs, and one Ferrero Rocher. Boy do I feel ill!
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
I had a very bad reaction to darvocet once so you may want to change pain meds.to see what happens. See your dr. ASP.
Posts: 789 | From CT, | Registered: Jun 2006
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