mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
I am 2 1/2 years into treatment and recently suspect I have Bart. I have been taking Rifampin 300 mg 2 x per day for about four weeks (since 9/23, half dose the first week). I also take 500 mg Biaxin 2 x per day and supplements.
I began to get very ill last week end and I get sicker and sicker each day. Main symptoms are headache (entire head as well a cluster headache in left temple), nausea, malaise, body aches, fatigue. Each day I wake up sicker than the day before.
Does it makes sense that I would begin herxing the forth week?
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
If the effect is cumulative, then it would make sense.
Hopefully someone with rifampin experience will show up and share their experience.
Is your liver being monitored weekly/bi-weekly by your llmd?
Sorry to hear that and I hope you feel better soon!
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Welcome to the club -- hubby started with 75 mg of Rifampin and took 3 months to get to 450 mg. Then took another 6 weeks to get to 600 mg. He had reactions every time we changed the dose. And after being at full dose of 600 mg for 4 weeks he started having a really bad herx reaction. Has continued herxing for 2 weeks now.
His main herx symptoms are extreme dizziness (the worst he has ever had) and different types of headaches. Some eye pain as well. He has lost a few more pounds in the last couple of weeks also. The day sweats seem to come and go as well. Tremors and myoclonus come and go as well.
Based on 5 years of treating these infections off and on (as finances have permitted) our conclusion is that he has brain inflammation. I increased his IV heparin and restarted him on systemic enzymes to help with coagulation and bloodflow issues. He also restarted butterbur capsules (a combo pill that includes feverfew -- NOW brand) to help with headaches.
We have been waiting for a call back from our LLMD for a week now -- he is at the conference and won't be back til Tuesday. At this point since the dizziness has improved hubby is still willing to tough it out. If things get too bad then we will decrease the rifampin back to 450 mg.
Hang in there. You probably should contact your LLMD to discuss your own case.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
Thanks for the feedback.
Vermont - My liver enzymes are being monitored but not every two weeks. i will ask my Dr. about this. I get to see him on Monday the day he returns from the conference.
Bea: Thanks for your input. My husband thinks it's a bug but I'm thinking a herx. I haven't felt this bad in years. It just keeps getting worse. I didn't take my ABX this a.m. and I'm still pretty sick and don't know what to do with myself. I'm not sure if I have day sweats but I feel cold (because it's fall and we haven't turned the heat on yet) and then I can get very hot quickly if I put on a warm blanket. I feel clammy, sweaty.
I am so glad I have an appointment on Monday.
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
Mojo,
The flu season has already started; there have been cases of it. Get lots of rest and whatever it is, I hope you feel better soon!
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic