I'm still rather new to this....how do I know if I am herxing? I do have better days than others, but how do I know if I truely am herxing?
Thanks so much, Sherrie
Posts: 53 | From Phoenix | Registered: Sep 2009
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julielynne4
Unregistered
posted
I am not sure if there is a way to tell 100% i fyou are experiencing herxing or illness symptoms. I still question different things all the time, physical pain and neurological symptoms, and I am not always sure if I am herxing or if it is just part of the illness.
It depends on what things you are experiencing - I know that new symptoms can be signs of herxing, as well as older ones resurfacing.
I know I am herxing when I feel such fatigue that I am completely unable to function normally, and I feel achy and feverish and as if I have the flu.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
Lymetoo you said that sooo well! Direct and straight to the point. Thank You.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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springshowers
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19863
posted
I think if your not sure.. then you most likely are not.. .. I mean its really obvious.. to me anyway....
For others it might be more subtle.. I guess..
Posts: 2747 | From Unites States Of America | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
So how long do herxes last?
Posts: 386 | From Southeastern PA | Registered: Oct 2007
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
I would guess it is gauged by incapacity.
Measurement of a herx is maybe not as important as
what is going on biologically. Killed cells equal
herx equal sickness. So it would appear to be
cause and effect of multipal syndrome phenomena. Anyone else?
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
I can relate to your question. I have been in treatment for 19 months. It took me until about 3 months ago to tell if I was herxing or not. It was because I felt sooo awful "all" the time, that a herx was hard to determine.
Once I started having a few better days, it then became very obvious when I have a herxheimer reaction. For me they last about 4 to 7 days. Those are the days, as Lymetoo so eloquently put it, that I feel like pure &#@&%#&. I have good days and bad days on an ongoing basis, but then bam.....%&#@% happens! Thats a herxheimer.
Also for me, I am noticing that it comes about every 3 to 4 weeks.
The way I discovered this was I started keeping a chart of how I feel on a daily basis. I can now look back at it and see the pattern; but never would have seen it early in my treatment. I just felt too awful every single day then.
The best advice I can give is just hang in there, keep up with your symptoms and eventually you should be able to see the herxheimer pattern.
I actually just finished with one about 3 days ago. It hits hard, last a few days to a week, then gradually lifts. Today I feel a whole lot better. A very obvious change!
Sorry this was so long! Hope it helps!
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
For me the herxheimer reaction was very obvious. It was so severe I was hospitalized. My LLMD at the time said that these herxheimer reactions can last anywhere from a day to a couple of weeks. His belief, as is mine, was that people are not truly experiencing herxheimer reactions months into treatment but instead the wax/wane of symptoms that is a common with this disease itself that hopefully will improve with time and treatment
Posts: 561 | From mass | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
this pretty much describes what a herx can be or feel like
1. Confusion/Disorientation. Your short-term memory will probably be taking a nice long vacation. You may find yourself confused about where you are and what you're doing every time the scenery changes. Like when walking from one room to another, or driving (DON'T!). Sometimes even when just sitting or lying around doing nothing. It could also be even more intense, with temporary bouts of amnesia. But it's a fact of life that vacations do end. This one tends to be about the most disconcerting psychological symptom for most people. Again though, it's caused by the toxin release from the dying bacteria. It will get better and eventually go away! 2. Numbness. Various parts of your body, both those you knew were infected and those you didn't, may go numb for a period of time. Quite often it's just for a day or so, but can also last for many weeks, until enough of the bacteria in that location have been killed that the toxin level finally drops. Don't panic! They all come back! (The numb body parts, that is!) They'll eventually switch from numb to painful, and then finally to normal. 3. Pain. Same as 2), but may be sporadic pains instead of numbness. 4. It's in more places than you know. While you are on effective antibiotics the bacteria are NOT spreading. Never had a problem with your back, but now it hurts? Forearms maybe? Wrists? They hurt now because the bacteria were there all along, and now that they're dying they're releasing toxins. It's the toxin from the dying bacteria that causes the numbness and pain. Dead bacteria is a good thing! 5. Insomnia. And not just at night either. You may find it impossible to nap during the day at all. You may get to enjoy every last minute of the worst part. As the toxin levels fall though, you'll be able to sleep better and better. 6. Hallucinations and voices. These can occur during times when your mind and body are exhuasted but the toxins won't let you sleep. You may be trying to rest, but your brain gets stuck halfway between sleep and awake, dreams and reality mix. Better sleep at night, along with less activity during the day, should help these symptoms disappear. Ask your Doctor about sleeping aids you can use if necessary. However, if you get these symtpoms while you're wide awake and have gotten reasonable sleep, consult your doctor immediately. 7. Tremors, shakes, and spasms. Can occur in various places to varying degrees. The length of time they last varies as well. These may be caused by bacteria dying near, and hence irritating, a nerve which controls motion. 8. Sweats, hot, cold, day and night. Get used to them. You might consider adding just a bit of extra salt to your diet so that you don't becaome salt/sodium defficient. 9. Fireworks, popcorn, or pin-cushion pains. These tend to feel like someone has picked a part of your body and decided to jab it with a pin a few times. Then they go and pick another spot. These are probably just irritations of pain nerves, or perhaps bacteria dying inside a nerve itself. You might notice that they tend to occure in your most affected areas, and that more effective antibiotics cause more of them. 10. Heart palpitations or irregularities. Notify your doctor immediately so that they can determine if the irregularities are severe enough to be dangerous. In some extreme cases, people have been put on a temporary pace maker until the worst of the symptoms have disappeared. 11. Dizziness and Vertigo. It's everywhere else, why be surprised that it's in your ears? Symptoms here can range from a feeling of "walking through jello" to complete loss of orientation. 12. Temporary Amnesia. Really this is just an extension of memory loss symptoms, except that instead of just losing your short-term memory, mid and sometimes long-term memory can go for a hike as well. These symtpoms can last anywhere from just a few minutes, to a few weeks, and will probably only occur during the first month or so of treatment. 13. Aliens Under My Skin. usually felt in the forearms or shins, but can occure anywhere, this feels for all the world like little turtle-shaped aliens crawling around in the affected area. These are actually associated with an attack by your own immune system against the bacteria, and are probably the result of localized swelling and toxin releases from the bacteria dying under the attack. 14. Sudden bouts of weakness and symptoms flares. Your body is fighting the bacteria alongside the antibiotics. But your body isn't always a nice steady predictable stream. Occasionally, and even frequently during the first cycle or two, your body will attack. Sometimes with an all-out-vengeance that will literally leave your knees weak and you panting for breath. In extreme cases, this can actually cause fainting. This can be very disconcerting if your're not expecting it. As long as your heart rate and blood pressure are OK, then youre' probably fine. Go over your drug allergy checklist and consult your doctor if you think it might be a delayed reaction to antibiotics. Normally, this feeling will drop in intensity within a few minutes. 15. Headaches. Can range from not at all if you're really lucky, to some really intense head-splitters. Do whatever you can to survive them. 16. Disconnection. Close your eyes, now where is your arm? OK, look at it now. Doesn't really feel like it looks where it is, does it? The extreme of this symptom is a complete out-of-body experience. As toxin levels fall, you should become more and more re-connected to your body again. And there you were thinking that you were just getting really good at your Yoga exercises....... 17. Panic Attacks. You don't want to get these, really, you don't. It's a feeling of "Oh my God, I'm going to be like this forever, I can't take it please, somebody just kill me and get it over with..." The only possible good thing about this symptom is that it goes away. 18. Bright Colors. Your pupils may dilate a bit. Indeed, you may find yourself wearing sunglasses, inside! 19. Hypersensitive Hearing. Your ears may become hypersensitive to sound. In extreme cases, sound, even very quiet ones, can become painful. 20. Mood Swings, Irritability/Short Temper, Erratic Behavior. Again, all due to the toxin's effect on your mind. These will all clear up as you get well. These symptoms can be especially difficult for those around you to deal with. 21. Yo-Yo. You'll be feeling like one. Up one minute, down the next. You might wake up feeling great one day, only to find that a couple hours later you're back feeling horrible again. UP, down, up, down, all around. Slowly, month after month, the downs will stop being quite so low, and eventually go away. 22. Whatever Else. Everyone is different, and the disease is quite well known these days for just how differently it affects different people. Any other significant symptoms that you are concerned about should be discussed with your doctor.
this is from angelfires site but describes it to a tee !
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