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» LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » description of what a herx is?

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Author Topic: description of what a herx is?
Jennifer70
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Can some of you describe your herxing symptoms. Im on doxy 3x day and zithro 1x day. About an hour or two after I took my zithro today I got a very heavy feeling, chills, exhaustion...to the point where i felt like i couldnt lift my head up off the pillow, and anxiety and heart racing. My body went numb...it's pretty scary.

just overall a strange feeling. It's happened once before and I thought it was from a supplement i took, but i stopped taking my supplements until i get used to the zithro. I've only been on it a week. I've gone many days in a row where nothing happened...so i don't have a reaction every day to the zithro.

I've calmed down now...took a xanax, and I still feel chills like Im starting to get sick. Just wondering if I'm herxing? I watched video's on youtube of people herxing and it seems like it's pretty intense, but nothing like im experiencing.

[ 02-10-2011, 11:49 PM: Message edited by: Jennifer70 ]

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Psalm 119:50
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

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sixgoofykids
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^

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BoxerMom
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I herx right in time with my antibiotics. When I hit peak blood levels (usually 2 hours after taking), I start to herx.

Your herxing sounds similar to mine, except for the numbness. Chills, exhaustion, anxiety, racing heart are familiar. I herxed intensely for a year, then it got much easier. I was able to work the entire time, though I cut back to 3 days/week.

You should call your doc, especially with the cardiac symptoms and numbness. Sometimes we get allergic reactions or side effects, and a med must be discontinued.

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kday
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That sounds like a herx, yes.

Very rough. All same symptom of you. The anxiety and racing heart is terrible.

Hang in there. You'll be fine even if it doesn't feel like you would.

Those are herx symptoms, and seeing your list of meds, I see no reason to suspect side effects or DCing of meds. Though you should ask your doctor if you are concerned.

I am a quick one to mention side effects, but the way you describe it just sounds like a herx to me.

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Lymetoo
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It can include ANY known symptom of Lyme disease. Sometimes you will have a worsening of your usual Lyme symptoms and sometimes it will be lyme symptoms you've never had before. (oh joy)

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Opinions, not medical advice!

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SashaC
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Hell. It feels like Hell, and mine last for what feels like forever.

Sweating, shivering, headaches, aching all over, crying for no particular reason, trembling, dizziness, stumbling, heart palps, horrible fatigue...

It lets up for a few days and then...WHAM...there it is again.

I keep telling myself, you're killing bugs, you're killing bugs.

At least I hope that's what I'm doing!

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Jennifer70
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oh wow....i've been crying for two days at everything. Last night I was lying on the couch, and saw a cat come up to my window....and started bawling! lol

Im so glad I'm herxing, even though it's total HELL! But at least I know there's good coming out of it.

So how often and how long can I expect this? Or is it totally different for everyone. I hope it's not every few days...i don't know if i could handle it. Does herxing get less severe the longer your in treatment?

--------------------
Psalm 119:50
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

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kday
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It's different for everyone initially.

I was more of an oddball, and I had a lot of trouble tolerating antibiotics as I literally had a continuous herx at first, but from my experience, a Lyme herx should clear up in about 3-5 days for most people.

It shouldn't be every few days, no. But it's possible (like I said I herxed all the time at the beginning). For me it's about once every 4 weeks. And yes, herxing gets less severe the longer you are in treatment.

And hell is the proper word to describe a herx.

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Tincup
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First- Always check with your doctor if you become worse. Don't assume it is a herx. It may be and maybe not. Herxes can kill, so check with your doctor please.

Second- If you take your meds on an empty stomach or without much food, this can happen. It's nasty too.

Third- this may help, it is describing herxing.

https://sites.google.com/site/marylandlyme/jarisch-herxheimer-herx

Last, but not least....

I hope you feel better soon.

[Big Grin]

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Hambone
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When I got my first Rocephin IV three weeks ago, I cried all the way home ( 2 hours ) over my dog that died ...twenty five years ago.

It was the craziest dern thing ever. Came clear out of nowhere. I could FEEL the drug in my brain and I got so over the top emotional, like the event JUST happened.

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