LymeNet Home LymeNet Home Page LymeNet Flash Discussion LymeNet Support Group Database LymeNet Literature Library LymeNet Legal Resources LymeNet Medical & Scientific Abstract Database LymeNet Newsletter Home Page LymeNet Recommended Books LymeNet Tick Pictures Search The LymeNet Site LymeNet Links LymeNet Frequently Asked Questions About The Lyme Disease Network LymeNet Menu

LymeNet on Facebook

LymeNet on Twitter




The Lyme Disease Network receives a commission from Amazon.com for each purchase originating from this site.

When purchasing from Amazon.com, please
click here first.

Thank you.

LymeNet Flash Discussion
Dedicated to the Bachmann Family

LymeNet needs your help:
LymeNet 2020 fund drive


The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations.

LymeNet Flash Post New Topic  New Poll  Post A Reply
my profile | directory login | register | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Did I have a HERX reaction?

 - UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!    
Author Topic: Did I have a HERX reaction?
Kclymon11
Member
Member # 47586

Icon 1 posted      Profile for Kclymon11     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
It's day 14 on Doxy 200 mg bid.

I mentioned in a previous post that around day 5-6 my mystery nerve pain started subsiding and was nearly gone. I was also feeling a little stronger overall in my legs.

Stronger because before the start of abx there were times daily where, upon standing, I could not walk for a minute or two. I would say that my legs needed to "wake up" before I could take a step. That has been gone too!!! Well...until yesterday.

FYI- I do have permanent OA in both knees. It began about 3 years (about the time I am guessing I was bitten) ago and has progressed so quickly, to doctors amazement, that I am bone-on-bone in one knee.

So this is what happened yesterday and I am not sure if it is/was a Herx because I got out of my routine and did some things to confuse the issue.

First thing I did wrong was to take my morning abx on an empty stomach. I was running late and needed to get it done. I followed it with food about 10 minutes later.

But within, I don't know, 15 minutes, I was so sick I had to lay down. I was nauseous and sweating, chilled and extremely weak & shaky.

Also, I experienced a small black spot in the vision of one eye. It moved as I moved my head so it was fixed in its position in my eye.

I was thinking it was the abx I took on an empty stomach so I forced myself to make some toast to get in my stomach. Something bland to soak up the abx. Not sure if it works like that...

Man, It was bad. I was having to concentrate on breathing slowly to manage all the feelings I was having.

I was getting worried because my kids were due to wake soon and we had a full soccer game Saturday to attend to with me as team mom and my husband was gone for the day.

I was actually running thru my head the people I could call to come get my kids and take them to soccer.

I decided to try a hit of my daytime cannabis. I rarely use it but this seemed like the right time to try it.

Wow, about 15 minutes later it all started to subside. I was still weak but so much better I was able to head out for our day.

Interesting......

In addition, just the day before this, my legs started hurting again. I am feeling the nerve pain again albeit much reduced and I am having times where I cant walk right away again.

Could this be a herx reaction??? Are they related??? Just a natural ebb and flow in treatment???

What would a classic Herx reaction look like?

As always, thanks for keeping me company. [Smile]

Posts: 12 | From SoCal | Registered: Mar 2016  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Catgirl
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 31149

Icon 1 posted      Profile for Catgirl     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Abx with not enough food or on an empty stomach has done that to me before.

Herxing for me feels like I'm being poisoned: head pain, wiped out, can't think, zombie. I have detox issues though so my herx will be different from the next persons.

Wonderful that cannibus helped you balance out.

--------------------
--Keep an open mind about everything. Also, remember to visit ACTIVISM (we can change things together).

Posts: 5418 | From earth | Registered: Mar 2011  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
sixgoofykids
Moderator
Member # 11141

Icon 1 posted      Profile for sixgoofykids   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Doxy on an empty stomach will do that to you.

--------------------
sixgoofykids.blogspot.com

Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673

Icon 1 posted      Profile for Keebler     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
-
Sorry the doctor did not properly inform you of this. Hope some detail here helps, and there is a lot so that you have it for your reference. Take care.


Doxycycline cautions:

1. Even autumn or winter sun, even early morning or late afternoon sun can burn. "Doxy burns" can be very rough.

avoid sunlight on your skin (even "bounced" sun - or through a window) even for weeks after stopping doxycycline if you go onto a different antibiotic.


2. Food with doxy is vital to protect stomach. But no dairy. Do not take with any multi minerals, either. The food minerals will lessen the medicine level and make it not as effective.

A substantial meal, in the middle with some food before and after the doxycycline really matters.

Protect stomach but do not take a PPI - proton pump inhibitor (they have some negative effects). take doxy with a substantial snack or meal - in the middle so you've got some food before and after

Avoiding gluten can help with the stomach, too.

3. keep torso as close to upright as possible for at least 30 minutes after doxycycline taken so as to help protect esophagus from the irritation it can cause if lying down.

Depending upon the angle of the particular chair, the most upright position of a recliner MIGHT be okay if you must rest your head or put your feet up, just don't slink down.

PROTECT EARS / HEARING - when taking certain Rx (doxy is one of those) the ears need protection. Ear plugs with a hair dryer . . . decibel rated muffs with a blender, vacuum, lawn equipment, etc.

Careful around loud music and best to avoid in the ear pods. There is a link in the Liver Support thread that explains why.

You say you are at soccer games - if there is a loud buzzer: wear ear protection. This really matters but, really, with kids, any sounds should not be too loud so if they are, it may be good to get them toned down for the protection of everyone. Buzzers at many sports events are just too loud for safety.


http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=030792;p=0

LIVER & KIDNEY SUPPORT & and several HERXHEIMER support links, too.

EAR / HEARING PROTECTION note of vital importance, too.


PROBIOTICS also vital to help prevent candida overgrowth, take a couple hours away from antibiotic (both clock directions). OLE can also help:

http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/1/115457?#000000

OLE Links


http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=123746;p=0

Topic: MAGNESIUM - Informational Links set -- Everyone with lyme needs to consider this


http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/89790

Topic: NATURAL SLEEP & ADRENAL SUPPORT - also key to surviving this journey
-

Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673

Icon 1 posted      Profile for Keebler     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
-
You say: " . . . Also, I experienced a small black spot in the vision of one eye. It moved as I moved my head so it was fixed in its position in my eye. . . ." (end quote)


Might be a floater. But you might want to check with your eye doctor, too. There is another condition they should see you in person to rule out. Vitreous is a key word there. Eye Book in next link more detail.

With lyme & co. comes a lot of toxicity. That increases the "debris" in the body and can also affect the eyes. Antioxidants are key to helping clean up debris in the eyes (just as liver support helps the liver & also helps the eyes in the long run to sort of help take out the trash, so to speak).

FLOATERS are very common but, perhaps, a bit more so at times for those with lyme, due to various factors. Debris is just one. Tissue can be more tender, too, and those with lyme sometimes fall (and that can cause floaters).

[From a previous question but will leave this in just in case others may wonder: Floaters are not spirochetes. Spirochetes are far too microscopic to see like that.]

Learn the difference between regular floaters and the kind for which your eye doctor must be seen, immediately (such as with a tear of the vitreous):

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/spotsfloats.htm

[Scroll down] When Are Eye Floaters and Flashes a Medical Emergency?


More detail about FLOATERS:

http://eyeadvisory.com/eye-conditions/floatersretina/

FLOATERS


http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=114279;p=0

Floater thread
-

Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673

Icon 1 posted      Profile for Keebler     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
-
This holistic doctor's site and his book are excellent:

http://eyeadvisory.com/

Book & website: THE EYE CARE REVOLUTION

- by Robert Abel, Jr. M.D. (Ophthalmologist)
-

Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
bluelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 47170

Icon 1 posted      Profile for bluelyme     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3132871/ you may want to take herbs or are you starting another abx in conjunction?

--------------------
Blue

Posts: 1539 | From southwest | Registered: Dec 2015  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Kclymon11
Member
Member # 47586

Icon 1 posted      Profile for Kclymon11     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Thanks everyone for your comments. Man, I will not mess around with taking my abx on an empty stomach again! It was rough.

My eye is back to normal. The black spot only lasted a short while but my legs are still weak and I am back to needing to let my legs "warm-up" before I can stand. Bummer.

My mystery nerve pain seems to be, ever so slowly, creeping back in.

Besides the lethargy & depression (both of which HAVE slightly gotten better since starting abx) I am feeling the same.

I guess I have not herx-ed yet.

I have been getting tons of rest and sleep thanks to my husband.

Oh,and KEEBLER, I have already experienced the wrath of the Doxy Burn. It was no fun and took me a bit to figure out what the heck was going on. LOL

So now I go around totally covered head to toe including my hands. People at the soccer fields on Saturday were staring at the crazy Team Mom as it was a hot day in California.

Thanks Again
KC

Posts: 12 | From SoCal | Registered: Mar 2016  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Kclymon11
Member
Member # 47586

Icon 1 posted      Profile for Kclymon11     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
Oh. I want to make sure I am posting correctly.

Should I add on to this thread as new stuff comes up or should I start a new topic?

KC

Posts: 12 | From SoCal | Registered: Mar 2016  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
sixgoofykids
Moderator
Member # 11141

Icon 1 posted      Profile for sixgoofykids   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
If it's a different topic, I would post a new thread.

--------------------
sixgoofykids.blogspot.com

Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

Quick Reply
Message:

HTML is not enabled.
UBB Code� is enabled.

Instant Graemlins
   


Post New Topic  New Poll  Post A Reply Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


Contact Us | LymeNet home page | Privacy Statement

Powered by UBB.classic™ 6.7.3


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, NJ 08534 USA


| Flash Discussion | Support Groups | On-Line Library
Legal Resources | Medical Abstracts | Newsletter | Books
Pictures | Site Search | Links | Help/Questions
About LymeNet | Contact Us

© 1993-2020 The Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Use of the LymeNet Site is subject to Terms and Conditions.