Due to symptoms of HP ulcer(this is my second occurance. First time 4/04), my doctor put me on 1,000mg clarithromycin, 2000mg ammoxicillan and 2 tsp bismuth subcarbonate daily. As most of you know, the only abx I have done prior to this is a very low dose minocycline.
I started this last Friday 4/6/07. Within 20 mins of the first dose, I felt flu like symptoms coming on with general all over stiffness and especially in the neck glands. It was night time so I just went to bed. Spent most of Saturday in bed and used aspirin for pain. Still medicating with aspirin on Easter Sunday but had a good day with family.
Worked on Monday while still using aspirin for the pain. Tues met with the rheumie who declared me "nearly dormant" for my rheumatoid arthritis. I was pleased of course but puzzled too since I was in a lot of pain.
By bedtime last night, my left wrist was throbbing with pain and upon waking up this morning I had stabbing pain in both wrists, one ankle, stiff and sore in all muscles and joints. I'm going in late for work.
Now come on folks. This has to be the drugs. I have hardly had to use pain relievers for the last 9 months. Since I started the drugs, I'm taking aspirin daily and then twice daily and last night it wasn't enough. I skipped this morning's dose of drugs and will only take tonight's dose to see if this eases the pain.
This has to be a herx, right? And if so, from what? My stomach is doing great by the way. So, did the HP bacteria get out into my body from my leaky gut and is it causing the arthritis or is it lyme?
Well, that's a dumb question on this board. Of course all will think lyme and I'm right there with you too. But seriously, does anyone know if the HP bacteria could cause joint pain and the die off cause a herx reaction?
Luvs
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
Yes Cave,
I thought about that too when I received the script. I was excited to see what the results would be. Not too happy now.
Believe it or not, this is the same reaction I incurred when I was on the homeopathic treatment for lyme. Staying the course with that brought about R.A. Don't believe I want that again.
Even though I said I was going to cut the dose in half, I remembered what the literature said from the pharmacy. That, for best results, the drugs need to stay at a constant level in my body and therefore I should take them at approximately the same time each day (dose is twice daily). So I took the abx and left off the bismuth. I decided not to go to work at all. I feel to crappy. Gonna rest.
Darn it....
Luvs
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
Well, I'm so upset at the reaction I am having to the abx that I'm not looking at the very positive things happening to me. I do believe this is a herx reaction. It is not an allergic reaction.
The really positive thing that happened for me yesterday was the visit to the rheumie. This was my first time seeing him since last August (at which time I felt I was doing better than yesterday) Upon examining me though, he said my joints feel better than even last August.
I do not take any of the normal RA drugs which are all immunosuppressant and since I believe I have lyme and/or other bacteria at the root of my illness, the last thing I wanted was to suppress my immune system. This is why the rheumie only sees me every 6 mths.
He listened to some of the alternative things I'm doing with a look of "this is crazy talk" on his face. He then shook his head and said "I'm a science-based doctor. I don't understand any of the things you are doing, but you are nearly dormant in your RA. I don't know if its just mother nature or all the things you are doing, but something is working."
My blood pressure was 118/70. It had been registering high the last month at 136/90. I had run out of Vit C and read where this is good for lowering blood pressure. So, I bought some a week or so ago and have been taking 2000mg daily. I'm happy to see it worked.
My cholestrol is 139. My sed rate normal and all other blood work good. I asked the rheumie to take bloodwork for RA and he is plus he is going to check for lead in my blood. (An MD, D.O., Internist and a surgeon have all said they think the lead is the problem)
I think my reaction to the abx might say something different.