I'm just not sure if I am having a herx or if I have sulfa intolerence.
To those of you that can't take sulfa drugs, what happens if you do, symptom-wise?
When I take Bactrim, I got hot to the touch within 3 hours (sometimes it takes 5). I also "feel" hot, and I just feel very very flu-like. If I touch my face right now, it feels like I'm really sick with an acute flu.
I assume if I had a serious sulfa allergy, something more profound would happen?
I won't speak with my LLMD for 3 more weeks, and I have a hard time getting a hold of him. I'm just wondering what you all's experiences were with sulfa intolerance, and how I can know.
I just don't want to take this stuff for 3 weeks and "tough through it", thinking it's a herx, when it's really something more.
Thank you.
Posted by CD57 (Member # 11749) on :
Hey Hoosier, I can't take sulfa--this dates back to college, being the last time I took it. What happened to me is hives. I think itchy hives, swelling of lips, tongue and airway are more common than feeling hot. But I'm no doctor.
Did you try faxing LLMD?
Posted by charlie (Member # 25) on :
plus unusual bleeding and bruising are symptoms of sulfa allergy...
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Thanks for the replies CD57 and charlie....that was helpful.
Nope, haven't faxed him yet....they still haven't gotten back to me on a supplement question, so I thought I would hear what people here had to say first before bothering their office again.
This certainly does feel like it could be a Lyme or Bart herx, but with the severity of it and how fast it comes on, just makes me nervous. It is manageable, but I felt like I should check into the symptoms of an allergy, etc just in case.
Charlie, while I have your attention....the doc didn't recommend Zithromax or Biaxin for me with the Bactrim...do you think it will still be effective without either of those? (obviously just with the minocycline it's still doing something, but I just mean long run effectiveness, etc) I am a little worried about that. I don't mean to second guess my doctor, but I have just heard how good the Bactrim/macrolide combo is supposed to be.
Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
Hi 51--
This is what you can try to see if the Bactrum is causing side effects --
Stop taking the Bactrum-- wait a few days and then take some MSM--
MSM is made from sulfur --
If you get side effects from MSM then you have your Answer--Jay--
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Thank you Jay! Posted by Rianna (Member # 11038) on :
Hoosier - Did you get the Genelex and Detoxigenomic tests run? as this will determine this and much more.
If you did when the test results come back you can get the consultants at www.helixhealth.org to work with your LLMD as they are specialists in Genetic Consultation Care and work to set your drug and vit regime based on your tests with your LLMD
Rianna
Posted by aiden424 (Member # 7633) on :
I had huge hives from head to toe from taking Bactrim. My eye lids and lips swelled up too. It was really uncomfortable and gross.
Posted by ericaf (Member # 10929) on :
I had a bad reaction from bactrim. My WBC went down to nothing, I got extreme fatigue wich carried on for months and was different from the usual Lyme/Bart fatigue and half of my hair fell out. My boyfriend too had a bad experience. His skin became all red, sore and it was hot at the touch like sunburn. I think bactrim is very effective to treat the infection but it can be very dangerous if you are allergic to sulfonamides.
Posted by Ocean (Member # 3496) on :
Like Aiden, my sister got huge hives, swollen eyes and lips, ect Hers lasted for weeks and that was with benadryl and other anti-histimines prescribed by her doctor.
I would be wary of Steven's Johnson's syndrome. It could be the beginning of that. Please do a search on this as it can be fatal if allowed to progress.
Please take care. Ocean
Posted by Meg (Member # 22) on :
Yep, hives and itching for three days after one pill-! Little bit of redness also, but that's probably the hives and itching.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Thanks everyone.
I am still on the fence as to whether or not this is a herx, so I may contact my doctor.
Just to recap, here are the symptoms I get from it, since I didn't list them all before:
squinty, bloodshot eyes
hot skin (and last night my skin actually did appear more pink in color, everywhere, like mild sun exposure)
body achiness/soreness/flu-like feeling in body
also last night left arm was really weak, and I had a hard time lifting it
killer headache
I guess that's all I can think of right now. No hives or itchiness. I took it for 7 days a couple weeks ago, and had these symptoms every day, but it never progressed to a rash.
Thank you for the opinions, I appreciate it. This is very difficult to distinguish from Lyme/Bart symptoms in my case. If it is a herx...it's severe, as if I was just infected with TBD's.
PS-Rianna, the test results aren't back yet. Maybe he put me on it because he knew I had taken it for 7 days and no rashes yet...and I told him I herxed on it.
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
Sounds like a herx to me, Hoos. But I'm not a doctor. You should definitely ask your LLMD about it.
But you know, most eye symptoms like redness, etc., is due to Bartonella.... so you could be having a Bart herx from taking Bactrim and then the redness showing up.
The other things sound herx-like as well. Not sure about the hot to the touch skin, but the headache and flu-like stuff sound definitely like a herx.
Bactrim was a really hard drug for me in the beginning. Especially taking two tablets a day. Wow! Knocked me out, so-to-speak.
I'm not on Bactrim anymore though, as I was on it for at least 8 or so months.
Posted by btmb03 (Member # 18394) on :
Ditto re: hives and bactrim. Must add though that a well renowned doc told me SULFA is different than sulphur - can't remember his comments.
I have gotten the "hot", "flushed" sensations, with the tetracycline family but the doc didn't seem worried.
Sorry couldn't be of more help but perhaps stopping the drug and not taking anything else until you hear from him might be your best bet?? Good luck! Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
mine was hives-but yours sounds scarey
i don't think you should fool around with it
anaphalactic shock is not fun-i went thru it-and i managed to survive but many don't
really-stop the bactrim til you talk to your doc
Posted by swedish lyme sufferer (Member # 14579) on :
Sounds just like herxing........ but talk to your doctor. I got VERY HOT SKIN on biaxin, my LLMD said HERX when I mentioned the symptom. He says look for breathing troubles, or rashes when intolerance issues.
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