I was just diagnosed with RMSF and have begun antibiotics. So far, I have tested negative for Lyme, however I am still waiting for Igenex results. Besides testing positive for RMSF, I have also tested positive for EBV adn toxoplasmosis (the latter, of course, not being tick-borne).
Assuming I do not have Lyme (or any of the co-infections other than RMSF and HPV) is there a possibility I will experience Herxing with the antibiotics? Or....does Herxing only happen with Lyme?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Hmmm.. I think you'll herx. Let's see what others have to say.
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
Yes, I think you'll herx. What medicine are you taking for RMSF? I have that also but I don't think we are hitting it.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I think yes. If you are walking around with pos. RMSF you most likely have borreliosis also.
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
No Lyme, no herx. But wait!
A herx OFFICIALLY is a response to a die-off of a spirochete, as many will tell you.
However, we often find that a herx CAN be associated with other infectious diseases too.
The reason a herx happens isn't totaly understood, it has just been "described" in medical literature.
Is it from the die-off? Or a cytokine storm? Or both? Or neither?
So my answer is...
I have no clue!
Hopefully you won't have one.. and don't be whining about it if you don't, just consider yourself lucky!
My wish for you is to not herx and improve greatly!
Posted by IckyTicky (Member # 21466) on :
Id say yes.
I was dx with RMSF as well (I had no clue!) but my IgeneX came back glaringly positive for Lyme. I also tested positive for Mycoplasma and apparently even have antibodies to West Nile virus.
We think probably Bart too but it doesn't show up pos on standard testing.
What are you on for RMSF?
Posted by Gahagan (Member # 21194) on :
Thank you all for your replies. I, indeed, hope I do NOT herx. My husband has Lyme, Babesiosis and EBS. He herxed big time, and I certainly do not want to go through what he went through.
Plus, I'm hoping to not miss work with this (even though I feel tired and sore all the time) but was wondering if I should get paper work for FMLA (just in case).
I am taking doxy for RMSF (100mg twice daily) and clindamycin (150mg four times daily) for the toxoplasmosis. I guess I'll be taking Valtrex for the EBS like my husband is, but it wasn't prescribed yet. I don't know why other than the nurse said the doctor wanted to treat the RMSF first.
I'm still really taken aback about being diagnosed with RMSF. I would have never guessed and honestly still keep asking myself if my lab work got mixed with someone elses. lol. I was pretty sure I had SOMETHING tick borne..but not this.
I have very mixed feelings about all this. One one hand I feel somewhat validated; I've been complaining about not feeling well for so long and the only thing my PCP ever came up with was fybromyalgia (which I never really bought into). I hurt EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME and when I get home from work I am d-o-n-e. In bed resting for the next day of torture.
I'm sure you all know the feeling. Hugs to you all.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- If your liver support and protection is in place, you will do much better. Often a herx is from failure to have adequate liver support to handle the die-off.
Milk Thistle, ALA, NAC are some options. I hope your doctor has discussed a plan for liver support.
Also Stinging Nettle can lessen the cytokine storm. Curcurmin and magnesium are also your friends. Fish oil, too.
The term "herx" is also way overused to describe the general effects of lyme/TBD themselves. And the antibiotic can be very hard on the liver, creating even more fatigue and brain fog. That is why liver protection is essential.
Still, no one is going to feel like this is a picnic. With a toxic infection, this will be no walk in the park. But, you will survive - hopefully weather the storm and feel better soon.
You may actually be able to feel a bit better soon - and get much better from there if you take excellent care of yourself.
Good luck. -
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Pinelady: If you are walking around with pos. RMSF you most likely have borreliosis also.
That was part of my thinking too.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
Yea. The immune system should be crying havoc with
RMSF. If it is not it is most likley because lyme
has sidetracked the system as in what happens in
HIV. It lets everything in with no attack from our
antibodies. But I don't know how sensitive the
titers actually are. Anyone?
Posted by Lemon-Lyme (Member # 19229) on :
Were you IGM positive or IGG positive for spotted fever? Usually, I don't think it causes much in the way of problems if it's IGG only and not active -- I've read that is doesn't usually become chronic. But it's worth treating regardless. Just throwing that out there, in case it was IGG, as it's possible Lyme or co-infections are causing some of your symptoms instead.
An IGG spotted fever is one of those things that is a good marker for a tick bite though... a sickly tick bite, at that. So Lyme is a definite possibility too.
I also tested positive for spotted fever, but just IGG (as well as ehrlicia and typhus). I was given Doxy at 200mg daily for several months for those.
Posted by Gahagan (Member # 21194) on :
Lemon-Lyme...I don't know if IGM or IGG. My husband is thinking she said IGM...but isn't sure and I don't remember anything other than her saying that the labs suggest it is an early diagnosis of RMSF.
Posted by SpottedRocky (Member # 11970) on :
I Herxed bigtime when i started treatment for RMSF. Hit me hard about the fourth day. but I also have been diagnosed with Lyme. so that could be why.
My RMSF became chronic. Tested positve IGG and IGM six times over a two year period so i'd recomend getting retested in a few months.
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
Spotted Rocky, What are you taking for the RMSF?
Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :
Probably. RMSF is one of the severest of the tick born infections but it's also -- fortunately -- almost as easily treated with a good course of cycline antibiotics. Long term is preferred obviously, given it's potential relationship if other co-infections are present, but in my view, it's quite easy to hammer even with a monotherapy.
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