I am sad when I hear of patients stopping treatment at the very beginning because their symptoms get much worse while on antibiotic treatment.
I read of such a story recently. A Herx is a good thing & can be brutal but it's something we all must go through.
Have you heard of people stopping treatment because they don't like the way they feel while in a Herx? Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Part of the blame falls on the "oh, just take this pill and you'll feel better" mentality of our time. All the TV ads do us a harsh injustice. "Take this pill and dance all night, have the time of your life." Or - "Take this pill and then chow down that greasy triple burger and slosh down that gallon of beer with your buddies."
We have embedded into our brains that a pill is the ticket to the party.
Lyme is one of the most complex infections to begin with but, by the time it's gone untreated for months or years, it becomes a very intricate web.
No one here wants to tell anyone that treatment is a rough ride. So many come here nearly broken down as it is. But, I do think that if more of had understood what a serious undertaking we were facing we might not have been so shocked.
Part of the problem, too, is the public's perception and lack of understanding. Family members - and even family doctors - think lyme patients should get better on the same level of progress as getting over the flu. And it just does not work that way.
Lyme treatment also requires more from patients in so many ways, self-care has to be totally reinvented, for most.
Liver support is just one thing that can make a major difference in one's ability to manage a herx. Some doctors don't want their patients to experience rough herxes as they can be very hard on the liver. That is where individualized treatment by a LLMD matter so much - and measures to support the liver.
Treating infection is vital. Support measures are, too. And, as joshzz implies, none of this is a walk in the park. I think that is the biggest shock. It takes a long time before treatment can make someone feel better. It is cruel one-two punch after taking so long to finally get a diagnosis and finding a knowledgeable doctor.
Being realistic about what to expect is important - and knowing that walking away is just not an option. Once lyme has become chronic, it won't just disappear on its own. However, there are many ways to approach this but they must clearly consider all essential elements.
If one method does not work, there are Rx adjustments or other changes in protocol that can be made. There are also many complementary protocols that have given much thought to detail. No two patients seem to be exactly the same and treatment paths require frequent adjustment.
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