Prior to starting the doxy (200 mg daily) I was in a GREAT mood, consistently. Really happy, great outlook despite my physical problems.
Now I feel crabby, flat, irritable, angry, sad, etc -- consistently, for several days.
I'm not having much of a physical herx, if any. I just had that muscle soreness in my shoulders and neck after my first dose.
How can one tell if it's the drug or a herx? I know people ask this question all the time, and I know there might not be a definitive answer at this point... but in order to "keep the faith" in helps so much to hear from others who have been down the same road.
I'm just hoping that my crummy mood is evidence of something GOOD happening. I miss my usual happy self, and I know my husband does too.
[ 03-29-2011, 07:52 PM: Message edited by: lajamur ]
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I would say it's a herx. Some of it could be from the drug, but most treatment for lyme results in a depressed mood if you ask me.
Posted by rmsfnc (Member # 27539) on :
I'm going with herx. I took doxy for 6-7 monthsand the first week I felt poorly mood wise. Those symptoms quickly disappeared. Stick with it.
Posted by lajamur (Member # 24593) on :
Thank you both. I will stay the course. I do hope it improves soon.
I feel like it's only in the past year or two that I've really gotten back to my "real" self, so the thought of feeling sad all the time again is scary to me.
I strongly suspect that the Lyme (and bart, I believe) has been at the root of my mood "issues" over the years. Healing my adrenals and addressing my seriously screwed up hormones has helped immensely with all of that... but yeah, the thought of plummeting back into "that place" is not appealing.
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :
It is most likly the combo of both -(the disease and the die off).
If you do stop the doxy early, you should tell your doctor. It's not wise to stop these type of drugs until you finnish the amount given. Good luck!
Posted by lajamur (Member # 24593) on :
UPDATE --
Now my throat feels kind of sore/irritated/swollen so I am leaning more toward believing that it's a herx.
This just developed literally over the past hour or two, and I am quite tired.
Hope I'm not getting a cold.
What a weird disease.
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :
Serious Doxycycline Side Effects Some doxycycline side effects can indicate a potentially serious problem. If you experience any of these side effects, stop taking doxycycline and call your healthcare provider. These side effects include but are not limited to:
�Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or severe throat pain �Watery diarrhea �Severe stomach cramps �Bloody stools �Unusual headaches �Blurred vision �Unexplained rash �Joint pain �Fever �Feeling tired �Signs of an allergic reaction, such as:
◦An unexplained rash ◦Hives ◦Itching ◦Wheezing ◦Swelling of the mouth or throat ◦Difficulty breathing.
Rare Doxycycline Side Effects Rare doxycycline side effects occur in less than 1 percent of people taking the drug. Because these side effects are so uncommon, it is difficult to tell whether they are actually caused by the medication or by something else.
Some of these rare side effects include but are not limited to:
�Allergic reaction �Liver damage �Vision changes �Irritation of the esophagus (esophagitis) �Ulcers of the esophagus �Increased pressure in the skull (intracranial hypertension) �Worsening of systemic lupus erythematosus symptoms (SLE for short or lupus) �Increased rate of red blood cell destruction (hemolytic anemia) �Reduced amount of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia) �Tongue swelling (glossitis) �Serious intestinal infection (enterocolitis) �Vaginal yeast infection.
Posted by lajamur (Member # 24593) on :
Hi Steve,
I'm not having difficulty swallowing and I don't have severe throat pain.
My throat feels irritated, similar to when you're fighting off or coming down with a cold.
Also, the tiredness is noticeable but not debilitating.
I know I've read of others having sore throats and fatigue while herxing. Isn't it more likely that I'm experiencing a herx rather than a rare adverse reaction?
Of course if I ever feel intuitively that something is really wrong, I will stop taking it, but at this point I think it would alarmist to do so!
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :
I just wanted to sure the warning signs. I would never tell you to stop/start taking any meds.
No one here can tell you for sure if its a reaction to the drug, or a herx.
If you feel it may be caused by the drug, then I would call your doctor!
Posted by lajamur (Member # 24593) on :
Thanks Steve.. I do appreciate that. I didn't mean to be defensive, it's just a frustrating position to be in, as we all know.
It's weird because the only other time I treated for Lyme was last spring, with Biaxin for about 2 months.
One week after starting the Biaxin, I came down with a bad flu and also a rash which my LLMD deemed a herx.
So, I feel like maybe I'm seeing a pattern here, especially if this develops into a cold/flu.
Posted by Loonie1980 (Member # 18637) on :
Hi lajamur,
Sorry you're going through so much with doxy. My own experience was weird too. I became exhausted 2/47 and very anxious at the slightest thing on it.
But I also developed dandruff which I have never ever had in my life. It got so bad that I had to see a specialist. I also had to change my face cream. I know.. weird.
Good luck and do speak to your doctor about this. These meds do weird things to us.
Posted by lajamur (Member # 24593) on :
Thanks Loonie, I will talk to my doctor -- coincidentally I have follow up appt to go over bloodwork tomorrow AM.
I am just hoping that this is some kind of herx. I want to start making progress.
Posted by Karen Mc (Member # 23354) on :
Lajamur and Loonie 1980.....I am having the same symptoms as both of you. I was holding my own and 2 weeks ago I got bite by another tick and have had a total relapse.
Im so exhausted, irratiable, ears ringing (I have bart and babs) and now my throat is sore and I too feel like when you come down with a cold.
The pollen is bad here so I keep telling my self it might be that.
I saw my LLMD last Friday and I can not start further meds until new lab work is done (waiting because I dont have the money), but I have been on Doxy since the bite.
I am now confused, I dont know if im feeling bad from the bite, or the Doxy....is it herx or other? who knows???
I am tempted to just stop the Doxy....I am so tired of the total 24/7 exhausted feeling. And the not sleeping is really wearing on me...as I am still having to work.
I was taking supplements and vitamins and had been holding my own very well... the blasted tick wasnt even on me 4-6 hours.
I tried Ambein once but did not like it.
lajamur, I see your last pos was 3/29... I hope your bloodwork came back ok.
The muscle (joint) aches are better.
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
I can relate. I'm having a terrible time taking doxy during this relapse. the exhaustion, then wired but tired, anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure 148/100 pulse 91 after a nap, I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack/stroke.
It may be part of a herx or just that my body can't handle this medicine at the moment. When I'm in remission, I can handle all sorts of meds, but when I suddernly get sick, in one day I tolerate NADA.
I can't take it anymore, literally. I have some mycoplasma, but my levels have been higher. It may be a factor in this relapse, but there may be something else. I read that XMRV becomes activated during cytokines and herxing. Maybe, I have a combo of stuff. I need to sit back and listen to what my body is telling me.
I have some Myco Raintree somewhere, and until last week I was taking two scoops of Lauricidin. I can't even tolerate Lauricidi anymore. My body is so busy fighting other things right now.