Since I had the serious herx from rifampin over 9 days ago I am left with serious difficulty in breathing and much sinus congestion.
I am not sure if I can use and inhaler to open my lungs. I cannot breathe even sitting down, worse trying to walk around. Feels like someone is crushing my chest.
Does anyone know somethign we can safely use to open the airways in your chest up. It is causing my heart to beat so rapidly and very frustrating.
Posted by darwinsdream (Member # 30314) on :
I know, for me, the difficulty breathing comes from the rapid heart beat. I am on Atenolol to slow down the beat.
So, I would say, take your pulse. Anything over 80 beats per minute at rest(for me at least)makes me feel breathless and often anxious.
Have you let your doc know about the rapid heart beat, because there are meds out there that can help.
Posted by annier1071 (Member # 28977) on :
I went to a cardio before lyme treatment and all was ok per him but not since treatment. My llmd seemed concerned over this reaction to rifampin and stopped it asap.
I have not taken my pulse but I will, Thank you. I take toprol XL for years for a skipping heartbeat (beta blocker).
I feel like I truly need oxygen to get a deep breathe at this point.
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
annier, it's not from your heart, it's a nerve issue, try a lot of magnesium, alos activaed charcoal helps me with this sx...
Posted by sk8ter (Member # 8671) on :
Do you have an inhaler? There is a new one for people that have heart issues. It does NOT cause rapid heart rate. I know. It is called Xopenex.
It works without the ingredient in Albuterol that makes the heart go fast. Has anyone done a oxygen stat on your finger? The thing that clips on your finger. I have had to use my inhalers lately which I don't like including Flovent for inflammation. I am better now thank you Lord !!!
The choice of breathing or not, I choose breathing. Get your oxygen stats checked. Hope you get better. The medicine can inflame the lung tissues and it could be a herx, but you must breathe.
When I have been like that I start taking massive amount of magnesium glycinate...up to 800-1000mg through out the day. In the old days..haha..they used Magnesium IV for asthma patients. Most asthma patients are cellular deficient. Even though the serum blood tests say you are fine, it is NOT getting into the cells. It is God's muscle relaxant.
Posted by annier1071 (Member # 28977) on :
Sk8...is the inhaler you used ok for lyme patients...no steroids.
I will get my oxygen checked like you say and I do believe it may be a nerve sine it happened with the rifampin that made all my nerves go insane!! When i called the LLMD I could not even catch my breathe so he stopped it.
I use the charcoal everyday to detox but I will up my magnesium to two a day that the LLMD prescribed. I hate to spend this holiday weekend this way with no way of contacting my doctor. UGGHH. thank you all
Posted by FYRECRACKER (Member # 28568) on :
my doc recommended Pekana
alpo-Plum and syresp ( i think this is it ).
i had a severe lung/bronchial infection that landed me in the hospital and she didnt want me on the inhaler the local docs wanted to give me b/c of steroids (my llnd is 10 hours from me). so she suggested Pekana.
I haven't taken them yet because Zithro seemed to make things better (she suspected Babs to be the culprit in my lungs).
The pressure was so severe i was screaming! had to go to ER.
Not a fun feeling, my friend, i feel your pain. Just wanted to throw out what was suggested for me, may or may not be right for you. go with your gut!
Posted by chiquita incognita (Member # 30381) on :
This is not a medical regimen, it is only for adjunct support. If symptoms persist or worsen, immediately discontinue use and consult your physician:
BREATHING SUPPORT:
Grindelia: Herb from which asthma medication used to be made.May Relax and dilate bronchial airways.
Lobelia, coleus forshkolii also may dilate bronchial airways.
A product that really helped me with breathlessness after I too had a side effect that was very severe from bactrim, involving heart and breathing issues alike:
GAIA Herbs Respiratory Defense
This is more an anti-viral/anti-bacterial lung formula, however it also has those above herbs and really helped me a lot.Contains olive leaf, could possibly contribute to herxing, caution.
Another one by GAIA not anti-viral/anti-bacterial and should not contribute to herxing:
Breathe Naturally helpful for asthma
I would be wanting to support the heart and surely this could cause breathing issues too. No layperson can possibly diagnose for you, that is for a doctor to do.
SINUS CONGESTION:
I have found a lot of relief making chamomile steam. I make a pot of chamomile tea, strong. Let it cool but it should still be steaming, but not hot enough to burn the skin either. CAUTION: If it burns the skin, it could possibly burn the nasal passages and airways too, so don't take this too hot at all! It should be tolerably hot but not go past that point.
Set the hot tea in a pot down on the table, on a trivet.
Drape a towel over your head and over the pot to catch the steam, like a tent.
Breathe in the chamomile steam, for 5-10 minutes, or as long as you can stand it and the tea remains hot.
Splash off with freezing cold water to close down your pores. Pat your face dry gently with a towel, do not rub, the skin will be sensitive from the heat.
Chamomile contains anti-inflammatory bisabolol and is somewhat antimicrobial. Mildly so, but it can help to soothe the linings of the nasal and bronchial airways.
NOTE: YOu can do this a couple times per day if necessary and helpful.
HEART SUPPORT:
Magnesium glycinate or citrate (citrate is more laxative, glycinate less so)
Hawthorn extract, may dilate coronary artery and flush heart with blood, supportive in heart arrhythmias www.healthy.net see Herbal Medicine Center
Ginkgo extract may dilate capillaries, contributing to lowered blood pressure and brain oxygenation
Coenzyme Q10 for heart oxygenation
Fish oils, flax seed or other favorite EFA for tissue flexibility and cellular respiration
NOTE: Rapid heartbeat after medications makes me wonder if toxicity is involved. I am a layperson, not a doctor, so consider this a question to ask your doctor, not a diagnosis. If the answer is yes, I would consider extra detox things to absorb any toxins that could possibly be contributing to the rapid heartbeat.
Food allergies can also cause rapid heartbeat, said my LLMD. But if this set on after abx then there is obviously some connection to that, somehow/somewhere, I would think....maybe extra charcoal caps? Chlorella?
take chlorella 3 hours apart from medications and herbs, said my LLMD, because "it will grab onto the good stuff too" and remove it from your system.
The above information has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease.
Posted by chiquita incognita (Member # 30381) on :
Hello yet again Annier et al Sorry for so many messages and typically looooong ones.
Here is an important shortie!
The GAIA product Breathe Naturally contains green tea leaves.
Perhaps the caffeine in them might set off the heart palpitations and nerve agitation from the prior herx, anew?
If you are concerned about this, here is an alternative product without caffeine, that could be supportive with breathing issues:
Calm Breath by HerbPharm.
Best wishes, CI
Posted by annier1071 (Member # 28977) on :
Thank you all for your suggestions.
Chiq, I did the one about the chamomile tea, since I had it on hand to clear up my sinuses this morn and it works well. The steam felt good.
I am going to look into the others too. SOmeone on facebook suggested a detox by a Dr J? I did order it and hope it works. I do not know much about the llmd or his methods.
Posted by Maradona (Member # 24552) on :
All your symptoms are from infections. Rifampin is strong drug if you can tolerate it it will help . For me Azithro and doxy worked to get rid of that in 3 days.I was on malarone and lauricidin to.It is from congjestion of your chest muscles from damage from infection (lyme ,bart,babs)and congjestion of air pipes big and small.Exercise couple time a day deep breathing helps to .
Posted by BackinStOlaf (Member # 23725) on :
I also have had breathing issues like yours for 4 months straight. It is awful. I do have nerve damage in my legs and arms from the lyme and I just really hope this breathing issue is not a nerve issue like stated above because nerves take a really long time to regenerate, and some don't.
I'm worried. Sorry you have to deal with it too, it's so awful.
Posted by chiquita incognita (Member # 30381) on :
Hi Annier I am soooo glad to hear that it helped!
Just a note of encouragement, when I had a horrible, horrible side effect from bactrim and my heart/breathing were both involved (never had either symptom before), it did wear off. It took time, a couple of months, but it did go away.
Well the breathing matter did, that is. For me, I am still struggling with heart symptoms ever since then, that I never had before. Not sure if this is a babesia infection stepping forward, which is possible, or if it was from over-toxicity due to way too strong herxing and it has done some damage. I can only hope that the latter is not the case.
In any case, the herbs are helping me a lot. So long as I use them, I am fairly symptom-free. But I know an underlying matter needs attention or this wouldn't be happening, so that's next on my agenda. One step at a time...
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