Topic: Babesia Treatment & Eye Twitching - Herx from Hell?
seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
I'm on 4 tablets of Malarone and 400 mg of Plaquenil now. The last 3 days I have started to get very, very bad twitching in my left eye. Does this make sense? I take 2 tablets of Mag-Tab SR daily.
Any thoughts/ideas?
[ 01-22-2011, 01:50 PM: Message edited by: seekhelp ]
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
Once I started Mepron my left eye started twitching as well, it went away within days though.
Posts: 306 | From NY | Registered: Sep 2010
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BoxerMom
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
Interesting. I stopped taking sublingual B-12 a while back. Maybe I need it again. I've cut down on supplements a lot. Got tired of popping pills. Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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BoxerMom
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posted
Me too, Seek. Now I just take supplements when I think I need them. Which is always AFTER the symptom returns.
I'm also trying to be more targeted with my supps now. Like only taking what I obviously need.
I will say that after my first parasite cleanse, I felt I didn't need so much nutritional support anymore.
seekhelp
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Member # 15067
posted
My eye twitching just keeps getting worse. Not good. I wonder if being off Abx for almost 3 months is finally doing me in. I have to due to suspected C-Diff, but I'm treating with anti-malarials.
I feel like there's a lump in my throat too.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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I have long suspected some insignificant twitching of various nerves and facial muscles could be the result of Babs.
Maybe, it's just a sign that your Babs protocol is doing some work. Roll with it for a few days before trying to pin down other reasons as causing the twitching.
I wish I could say more, but I haven't started Mepron or any hardcore Babesia treatment yet.
Posts: 829 | From MD | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
I have the eye twitch thing too. At times of increased stress (like now) it is incessant. Frustrating.
Posts: 495 | From SF Bay area, CA | Registered: Dec 2007
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seekhelp
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Member # 15067
posted
Either I've come down with something else or the Malarone and Plaquenil has given me the absolute herx from hell the last two days. Frightening symptoms.
Severe body pain everywhere, massive headache, horrid fatigue, all kinds of reflux that I never had, chills, off-balance, phlegm, hot flashes, right leg feels like it's dragging. not much appetite. I don't know what else to do. I took one day off the drugs. The Pekana drops do nothing. Maybe I should pop some activated charcoal in higher dosage. I literally feel like someone beat me with a baseball bat repeatedly.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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I had severe nerve pain from Plaquenil, and some kind of issue with circulation or nerves that caused my hands to tingle through my arms, and my hand formed "the claw."
Really scary stuff, but luckily it passed after a day or so.
I didn't continue Plaquenil due to this reaction and my veins had become largely inflamed. Unsure whether it was a herx reaction or an allergic reaction.
Posts: 829 | From MD | Registered: Dec 2009
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Sammi
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posted
Your symptoms sound like a Babs herx to me. Taking a break from the meds sounds like a good idea.
Have you ever tried Alka-Seltzer Gold during a herx? I find it helpful.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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Hi Seekhelp May ask you how old you are, and alos, I don't know if you're a man or a woman, but it seems to me that those symptoms are more frequent in women under 40 years old... Also, a friend of mine who does not have neither lyme nor babs gets the eye twitching in stressful periods...
Posts: 723 | From Montreal | Registered: Oct 2010
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mojo
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posted
Hehe seek is a male - and I think way under 40? Help me out, seek.
My hope is that you are kicking Babs butt big time! Sorry you are having such a rough time.
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
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seekhelp
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posted
Male - mid 30s. Sammi, I was thinking of calling my LLMD to ask for advice, but I'm sure they get sick of hearing me call. I may just pull back from the meds for a couple days.
I have never even felt so cold. I'm drinking green tea. My hands, feet, legs are just ice cold. Body temp is under 96 degrees.
I'm debating on whether or not to take Plaquenil anymore. I'm not sure if the risks outweigh the benefits. I do not know if it truly causes herxes because it does something or just side effects. So many here have had negative experiences with it. It's not like I'm on a Macrolide Abx with it.
Sammi, I can't find any Alka Seltzer Gold anywhere. I know it's only available mail order or through CVS pharmacies. None do me any good at this immediate time.
It was strange as I had a blood draw yesterday at a local hospital. They took 7 vials. Pretty good size ones too for a special test my ID doc ordered. Normally, getting my blood to flow is a breeze. This time it took forever. The needle was in my arm for 5 minutes. I don't know what that means. It flowed steadily and they got what they needed, but it should've been done in 1/3 the time.
I don't recall anytime where my appetite has been so low. I usually am the opposite. Don't get me wrong, I need to lose tons of weight, but not the best approach. lol.
IF this is a Babesia herx, what a brutal experience. Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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Sammi
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seekhelp, it probably would not be a bad idea to call the doc. You also may want to ask about whether or not you should take the Biaxin (your other post).
I get the freezing cold you describe from Babs. It is very uncomfortable. I also have a lack of appetite. In the beginning of Babs treatment, I was truly repulsed by food. For me, Babs herxes are worse than Lyme herxes.
If you are dehydrated, it can take much longer to get blood. Next time you go, make sure you have had plenty of fluids--it should help.
I hope things let up soon for you.
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
Maybe I will call them after all. I guess it would be worthwhile to know whether I should be stopping my med for a day like I am or not. Damaging my body doesn't seem smart though.
I really don't think I was dehydrated, but I could be wrong. When I pinch my skin together, it expands fast. I'm urinating a fair amount. My electolytes were all normal 3-4 days ago per my blood tests. I know 3-4 days ago does not equal now though. I restarted a diuretic for my high blood pressure a week ago, but it's a very mild one (25 mg of Hydrochlorothiazide).
The only strange thing is my urine is normal colored (light yellow/clear), but it seems to have white stuff floating in it. Oddly, they almost look like worms. OMG. I don't look at my urine that closely usually, but it seems unusual. I had a urine test Monday which was again OK.
I do usually try to consume a lot of water before labs for the very reason you stated Sammi.
I hope my liver function tests come out OK. I had some issues on Mepron a year ago, but it wasn't crazy elevated (ALT hit mid 60s). I think Malarone may be easier on the liver than Mepron. Not sure.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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BoxerMom
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Seekhelp - this is a Babs herx! Absolutely.
Stay the course, but cut down your dosages if you feel the herxing is too much.
Babesia parasites cause thick blood. This happens in malaria, too.
Chills/hot flashes, pain, extreme fatigue as infected RBCs die, lack of appetite, phlegm (they infect the RBCs in the capillaries of the lungs), cold extremities - all classic Babesia.
You must keep going. It took me a year (sorry!) to eradicate my Babesia. Now, three years later, I am relapsing. I suspect this is because my doc didn't know to finish me off with chloroquinine/primaquine to kill the immature forms that infect the liver. (These forms are confirmed in many strains of malaria. Not confirmed for Babs, but what is?)
Don't even think about that now. Get the ones in the bloodstream first.
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