randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
sometimes this headache is so bad i feel like going to the er, but money is really tight right now. plus i dont' want to go until i'm dying...they're no help anyway.
but could be a herx or as somebody said buildup.
has anybody tho landed in er due to herx being so bad you just couldn't take it? or the herx caused something really umm bad to happen? at what point do you know??
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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momlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 27775
posted
A friend of mine is at her second ER in a week. The first one didn't do anything for her. She is hoping this one will.
She has seen half a dozen doctors in the last month and none of them will help.
She is on a call back list to get on the waiting list of the only LLMD within 3 hours. After that call back, she will have to wait another 3-4 months for an appointment.
Sad, that most doctors ignore severe pain that they can't easily explain. ERs are useless IMO. I tried to talk her out of going but she is desperate for relief!
-------------------- May health be with you!
Toxic mold was suppressing our immune systems, causing extreme pain, brain fog and magnifying symptoms. Four days after moving out, the healing began. Posts: 2007 | From NY/VT Border | Registered: Aug 2010
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
randi, what abx are you currently taking?
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i haven't taken any since oh about february. i've been trying to do herbal.
olive leaf extract is kicking my rear. the headaches are massive. i've had major yeast problems so i'm doing the humaworm candida cleanse and hoping for the best.
so far the headaches are my worst symptoms, that and eye twitching, can't sleep, ad nauseum....
i just can't take abx. my poor colon is shot...
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
I wonder if it's a herx or if it's the Lyme since you aren't on abx's right now?
For me, when I herx, my llmd likes me to take a small break or cut back the dose... its been so bad with some meds that we just moved onto another med and that helped for awhile.
I've been in a place where I wished, with all of my might, that I could go to the ER and get help but I know, like you, that unless we're dying (or it's something like a broke bone), they just aren't any good. Especially with something like this.
Posts: 256 | From Texas | Registered: Jun 2010
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
You have to rev up the olive leaf extract slowly.
Posts: 512 | From USA | Registered: Sep 2010
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
If you're on medication and the Herxheimer reaction is causing symptoms so severe that you're thinking about going to the ER, then it's time to lower or stop meds until the worst of it subsides. You should speak with your LLMD to confirm this, but generally the advice is just common sense. With Babesia it might be different though.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
Razzle
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 30398
posted
Yes. I herxed so bad from Japanese Knotweed that it shut down my ability to swallow - could not eat or drink anything. Spent 10 days in the hospital, and was sent home on IV feeding (TPN). Still can't swallow normally almost 3 years later...
If something is making you herx to the point of considering going to the ER, you need to 1) cut back on whatever it is that is triggering the herx, and 2) do some serious detoxing. You also should communicate with your Lyme doctor about this.
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4166 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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tdtid
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10276
posted
I've only ended up in the ER once since I started treatment 4 1/2 years ago.
It was after a plane trip across country and they had fluorescent lights in the plane which tend to bring on seizures.
I had just started my third round of Babs treatment, coupled with the altitude and the lighting and I started seizuring. I was tremoring two days later and the doctor said I had to go.
It did appear to be from herxing or so many different things, but I was in one ER, taken by ambulance to another one to get testing that the first one wasn't qualified to do ...which ended up costing 12 grand out of pocket just for the ambulance to go the distance and across state borders.
Sooooooooo....I definitely understand the not wanting to waste money on these visits and so often they really can do nothing for us. At the same time....when you are in trouble, sometimes we just don't have a choice.
I hope you feel better soon.
Cathy
-------------------- "To Dream The Impossible Dream" Man of La Mancha Posts: 2638 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Oct 2006
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quote:Originally posted by METALLlC BLUE: If you're on medication and the Herxheimer reaction is causing symptoms so severe that you're thinking about going to the ER, then it's time to lower or stop meds until the worst of it subsides.
- agree
I had to go to the ER twice in 9 days due to severe herxing for babesia .. I had heart symptoms .. doubt I would have gone otherwise. But the heart stuff gets scary.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
I have had to go to the ER plenty of times, but I never ever tell them it's a lyme herxing event. I just explain my symptoms and let them treat with pain meds, nausea meds, whatever and when they see my central line, I tell them the truth. But they don't know how to nor do they want to treat Lyme. So leave it out of the equation. If you're dehydrated from barfing and pooping, and that's why you're there, let them rehydrate you and medicate as needed. Who cares if they know you're sick from treatment or the flu etc. It's unfortunate, but we have to play the system better than they do.
When you're at that point, it's best to listen to your body. Then, get a hold of your LLMD so they can make adjustments.
This is what I've learned from being so sick for so long. You gotta do what you gotta do, ya know!
-------------------- Blessings to you! Posts: 141 | From Southern California | Registered: Mar 2010
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
I ended up in the ER with extended (over 3 1/2 hours) tachycardia when I took bicillin IM. Not fun.
Best, Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
randi, many scarey times but I've been lucky that things do pass in time. I can remember maybe 3 times early into this where I was so scared.
All I needed was to tell hubby take me to ER. But I didn't think they would of been helpful. Sad to think that way.
I guess I got so used to the weird, frightening things that came and went. But if I feared heart attack or something like that I would no doubt go.
I'm pretty stubborn and I can see myself telling ducks and nurses what they needed to do for me. lol
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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payne
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 26248
posted
randi, so sorry, I walked a tight rope many times do i go or do i not go to ER ?? One of the last ER docs i saw said keep coming- they will eventually find something, but, it shows him that lyme is real as they can't find anything else... it must be lyme and they will get to know my charts and begin to see that they can quit searching and spend more attention to making me comfortable and stable... all things will pass...be strong
-------------------- TULAREMIA/rabbit fever ? Posts: 1931 | From mid-michigan | Registered: Jun 2010
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philly78
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31069
posted
quote:Originally posted by mcaringella: I have had to go to the ER plenty of times, but I never ever tell them it's a lyme herxing event. I just explain my symptoms and let them treat with pain meds, nausea meds, whatever and when they see my central line, I tell them the truth. But they don't know how to nor do they want to treat Lyme. So leave it out of the equation. If you're dehydrated from barfing and pooping, and that's why you're there, let them rehydrate you and medicate as needed. Who cares if they know you're sick from treatment or the flu etc. It's unfortunate, but we have to play the system better than they do.
When you're at that point, it's best to listen to your body. Then, get a hold of your LLMD so they can make adjustments.
This is what I've learned from being so sick for so long. You gotta do what you gotta do, ya know!
Playing the system isn't going to change things though. Why wouldn't you educate the doctors and nurses? I work in the ER as a nurse and I admit....I knew next to nothing about lyme. Of course, things have changed since I am now sick.
But imo, it would be a good idea to let the staff know exactly what you're going through. How else will they learn to understand? I've been educating the docs and nurses I work with as I learn. Some are receptive; others just think I'm nuts! But the later are the minority. JMO.
-------------------- When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal. Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011
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posted
I ended up in ER twice during past two years due to a herx. First time because of Bell's palsy that was caused by herx- I was not sure was it a stroke or not at the time. I told them I was suffering from Lyme and was scared to death they would question my abx protocol. But doc and RNs were cool. One of the nurses told me(without looking at me) that his friend died of complications of Lyme.
Second time it was huge herx that caused pain in gall bladder. They asked me why I had PICC line and after telling them it was for Lyme they did not question any more.
And the third time I went to ER when my PICC line failed. I was in the middle most aggressive abx treatment and it was 2 days before new year. Doctor was so understanding and helped me BIG TIME.
I have feeling that docs and RNs know much more about Lyme than they are willing to say/treat openly.
Posts: 191 | From va | Registered: Sep 2008
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