I am in the early stages of treatment for Lyme disease while waiting to get in to see a Lyme doctor.
My family doctor put me on 500 mg Amoxycillen 3 times daily for 3 weeks, which helped a little. I was off of it for 2 weeks, then last Tuesday I started taking it again. This time around it is for 6 weeks.
I seam to be suffering from this Jarisch-Herzheimer reaction. Starting about Wednesday I started to feel a little rough. Thursday afternoon I was worn out. Every afternoon about 2:00-3:00 the energy level plummets. The Lyme symptoms are worse. Joints ache, muscles ache, head aches, lower back aches 24 hours a day, etc....
Will this go away soon? How long do I get the joy of feeling like I was hit by a mile long freight train?
I saw a suggestion of switching antibiotics or going off them for a while.
It is my understanding that this JH reaction is caused by the die off of the Lyme or co-infection bacteria. Isn't that a good thing that the bad guys are dieing?
I am still trying to figure out what info I can trust and what is just plain wrong.
I may be in this state because of the mistaken idea that the tick needs to be attached for 24-36 hours before it can transmit the disease. Then again, it could have been a tick that I did not find.
Help, suggestions, commiserations. I will take anything at this point. Even knowing that I am not alone in all of this is a little comforting.
Thanks!
Posts: 23 | From hagerstown, md | Registered: Aug 2014
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
Gosh yes! How I remember those days!
What sort of detox methods are you doing?
Firstly, sometimes increasing magnesium (citrate, malate, bisglycinate), two or more hours away from antibiotics helps the bodywide inflammation feeling. (train wreck feeling)
The kidneys don't much appreciate more than 200-250mg elemental per dose, so space it out into a few doses.
You'll feel like you're living on pills unfortunately.
OR a much easier way is to purchase either a magnesium cream or a spray. You spray it on your sore muscles and joints, and it is absorbed subdermally. It can be used anytime-doesn't matter if you just took your antibiotics.
I have resorted to the spray, right on my Achilles, knees and spine.
It is easier on my belly to be swallowing less pills.
You could also have a nice evening soak in an epsom salt bath. 4 cups of epsom salt per tub. Soak for 20-30 mins. Magnesium also gets absorbed through the skin this way.
Also, for me, activated charcoal and chlorella, help me detox neurotoxins and mycotoxins in my body. I take the activated charcoal and chlorella three hours after my pills, as they will neurtalize med also.
Drinking lots of water, and ensuring regular BM's will also help detox.
If you need to nap everyday, don't feel guilty-just do it.
When you see an LL, you will be put on a better detox regimen and also some coinfections may be treated. The afternoon thing happened to me, and it turns out it was babesia.
Keep on keepin' on. It will come in waves. Bad weeks alternating with good days. Then as treament progresses and coinfections are addressed, you'll have fewer bad days.
Then eventually, mostly good days with a few bad days thrown in.
Just keep hanging in there, and don't feel guilty if you need to nap more, skip out on family functions, or dial down the social aspect. A few good solid friendships with friends who understand this disease are much better than several "sometimes" friends who act put out or sulky when one cancels because of a bad day.
I'm rambling. Try magnesium cream or oil or spray. Or the epsom baths.
And naps.
Hugs Greta
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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How long will a herx last? Depends upon how long you've been ill. If you stop the antibiotics, don't stop for long periods of time. I usually stopped for 1-3 days .. whatever it took to let the worst of the herx pass.
If you stop too long and too often, you delay the whole process of getting well.
Take care!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Thank you for your responses. I printed them out and will take them with me this afternoon to a health food store where a lady has had some success at helping people with Lyme disease. As it turns out, in my current state of forgetfulness, I missed 2 pills in a row. I felt rough for 2 days afterwards but since then have had some more energy and less pain.
Currently I am on Amoxicillen (6 weeks), Vitamin D3 and a multivitamin every day along with drinking a little kefir for the probiotics and sipping green tea throughout the day. And trying to figure out what my next step should be.
Thank you Greta for rambling, I needed that! Take care!
Posts: 23 | From hagerstown, md | Registered: Aug 2014
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Keebler
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