1. Is a side effect to the drug

2. Is a herx

3. Is the Lyme itself

Eventually you will be able to tell the differance. To me this sounds like #2 on the list. If that is the case..it will pass.

The following post done by the one and only, lovely, Tincup has links that you WILL want to read, bookmark and study.

Tincup's Links for new LymeNet members It is a very good place for you to start learning about this very complicated disease and about this site.

http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/009342.html

Good luck and stay around awhile, you'll be glad you did. This IS the absolute best place for support for patients with LD on the world wide web, period.

I'm also new to Lyme, and have been on Doxy for three weeks. I'm curious (and know nothing) about what you are referring to as herx.

I've had the following pattern with Doxy: For about an hour or two after each dose, I get all sorts of reactions such as hot flashes, lightheadedness, fuzzy foggy feeling, mild nausea, etc....a general feeling that I've been "jolted" with each dose. To those of you in the know....does that sound like a "herx"?

My daughte can't tolerate orals and now is having trouble even with IV doxy.lymemomtooo

Hi

I have been on Doxy for nearly 3 weeks and I am doing very well on it BUT I also developed nasty stomach pains after about 7 days on it but I knew this was a yeast problem developing because I have never really been able to get rid of Candida.

Therefore I took 1 Diflucan tablet which really helped and made sure I took 1 good Acidopholus tablet after every meal. In addition I have taken Pau D'Arco tea mixed with Cats Claw tea 3 times daily after each meal.

Ever since doing this I have no problems at all with my stomach or gut so I really can recommend it.

I really like the way Doxy makes me feel though it does cause a lot of sweating attacks and severe aching at times but it is all very bearable.

BTW I do a every other day protocol because I believe it can be more effective at getting at the cell wall deficient bacteria. After several months I will add in other abx.

Hope this helps but I definitely think it is a yeast issue

You need to be sure to take it with a good meal, to buffer your stomach. No dairy or antacids or mineral supplements within two hours, or you will inhibit absorption.

You should be careful not to lie down for an hour after taking it, because doxy is very caustic and can burn the esophagus if you have reflux.

Probiotics MUST be taken to maintain the flora of your GI tract. Take them two hours after taking the doxy so they have time to establish before the next round of antibiotics.

If you are good with the probiotics, you shouldn't have too much trouble with ongoing diarrhea.

The stomach pain and diarrhea CAN also be a herx.For that matter, so can the anxiety. Lyme affects your brain, and all kinds of emotions can be caused by herxing.

i have been on Doxy for about 4 months now.

sorry if i repeat did not read all the replies. there are some days i have the worst anxiety from it...steer clear of any caffine.

YOU MUST eat with doxy and drink A BUNCH of water, it is hard on the stomach.

Do you have an LLMD?

I'm new to Lyme too, and also on Doxy. 400mg/day for 4 weeks. 2 1/2 week into treatment. Here's my progress.

After 1-2 days, I started feeling worse. Had to lie down and cold sweated. After one day though, this went away but I kept experiencing my original symptoms of fainting fits, shortness of breath, and foggyheaded.

After about 7 days I started developing numbness in arms and feet. And then came joint pain in knees, wrists and fingers.

After 14 days nearly all symptoms went away for 1 1/2 day. Then on the 16th day, they came back just like that at 11:40am.

So seems like something's happening to me roughly once every week. I'm not trying to make sense of it. I understand that everyone reacts, or doesn't react, differently. So I don't know if I'm getting better, if I'm herxing or if I'm not getting better. All I know is that I DON'T FEEL better at this point. And my gutt tells me that the Doxy is not up for the job. But Dr.C wants me to wait it out.

I have sort of accepted that the healing process to a large extent is a waiting game. So it helps to be patient. Avoid stressful situation, if at all possible.

The stomach upset has gotten much better. Developed photosens. to sun. got burned. be sure to wear sunscreen of high spf. Depression and anxiety are worst symptoms for me on this. Neuro stuff also

I also have the once a week or every 6 days cycle it seems like. mini herxing then major herx every 6 days.

If you are getting fevers your immune system is kicking in to fight this...it takes a long time...which really gets me mad and frustrated....today I cried for no reason and felt better (like emotional tension building up) This sucks, I know!