Looks as if the Rocephin is hitting hard...so sorry that you are feeling sick and blue.

Rocephin in particular packed a really emotional herx for me as well. I have been told by others also that they experienced the same things.

I usually have a very even disposition, but with Rocephin, I felt as if I was on some awful emotional roller coaster.

I know this really doesn't help your immediate circumstances...but, I hope it will give you some peace to know that others have gone through the same sort of thing before you.

Hang in there...it took about 7 good weeks for me to really turn a major corner with this drug. But, if the herx gets to be too much, remember that backing off a bit, is a good idea until things calm down for you.

Many also do a pulsing protocol with Rocephin. This allows your body to eliminate the toxins more easily in between doses. This might be an option for you, so ask your doc about it.
Now is the time to keep the lines of communication wide open with your doc, OK?

Are you also taking Actigal? This is another drug that is usually prescribed with Rocephin to help protect the gall bladder.

My best to you, and hope you are feeling better real soon!
Melanie

I know it is tough. Hang in there if you can. My worst herxes were from IV Rocephin, except for one week on Flagyl that blew my brains away. I think it was about 5 weeks before I stopped feeling sick 24/7, anxious and emotionally drained. I just felt like I might never get better and really didn't want to go through one more day of Rocephin if it meant feeling so terrible.

But, things did get better. If I was alone and feeling really afraid and sick I would call my nurse and she would talk me through the infusion or simply tell me just to skip it that night. I must have sounded pretty bad one particular evening because I recall her saying - don't infuse tonight, I wouldn't want your family to come home and find a body on the living room floor. For some reason this made me laugh. I didn't know if she thought I might do myself in because I was so upset or if I might die from the Rocephin. I assured her I was just feeling really crappy and was not going to do anything stupid.

Looking back, I was pretty emotional because I was easily upset by how bad I felt. It helps alot to talk to someone, a friend, your nurse, your Dr., family, anyone who will listen. Also, drink lots of water and try to rest. It also isn't a bad idea to consider an anti-anxiety med or a lose dose antidepressant.

As for your gall bladder, milk thistle and/or DGL licorice will be helpful. I had no trouble with my gall bladder or licer the entire 28 weeks I was on Rocephin. I attribute that to a good diet and those 2 supplements.

Take care and vent any time.

You are so very welcome!

I would definitely speak with your doc about the Actigal. Rocephin is well known to do a number on one's gall bladder, and Actigal is used to help keep this from happening.

In my opinion, 4 weeks is really not long enough with Rocephin. I know this is sometimes the standard, but, time has proven otherwise. So, I would really suggest that you also speak with the doc about extending your treatment.

The third thing to question your doc about is...are you also taking a secondary antibiotic to help get at the cyst form of the bacteria? Time has also proven that without another cyst busting drug, the rocephin alone can really cause more cyst activity. Therefore sending many patients into a relapse once this treatment is ceased.

Remember, you have ten years of this bacterium in your system...and hitting it hard and fast may be a bit too much at first. This bacteria is best eradicated with a combination therapy, but, you may need to ease into that combination.

Another helpful thing that you may consider is... if the depression gets to be too much, please consider speaking with your doc about a prescription for anti-anxiety meds...or, perhaps find a chronic illness sympathetic therapist to speak with.

If you have been dealing with this for ten years, it may take awhile to resolve, and having a sympathetic ear that is on your side, can really help you through some very bumpy patches on the road to recovery.

Oh, one more thing...please be sure that you run ALL of the alternative approaches by either your doc or your pharmacist...preferably both. Other drugs, even herbs, are very potent, and all interaction possibilities should be thoroughly checked out before you take anything, OK?

Have you been on any other antibiotics before this?
Are you confident that your doc is Lyme Literate?
Just curious to know if this was the first defense that your doc prescribed.