A herx can hit you all of a sudden, and be debilitating, so make sure you aren't driving over the next few days or going into social or professional situations where you have to be sharp.

Ours is starting us on very low dose oral antibiotics with a gradual ramp up as we can handle it without feeling too yucky. This is even though we have had some antibiotics already.

Not only that, she also gave me things to help with symptoms, such as brain fog and fatigue.

Treament for this does not necessarily have to be brutal... It is easy to forget that the goal is to get feeling better.

If you have never had a herx before, please allow me to advise you, in the strongest possible terms, not to drive before it hits and you know what you are dealing with. I've had herxes cause sudden paralysis, delirium, and narcolepsy (I think that's the right term for abruptly falling asleep, right?). We Lymenetters can sometimes go over the top in our descriptions, but this one is for real.

Make absolutely sure you have enough food and water in the house to last a week, and someone who will either be nearby, or take your calls if you are delirious. You might actually need someone who will be able to call your job for you.

It kind of depends on what your 'treatment' tomorrow is. You MIGHT just walk out with a script for an oral antibiotic and a few supportives. Or you might be given something stronger right on the spot. Different Doctors have different approaches.

In our case we THOUGHT we had been infected late June last year, but our Western Blots suggest we've had it at least a year.

In any case our herxes were just achy, foggy, headachy experiences. Not pleasant but not disabling either.

Everyone reacts differently, so it is best to be prepared in case it hits you hard. If not, it will be a relief. If it is rougher, you will at least be ready.

If your treatment isn't something given right then in the Dr. office maybe you can schedule some downtime to start it.

I start abx this coming Monday. Please let us know how you are doing!

I think calcium interfering with absorbtion was more of a problem with the original tetracyclines than doxycycline or minocycline. You might want to look it up... maybe somebody else remembers.

It is good he is starting you out slow. In case you get more of a reaction than he anticipates it is ok to start out alot slower than that if need be. Maybe 100mg once a day if twice is too rough.

Be sure to call and ask about a more gradual start if it is too rough. Everyone reacts differently.

We are being started on Minocycline 50mg every other day right now, for example of a slow start. Mino is a bit rougher than doxy though.

Protect your stomach, be sure to take the the doxy with lots of water and some food. I found it was best to eat at least half a meal before taking it. I always drank 2 glasses of water with it. Don't lay down for 1/2 hour after taking it.

I would take probiotics and restrict my dairy consumption to lunch and late night (as far from Doxy as possible).

Be very carful with the sun. I would burn in 1 minute while taking doxy. I always wore a wide brimmed hat, a scarf (I now have ones for all seasons) and in the summer, long sleeves or a big scarf like a shawl. I could not have any exposed skin even for the shortest time outside.

My eyes also became very sun sensitive so I was never without sunglasses. If you are well enough to exercise outdoors consider doing it at night.

Wishing you the best.
hats & scarfs