posted
Hi all, I am contemplating what my life might be like once I get on a treatment regimen and I, like others, am afraid of the herx.
My husband works out of town and is gone most of the time. I am alone a lot. I could possibly find a friend or friends that would be willing to give me a hand with things for a while but they are not going to want to spend night and day with me.
I am especially concerned with heart block. That happened to me once in the mid 1980's. I am worried that treatment will cause another one. I also run a small horse ranch and have chores every day despite how I feel. So I am wondering what to expect.
Someone told me their doc gave them Benadril (spelling) because the herx was a histimine reaction. I know all symptoms can get worse but I don't have histimine reactions unless I have a cold which I rarely get. Have others had this?
Anyway, I am just seeking answers so I can go into this with as much knowledge as possible.
Thanks in advance!
-------------------- Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired Posts: 185 | From Colorado | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
I do not know if everyone has Herxe reactions, but I have learned to tolerate mine by just thinking it is making me better. Mine do not last long and rotate around. The good news is I am recovering and there will be an end to this. Temporary inconvenience, permanent improvement. Everytime I see that on a road sign I focus on it with my problems. Hope this helps.
-------------------- LJS Posts: 12 | From Maryland | Registered: Aug 2006
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
Well, I can't comment on the heart block because I haven't had it, thank goodness, and I know Lyme can cause it. But obviously you will need to discuss any antibiotics with your doctor because certain ones can affect the heart's Q-T interval.
Anyway, I was more scared of the idea of herxing than just about anything else with treatment. Turns out I'm practically a non-herxer when it comes to Lyme.
I actually think I react more with Bartonella treatment but had to stop it early, so I'm not sure.
I have another Lyme pal here in the same city - we are both neurological Lymies - lots of nerve pains. Neither of us herx all that much.
I still have to work (although I'm too sick to travel so I'm not working my pre-Lyme hours), have to do my own errands, all that stuff.
There are many errands that just can't get done. There have been times I've been too sick to work or function but they were not herxes - I had a prolonged very bad reaction to one antibiotic but that antibiotic is now known to be pretty dangerous.
You won't really know your herxing patterns until you start. On orals I didn't have the 28-day flare, on injectables sometimes I do. But again, you just have to get to know how your body reacts.
Some Lyme doctors want people to really tough it out during a herx, others say to scale back on your medications. Again, it's something to discuss with your Lyme doctor once you and he/she get to know how your body reacts.
I've heard that herxing is more due to a cytokine/toxin reaction/inflammation cascade - don't know if Benadryl would help unless it were an allergic reaction. But I'll leave that to others to chime in.
Anyway, the fear and anticipation of the herx was much worse than any herxing I've had - but I am lucky in that regard. Some people herx hard. But it's not a definite.
Take care, Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Hi Sick
Some folks dont herx- my doctor told me about 20% of folks dont ever--mostly men--
My first three months of treatment I did not herx and kind of felt left out- and wished I would herx so I would know the little beasts where dying--
When I started Bactrim for Babs I got my wish--Ouch-- I am now more careful what I wish for--
Like LJS says --its worth it-- I usually feel alittle better after each herx- short term pain- long term gain -Jay--
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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JimBoB
Unregistered
posted
I HATE to herx. I do everything in my power NOT to.
You will herx a lot less on the proper herbal regimen than you will on abx. Usually. Notice I said PROPER.
I rarely herx, and that is good. I just like feeling better and better. And the herbs are doing it for me.
Not perfect yet, and maybe never will be, but at least I can work hard most days now, and not feel like I am going to die everyday. And I am 65 so age is against me too.
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