Approximately two weeks ago, I started using subcutaneous heparin injections twice a day. I started with 500IU twice a day and have since worked up to 2,000IU twice a day.
At first, the only real symptoms I experienced were an increase in fatigue and muscle and joint pain. These still continue and are quite bothersome.
Over the past several days though, I've started experiencing additional symptoms I didn't have before. These include shortness of breath, chest tightness, anxiety, heart palpatations, night sweats, and muscle weakness.
I cannot differentiate what is happening -
Knowing that it could be exposing my immune system to infections hiding in my fibrin, as well as possibly treating a babesia coinfection, could I just be getting at a high enough dose now that I'm starting to really herx? While I haven't tested positive for babesia, although I plan to test for it soon through Igenex, I do experience a very bad herx reaction to taking artemisinin; therefore, I feel that I am probably coinfected with babesia.
Or could I be having some sort of allergic or hypersensitivity reaction to some preservative in it or the fact that it's made of pork, although I have never tested as being allergic to pork? I have had some mild itching, which I reckon could just be from dieoff, but other than some normal bruising, my injection sites are not swollen or inflammed nor do I have any hives or a rash.
Before I started the injections, I was on 24,000IU of sublingual heparin per day, which was not effective enough at lowering my fibrinogen, hence the reason I have to do the injections. While the sublingual worked a little at first, in an effort to further lower my fibrinogen, no matter how much my sublingual dose was raised, it just would not budge.
The type of injectable heparin that I am using is called "Heparin Sodium Inj, USP from Porcine Intestines" and is made by Baxter Healthcare Corp.
What is happening to me?
Does Lovonex carry a better safety profile, especially in respect to not causing osteoporosis, so maybe I should think about switching to it?
Love, Light, & Health, Jennie
-------------------- My Lyme dx:11/05. My Mom's Lyme dx:5/16. ISO ASAP-Lyme Literate Dr & Neurologist-Prefer IL, IN, KY, MO, OH, TN. Can travel farther. Finances limited. Prefer Drs take Medicare or Payments. Need great list to find best fit. Tyvm. Posts: 701 | From Owensboro, KY | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Call your doc Jennie, you may be having an untoward reaction.
With that said, when I started heparin, I noticed quite an increase in symptoms. I also tend to have anxiety when I am herxing which can sometimes cause me to have tightness in the chest, breathing problems ect.
For me, it is just a herx, but it may be something more for you. your doc may want you to cut back or hold a little while.
Be safe sweetie,
-------------------- Daisy Posts: 122 | From at the computer | Registered: Jul 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
"could I just be getting at a high enough dose now that I'm starting to really herx?"
That's what I think is happening. What was the sublingual Heparin made out of? Was it not a pork product also? If you do have babs, this is exactly what would happen. All your Sx'x would worsen for a while. Maybe you should still be using Art also?
-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by micul: "could I just be getting at a high enough dose now that I'm starting to really herx?"
That's what I think is happening. What was the sublingual Heparin made out of? Was it not a pork product also? If you do have babs, this is exactly what would happen. All your Sx'x would worsen for a while. Maybe you should still be using Art also?
I agree....BUT...please check with your LLMD!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
SForsgren
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7686
posted
Could be a reaction yes - but could also be that it is having an impact on Babesia as it is known to inhibit Babesia. I would also contact your doctor, but if you have Babesia, I would also discuss that option with your doctor that the Babesia is reacting to the intended treatment.
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
Yes, the sublingual heparin is made out of pork also. Maybe just not in the concentration that I'm getting through the injections. I just don't know.
I'm not too sure that I could handle the additional herx from taking artemisinin on top of this that is happening to me now.
Love, Light, & Health, Jennie
-------------------- My Lyme dx:11/05. My Mom's Lyme dx:5/16. ISO ASAP-Lyme Literate Dr & Neurologist-Prefer IL, IN, KY, MO, OH, TN. Can travel farther. Finances limited. Prefer Drs take Medicare or Payments. Need great list to find best fit. Tyvm. Posts: 701 | From Owensboro, KY | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I doubt if you are having an allergic reaction to this new Heparin if the old stuff was pork also. It wouldn't take a whole lot of it to cause you problems if it was an allergy.
I didn't mean that you should start Art now while you are in bad shape, although sometimes a little extra kick can help alleviate Sx's sometimes. It would be better for you to wait until this subsides before adding Art. It would be interesting to see what your reaction to Art would be now that you are on more Heparin.
I am a little confused because you say that you were on 24,000 IU of sublingual Hep, and that you are only taking 2,000 IU now of the injectable. Did you make a mistake, because 24,000 is way more than 2,000 ?
-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
I agree with you that I'm probably not having an allergic reaction, but just a big ole herx instead. Ugh!
I do intend to retake the artemisinin at a later date, and, like you, I think it will be interesting to see what kind of a reaction I have then, after being on the injectable heparin.
No, I did not make a mistake when I said that I was on 24,000IU of sublingual heparin per day. I know that's alot, but my doctor and I kept raising my dose to see if we could get my fibrinogen level down, although it did not work. I know that 4,000IU per day of injectable heparin is not alot, but I am very sick and my fibrinogen level is very high, therefore I was encouraged to start with a low dose and work my way up.
In all honesty, I think that the sublingual just doesn't work for me, as the injectable is carrying a much, much more bigger punch. I am supposed to try to take as much as 8-10,000IUs per day, but my doctor and I will base that upon how well my fibrinogen level comes down. So far, so good, as I get it checked every ten days.
My best guess is that I am confirming that I am severly infected with babesia, hence my reactions to two of the things that I have taken, which are known to treat it.
Thanks very much for your concern and help!
Love, Light, & Health, Jennie
-------------------- My Lyme dx:11/05. My Mom's Lyme dx:5/16. ISO ASAP-Lyme Literate Dr & Neurologist-Prefer IL, IN, KY, MO, OH, TN. Can travel farther. Finances limited. Prefer Drs take Medicare or Payments. Need great list to find best fit. Tyvm. Posts: 701 | From Owensboro, KY | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I didn't want to give up on them completely, so I just halved last night and this morning's doses.
My most bothersome symptoms today have been shortness of breath, chest tightness, anxiety, and some annoying itching.
Could it be that the heparin has worked so well at uncovering my infections that it's exposed more of them to my bloodstream that what my body can handle? I'm thinking my symptoms could be from it overloading the ability of my body to detox.
What can I do to help my body to work with the heparin more efficiently?
Thanks!
-------------------- My Lyme dx:11/05. My Mom's Lyme dx:5/16. ISO ASAP-Lyme Literate Dr & Neurologist-Prefer IL, IN, KY, MO, OH, TN. Can travel farther. Finances limited. Prefer Drs take Medicare or Payments. Need great list to find best fit. Tyvm. Posts: 701 | From Owensboro, KY | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Boy, I don't know Jenny. Were you able to talk to your Dr about it? It seems really unlikely that it is an allergic reaction because you didn't have it with the sublingual Hep, and it was a pork product also. It is possiblt that it's just a herx, but it's also possible that there could be another problem.
Why don't you try PMing someone like Jellybelly that took it for a long time. Maybe they can give you a better idea. Scott Forsgren the Better Health Guy is taking injectable Hep also. he would be another one that you could discuss Sx's with.
-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I am doing just fine now with 2,000IU subcutaneous injections twice a day, besides the herxing, which, I understand, is to be expected. I am no longer using the sublingual lozenges, as I plan to work my way up to 10,000IU per day of the injections. I continue to reassess my fibrinogen level in the meantime, which is decreasing, so I know they are working.
I think my itching was coming from the oxycodone I had started taking more of, as I started herxing. So, I started taking Norco instead, which has greatly reduced my itching episodes.
I'm not sure why I, all of the sudden, developed a reaction to the oxycodone, which I have been taking for quite a while, but I am aware that narcotics can cause pruritis, hence my reaction.
I remain grateful that I can tolerate the Norco, so that I can, at least, get some relief from the pain caused by my herxing.
Thank you to all of you that offered your help! I appreciate it very much!
Love, Light, & Health, Jennie
-------------------- My Lyme dx:11/05. My Mom's Lyme dx:5/16. ISO ASAP-Lyme Literate Dr & Neurologist-Prefer IL, IN, KY, MO, OH, TN. Can travel farther. Finances limited. Prefer Drs take Medicare or Payments. Need great list to find best fit. Tyvm. Posts: 701 | From Owensboro, KY | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
I had to start out very slow with the heparin, basically cutting the dose into one fourth of the prescribed dose. It stirred up so many babesia symptoms and I have to agree with the others that it somehow affects babesia.
Either that or it just circulates all that stuck old blood around but it does provoke symptoms. For me, it gradually resolved itself but I still do less than prescribed and raise it according to what I feel I can tolerate.
Good luck.
Posts: 460 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged |
Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone, although I'm sorry to hear that you experience the same thing as I do!
I'm almost at 1/2 the dose my doctor wants me on now, so I'm getting up to taking my full dose, albiet very slowly.
Like you, I'm not sure what it's doing, but probably both of what you said, if I had to guess.
It must be cleaning out the vessels in my brain right now, because I've had a nonstop migraine headache for the past two days, plus lots more fatigue and pain. I skipped one of my two shots today, in hopes of lessening my herx, which seems to have helped some.
Do you have elevated fibrinogen also? Babesia? I haven't been tested for Babesia, but I feel like I, most likely, have it.
Best of luck to you also!
Love, Light, & Health, Jennie
-------------------- My Lyme dx:11/05. My Mom's Lyme dx:5/16. ISO ASAP-Lyme Literate Dr & Neurologist-Prefer IL, IN, KY, MO, OH, TN. Can travel farther. Finances limited. Prefer Drs take Medicare or Payments. Need great list to find best fit. Tyvm. Posts: 701 | From Owensboro, KY | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic