posted
I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago w/lyme (most likely got it in August while out hiking). I was prescribed biaxin plaquenil which seemed to be going ok but I gradually started losing my appetite, coughing all the time and having reflux. I was basically forcefeeding myself and having a terrible time. Then this a.m. I dry heaved and can't keep anything down, no appetite. I called my dr. and he told me to stop until my appt w/him on Tuesday.
Are there any other abx treatments that are easier on the stomach, or is an IV the only option if you can't take the meds internally?
I'm really scared as I feel like I'm going downhill. I'm totally depressed and wonder if I will ever be me again...I believe I have caught this soon enough to be treated and get well, but it's so HARD I wonder how much more I can take. I don't do well with dealing with health situations, I feel like just running away from it all. If I could have just one feeling good day I'd be thrilled but it's all been downhill.
Any spiritual thoughts or comments I'd much appreciate, thank you.
Posts: 46 | From RI | Registered: Nov 2006
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
People react differently to different abx. So hopefully the next one won't cause the nausea problems.
You are taking the meds with food, right? If not, then that could be the reason.
It is common to feel worse when you first start taking abx. It's a herx reaction, where symptoms worsen as toxins are released from the dying bugs.
It's always possible that you had a respiratory infection that the antibiotics hit, or even a gut infection. That could explain some of your symptoms.
Whatever you do, don't just run away from treatment. It took me 17 years to get diagnosed and it's a lot harder to treat and the symptoms are a lot worse.
My LLMD has me on Prevacid for reflux. Maybe that will help?
It's doable. Sometimes what helps me through the bad times is knowing when I feel bad, it's the bugs being killed by the medicine.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
thanks so much - I have been taking them with food for sure per the doctor. The dry heaves freaked me out as I had felt fine. The doctor asked me to discontinue to see if maybe it's a bug or something and not related to the abx, as I did take them for 18 days...while it wasn't pleasant I was able to get them down.
A herx question though - I started on Dec 18. Felt totally fine until last Friday, December 31 which is when I started to feel sicker. Shouldn't the herx come quicker than that if abx treatment is working?
Are there any other abx that are more tolerable? I herx'd with 500mg of amox I was taking 3x/day for what I thought was a sinus infection (which I now believe is a lyme symptom). Maybe amoxy would be better since I am able to tolerate that?
I just feel like giving up...I know so many on this board are way sicker than me but I have never felt this bad in my life.
Posts: 46 | From RI | Registered: Nov 2006
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trueblue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7348
posted
Hiya, I haven't taken Biaxin and Plaquenil together but have recently tested out Biaxin, again, and my tummy (amongst other things) is extremely unhappy and I have stopped.
I won't miss the 5 pounds though.
I have done this on and off for some time, as I did not catch this early, and can say from personal experience that some meds are easier on your tummy than others.
There are many other meds out there and hopefuly the next one will be tolerable. I know it's hard to beleive that when you feel so crappy.
Definately, let this clear out and wait until you see the doc and discuss what other options would be a good idea.
Blah, blah, blah, absoluetly no medical background just been there a lot.
There are good days coming, they might just take a while. (Anyone that knows me is laughing right now considering the amount of whining I've been doing lately.) I hate to admit it when I'm all whiney but I do remember first getting to the good days and it's magical and they become more frequent as you go.
Oh, yeah, that's one mother herx you had there, kiddo. As the meds leave your system in the next few days a bunch of the complete awfulness will lift (depression, etc).
Hang in there, Twinklette! (I love your name, it makes me smile )
-------------------- more light, more love more truth and more innovation Posts: 3783 | From somewhere other than here | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Trueblue thanks about my name, I love it too
So my dry heaves was a herx, a bad one? I should have thought of that - does that mean I need to continue on it or that it's too much for my system? Hopefully my head herx issues will ease also...I am at my wits end. I am such a baby when it comes to stuff like this and lyme scares the hell out of me.
I know the biaxin doesn't agree w/me so I'm not sure what else to ask for or what he might recommend. Any thoughts of what I should ask for?
I'm petrified of all these herx reactions, it's so scary. I just pray for the day when I will feel well again.
Posts: 46 | From RI | Registered: Nov 2006
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trueblue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7348
posted
ps. 2 more posts slipped in while I was taking too long to write but I wanted to add...
About the herxes, sometimes they come at 4 weeks and sometimes a full moon will be your big herx time. The 28th would have been a few days before the full moon.
I don't know why, just know it's happened to me. More pull on the water in our bodies(like high tide), parasites, maybe ABX penetrate better by moonlight???
-------------------- more light, more love more truth and more innovation Posts: 3783 | From somewhere other than here | Registered: May 2005
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trueblue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7348
posted
I don;t know but it sounds to me like the herx just got too big. It may be you need to start at a lower dose or a different med will not put you over the top.
For me, the most important thing is to be able to tolerate the herx so I can continue. It's not always an easy balance. Sometimes, especially for me, all I can do is back down and try again.
I do think slow and steady eventually wins the race.
I did mention having no medical anything and just rambling about what's in my head, right? I don't really know anything so just ignore the woman behind the curtain.
-------------------- more light, more love more truth and more innovation Posts: 3783 | From somewhere other than here | Registered: May 2005
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posted
thanks so much! It's a bad night - I have twitching all over, sweats, ears hurt, pressure in head...I guess I am herxing in a big way. Hopefully a couple of days not taking the abx will let the herx ease up.
Hopefully a med at a lower dose might help...
Posts: 46 | From RI | Registered: Nov 2006
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