posted
I have had lyme since I think about August. Had lots of neuro symptoms (headaches, hands and legs tingly/sleepy, twitching). I got diagnosed 3 weeks ago and have been taking biaxin/plaquenil. For the first week I was fine. Then I began having no appetite, got an excruciatingly painful headache. Since then I feel like I'm going deaf (earaches and pressure), sinus pressure, nasal drip. This a.m. I had the dry heaves. Now I have twitching all over my body sporadically, tingling in my hands/feet and the never ending head stuff.
If I've only had lyme a short time, would I be herxing this much with all these symptoms I had initially before beginning treatment? How long does this LAST?
Dr. will be changing my med as I can't tolerate it due to the loss of appetite, nausea.
Thanks for any thoughts and hope that I can get thru this!! My doctor said he thinks about 3 mos. of treatment should have me in pretty good shape since I caught the lyme quickly....I pray there's an abx that I can tolerate so I can at least eat.
Posts: 46 | From RI | Registered: Nov 2006
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NP40
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6711
posted
Couple of things here. You may also have a common co-infection called babesia. I see some evidence of that in your symptoms. Babs herx's are nasty.
The plaquenil would actually kill off babs. Plaquenil also allows the biaxin to penetrate deeper thereby intensifying herxing. Biaxin penetrates pretty well on it's own and the addition of the plaquenil should really get in there. If babs is a culprit then you may want to add the capsule form of the herb artemisinin. It's a good babs killer.
If your encountering nausea with biaxin [it's common] refrain from any dairy products at least 2 hours before or after taking it. Sometimes folks have to take biaxin with food, empty stomach won't be able to handle it.
You should also take a good dosage of acidophilus before bed so it can work to restore good bowel flora overnight. ABX will kill off all the stomach bacteria [good and bad] so acidophilus is a must to restore the good. Otherwise, you can develop stomach yeast which would lead to all kinds of stomach issue's.
Garlic would help kill yeast as would many other supps like samento, olive leaf extract, etc.
Posts: 1632 | From Northern Wisconsin | Registered: Jan 2005
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Hey tink...
Most folks just post this in the title..
"Is this a herx.. or am I gonna die?"
Cause sometimes that is the way it feels.. for sure. Some folks herx worse than others.
It was good to call the doctor. Not everything is a herx.. but what you describe sure could be.
The bad news is.. there isn't much that can be done once you hit that wall. Just need to ride it out.. and stop if it gets too ruff on you.. WITH a doctors instructions first of course.
LOTS of water to flush.. some decaf green tea.. and a bit of fresh lemon in the water may help you a bit?
Ask doctor about any anti-inflammatories you might be able to take if you aren't on any now. SOMETIMES they can help.
NP has some good info.. as usual.
Soooooooooooooo.. keep posting and let us know how you are doing.. ok?
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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trueblue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7348
posted
Hi Twinklette, Good advise from the pros, I see!
Since the doc did tell you to stop the meds this should start to wear off as you flush out the die off from the ABX.
I agree, drink and drink and drink and pee it all out.
Oh, was that not exactly what they said? I think peeing out a herx is the way to go. Since you're not adding anymore to the load it should ease up.
I hope it does soon.
-------------------- more light, more love more truth and more innovation Posts: 3783 | From somewhere other than here | Registered: May 2005
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posted
That sounds almost EXACTLY like my first herx!!! Scary, to be sure, but par for the course, too. I pulsed off the abx after 3 weeks when it became intolerable, and switched to a different one, which was much less severe in terms of herxing.
Lyme can go systemic/chronic very, very quickly from what I've read.
-------------------- "Looks like freedom but it feels like death.. It's something in between, I guess"
Leonard Cohen, from the song "Closing Time" Posts: 822 | From California | Registered: Jan 2006
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trueblue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7348
posted
Twinklette, How are you doing? How was the doctor's appointment? Wasn't that today?
I hope you got some good answers and help. Let us know how you're doing, ok?
-------------------- more light, more love more truth and more innovation Posts: 3783 | From somewhere other than here | Registered: May 2005
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