Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Since coming down with one of the worst cases of stomach flu that I've ever had,
Last week, I've been sliding downward.
I now have some type of bronchitis.....Have had pink eye in both eyes.
Am having panic/anxiety attacks again. Feeling like my throat is closing off and my
Face is numb. Increased air-hunger, dizziness, joint and muscle pain, brain fog and fatigue.
Have tingling in my toes followed by pain.
I am just scared.
I started back on my babs treatment on Friday of last week once I could hold food down.
Started back slowly, but am up to four malarone a day and 1000mg of biaxin.
I am to see LLMD next Tuesday as I had to miss last appt. due to stomach flu.
Did I mention I am scared?
I know that Lyme is slow to come back, but is it possible as I have only been on
Rifampin, zithromax, bactrim and now biaxin that I haven't really hit the Lyme since December?
Anyone think it may be time for doxy again?
I had panic/anxiety attacks prior to being dx. and placed on doxy.
Thank goodness that went away fairly quickly on meds.
Any advice/suggestions would be deeply appreciated.
I am living a nightmare again that I thought I was past.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
Hi Geneal,
So sorry to hear that you are not feeling well, I hope you feel better soon.
Please hang in there! I would place my bet on your renewed feelings of anxiety as being either due to the lingering effects of the stomach flu, or a herx/adjustment to the malarone and biaxin. I don't think it is a lyme relapse.
Just one malarone made me feel that way that you are describing, so I am amazed by your toughness in taking four of them plus the biaxin!
Zithromax definitely treats lyme, and I believe Biaxin does too. Not sure about bactrim -- it might. I have heard llmds say that no one knows for sure whether rifampin treats lyme since it has not been tested in vitro (though clearly there is lots of clinical experiments!)
The first thing is to heal your stomach well. These feelings will pass, and you will feel better than before! If things get too bad, you should speak with your doctor about cutting back until you feel better.
I had the same experience as you -- doxy quickly took care of anxiety/panic attachs, but they came back after starting malarone. It took me 7-8 weeks to adjust to the malarone, or get past the babs herx, I hope you do it quicker! Take care
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
HI Geneal, I am so sorry this is happening to you. I know how hard it is to have many gains, then backslide.
It can be very discouraging. With the anxiety attacks, air hunger, and dizziness it could be a babs herx. If you have
stopped the meds and then restarted your body could be adjusting again. Four malarone is a
lot. I am only on one and have bad herxes. We just added bactrim and I had to stop because it
was too much for me. Your body is also recovering from a severe flu, so your immune system is not where it should
be. I would see what your doctor says and wait it out to see if the symptoms get better. This
disease is such trial and error. Let us know what happens. Hope your feeling well soon.
Posts: 323 | From Michigan | Registered: Sep 2006
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Thank you so much for your invaluable insight and words of wisdom.
If this is a babs herx it is the worst one I've ever had.
It is so discouraging. Maybe I will back off the malarone a little today and
See if I feel better.
This darn disease and co-infections are really taking a toll on me.
It's the "been there done that" feeling to only have this occur over again.
Those panic/anxiety attacks along with the sensation of throat swelling,
Numbness and air hunger are terrifying.
I had prayed to never feel this way again.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
I hope it's a Herx!!!!!!!!!!!!
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Thanks Sarah.
I know you've been around this block a time or two yourself.
Hope the husband is doing well.
I still think of Annie-bannanie every time I see you post.
It makes me smile.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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I'm there too. Babs herx kicked my butt like I couldn't believe. The anxiety and dizziness almost put me in bed for a few days.
Rest assured.... It's a herx and it will pass.
It is so hard to tell yourself that its just a herx and it will go away in a day or two.. but honestly.. I'm in the same situation. It's getting better by the day... Hang in there. You will get over this hard time.
Also.. the next Babs herx won't be this intense.. so you've done the hardest work already (so to speak)
It's a herx.. its a herx its a herx...
If you are like me.. babs herxes come and go quickly.... write back and let us know how you are feeling.
-------------------- 26 months of treatment. And counting....... Posts: 298 | From Northeast Kansas | Registered: Oct 2006
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
Geneal I hope you feel better soon.
I have no words of wisdom but wanted to let you know I am hoping that you get over this super quick!
I would also ask Dr F about taking 3 malerone a day at least until you feel better.
He lowered my daughters dose from 4 to 3 because the herx was so bad the first time around. He said her weight was on the border line of the dosage cutoff anyway.
It made a difference. Before she was having to take a break from the med to get over the herx, and stay out of the ER.
If I recall you posted your size before and you probably are near the cutoff also.
I think I read about a cycle for babs. Maybe this could also be the hardest part of their life cycle?
Thanks for the PM. I did reply but somehow deleted the post! Will try again later today!
Hugs back at Ya!
MommaK
Posts: 242 | From Mississippi | Registered: Oct 2006
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I'm so sorry you are going through this! I am with you in spirit, since I began my Malarone adventure a month ago.
The first two weeks were do-able herxes, but by week three it was getting intense and by week four my gut involvement was so intense that I'm on a Malarone break.
The anxiety always feels like an insult, doesn't it! I was perking along on Amoxicillan with arthritis stuff but a clear head. Then I added two pediatric doses of Malarone and I feel like a weepy, exhausted, nauseous crazy woman.
Monkey-mind gets going and I start wondering if I have other TBIs and should I be on other medicines. Slow and steady wins the race, they say... have to "keep on swimming, keep on swimming...."
PM me to commiserate anytime -- I'm around a lot lately with these new woozy symptoms.
Sending love and strength vibes,
wiserforit
Posts: 508 | From Banks of the Hudson | Registered: Jul 2006
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I hope you continue improving. I just PM'ed you before seeing this thread, so I didn't know you were going through a flare-up... Sorry to hear it.
And I hope your long trek to the LLMD is not too draining. I recall you have a long way to travel to see her/him.
Best of luck to you.
Hugs, Pippi
-------------------- To our good health, Pippifern Posts: 36 | From Cape Cod | Registered: Apr 2007
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
Biaxin should help out with a sinus/upper respiratory infection. I was rx'd Biaxin several times for sinus infections before I made the connection that it was keeping me awake at night every time I took it. However it was effective at knocking out the sinus infections.
Now my LLMD and I have concluded it was probably a herx those many years ago, just didn't know why it was happening. I am beginning to sleep through the night again, thankfully!
I hope you are able to resolve this soon. It's no fun having infections to deal with in addition to the TBI's.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
Sometimes I have mixed up yeast herxes with babs herxes. Make sure you don't have yeast. Maybe ask for diflucan and see if it calms things down. Yeast can come on really fast.
Posts: 293 | From healdsburg, ca , sonoma | Registered: Feb 2005
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
I have been on Sporonax, once a day for 30 days...
I don't think it is yeast.
I took some mucinex last night and am finally moving some of this chest congestion.
I think this is all related to valcyte, which I have been on for extremely high CMV titers.
It really does lower the immune system.
That combined with Lyme and a babs herx....Yikes!!!
I am going to speak to LLMD tomorrow about this.
Did I mention I also got pink eye?
It is one thing to be not well with Lyme and babs.
It's another thing to be sick with other illnesses on top of this.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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