I am stopping all of my antibiotics until I can talk to my LLMD on Thursday. He said this would be okay if I really needed to do it.
I was herxing so badly (and constantly barfing too, if you've been reading my posts ), I just could not take it anymore.
I feel that something is fundamentally wrong and that this is not a normal herx.
I think I've pulled just about every muscle in my stomach, and yet they won't stop contracting. I can't seem to keep a teaspoon of water down.
Even the strongest anti-vomiting prescriptions do nothing.
I've never felt so toxic before. The irony is that when I feel like this, I am too incapacitated to detox at all. Truthfully, I don't have much faith that it will help me.
Anyway, I was wondering if such a pause from the abx (even if it's only a few days long) could have bad effects??
I mean, will I end up selecting for the hardier bacteria and make things more difficult for myself down the road??
I'm feeling really ambivalent about this decision. I don't want to make things worse, but I feel that I don't have the strength to do this anymore.
I want my body (and mind) to stabilize for at least a few days, maybe weeks.
If my LLMD tells me that I have to keep doing orals, I think I may not be able comply with his advice. He seems very resistant to IV treatments. Yet I feel strongly that this is the best course for me.
I booked an appt for Dr. S in October because I wonder if he will be more willing to do IV's... I started to think that maybe I should hold off on treatment entirely until then.
Funny thing is: I stopped the meds almost 24 hours ago and yet I still feel awful. Any idea how long it takes for Rifampin/Mino to clear the system? I worry that it has done some kind of permanent damage.
I really feel that I am at the end of my rope. Posts: 390 | From Oakland, CA | Registered: May 2007
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Sorry to hear you're having such a horrible time. Why some people can pop mouthfuls of pills and other can't tolerate one pill is just one more of the many mysteries we get to ponder.
If you're nonstop vomiting, it doesn't do any good to keep trying to take the antibiotics. Hopefully, your LLMD will have a plan b (or c, d, etc.) whether he gives you antinausea medicine, tries a different antibiotic or moves on to IV. Sometimes when something doesn't work out, we move on to something better. So take a break, relax - you won't lose ground in three days and hopefully Thursday will come fast for you.
Posts: 984 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2006
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posted
I think this is fine, and your doctor knows, and he/she will be seeing you soon, too. Indeed, if you're throwing them up, it's not worth it to keep trying to take them!
When I started, I was on 200mg minocycline twice a day, but the Herx was UNBEARABLE. I kept skipping doses because I was so afraid, and often called 911 MORE ON the meds than I did before I started treatment. My doctor fiddled with my dosage for several months, until we figured out the most I could tolerate was 50mg twice a day. And sometimes even one dose of 50mg would make me Herx badly. I don't know if I was just super sensitive or what, but it was terrible. I really thought I was just allergic to the medicine. But different meds and doses will work for different people of course.
Anyway... in the mean time stock up on probiotics and yogurt.
Hang in there.
Posts: 17 | From MD | Registered: Aug 2007
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david1097
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3662
posted
OK, A couple of things to consider...
Are you sure you havent caught a virus or had some bad food that is causing your problems that you are seeing? When you say stomach, I am assuming you mean stomach and not the small or large intestine... (it makes a big difference in figuring out what is going on.)
On stopping. The answer would depnd on how long you have been taking them. If it has been for a long time, then stopping likely will have mininal effect, particuallary on lyme bacteria. Lyme takes a long time to reproduce and a few days... or even a few weeks is generally not considered long enough for a lyme relapse.
Lyme is also though not to develop resistance and indeed, in difficult cases the same antibiotic can be used with some success more than once... or so I have seen with both myself and a few others.
In general IV is used when there are problems tolerating orals so it sounds like you may be a good candidate for it, However, IV will also give significant lower GI problems for a few days, as do orals.
On the detoxification, millions of people use antibiotics every day with out any form or "detox" (or even probiotic!).
A majority of them handle the drugs without a problem. I would therefore suggest that detoxification is not your answer and that a different drug/combination or different route of administration would be the best bet.
Rifampin has a relatively short half life at about 3 hours... it is almost totally cleared at 24 hours. Minocycline (perhaps the more troublesome to the stomach of the two) has a longer half life at around 12 hours. It will take at least 3 days to effectively clear the system.
Posts: 1184 | From north america | Registered: Feb 2003
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
Has your LLMD tested you for GI issues? Celiac Disease? Bacterial overgrowth of the intestines? Parasites?
I did a 3 day stool test and was found to have bacterial dysbiosis. I'm taking Oregano Oil, Plant Tannins, and Uva Ursi. It's helped tremendously with my GI issues. I had diarrhea and nausea, but no vomiting.
If your not holding them down, there's really no point in taking them. I'd stop for a few days.
I had to stop my meds for a week because of GI issues. My LLMD told me if the babs symptoms started coming back, to start taking the Mepron, but not to take the other meds for a week. I did start taking the Mepron after 2 days.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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quote:Originally posted by sixgoofykids: Has your LLMD tested you for GI issues? Celiac Disease? Bacterial overgrowth of the intestines? Parasites?
I did a 3 day stool test and was found to have bacterial dysbiosis. I'm taking Oregano Oil, Plant Tannins, and Uva Ursi. It's helped tremendously with my GI issues. I had diarrhea and nausea, but no vomiting.
If your not holding them down, there's really no point in taking them. I'd stop for a few days.
DITTO to that!!
MonaVox....Yes, I think 400mg of mino would make anyone head to the ER!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
I feel for you. I had the worst case of the stomach flu last month,
Couldn't keep anything down and when stomach was finally empty the dry heaves.....yuck!
Have you asked your doctor about phenergen?
It comes in suppository form and will stop the nausea and vomiting.
It will also knock you out for a good night's sleep.
I took about a two week break from antibiotics during this time.
Am currently on a break from all meds (antibiotics) now and am only taking malarone,
and of course supplements/probiotics.
I think you need to listen to your body.
Give it a break.
If you can't hold water down then you can't hold meds down.
Any pain? Like appendix? Gallbladder?
How are your liver enzymes?
I had hepatitis when I was 17. I did nothing but throw up for days.
I almost died from dehydration before anybody figured it out.
May want to get some blood work done just to be sure.
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I went thru a period of horrible nausea, and dry heaves every day-it wasn't from the meds-I think it was from bart/babs. Fortunately, it is better now.
Posts: 561 | From eastcoast | Registered: Aug 2006
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Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
Please consider going to an ER if you are throwing up non-stop for more than 12 hours! You might need electrolytes and fluid, and they have medicine that stops nausea right away (I know, I had to go to an ER once for this).
Otherwise, a pause for a couple of days if you are extremely ill could be a good idea, in my non-medical opinion. Please call your llmd. If you are seeing him/her in 2 days, that is not a long pause.
I had to stop for a couple of days in treatment in the past year, and I do not think it at all affected my ongoing recovery. Except to let my gut heal, which it did. Take care.
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
Thank you guys so much. I know I can always rely on the best advice from here.
I am feeling a little better. I think my system may finally be clearing. I haven't thrown up in 6 hours and I actually ate some pretzels. Small steps.
I would have gone to the ER last night but as it happens, I am in between insurance policies and my new card hasn't come in the mail yet. I could probably still get seen, but I didn't know if I could deal with the hassle.
I am glad that people don't think a treatment pause will really hurt me in the end. If Lyme is as slow-growing as they say, then I don't think a week or so can do that much damage.
Geneal, I don't have any abdominal pain 'cept pulled stomach muscles, but I'm beginning to wonder if this is a liver toxicity issue.
Perhaps I should get a liver panel done?? Hmmm.
David, I don't think this is a virus because I honestly haven't had contact with pretty much anyone (live alone) in the last week. Also, all of this coincided with starting my Rifampin/Mino combo.
Anyway, I'm going to BEG my LLMD for IVs on Thursday.
Posts: 390 | From Oakland, CA | Registered: May 2007
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