posted
In 2006, I was diagnosed with rocky mountain spotted fever and hospitalized for six days. I was treated with only six days of doxycycline and released. I was told by my infectious disease doctor that no meds or blood work were needed because lyme disease is a disease of only northern America and no reports are documented for our state. I continued to go down in health with major neurological problems, nausea, migraines, fatigue, and much more. Well, a year and half later I finally talked a doctor to do a western blot and tested positive. It has been such a battle! I even had to travel 500 miles to see a specialist who was very helpful to get me on meds. I am on the third day of my IV rocephin and still have not had a Herx reaction. I am not noticing any changes.. but I have read conflicting Herx reaction time lines. Is it bad that I still have not had a Herx reaction? Could it take longer than 28 days to develop one? Can you not have a Herx and the medication is working? This is my first time posting and I want to thank every single person who is involved with this website. Having this disease has really taught me to have a support system around you-- and it is so touching to see everyone stick together here. Thank you again!
Posts: 38 | From Chattanooga, TN | Registered: Dec 2007
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Herx times and everything about herxes are different for everyone.
For me, I think I have herxed once in a while, but it hasn't gotten as bad as some people say their herxes are. I've also heard that some people never really herx much at all but do get better. When I was first put on an antibiotic - Doxy, I noticed a small herx. I was extremely tired and felt dizzier than I usually felt (and I was ALWAYS dizzy before diagnosis and treatment).
So I believe I've herxed, but not as majorly as some people here have, and I know I am getting better because I am having so many more good days than I've had since becoming ill. For example, I've had nearly 15 days in a row of 'good' days with only a few of those being 'blah' days.
PS - Welcome!
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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babesman
Unregistered
posted
It could be explained by different tropism (tissue residing preferences) of dying spirochete strains.
Borrelia in the CNS for instance could cause less severe toxico-immunologic reactions than Borrelia with tropism to the heart.
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posted
Some herx harder on orals than on IV...That is not to say you won't one day wake up wondering where that 18-wheeler is that hit you!
Day 4 is rather notorious for herxing, but if you make it past that, then expect one either "anytime" or in one month.
It sounds like you are in good hands.
Infectious Disease drs [we call them DUCKS, as in Quack, Quack] should be hung by their toes for ignoring common sense!!!
Not only are they ignoring common sense, they are ignoring a mountain of studies that show borreliosis to be a very serious illness that can be hard to treat.
Had this ID idiot treated you properly, you wouldn't be here talking to us!!
"Note CDC says Lyme disease is under reported and that only about 10% of cases that meet CDC surveillance criteria are actually reported to CDC. (For example, Oklahoma 362 reported cases = 3,620 probable cases meeting CDC criteria.)"
Some people, for whatever reason, don't really herx or have mild herxes.
I am one of them. I might experience more muscle twitching and numbness. But otherwise felt better when I started on IV antibiotics.
My own theory is that people who don't herx have pretty well functioning immunesystems, so they don't have a lot of bugs floating around in their blood causing a mass die-off when they start on antibiotics. So no herx, is good news.
Posts: 187 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Dec 2004
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I agree with what everyone said, herxing is different for everyone.
I haven't had much Herx stuff. About 10 days into Doxy I had one weird incident where this gush of sensation travelled through my body head to toe - took about 10 seconds. Definitely a herx. But that's about it.
Mostly experienced a steady improvement of symptoms, some days better than others.
~webmeg Posts: 257 | From Connecticut | Registered: Oct 2007
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
I have severe herx reactions that tend to land me in the ER. They routinely happen on day 10, 11 or 12.
Best, Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
I did not have a herx reaction. Currently, I am symptom free.
By the way, I hear there is no Lyme in Florida as well. I was in Nashville the week before my symptoms started so I may have been infected while hiking there. Or, it could have been here, I'll never know.
Funny, my doctors here all want to say, "oh...you were in Tennessee...it must have been there" Ha!
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Herx's can take quite a while if your body is doing a good job removing toxins. I went about a month then wam and it continued constantly for 2 or 3 months then I only herxed 28 to 34 days?
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
posted
I got my LD in Tennessee as well. Don't listen to the talking heads that say there is no LD in the state of Tennessee. I got bitten by a tick in the Cumberland Mountain between Nashville and Chatanooga and had a huge bullseye rash soon thereafter.
Posts: 26 | From Memphis, TN | Registered: Apr 2007
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