posted
Hi this is Sandy. I'm wondering if what I'm expirencing can be a lyme related herx.
I was using Ceftin antibiotic to help treat my lyme. I would take a 16th of a pill and then 3 days later would have a "mild" herx. The last time I took one I followed that same scheule of herxing but had a very bad herx. My asthma flared up (I've never had an asthma flar up before)really bad I had a bad headache and backache (My asthma's still bad and my head and back still hurt and it's been over 6 weeks). I was hospitalized for 13 days, put on a high dose of prednezone and frequent nebulizer treatments. I was doing well enough to send home but was still on a high dose of prednezone and nebulizer treatments (every four hours around the clock). I was home for 5 days and very sick. On the 5th day I broke out with a horrable rassh from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet, my mouth, throat and esophagus were broke out with blisters. I couldn't eat or drink. I was almost unreconizable. I was put back in the hospital for 3 more days. I've been home now for a week and my asthma's not getting better in fact I have a really bad cough now. When ever they lower by prednazone or cut back on my nebulizer treatments my asthma gets worse. My rash is gone but my skin burns all the time. The doctors are getting frusterated with me. I called the emergancey number yesterday to talk to my lung specialist, who was on call, because my asthma was so much worse, he never called me back. I tried 2 times! I'm feeling like they're giving up on me, but I still need help. They don't beleave that I have lyme. I'm wondering if all this can be set off by a lyme realted herx? Has anyone had an expireance like this before? Please share with me. I've been bed ridden for over 6 weeks and am not getting better, I'm very concerned.
Thank you for your time. Sandy
Posts: 56 | From Washington State | Registered: Feb 2006
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
Geez Sandy,
I don't know! I do know that a bad herx can last a LONG time and keep you bedridden....been there.
I have never experienced the blister thing.
You were only taking 1/16 of a pill (abx)? how did you get such a small dose? I really have not heard of so little medication causing this reaction.
Maybe others will chime in with some experience. Just wanted to say hang in there. Do you have a LLMD ? Other doctors will almost ALWAYS ignore or deny that Lyme is the issue.
Best, Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
On all the antibiotics that I've tried I can only do 1/16 or 1/8 of a pill because I have such bad herxes. I do have a lyme doctor I think he's pretty good. Sandy
Posts: 56 | From Washington State | Registered: Feb 2006
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
Are you certain it's just asthma? I guess your lung specialist ruled out things like bronchitis and/or pneumonia?
Prednisone is NOT good for people with Lyme. Steroids actually make the Lyme worse.
I would recommend that you ask your doctor how to wean yourself from it ASAP.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
A friend of mine, without Lyme, had an asthma incident similar to yours last year. She ended up on steroids for months.
As bad as steroids are for Lyme, I understand they are sometimes the only choice to keep you breathing with extreme asthma.
If the asthma symptoms don't go away, I would inquire whether there is a possibility of sarcoidosis. I recently met somebody whose wife has sarcoidosis and it took over a year for them to make the diagnosis.
I hope you feel better.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Could be the nebulizer giving you the cough, especially if it's a different inhaled medication from your regular inhaler.
I have never heard of anyone herxing from that small a dose of abx -- but that doesn't mean it can't happen!
Blisters sound viral...have they done a viral panel of tests? Such as herpes simplex, etc.? Shingles can appear internally and cause neurological pain and burning.
Good luck -- I had to take steroids many times for my asthma. I'm confident that you will be able to eventually wean off.
Posts: 459 | From Connecticut - just across the river from the Lymes (Old Lyme, Hadlyme, East Lyme, South Lyme & Lyme) | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Hi Sandy, Sorry you are not doing well. Something similar happened to me. I went to the hospital because I couldn't breath, thought it was my asthma (that I only had when I exercised and I wasn't even on medicine for at the time). Doctor gave me steroids and it was all down hill from there. Turns out the "asthma" wasn't asthma at all... it was air hunger from babesia. For some reason my inhaler would help... but it would only help for a few hours and I ended up doing inhaler 6 or 7 times a day. The steroids must of weakened my immune system and the babs totally took over. It was absolutely horrible.
Posts: 45 | From MA | Registered: Sep 2007
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posted
Sounds like you had a severe allergic reaction.
Have you ever heard of Steven Johnson Syndrome?
Explain all your medication to all docs and get permission from all of your docs before taking that antibiotic ever again.
This is NOT a herx.
Posts: 339 | From nowhere | Registered: May 2007
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tickled1
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14257
posted
Have you heard of Mycoplasma being a cause of asthma? Also Mycoplasma is a common co-infection of Lyme. It needs 9 mos. of continuous Doxycycline, Zithromax or something in that family.
I have a stubborn case of Myco. I did 6 wks. of Doxy prescribed by my PC. At the 6 wk. mark I saw an LLMD that took me off and put me on Ceftin which doesn't cover Myco. My lung/chest/throat symptoms escalated. Finally, 8 wks. into Ceftin (which I also had to ramp up slowly) I had my PC retest my Myco and I was even more positive than before the 6 wks. of Doxy.
I then went on Zithromax to cover both Lyme and Mycoplasma and have found through a lot of reading that these chronic cases of Myco need at least 9 mos. of continuous abx. Chlamydia pneumoniae can also be a cause.
Do a search on Mycoplasma and Asthma. You'll get a lot of info. Maybe present your LLMD with the info and get tested. My LLMD thought 6 wks. of Doxy was more than enough to get rid of my Myco until I still tested positive and presented her w/the info I found about long term treatment.
I hope you are doing okay. Good luck!
Posts: 2541 | From Northeast | Registered: Jan 2008
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posted
jmo- I used to do that with the inhaler as well. Like you, my asthma was ONLY ever exercise induced during that period, and yet I was suckin' on that inhaler several times a day.
It was awful. I just could NOT get any air. UGG!
I thought for sure it was asthma getting worse. Turning into "all-the-time" asthma, I mean.
Of course then it quit a few months later, so I figured I must have "outgrown" (again!!) the asthma.
Even after reading up on Lyme and co, I never once thought of the babesia possibility back there.
Something else to think about, I guess...
Chris
Posts: 155 | From Texas | Registered: Oct 2007
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