My friend has been on 5 weeks of Doxy now and symptoms are getting worse.
She has trouble walking due to lack of strength, fasiculations in legs and arms, but also on her tounge, painful tounge, difficulty swallowing -choking on drinking sometimes, burning sensations especially in hands and feet.
Very much ALS-like symptoms.
She has probably had LD for 16 years, and been on IV ceftriaxone for some months before switching to oral Doxy 400mg/day 5 weeks ago.
She is really scared and depressed now that she has gotten worse on Doxy, and scared it's not doing any good.
Any replies would be very helpful!
thank you, Sigrid Posts: 155 | From Norway | Registered: Jan 2006
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
It could be a Herxheimer Reaction. Many times a new med will stir things up and reach different bacteria than the previous med did, and will cause symptoms to worsen.
Does she have an LLMD? If so, I'd call to double check .... sometimes the throat symptoms can be an allergic reaction, but I'm thinking that would have happened earlier than five weeks into treatment.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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Yes, she has an LLMD. But she decided on this treatment by herself, really. I would think the throat-problems would have come earlier too, if it was an allergic reaction.
Do you by any chance know how to know that this is NOT a proof that the Doxy isn't working? I guess that's one of the main issues here - what if the worsening of symptoms are a sign that the abx should be changed??
Posts: 155 | From Norway | Registered: Jan 2006
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
First I would encourage my friend to call her LLMD and inform him of current status.
When I first started doxy, I was much sicker (if possible) for the first two months.
Then it started to get a little better until my 30 day bb cycle.
Is your friend controlling her yeast?
That can make you sicker too.
It sounds like a herx, but again I would run it by her LLMD asap.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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Nobody should undergo lyme antibiotic treatment alone, even if they're a doc.
Anyway, I, too got much sicker about four weeks after beginning doxy. All my symptoms got worse, and I felt like sand bags were tied to my arms and legs and I could barely get out of bed to use the toilet.
My llmd told me it was a Jarisch Herxheimer reaction and that was good, because the lyme bacteria were dying, and my body was reacting to the toxins leftover in my body.
She should find an LLMD...go to ILADS.ORG and she can do a search in her area to find a good one who will be able to lead her through this.
Also, has she been tested for co-infections? Sometimes, you get the lyme but the coinfections still make you sick. One cannot truly heal unless they are all addressed.
God bless you for being such a great friend!
Your friend is lucky!
In His care, Jenn
-------------------- When given lyme make lymeade! A tick check a day keeps lyme away! [email protected] Raising awareness by creating as many lymebassadors as possible! Posts: 158 | From Northern Wisconsin | Registered: Oct 2005
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lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
She needs to talk w/her LLMD as soon as possible.
posted
Thank you for answering - it is relieving to hear of others experience with Doxy.
But did anyone get any better on Doxy? Or see any improvement after the initial worsening of symptoms?
My friend has an LLMD, but is going to see another one in october. There are no LLMD's in Norway, so it is a bit of a hassle, finding someone. And no way she can get an appointment asap.
Posts: 155 | From Norway | Registered: Jan 2006
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