LymeNet Flash: declining rather than improving?

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»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » declining rather than improving?

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Author

Topic: declining rather than improving?

matthew
Member
Member # 16072

posted

I'm rather distressed over the following:

after being diagnosed about 9 weeks ago,
I immediately started 100mg of doxycycline twice daily.

after three days, I began to feely noticeably better. I am now in my eighth week of doxycillin and appear to be going down more than up.

I have flu like aches and pains all over,
fatigue, esp. in the calfs and feet. very light tingling in parts of the face, burining in the sinuses, heavy eyelids and am unusually tired.

this is really beginning to effect my job as a police officer and an athlete.

Any suggestions or opinions from my friends out there would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! Matthew

Posts: 20 | From new oreleans, la. | Registered: Jun 2008 | IP: Logged |

lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830

posted

You are likely herxing - worsening of symptoms of while in treatment.

Info here on herxing: http://tinyurl.com/ynrfyo

I hope you are seeing a Lyme literate Md..this is important for co-infection diagnosis, (other diseases ticks carry) they also must be treated.

Take care.

--------------------
www.truthaboutlymedisease.com

Posts: 2003 | From endemic area | Registered: May 2007 | IP: Logged |

bettyg
Unregistered

posted

hi matthew,

you will get much worse and hit rock bottom before you start getting better.....

THAT'S GOOD; SPIROCHETES IN YOUR BODY ARE BEING KILLED BY THE ANTIBIOTICS you are taking; but it should be 300 - 400 mg DAILY!
***********************************************

please print this off and read/reread until you get a better grasp of things explained by retired llmd, dr. burrascano's ...

his 05 lyme treatment guidelines prepared for ILADS, intl lyme associated disease society ... our LLMDS!!!

http://www.ilads.org/burrascano_0905.html
-------------------------------------------

our good friend, geneal, got lyme from katrina too; she and all of her family; hubby and kids!!

IP: Logged |

sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141

posted

Hi Matthew, you are on a very low dose of doxy. It sounds like it is working some, but you should be seeing some slow improvement between the herxes. The normal dose of doxy for Lyme is 300-600 mg.

I would suggest reading the Dr. B guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of Lyme Disease at www.ilads.org. (the link is at the end of bettyg's post)

--------------------
sixgoofykids.blogspot.com

Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007 | IP: Logged |

nancyb
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 10154

posted

In my experience with both my daughters, they improved with initial treatment but started going downhill. This was not herxing.

The reason for their decline was Bartonella. Bartonella is a serious infection and is very unrecognized. I believe that untreated Bart infections are the reason so many aren't getting better.

Both daughters improved on Bart treatment and one has been off abx for 5 months and is 100% better and the other is 90% improved after 5 months of treatment.

Just something to think about.

Nancy

--------------------
The Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation www.canlyme.com

Posts: 128 | From Canada | Registered: Sep 2006 | IP: Logged |

Boomerang
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7979

posted

Nancy, I'm so happy for your daughters! Would you mind sharing which bart treatment worked for your daughters?

Thanks!

Posts: 1366 | From Southeast | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged |

Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707

posted

Hi Matthew,

How are things in my old home town? [Smile]

Sorry you arr having difficulties, but the timing is about right for a flare. I remember that Doxy always made me feel very tired.

Hang in there, and if this doesn't let up soon, please contact your doc, OK?

My best,
M

Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged |

Boomerang
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7979

posted

Thanks for the PM, Nancy!

Matthew, I hope that you are feeling better soon..

Posts: 1366 | From Southeast | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged |

nancyb
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 10154

posted

quote:
Originally posted by Boomerang:
Thanks for the PM, Nancy!

My pleasure, Boomerang - it's always great to share good news. [Smile]

--------------------
The Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation www.canlyme.com

Posts: 128 | From Canada | Registered: Sep 2006 | IP: Logged |

Mathias
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5298

posted

It is very common to lose faith and question things during a herx.

Chart your symptoms daily on a scale of 1-10. Look for small improvements in just a few symptoms. That will give you insight into whether or not the therapy is working.

200 mg is a low dose of doxy, it will only inhibit the Bb. Your immune system will have to clear it and that is not the easiest thing to do.

Hang in there.

--------------------
Mathias

Posts: 1250 | From New Jersey | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged |

hcconn22
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 5263

posted

I might suspect or rule out co-infections as others have noted.

babesia
bartonolla
etc.

Also may need to add a cyst buster like Bixan or Plaqunal to the mix of antibiotics. Most have not gotten well by a single abx therapy.

Please look at the ILADS treatment guidelines.

--------------------
Positive 10 bands WB IGG & IGM
+ Babesia + Bartonolla and NOW RMSF 3/5/09 all at Quest

And still positive ELISA and WB two years after IV treatment
http://www.lymefriends.org/profile/blake

Posts: 607 | From Tick Town, Connecticut | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged |

Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375

posted

Dear Matthew,

Help is close by! [Smile]

What you are going through is normal and discouraging.

One of the hardest things to learn with this disease and co-infections is that

When you take antibiotics you don't feel better.

You feel worse.

Hard to deal with when all of your life when you were ill, they gave you medicines.

Then Presto! Illness gone. All better.

The 200mg a day really isn't enough to cross the blood brain barrier.

I herxed for 5 weeks straight on 200mg of doxy.

Really, really ill.

Wasn't until my LLMD increased the dose (yes initially felt worse) that I started to

Notice little things getting better.

Call me anytime.

Hang in there. End of the month is coming real soon.

Hugs,

Geneal

Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006 | IP: Logged |

Lymetoo
Moderator
Member # 743

posted

Matthew, did you see the replies to your question??

--------------------
--Lymetutu--
Opinions, not medical advice!

Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged |

matthew
Member
Member # 16072

posted

Thanks to all of you for your insight and concern.

It means a great deal to be part of a community that actually understands rather than doubts!

Thanks again, Matt

Posts: 20 | From new oreleans, la. | Registered: Jun 2008 | IP: Logged |

nancyb
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 10154

posted

How are you doing, Matthew?

--------------------
The Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation www.canlyme.com

Posts: 128 | From Canada | Registered: Sep 2006 | IP: Logged |

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