Two weeks ago I switched my abx from Biaxin and Plaquenil to Ceftin. Since being on Ceftin, I've experienced periods of feeling hot, and have woken up about 5 times a night (as opposed to about 3 times a night before). The past few days I've started waking up less again, but my level of fatigue has really increased quite a bit. I've also been experiencing an increase in stomach upset.
Does this sound like a herx to anyone? I worry because my stomach is very very sensitive and I'm concerned that I could have leaky gut syndrome and that the fatigue and heat I'm experiencing is actually due to damaged stomach lining rather than a die-off reaction. Have other people had similar experiences with Ceftin. Did the fatigue lift and then people felt improvement?
I really appreciate anyone's thoughts! Thank you so much!!!
Ben Ross
Posts: 11 | From Florence, MA | Registered: May 2009
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nenet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13174
posted
Hi Ben, welcome to lymenet!
I am currently on Ceftin, though on lower doses than most, as I am ramping up through heavy herxing. I had a huge Lyme load from over 20-30 years of untreated symptomatic Lyme.
Are you taking a probiotic along with your antibiotics?
The stomach issue sounds like a common side effect of many antibiotics, whatever they are being used to treat for. You might want to look into protective measures for your stomach, if you already had troubles in that area. I would definitely look into your diet if you haven't already, and begin a probiotic regimen if you have not.
If you haven't tried an elimination diet, that would be a good place to start. My stomach pains and GERD/Reflux did not completely subside until I removed gluten, dairy/lactose, nightshades, and fried foods, along with sugar and other items, from my diet.
If you have had Lyme-induced inflammation for a while you can develop food sensitivities, which can lead to more inflammation, and then cause leaky gut syndrome, stomach pain, and other GI problems. This might be a big part of your issue. An elimination diet coupled with probiotics and soem protective herbal regimens might help a great amount.
As for fatigue, that can be a very common Herx symptom, or it could be from leaky gut, as you mentioned, or from many different factors.
The best approach is to do an end-run around the possible downsides and improve your diet, take probiotics, and perhaps take a break from the Ceftin for a few days (my LLMD says this is safe when necessary, but check with your) and see if the stomach repairs.
I have an herbal stomach tea that I make to counteract my own stomach sensitivities - I had developed an ulcer before even going on antibiotics. It can really help your stomach heal over time, and protect it from damage, as well as your GI system. It's made of a few very safe herbs that you can find in many store-bought herbal teas. If you want that recipe I will be happy to share it.
Bottom line, it sounds to me, in my non-medical opinion, that you are experiencing herxing (I too get the overheating at night) and stomach pain as a result of the antibiotic side effects. These can be moderated or relieved with some protective measures.
As for Herxing, I hope you don't mind if I copy something for you that I posted yesterday (I only have so much brain energy per day):
Everyone experiences Lyme differently, and everyone experiences Herxing differently. Some people never Herx, some people never stop Herxing until they are in remission. Many seem to experience a cycle of Herxing, generally at the one-month mark, but this is not always the case.
Some begin to Herx a few hours after taking the new medicine or larger dose, and some won't Herx for a month, or anywhere in between. The reasons are many and complex.
In brief, Herxheimer reactions can bring about new Lyme symptoms, or increase old Lyme symptoms, and there can be just as varied and numerous Herxheimer symptoms as there are Lyme symptoms. Basically, you are turning up the volume on your Lyme by killing it off. The Lyme toxins that normally make you sick are increased when they die off.
I'm sorry this was such a long post - I find the more fatigued I get mentally, the less concise I become.
Welcome. At one time I was on Ceftin 500mg 2x a day and it made me very fatigued. In fact, I slept a lot on it.
Also, before taking it, my doctor advised me of taking a quality probiotic. I was informed to take the probiotics at a different time from the Ceftin to help ensure absorbing probiotics.
Hope this helps.
Posts: 515 | From In His Loving Care | Registered: Apr 2009
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
welcome ben!!
never been on ceftin; no experience to share.
have you been tested for FOOD ALLERGIES? many times that is effecting your stomach.
Welcome; i'm so glad you found us!! You've come to the right place for education and support!
Dr. Burrascano's most recent "Diagnostic Hints and 2008 Treatment Guidelines for Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses" .
Betty's suggested POSTING GUIDELINES . many of us have neuro lyme where we can NOT read long solid block text and be able to comprehend and read it as is.
please edit your post by CLICKING PAPER/PENCIL ICON to right of your name. that opens up BOTH subject line and body text.
now please break up your WORDY SENTENCES into one sentence paragraphs. Then hit ENTER KEY ``TWICE`` after each paragraph; we need that space for comprehension.
then go to left hand corner and mark box to receive ALL REPLIES, and click EDIT SEND
we thank you for helping us; otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. ------------------------------------------------------
People seeking doctors might be able to get help from their state online information and support group. Nearly 3,400 people belong to state groups. Some of the groups are small but more than 20 of them have 50 or more people and seven have over 100.
The groups are moderated and you have to apply. Most don't allow doctor names, but once on the group, you can ask for doctors in a certain area and ask people to email you privately. *******************************************
This explains the medical politics around lyme WHY you need an ILADS-educated or ILADS-member LLMD (and there are also some ILADS-member LL NDs (naturopathic doctors):
You should also be evaluated for coinfections. Not all tests are great in that regard, either, but a good LLMD can evaluate you and then guide you in testing. One of the top labs is:
"With most infections, your immune system first forms IgM antibodies, then in about 2 to 4 weeks, you see IgG antibodies. In some infections, IgG antibodies may be detectable for years.
Because Borrelia burgdorferi is a chronic persistent infection that may last for decades, you would think patients with chronic symptoms would have positive IgG Western blots.
But actually, more IgM blots are positive in chronic borreliosis than IgG. Every time Borrelia burgdorferi reproduces itself, it may stimulate the immune system to form new IgM antibodies.
Some patients have both IgG and IgM blots positive. But if either the IgG or IgM blot is positive, overall it is a positive result.
Response to antibiotics is the same if either is positive, or both. Some antibodies against the borrelia are given more significance if they are IgG versus IgM, or vice versa.
Since this is a chronic persistent infection, this does not make a lot of sense to me. A newly formed Borrelia burgdorferi should have the same antigen parts as the previous bacteria that produced it.
But anyway, from my clinical experience, these borrelia associated bands usually predict a clinical change in symptoms with antibiotics, regardless of whether they are IgG or IgM." ===========
ILADS The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) provides a forum for health science professionals to share their wealth of knowledge regarding the management of Lyme and associated diseases. =========== i'm going to try to post a link here with info on SUCCESSFUL LAWSUITS WON ON LYME DISEASE from www.lymenet.org site! look on LEFT side :legal resources" !! all WINNERS!
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otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me. 
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