posted
I think yall are describing what I am going through the last 3 days. I am in terrible shape right now, almost nonfunctional.
Posts: 36 | From Dallas GA | Registered: Jun 2009
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shazdancer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1436
posted
A Jarisch Herxheimer-like reaction is a flaring of symptoms (or sometimes an appearance of new symptoms) upon the start of treatment. It is believed to be caused by the body's inability to clear the body of toxins faster than they are being created by bacteria die-off.
In other words, you start treatment, and feel like heck!
Many people have reported a fairly predictable flare cycle every 4 weeks, with the first herx usually the worst.
~ Shaz
Posts: 1558 | From the Berkshires | Registered: Jul 2001
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
Here's what one website says about herxing:
"Herxing" Many patients who believe they have a chronic or persistent Lyme infection are willing to endure considerable discomfort in their effort to get rid of their symptoms. This behavior is fostered, in part, by the misguided belief that antibiotic therapies are not working unless they make the patient feel worse. These patients typically refer to this condition as "herxing," a colloquial term for the Jarisch-Herxheimer (J-H) reaction. This reaction is an acute response to the release of toxic or biologically active molecules from certain types of bacteria in the presence of some antibiotics.
About 10% of patients treated for early Lyme disease experience a J-H reaction involving chills, fever, muscle pains, rapid heartbeat, and slight lowering of blood pressure during the first 24 hours of antibiotic therapy. These symptoms usually last for several hours, and require little more than aspirin and bed rest. Yet many Lyme newsgroup participants write about a "herx" beginning days or weeks after the start of antibiotic therapy, and "herxing" for weeks at a time--often in a cyclic fashion.
" Herxing" events have even been likened to an "exorcism" that is "a necessary evil to be endured." Some of these patients are likely to be suffering from the side effects of their inappropriately prescribed antibiotics. It is also safe to assume that the mistaken belief that Lyme treatment involves temporary worsening will lead some people to neglect other illnesses. Neurological symptoms, blurred vision, gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, and palpitations, for example, should be reported to a physician, not posted on the Internet with a request for comments.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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'Kete-tracker
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17189
posted
seek, I notice they didn't speak of patients being treated for "late-stage" Lyme... or the colloquial term, "hitting the dashboard". Maybe they don't believe in such a thing as late Lyme the way they seem to dismiss reactions occuring beyond "the 1st 24 hours of abx therapy".
How silly. Many expert medical discussions on the Jarsch-Herxheimer reaction specify that it takes 24-48 hours to START herxing. In reality, though, everyone is different. And each abx family will often induce a different "mix" of symptoms.
"little more than aspirin & bedrest"?? LOL {Ahhh... If it were so easy....}
"...the mistaken belief that Lyme treatment involves temporary worsening..." Obviously this person is not qualified to speak about herxing... OR Lyme treatment.
Where'd you find this gem? On an IDSA site?
Posts: 1233 | From Dover, NH | Registered: Sep 2008
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
I believe Mr. Edward McSweeney wrote it. It was on Quackwatch.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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