posted
Had a bullseye rash in 1999, doctor told me it looked like Lyme but I wasn't sick so he didn't give me anything. Got sick 4 years later and in the next 4 years of being misdiagnosed, developed the full range of symptoms from severe arthritis to neurological disorders and then some.
I started getting treated 2 years ago when I finally discovered that I did have Lyme. I took many different oral abx, changing each month per my LLMD's orders (take the abx as long as I feel it helps me, with a minimum of one month). None of them helped me. I didn't feel better, I didn't herx.
I started seeing a different LLMD 6 months ago...someone closer to my home. He put me on clindamycin, then after a few months, on bicillin injections. I broke out in hives after the 2nd injection. I wasn't surprised, because 2 years ago, my LLMD back then put me on amoxicillin and I broke out in hives when I was taking it. So, that confirmed it was an allergy and I stopped the injections.
After several weeks, my LLMD then put me on azithromycin and plaquenil, which is something I took for a couple of months last year. I started with the zith first, and the next day, broke out in hives! I stopped taking it and waited a few weeks. I tried one more time and broke out again.
My LLMD wondered if a yeast problem was causing the issue. He had me go 6 weeks taking nystatin and fluconazole, and liquid nystatin. I took a probiotic and avoided sugars, which I do anyway. 6 weeks later, I still could not take zith without the hives, so he put me on minocycline. I broke out the next day.
I waited a few weeks and started trying (one at a time) some of the antibiotics I took last year. I am breaking out in hives with all of them. I wait until the hives are totally gone and a few weeks pass before I try the next. FYI, I am trying abx that are not related...they are all different classes. This is why I'm upset. It looks like I've developed allergic reactions to many different classes of abx right out of the blue? I have no doubt that every antibiotic out there will cause hives right now.
I've never had trouble with antibiotics except when I was very young, apparently I had a bad reaction to a sulfa drug, so I always avoid them. But the others have just not been a problem.
I'm already discouraged because I've been treated for 2 years and just continue to get sicker and develop more permanent damage. I have never felt help nor herx. And now I can't take antibiotics. I haven't been able to find a clue about why this could be happening so I hope that someone has an idea. Thank you.
Posts: 45 | From Grand Rapids, MI | Registered: Aug 2007
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
See an allergy doctor and determine if this is a true allergy to antibiotics or if its a herx. Many herxes manifest as hives like that so it can be hard to tell what is truly going on. COuld be a penicillin allergy. Then you tried a macrolide and had a reaction to that though. I'd be proactive and investigate this!! Stay away from clindamycin too...its too high risk for c.diff and there are other options. Hives is one thing...allergies can incorporate alot more, so get. this checked out.
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posted
Well, this just goes to show we all have our different experiences.
When you tried antibiotics again, did that include clindamycin? Did you react to it the second time?
Reason I'm asking is clindamycin is the only abx I can take without having an allergic reaction, other than something like erythromycin for an ear infection.
I've been taking it three years and have not developed c diff.
I also had immediate positive results with it, as in ongoing symptom relief, which has continued.
Some ideas: maybe it might be a good idea to do a liver detox test to see whether you can genetically detox well or not.
It's called the detoxigenomic liver test, done by Genova Diagnostics in N Carolina. The test results discuss the kinds of drugs we can or cannot take.
Lots of folks are doing herbal treatments. One protocol is the Stephen Buhner herbs; you can read his book, "Healing Lyme". There's also the Cowden protocol, the Zhang protocol, and probably more.
Many people are treating with energy treatments - with Rife machines, magnet machines (PEMF machines 500 gauss strength and higher), biophoton light machine, cold laser.
There's also oxygen treatments.
Now I just want to think outloud. Hives is from mast cells releasing histamine, I believe.
Is there any medical specialty that works with reducing a histamine response? Allergist/immunologist/wholistic health practitioner/LLMD?
My LLMD has suggested ketotifen as an antihistamine/anti-hives med.
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
See this thread, and especially Dr. B's explanation of the hives:
I never had hives before lyme. But have had lots of trouble with hives since lyme.
Many meds causing hives, including numerous anti-inflammatories and hormone replacement therapy!
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Thanks for all your help. I will check out your suggestions.
My LLMD believes that hives are allergies. The only thing he is doing is keeping me on the anti-yeast program. He's had me on on nystatin tablets and liquid, and fluconazole since May.
I don't think that it is yeast but maybe he is right.
After my hyst, all HRT gave me hives except Femring. She had me try patches, a spray, and two different pills. Even a stool softener gave me hives at that time.
A year after that, I was still allergic to the patches and sprays, but I could take the 2 different tablets with no problem. And I could take the stool softener.
So, I am hoping that whatever is going on, it is similar to that time.
Thanks again.
Posts: 45 | From Grand Rapids, MI | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
I just wanted to add that, when I quit the antibiotic, the hives slowly stopped. I didn't break out from the bicillin shots until my 3rd shot. With the zith and clindamycin, it took just one tablet.
But with all of them, the hives stopped after I stopped the med. So it does point to the meds...I'm not just breaking out for no apparent reason.
Posts: 45 | From Grand Rapids, MI | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
We have a special compounding pharmacy in my area. Could there be additives or bases to these drugs that are common and an allergent for you? Could you get it in a compounded form? I would look around for a compounding pharmacy and have a chat with them about alternative mixtures.
?
Posts: 524 | From Hudson Valley, NY | Registered: Jul 2007
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