METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
Oh yes. That's common during a strong Herxheimer reaction. It should pass, but give it time before adding things on top of your current routine. That's my advice.
Meds usually don't touch it for most patients when it's during a flare-up. It's like taking aspirin or tylenol when someone has Sepsis. They'll still have a fever of 105. Herxheimer reactions can be brutal.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
posted
Thanks Metallic. It is sooooo bad. My LLMD said to call him this weekend if I would like to switch to Ativan.
I am having a really hard time. I had bad anxiety several years ago with this but it's nothing compared to this time.
I pray I can make it through this.
I am supposed to switch to my flagyl for 3 days tomorrow. I am wondering if that will make it worse or better. I do 4 days of zithro and 3 days of flagyl.
I also spent the whole day in the ER yesterday trying to get this headache under control. They tryed everything. After 9 hours I left with the same headache I came in with plus being so drugged I could barely walk.
METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
If it's intolerable, ask to pulse the therapy, lower the dose, or entirely stop therapy temporarily until the herxheimer reaction subsides. There is no reason to brutally be punished without rest inbetween if that is possible.
I'm sure it will make it worse -- if the Flagyl is effective for you. Tindamax is a consideration by the way. It's more effective (based on patient reports) and has less side effects. You can ask your physician whether he or she is certain he wants to use that drug or if he/she feels Tindamax could better serve you.
Many LLMD's I've found will make changes at a whim if a patient simply asks. It's strange to me, but perhaps the decision by physicians isn't necessarily always made based on the drugs effects but rather cost, duration of treatment, or trying to avoid opportunistic infections.
Anyway, ER visits are absolutely uncalled for and unnecessary, so if you ever feel a treatment is intolerable to the point where you're "considering" the ER, stop treatment, contact the physician, and reconfirm a more suitable plan.
Also, consider detoxification to help decrease those symptoms. It's possible they are worsening from more than just an immune system response to the dying infection. Detoxification methods are vast. The cheapest appear to be activated Charcoal, which is officially used as a detoxifying agent in Emergency Rooms when a "internal poisoning" is diagnosed. It's not "always" used, but sometimes.
Herxheimer reactions appear to be a form of poisoning, leading many researchers and doctors to presume that borrelia and other tick-born infections may be releasing toxins during their death, which could inspire the host to stop doing whatever it's doing so the infection can survive.
Other options I've heard recommended, include NAC, ALA, Baking Soda, Water & Lemon juice, Glutathione, Burbur & Parsley Extracts, Chlorella. I'm not confident of all of these, but my physician did recommend them and I do trust her. I'd pick the cheapest methods first and use them for 2 weeks to see if improvements take place. Make sure to confirm with your physician, and to avoid taking these near medications. Separate them by at least 2 hours and try to take them on an empty stomach. Dosing is also crucial. Using too much could cause harm, so start with low doses of some of these. Water can be taken in pretty large amounts, but no more than 2 gallons for someone of 200lbs (I picked this as an arbitrary number). Most people only need less than a gallon during a Herxheimer reaction. That can be quite hard to do though if nausea is present, so doing it gradually 4oz at a time every 15 mins while awake can help. If 8oz or 12oz can be done every 30-60mins, that's fine too. ALA should not be used in doses higher than 600mg, 100mg can be a starting dose if preferred or 300mg if the physician approves. Burbur can be taken as often as desired as with Parsley. Charcoal absorbs more than just toxins, so beware of absorbing nutrients which could lead to deficiencies. A week of using it in high doses would not likely cause problems.
Others can provide options. When having a Herxheimer reaction I prefer to do things as simple as possible, so I don't kill myself trying to keep a schedule that is rigid. I just do what I can and avoid causing more suffering than I can tolerate.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
posted
Thanks Metallic...as usual you are full of knowledge. I think I might have some Burbur here from last time. I will have to check for expiration date.
The headache and anxiety were here before I started my meds. They have just worsened them.
I tried to do some shopping with my family today and we had to cut it short. Head pain is bad again.
Going to try and get some rest now.
Thanks so much for the above info. I am going to read it over a again later when my head isn't killing so I can take it in.
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