posted
I have severe facial stiffness when I take antibiotics and supplements. I thought that maybe it could be an allergic reaction, but I'm not sure because my face becomes stiff no matter what I take.
What would cause this?
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posted
There are a couple of meds that do this to me. It feels like my muscles are not working right. When I look in the mirror, I do not see a delayed response. I just had this happen a couple of weeks ago and it was pretty bad. I too was thinking allergic reaction. But it does not improve it I take an allergy pill.
I have it on my list to mention to my dr. Have you gotten any other thoughts on what it could be?
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Member red (Member # 1886) Registered: 26 November, 2001 70 posts Posts: 164 | From NJ | Registered: Jan 2009
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posted
I'm really not sure. Maybe it's that it's stirring up the Borrelia and causing a herx, but I really don't know. It's not even that some meds and supplements cause this reaction. It happens no matter what I take. I was thinking of going to an allergist and then a neurologist if the allergist doesn't find anything. I don't know what this is.
-------------------- "Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful."
TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
The only thing that comes to mind is that this could be a mild form of bells palsy.
I had mild bilateral bells palsy while I had undiagnosed lyme disease. It felt like gravity was pulling my face down all the time. That might be the sensation of stiffness you are talking about.
Most people did not notice the change in my face. It was not severe enough. It didn't pull down my eyes, for example.
I thought I was just going to have to get a face lift, I looked like I was scowling all the time.
So, that is the best I can do.
I had this bells palsy (from the word "paralysis") for 3 1/2 years and then it just went away on its own. This was before I ever was diagnosed with lyme.
So, it can come and go willy nilly. It may seem like it is coming along with meds and supps, but maybe that is just coincidence. Or, perhaps any med does cause the bells palsy to act up.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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karenl
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Member # 17753
posted
I had the same idea as TF. Or another form of muscle disease?
Posts: 1834 | From US | Registered: Oct 2008
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posted
This happens to me when I am herxing. Also happened prior to being diagnosed. Always felt tight muscles in my face... like they were really tired and my eyelid drooped (droops) just a tiny bit.
Lately, infrared sauna has been helping with this. Not sure how long you've been on abx, or what you are doing to detox, but maybe look into more detox methods to help clear out toxins.
Posts: 453 | From TX | Registered: Aug 2008
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Sue vG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3143
posted
Mild facial paralysis was one of my early lyme symptoms. I could not make my usual facial expressions, esp. with my forehead because it felt like I had a raw steak plastered over it. The corners of my mouth would sometimes go slack (not to where someone could see it) and saliva would leak out (that they would see if people were around).
I believe it is due to inflammation of a cranial nerve. This resolved with treatment - *with* antibiotics, and now is back to a very slight degree since I've been off abx for a year.
Best of luck in getting past this symptom that is obviously troubling for you.
Posts: 1307 | From TX | Registered: Sep 2002
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ping
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6974
posted
hi 44 - Would be easier to give you suggestions if you listed your abx and supps so all could recognize any known interactions. Bell's Palsy is a good possiblity, but you could also be allergic to your supps. More than one LLMD (esp. Dr. K.) has said that most patients are allergic to well over half the supplements they take.
-------------------- ping "We are more than containers for Lyme" Posts: 1302 | From Back in TX again | Registered: Mar 2005
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GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
posted
Condition of teeth and jawbone affected by teeth and toxic metals have a lot to do with what you are describing. I had all of it, including Bell's Palsy. Toxic metals play a large role where Lyme tends to settle.
Consider reading some of my old posts.
Take care.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I had this twice...once last summer before treatment...i was drinking like crazy to keep "bartonella deamons" an pain away...went away after 2 weeks...
second time a month ago during protocols...i went through Lymenet and found that someone took Mucinex for it and also for headaches...I tried and it went away Posts: 67 | From New York | Registered: Oct 2009
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I've had Chronic Lyme and Bartonella for the past 11 years and began treatment 3 years ago, but right now I'm not taking a single medicine or supplement because every single thing I took caused increased stiffness.
Could this be caused by a hormonal imbalance?
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posted
I agree with some others here that it is a die-off/herx reaction.
Prior to treatment I had left side facial palsy and during treatment, whenever I am experiencing heavy die-off sickness, my skin on my face and forehead feel very stiff. It loosens up as I start to feel better again.
Definitely herx/die-off reaction for me.
Posts: 410 | From Victoria BC, Canada | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
My face drives me crazy. It is definitely worse when herxing. The muscles twitch, contort, my mouth tightens, my lips and teeth tremble. I grind my teeth incessantly. All this gets worse as I tire.
Cranial sacral massage is the best thing I have found to help. I do some massage of my neck and jaw by myself as I was shown.
I also get my husband to hold my head in his hands just a few inches above the bed....for about 5 minutes. He said he can feel it pulsing and then the pulsing slows down as I relax. We learned this from my speech therapist.
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
I have this from time to time. Almost always happens when I over do it and get really fatigued. Feels like my face is being pulled down, mostly around my mouth.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
I am not sure if/which med could cause this. I do have jaw stiffness and facial stiffness from lyme and co's though.
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My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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