posted
I'll be the first to admit that I haven't been treating myself well. My no sugar/dairy/wheat has waned and I had stopped taking any supplements awhile ago.
The day before yesterday, I decided I was going to get back on it, full force. I drew myself a very hot bath to relax and afterwards, took 3 grams of Vitamin C, some magnesium and a multi. About an hour later it felt like the gates of hell had been opened in my body! My worst neuro symptoms were in full force, I had vicious panic attacks and severe insomnia with auditory and visual hallucinations. My heart wouldn't stop racing and I started to have dystonia like feelings all over my body.
To be honest, this is worse than the herx I had with Biaxin and that was a vicious beast for me. How on earth is this possible?! Has anybody else ever had anything like this happen to them?
Posts: 22 | From Salt Lake City, Ut. | Registered: Aug 2009
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
You did alot more than just vitamins.
hot bath vitamin C magnesium
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Carol in PA: You did alot more than just vitamins.
hot bath vitamin C magnesium
True enough. After posting this I went and researched a bit more and found: "You may find it difficult to believe that simply supplementing magnesium can cause herx reactions, but it can. (When Antibiotics Fail... by Bryan Rosner, p.126)"
Posts: 22 | From Salt Lake City, Ut. | Registered: Aug 2009
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Don't feel bad, I went through a nearly identical experience. It was tough for me to believe/accept, but I'm used to that feeling with this disease.
I recently moved, and that got me off of my usual diet/exercise/supplement routine. I should have eased back into it, because I felt a similar opening of the "gates of hell" after taking many vitamins/supps followed by a salt bath.
Live and learn.
Hope you feel better soon.
Posts: 455 | From Was in PA, then MD, now in the Midwest | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
That sounds frightening. I have a really hard time taking magnesium, for whatever reason it interacts with my heart. I've had doctors tell me that isn't possible but they aren't in this body! I hate, hate taking magnesium supplements.
Nell
Posts: 256 | From Texas | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
I'm still feeling a little rough around the edges but at least I finally got some sleep this morning.
I should pay heed to what Wonko has said and ease back into it.
I haven't taken any supplements since the "incident" but I've continued on my diet which seems to be still keeping me slightly edgey but it's necessary and doable.
Thanks for the words of wisdom everybody!
Posts: 22 | From Salt Lake City, Ut. | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
I think in general (just my perspective, no medical expertise here) that Lyme and co. makes us more susceptible to any number of triggers.
Heat, light, noise, smells, supplements, medications, alcohol, caffeine, amount of sleep...You'll read plenty of testimonials here about how people have grown highly sensitive to any one (or all) of these things since getting sick with Lyme.
I used to consider myself extremely hearty stock, nothing knocked me down. Now I feel very precarious, any hiccup in my routine can pack a real wallop. It has been difficult to adjust to that aspect, as it is nearly impossible to plan ahead when there are so many unknowns in the equation.
It does get better. For example, I'm a lot less sensitive to noise and crowds than I was at my worst. No more abandoning my cart half way through shopping! I also am getting better at being able to push myself to make a commitment without having huge "payback" the next day.
But I'm still very sensitive to antibiotics and, apparently, supplements, as I still Herx fairly severely.
Posts: 455 | From Was in PA, then MD, now in the Midwest | Registered: Nov 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Hot baths should be avoided. WARM is good, hot is not.
Lyme makes the body's heat regulators go kablooey so to speak. Cardiac, nervous system and adrenal damage can result from getting too hot. It can cause a setback of days, weeks, or longer.
Before I knew I had lyme (years ago), a hot bath actually put me in a wheelchair for months - heat is a mighty force when the coating around the nerves is compromised, as with lyme. Demyelination is the loss of the myelin sheath. It is very real with lyme. We just can't take the heat. I wish I had known that then.
You can get warm enough to sweat and increase circulation just don't get too hot. Twenty minutes should be the max for now. But, if after even five minutes - or two - you feel like you've had too much, gradually and gently cool down and get out. Then rest.
You also need to be aware that you may not KNOW when you've had too much heat - or activity - until it's too late. Our body cues can also go haywire. Be careful. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Heat intolerance - and every reaction you had from it - is detailed here.
Far beyond just how to suspect lyme, this article could also be used as sort of "owner's manual" - a "A Glimpse at the Land of Lyme" - at least in explaining a lot of what happens to a lyme patient. We're not in Kansas anymore. Lyme changes everything.
But, it can get better with treatment and good support measures. It can always get better. So, when you read this, go for the "ah-ha's" to solve the new puzzles your body faces. If fear sneaks up on you - know that it can get better. It just doesn't happen overnight. ------------
When to Suspect Lyme - by John D. Bleiweiss, M.D. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Oh, if that multivitamin was taken on an empty stomach, that could also explain a few things. Especially because of the B-vitamins in a multi, it should always be taken with food.
You may have done that, as you did not mention nausea, cramping or sudden flushing and "flu" feeling - often the result from a vitamin taken with too little food. It's just good to know that. It took me a while to figure it out.
I do hope that you feel better soon. Be sure to take it very easy for a while. But, there is no reason to fear magnesium or Vitamin C. They are really your very best friends and you will require them in order to get well. Just go slowly, -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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I have a really hard time taking magnesium, for whatever reason it interacts with my heart. I've had doctors tell me that isn't possible but they aren't in this body! I hate, hate taking magnesium supplements. 
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