posted
I don't often post here, though always lurking, because I don't want to psych myself into symptoms... I almost don't want to know what's coming.
But my doc put me on Mino and Plaquenil and man oh man, and I have never, ever, been sicker with Lyme symptoms than I am now. I never had light sensitivity before, never had headaches, but now I do...
Anyway, a few days ago I hit a sudden overwhelming herx out the blue, about 3 weeks after starting the Mino, where I was lying on the floor, shaking and crying and begging to go to the ER... when I remembered something about lemon juice being good for herxing.
So I sent the bf out for lemons, had him squeeze one, gulped the juice down straight, and just like that... no more herx. Stopped it cold. I couldn't believe it.
So I had to share. I still have residual light sensitivity, and I'm still 'herxing' - but it's much less awful. I've been taking lemon juice everyday.
So, if you're herxing, try it. It works. Just be careful to wash your mouth out after with water to protect your tooth enamel. Lemon juice is very acidic.
Good luck to all
BB.
PS - Mino is the single most powerful thing I've ever taken. It's too early to tell, but I think it might be working!
Posts: 194 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
Thanks, I am going to try it. I recently started mino and plaquenil and have had a significant die off reaction (herxing). Looking forward to seeing the improvement after the herx.
The mino got easier after 5 weeks, but I am on a super low-dose, 50mg every 3 days. Still, have significant headaches from treatment, like the ones I got soon after one of my tick bites. The treatment is reviving old symptoms.
How much mino are you taking?
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
I started out taking 200 mg Mino per day. I kept that up for about 2.5 weeks, and when I hit my big herx, I backed down to 100 mg / day. Ouch ouch ouch.
But I did bump into a person from my Lyme support group who told me she got about 70% recovery on Mino. So here's hoping.
Posts: 194 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Vermont_Lymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9780
posted
Thanks, I hope you feel better and the mino brings recovery! My other favorite detox/herx remedy is warm epsom salt baths with baking soda and saunas.
Posts: 2557 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
I drink lemon or lime water when I'm herxing, too. I've never had the dramatic effect that you described, but I notice that I crave it when I'm going into a herx, then I find it repulsive when I don't seem to need it.
I also take saunas ... but the thing that helps me the most are coffee enemas ... sounds odd, but one day I was finally desperate enough to try it. LOL That was when I had a complete turn around in my overall health ... so I've continued with them (and my daily sauna). I jumped from 50% on a good part of a good day, to 75% overall (when not herxing)!
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
The lemon juice does help, and it helps flush out your lymph system. I have really benefited from a lemon/olive oil drink that is outline at this link.
It keeps my lymph nodes from swelling and I actually like how it tastes. The oil actually binds with the pectin in the lemon and it won't separate.
Straight lemon juice or lemon water gives me acid reflux, but I have this drink every day and don't have any problems with reflux.
The link says to do it with every meal and with 1/2 a lemon, but I do it once a day with a whole lemon. The smell of lemon is very relaxing to me.
-------------------- "We imagine that when we are thrown out of our usual ruts all is lost, but it is only then that what is new and good begins. While there is life, there is happiness. There is much, much before us." -Pierre, War and Peace Posts: 14 | From USA | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
I assume (am hoping) that this lemon juice/water would help in herxes where Minocycline isn't involved? Anyone else?
Posts: 443 | From The Wild West | Registered: Jan 2002
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Ms. BB, herx or no, I am just so glad to hear from you.
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
I have been on low dose mino for over 1 yr (100mg MWF) and 2 mths ago added plaquenil. Also ammoxicillan and biaxin. My increase in joint pain has been mild, except for my neck which has been very painful.
I awoke one morning with my teeth hurting as well. So, I tried the oil pulling and whalla, my neck pain was gone (for the day, anyway).
I love the taste of the lemon/olive oil drink too and may make one this morning. I didn't know about lemon juice helping with herxes. Wonder why?
Luvs
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Wow. That lemon/olive oil drink looks incredibly interesting. Guess I'll fire up my blender and try it today. Thanks for posting that.
Michelle, Michelle, it is great to 'see' you too again, although I'm sorry we're both STILL on this board... sheesh. When does it end? If you get a chance, post an update or pm me. Are you better, worse? What's worked / hasn't worked?
Luvs - have you had significant recovery after a whole year on mino? Has it helped you?
Thanks for the input everyone.
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
BB,
I have had significant recovery since I was diagnosed with RA in Jan 06. But I honestly don't feel the mino gets the credit. Not that I don't believe in antibiotic therapy for RA. I did not have a doctor available to me who believed in it. I pleaded with my rheumy to let me try it and he reluctantly agreed and prescribed only as I requested. So I was on my own concerning dosage.
I have remained on 100 mg MWF. I tried to increase it to 150 mg and developed lupus like rash. Twice this happened. I'm ok at 100 mg. Rheumy tested for the lupus and thankfully I tested negative.
I truly believe that what works best for me is avoiding foods I have become allergic too while the doctor works to heal my gut and remove heavy metal toxicity. The food allergies and the heavy metals were discovered by blood and urine tests. I did seek 2nd opinions and the results were the same both times.
To this day, if I eat something I am allergic too, within 2 hrs my joints will flare up.
5/12/07 of this year, I was bit again. 24 hrs later I began flu like symptoms and 48 hrs later I was VERY SICK. Up to this point, mino was my only antibiotic and I was very happy about that because of my damaged gut. It was great knowing I was doing so well without taking the toxic drugs. But when I got so sick immediately following the 2nd bite, I felt I needed antibiotics to knock this out quick.
I sought out an ILADS LLMD in our area who also happens to be a rheumatologist. I feel very fortunate to have her. She too is addressing and protecting my gut. This second bite dropped my adrenal activity to near zero. She is supplementing this and it is giving me back my energy. She also has me on ammoxicillan and biaxin for H. Pylori. She also has me on plaquenil for the RA and she is trying to get insurance approval for Enbrel which she says I will need once she starts intensive abx for the bugs. She will increase the biaxin dose at our next meeting to start addressing babs. I tested positive for these bugs as well as some others.
Through it all, every doctor I have worked with has liked me being on the minocycline so I continue 100 mg MWF. Perhaps it is helping with the inflamation. I can't say for sure but I know that even with the mino, when I eat wrong my joints suffer.
Luvs
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
up for jenin98
-------------------- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Remember Iam not a Doctor Just someone struggling like you with Tick Borne Diseases.
posted
I was feeling so lousy all week, I am assuming from the Flagyl, that I broke down and tried the Lemon/Olive Oil drink.
Not too yicky, I put it over ice. Now whether this was from the drink or the power of positive thinking, I did start to feel better...not great, but alot less joint/muscle pain.
I only used 1/2 Lemon (tummy was not feeling well either), so I thought with 1/2 lemon it would be easier on it.
Will try drink again today, using a whole lemon.
Thank you for posting the link to this drink!
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posted
Well, interesting. Thanks Luvs - A lot of Lymies say they feel better with heavy-metal detox... I actually think it may be because Lyme uses a metallo-proteinase to eat tissue, so the chelator may interfere with that. But that's pure conjecture.
I say, if it makes you feel better, and you can tell you're getting better, then do it (within reason).
That lemon-oil drink really IS good. I seem to have had a more dramatic effect from straight lemon juice, but haven't tried the other one when in a big herx...
Yup. Lemon juice works.
Another thing I should share, while I'm at it, is Bikram Yoga (also known as Hot Yoga). It's really only for people who are pretty healthy, but if you are one of the more physically fit people with Lyme disease, Hot Yoga is like a sauna on steroids. Doing this yoga realllly helps me with my Lyme. I guess the bugs hate the heat.
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
The lemon juice helps remove toxins and lactic acid which causes the burning in your muscles and joints. Drink LOTS of water too to help the flush process.
You can drink your lemon juice throughout the day as homemade lemon aid. Try to use fresh lemons rather than bottled or canned juice.
Adding oil to lemon juice makes it a gall bladder "flush". You can add garlic and spices to the lemon juice and olive oil and make a salad dressing if you don't want to drink the oil/lemon juice combo straight.
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