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Okay, another "herx or getting worse?" post. Sorry folks. I'm hurting.

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Posted 5/14/2012 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
So I had been taking doxycycline 400mg per day for the last six months, the last two of them along with Bactrim as well. Since the summer sun made an early appearance here in NJ this year, my LLMD switched me over to Vantin since I was already beginning to get sunburn from the sun sensitivity caused by the doxy.

Things were going okay until last week (three weeks after switching to Vantin), when I began feeling totally wiped out energy-wise, along with a little bit of air hunger. Then towards the end of last week, I began having headaches which would come and go throughout the day. Over the course of this weekend I've now had a major reemergence of symptoms, including symptoms I haven't had for the last three to four months. My knee joint hurts again, the arches of my feet hurt, my skin is getting the little itchy pins and needles all over, and the back of my neck is very tender to the touch again. The last herx I had back in the beginning of March was just headaches, facial flushing, lightheadedness, and a little soreness in my calf muscles, but this feels almost like the Vantin just isn't working and I'm losing ground. So many things I haven't felt in so long that I just can't help thinking that the new treatment is failing. How do you know???

I have another appointment in two weeks but I'm wondering if I should call the doc tomorrow. I don't want to overreact, but I don't want to let this go if in fact I really need something else.

Also, what are some other good abx for Lyme which do not cause the sun sensitivity?

Post Edited (BodyJar) : 5/13/2012 9:10:59 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/14/2012 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Angel Jar,
I wish I could answer your question about whether your symptoms are herx reaction to the new abx or not but can definitely relate to how this disease can have you wondering at each corner about that very question - does this increase in symptoms mean I'm making progress or does it mean I'm getting worse?

You might find this article helpful. I found it on the Dr. Phil site after he did the Lyme show. Great patient info about the ups & downs of healing from Lyme.
http://www.angelfire.com/me2/StarShar/Herx1.html

Also - regarding your sun question - I am currently taking Azithromycin, cefdinir & probenecid and none of them are causing sun sensitivity for me. Of course, you will want to work with your Doc regarding what is best for you.

I hope the increase in symptoms passes quickly for you and you find abx that both work for the Lyme and allow you to enjoy the summer.
Posted 5/14/2012 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
I am having a similar problem right now. It's hard to know what causes what, and whether the new med. isn't hitting things as hard as the old one or if it's something else wrong entirely. It could be the Lyme cycle of being worse every so many weeks.

Give your doctor a call in the morning and see what they want you to do. At least you could get some re-assurance if it's nothing, or a med. change if it does turn out to be something.
Posted 5/14/2012 10:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hi BodyJar,

Sorry to hear that you are feeling so poorly and are so worried about it.

Odds are it is a herx from changing medications, but your doctor is the best person to put your mind at ease.

What you could do at home to figure it out is to step up your detox regimen. If it is a herx the symptoms should lessen.

Hope this phase passes soon.
Posted 5/14/2012 11:08 AM (GMT 0)
It certainly sounds like you are herxing. I remember feeling these ups and downs constantly over the few years I was in treatment. It really is frustrating and hard to know whether the treatment is working. You should remember too that the bacteria cycles so that could be what is causing an increase in symptoms. Also, as you break up any cysts the bacteria have created, that too will worsen symptoms. Also, make sure you are getting enough magnesium. For me, that would really cause an increase in the muscular and joint pains.
Posted 5/14/2012 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the input, everyone. I am hoping it really is just a bad herx (that sounds like a weird thing to hope for!). I think this one is just scaring me a little more than normal because it is taking me back to how I felt around the time that I began treatment, when things were pretty bad on the neuro side of things. Just made me worry that the switch from doxy and bactrim down to just one antibiotic might be giving the bacteria some opportunity to regroup. If this is a herx, I'm glad the switch in treatment is working.

Achievinggrace, I am going to call the good doc today. My detox routine has admittedly been almost nonexistent lately. I don't think I've taken a detox bath in over a month. Oh, and thank you again for your help in finding an LLMD for me! I can't thank you enough! I can't imagine (nor do I want to!) where I would be right now if I didn't go to a good LLMD, so thank you thank you thank you! My wife and daughter thank you as well!

Springsjean, I take magnesium and calcium together, but probably not as regularly as I should. I have skipped days here and there. I thought I remember reading some conflicting info on taking magnesium for Lyme before so I'm never sure if I'm doing the right thing by taking it. Also, I've heard that taking mag internally requires high dosages to really have a positive systemic effect, and that it's those high doses which can cause stomach issues like diarrhea and nausea. Ever hear this?
Posted 5/15/2012 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
B/J (and others) - There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that I haven't herx'd when taking new abx because I'm religious about taking my detox baths. I just go the epsom/peroxide route and it's done wonders. When I added Biactrim a few weeks ago my LLMD said 'prepare for the herx to get worse.' This was after I had told him that switching to Tindamax wasn't too bad.

So far the herx have been fairly mild. My Lyme is 100% in the left side of my head around my ear. No other body part has been affected to date.
Posted 5/15/2012 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Funny - my Lyme favors the left side of my head too - around the ear, though it also affects the other side - just less so. When I get "toxic", one of my big symptoms (besides head pressure) is clogging of my ears - my left ear especially! Ibuprofen sometimes helps....
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