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Posted 8/7/2013 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
I posted this thread before, but I was wondering if anyone had any answers to these questions.

So I ended up having a bad reaction to the doxy. After I went off, I started to get very anxious, I think mostly because of my inability to take a breath. I ended up going to the ER because I had a panic attack and thought it was a heart attack. I told them I had it because I couldn't breathe, and they seemed to think the panic attack caused me to not be able to breathe... They gave me Xanax, and basically that was it. I've been really anxious lately, trying to figure out what to do about that in the long term since I don't want to get hooked on these pills.

My upper left side of my chest has been inflamed and hurts (burning sensation when I sleep), anyone know what to do about that? I think it might be my spleen. This plus the shortness of breath, night sweats, and constant feeling of depression, and weird muscle spasms all over my body, and whenever I try to get any exercise my head hurts. The problem is all of my blood work is basically normal, but the onset of this was so acute and I had a tick bite at the same time, I know it's something.

I saw two doctors yesterday: one was an infectious disease doc at the hospital and one was a LLMD. It's amazing, like night and day. The infectious disease told me to seek therapy (my primary physician told me to get on Zoloft, like none of this is pathological) and that all my symptoms were psychological because my blood work checked out. I was so pissed off because I know what I feel like inside and it's not like anything I've ever felt before. She said because I wasn't anemic, if I did actually have babesia it would go away naturally. Is this malpractice??

The LLMD was kind and understanding, it was an incredible shift just a few hours after being enraged at that other woman who basically told me I was crazy. So the LLMD gave me a prescription to Zithromax (I believe 250 mg but not sure). Is that an adequate antibiotic for me? He also gave me a prescription to Amoxicillin, but told me to wait on that bc I think I'm having more co-infection symptoms than lyme right now. He said we can run tests later, but he just wants me on that for now. Is it possible to just have babesia and not have Lyme?

I also aquired some artimenisin from a company called 'doctor's best'.. can anyone confirm this is a quality brand? I am in incredible discomfort right now, hopefully anyone can lend me some words of advice, especially for the shortness of breath, inflammation in my chest, anxiety.

Also, I seem to have been growing new moles pretty fast. Like pin prick dots, my primary physician and the infectious disease person says that's not possible -- more reason to just diagnose me with purely anxiety. But I've never been an anxious person before I woke up that one morning and felt confused etc. Is anyone familiar with new moles related to co-infections or anything? There also seems to be tiny pin prick red dots scattered on my body, but I only notice them when I look really closely.

PS: I just started taking zithromax today, and now I feel sicker. I didn't have Anemia before, but now my pee is darker than it was. (not too dark, just darker) Could this be from the zithromax or something??


Thanks
--- Sam

Post Edited (samk) : 8/7/2013 3:47:01 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/7/2013 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sam,

Lots of us have air hunger, anxiety. I read that you're taking Artemisine, is that for Babesia? Cause Babesia causes air hunger, and nightsweats.

The anxiety can become huge at times, very scary...

Normal bloodwork has always been pretty normal for me, but when my dr did a lot of the special tests, lots of them came back out of range (very much out of range).

the red dots are probably petechiae, they can occur when having Bartonella - I don't know about other coinfections or Lyme itself, I've read some things about that, but can't remember sorry?? Maybe someone else can tell you that.

Zithromax is used for treating LD and Bartonella (that's what I got for Bartonella). Drs treat coinfections before treating Lyme, these coinfections need to be treated in order to properly treat Lyme. It seems that your dr knows what he's doing. And he seems to be increasing abx dosage, instead of bluntly attacking and causing too much herxing... You feeling sicker is more than probably a Herxheimer reaction on the abx.

Have you read the thread on top of the Lyme page? 'New to Lyme? Start here!'. There's loads of information there on Lyme and coinfections, herxing, detoxing, different treatments, etc... A must read to find your way in the Lyme world...!

Detoxing is part of your treatment, please read everything about it, please don't neglect it.

Hope this helps a bit... my head is not very clear today, but I wanted you to have an answer on some questions.

MarieLS

MarieLS

 

Posted 8/7/2013 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Marie, very good info. I did read the New to Lyme thread, but I think I need to go back to it. I have been detoxing daily
Posted 8/7/2013 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sam,

I also have the issues with lots of petechia and moles popping up more rapidly then usual. Like a lot - it is possible. I hear you can get a lot of brown spots in addition to petechia from bartonella. Keep on treating whether it is herbs or antibiotics. Go slow if you have to. It gets better it just takes some time dear.

~beth
Posted 8/8/2013 6:57 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Beth, knowing that someone else is experiencing that symptom puts me more at ease.

One question for anyone who can answer: If I experience itching after taking zithromax, is that an allergic reaction? And if so, what are the alternatives to zith. I'm already allergic to Bactrim, Doxycycline.. So I'm a little weary to keep going down this route of antibiotics.
Posted 8/8/2013 9:02 AM (GMT 0)
I get itching from Azithromycin too. I don't think it is from an allergic reaction in my case, because it seems to be worse when I am having other herx symptoms from the Azithromycin and then it calms down after the herx symptoms do.

When in doubt, ask your doctor...
Posted 8/8/2013 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
samk,

Just to throw something else into the mix here....

I would have a full coinfection panel done, and I'm specifically mentioning mycoplasma here. Just because you mentioned some chest symptoms. Mycoplasma would be relevant there. If you are negative, then that's good, it's just nice to know all the different angles of where your symptoms are coming from and all possibilities. Chlamydia Pneumoniae is another test option. (Don't stress, it's not the STD).

I can vouch for Mycoplasma being nasty.

...."and whenever I try to get any exercise my head hurts" ...... I wouldn't be doing anything at all that pushes you while you are on antibiotics or having a hard time. Just let your body rest.
Posted 8/9/2013 5:32 AM (GMT 0)

kayla33 said...
samk,

Just to throw something else into the mix here....

I would have a full coinfection panel done, and I'm specifically mentioning mycoplasma here. Just because you mentioned some chest symptoms. Mycoplasma would be relevant there. If you are negative, then that's good, it's just nice to know all the different angles of where your symptoms are coming from and all possibilities. Chlamydia Pneumoniae is another test option. (Don't stress, it's not the STD).

I can vouch for Mycoplasma being nasty.

...."and whenever I try to get any exercise my head hurts" ...... I wouldn't be doing anything at all that pushes you while you are on antibiotics or having a hard time. Just let your body rest.

That's very interesting, thank you.. I never even considered that as being an option. Definitely looking to have a full confection panel done as soon as I can.


And thanks Razzle, I was worried because my allergic reaction to the doxycycline started the same exact way.

Post Edited (samk) : 8/9/2013 2:05:22 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/12/2013 8:08 AM (GMT 0)
New question for anyone who knows.. I actually stopped taking the Zithromax after the first day because of what I thought was an allergic reaction. I know, it was a dumb move, I didn't want to deal with the allergy if it was.. And then a day or so later I had a HUGE herx reaction. Almost went to the hospital, thought I was gonna die. It was Crazy!! I had diarrhea all day, nausea, insane heart palpations, and all the side effect were rampant. How much of this do you think was a side effect of Zithromax, and what was herx reactions?? Because I felt much better 2 days later. Was this because of the Zithromax? And should I start taking it again or is that not a good idea? I mean, I only took it 1 time and it made that much of a difference. Btw, I'm almost positive I have Mycoplasma, All my symptoms line up with the online description of it

Post Edited (samk) : 8/12/2013 2:22:36 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/12/2013 8:25 AM (GMT 0)

Zithromax makes me herx like crazy...

It was in fact Zithromax that alarmed my dr: it was prescribed to me for a respiratory infection September 2011. I thought I would die, didn't know what was happening at all, never felt so crapy in my life, and I know all about feeling crapy - lol. I was already tested for Borrellia Burg. (negative) a year before but this was the ultimate proof for my dr to assume I was positive. I started treatment August 2012, after taking a 3 week holiday, cause I had a taste of herxing and knew what was going to happen.

I think you should ask your dr if he thinks starting Zithromax again is a good idea. Do you think now that the allergic reaction might in fact have been a herxheimer reaction? What reaction did you have?

MarieLS 

Posted 8/12/2013 9:05 AM (GMT 0)

MarieLS said...
Zithromax makes me herx like crazy...

It was in fact Zithromax that alarmed my dr: it was prescribed to me for a respiratory infection September 2011. I thought I would die, didn't know what was happening at all, never felt so crapy in my life, and I know all about feeling crapy - lol. I was already tested for Borrellia Burg. (negative) a year before but this was the ultimate proof for my dr to assume I was positive. I started treatment August 2012, after taking a 3 week holiday, cause I had a taste of herxing and knew what was going to happen.

I think you should ask your dr if he thinks starting Zithromax again is a good idea. Do you think now that the allergic reaction might in fact have been a herxheimer reaction? What reaction did you have?

MarieLS

I think the allergic reaction may have been a herx, or it may have been some adverse side effects of Zithromax combined with a herx, based on the fact that I felt much better 2 days later. That being said, I'm definitely hesitant to go back on Zith if that was part herx and part adverse effects. I'm definitely gonna talk to my doctor about it before making a decision.

The reaction was: started with nausea and diarrhea, blackish green diarrhea to be exact, with short lasting mild fevers. This lasted hours, and transitioned into feelings of incredible anxiety and tiredness (I've had anxiety as a symptom for the alleged Mycoplasma). Followed by intense heart palpitations for hours, which drove me up the wall because I'm very sensitive to my heart. Aches and pains all over my body, muscle spasms, eyes hurting, stomach hurting, chest pain, paranoia, very short of breath.

This is why I'm hesitant to go back on it, because if that's what a zithro herx is like, I don't know if I want a part in that.
Posted 8/12/2013 9:22 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to say, but that's almost exactly how I herx on Zithromax (dr said it was herxing, not side effects of the abx)... it basically makes me feel like dying... I had many of those you listed before, on and off, but the herxing made it so much more intense. And the fatigue was just overwhelming.

Not everyone though reacts the same way, for some people it doesn't last long, for other it does.

 

Please be sure to detox all you can - prepare well before starting again if you decide to. I would definitely advice you to talk to your dr about it. He can give you more information, or make changes to your protocol if he finds it necessary.

Posted 8/12/2013 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Make sure you get the blood panel done for mycoplasma. Symptoms always cross over and match so many things, so its easy to think based on symptoms that you have something. I wouldn't be treating mycoplasma without a confirmed blood result.
Posted 8/12/2013 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!

Just wondering what was the dose you started with?

I had a very similar response to doxy. It was really bad I wasn't sure I could handle it but pushed on..

Hope you start feeling better soon!

Anna

Posted 8/12/2013 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
I'm definitely getting a blood panel done. I was given 100mg of doxy, twice daily. The zithromax is 250mg I think?
Posted 8/13/2013 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
Sam, I also have noticed a lot of new moles and red spots. You are not alone!

Good luck with finding the best treatment approach.
Posted 8/13/2013 6:35 AM (GMT 0)

MarieLS said...
Sorry to say, but that's almost exactly how I herx on Zithromax (dr said it was herxing, not side effects of the abx)... it basically makes me feel like dying... I had many of those you listed before, on and off, but the herxing made it so much more intense. And the fatigue was just overwhelming.
Not everyone though reacts the same way, for some people it doesn't last long, for other it does.



Please be sure to detox all you can - prepare well before starting again if you decide to. I would definitely advice you to talk to your dr about it. He can give you more information, or make changes to your protocol if he finds it necessary.

Marie, I was wondering, is there anything you do to make the herx reactions less bad?

and thank you yelloworange, I appreciate it a lot!

Post Edited (samk) : 8/13/2013 12:51:08 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/13/2013 6:54 AM (GMT 0)

I've found that taking a lot of rest (body and mind, both are evenly important) is the best for me personally (I still work, can't afford it to stay home, but I always feel better when I can rest more). Also daily epsom salt foot baths (only have a shower, never did a full bath, so can't testify on that) & coffee enemas have the best results for me.

As for supplements, these seem to be the best for me: B12 injections, Zyflamend, Omega3 (EPA-DHA), Berberine, magnesium citrate, Lypospheric Vit C, I'm sure I'm forgetting some..., tried more than these, but these seem the best for me.

Also: drinking huge amounts of good water, up to 1 gallon per day to flush your system. Is part of my dr's protocol.

and don't push yourself, if it's too hard to handle you need to talk to your dr to change the protocol. I was stubborn and thought it would be good to continue, but it slowed down the healing process with months. Listen to your body, it has a lot to say - lol.

Posted 8/13/2013 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Marie, that information is really helpful. And Violets, also very useful information. At this point I think I either have babesia or Myco, but gonna do labs to find out.

Also, my heart has been racing really fast lately when I try to do anything, anyone know why that is??
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