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Is herxing real?

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Posted 1/9/2014 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry for the question but I have no one to talk to here.  One of my docs even said to my face.."I don't know anything about lymes."  I am on Rocephin through an IV once a day for 6 wks.  I am on second week.  I feel fair but probably worse than I did a month ago when taking Doxy.  I have light headaches, heart issues and the worst is weakness in my legs.  Does anyone get weak legs? Am I worse due to herxing?  Is herxing a real thing/fact or just a theory?  I have no one here to talk to.  I am on my own and starting to become depressed..wondering if I'll ever get better.
Posted 1/9/2014 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi verg

We'll forgive you wink (if I may speak for everyone) 

Why exactly do you ask this question, has anyone been telling you that you are imagining things?

A Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction is the result of endotoxins released into the bloodstream by dying spirochetes (killed by abx for instance).  The body's immune system then responds to the endotoxins and the concurrent release of cytokines (i.e., tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 6, and interleukin 8) which are chemical messenger molecules of the immune system producing exaggerated symptoms lasting 3 days up to several weeks.

This is what you get when googling Herxheimer Reaction.

I could show you one of my blood tests from last summer.

My dr did a cytokine panel on my blood.

Interleukin 8 (IL-8) has to be between 0,00 and 15,00 - mine was 60.400,00

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) has to be between 0,00 and 5,00 - mine was 4.500,00

This was a clear and black on white written proof that my herxes are very intense.

I get weak legs, I can barely get up the stairs when I'm herxing, sometimes it feels as if I'm walking through a thick substance.

Please don't loose courage. Herxing always gets me really depressed. Keep in mind that it is not you talking, but your body reacting to treatment.

There are a lot of success stories here. Violets just posted one a few days ago, she has been off antibiotics for 8 years and is doing very well! If you go through the threads, you'll see that some of our members come back or stay, it's a great push for us in believing we will get better.

MarieLS

Posted 1/9/2014 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Verg,
If you don't know, you don't know! Yes, herxing is a very real thing. The real name is the Jarrisch-Herxhemier reaction. You can find all kinds of information about this phenomenon online, but basically, as it pertains to tick-borne infections, it's the release of toxins from dead/dying bacteria that overwhelm the body.

This generally only happens when an effective treatment protocol is followed and the body can't keep up with detoxing needs. This is why we kind of push detoxing, as it will help increase the amount of toxins that the body will be able to process without experiencing a herx.

A herx is defined as worsening or new symptoms one day to one week after the start of abx therapy - but we've seen it occur after 4 - 6 weeks, and for more than Lyme disease. Personally, I had a 3 week herx when starting treatment for Bartonella - so it happens for more infections that is being reported, and for longer than is being reported as well.

So, yes, you are likely experiencing a herx - but keep an eye open for an allergic reaction. It can be hard to tell the difference sometimes in the beginning. If you feel that you are having difficulty breathing or swallowing, develop hives, or feel any swelling of the face - please get to a doctor/hospital!!

Otherwise, increase or start detoxing as is described in the "New to Lyme?" thread. If you are doing all of those things, then there are still other things you can do like add in binders - but they have special instructions so be careful to follow them closely.

And of course, you can ask all the questions you need to about herxing and detoxing here!!
Posted 1/9/2014 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
thank you for the answers...I figured you Traveler would be here :-) I wanted to make sure because no one here at my local facility knows a thing. How long will a herx last? My whole treatment?

Post Edited (verg) : 1/9/2014 9:27:15 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/9/2014 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
oh and I jumped on another thread about detox baths. Traveler Ive been doing what you said using a wash cloth to scrub skin due to not having a brush. But..I am 6'6 and don't fit in the tub. Should I soak more legs and rear or more upper body? I've sorta just been going back and forth after a few minutes.
Posted 1/9/2014 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
smilewinkgrin I'll take that as a compliment!!

LOL!! Yep!! That's what I did too! I'm only 5'1" but don't have a tub, so I converted a small livestock watering tub (smhair) to do the detox soaks in - so I couldn't fit all of me in either!

I would pretty much do 1/2 of me at a time, with the "center portion" always in the water. My legs would hurt so incredibly bad that I couldn't stand on them for more than 7 minutes without them buckling, so I had to soothe my legs as much as possible, as well.

Part of the reason to get as much of you in the water soaking as possible is so that you get as much skin working to release toxins as possible by exposing it to the Epsom salts and peroxide.

A herx will last as long as the body is overwhelmed with toxins. The best thing to do is to try to keep the treatments going at the required dosages, but for some they can do all the detoxing in the world, but the treatments are still just too strong due to a heavy bacterial load - that was my problem with Lyme and Bartonella. For those that experience really long, hard herxing - in order to not get into life threatening situations (which can and do happen), it's best to lower the treatments dose and build up slowly to the effective dose.

You can order a dry skin brush online if you can't find one or just can't seem to remember to get one in your area.
Posted 1/9/2014 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
thanks and yes it was a compliment!
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