Doxy Side Effect or Lyme Herx?

Hi,

I'm new to these forums, but I guess I will start by explaining my situation. At the beginning of July last summer I was diagnosed with Lyme's (very obvious bullseye rash, flu-like symptoms, aching joints) and immediately went on Doxycycline or 2 weeks and then after a follow up appt with my PCP, another 2 weeks, but with a 3 week period in between without treatment.

Ever since, I have had on and off issues with fatigue, dizziness, nausea, but they would typically go away within a few hours or a day.

The past 2 weeks I have experienced some more severe symptoms:
-lightheadedness and fairly constant high blood pressure (I normally have low BP)
-an ulcer or a sore on my groin area which the doctor dismissed as an ingrown hair
-random itches and pains on my skin, particularly in the groin and legs
-mild headaches, along with vertigo that comes and goes
-sensitivity to light, sound, and cold
-difficulty concentrating/listening to people, shortness of breath, loss in coordination and balance
-decrease in quality of vision
-random burning sensations on skin
-stiff neck and back muscles
-joint problems in hands and feet

When these symptoms were constant I went to the ER and all urine and blood tests were normal. I was released when my BP dropped to normal. At a follow up with my PCP, he wanted another blood test to check thryoid, Lymes (which doesn't always show up) and glucose. Still waiting on results for Monday. Is it possible that all of the symptoms thus far is an infection from Lymes, or is it my body herxing, or both?

In the meantime, he has started me on Doxycycline again. With my first bouts with Doxy, I had a little anxiety, but nothing major. After my first dose, I had difficulty sleeping, my blood pressure rose, the next morning (this morning) I had difficulty breathing and double vision for about 30 mins but then those symptoms went away and my whole body began to feel very heavy and I developed chills along with bouts of anxiety one moment, then feeling high the next. I called my doctor, he said it didn't seem to be an allergic reaction, especially since I have already been on it in the past. Later today, I have developed a horrible headache, it mostly feels like tons of pressure on the front of my head/eyes, blood pressure seems worse than when I started. I'm also experiencing mood swings including having high energy which I did not have before the Doxy (I was lethargic/fatigued, although still am mostly that).

Do I call again? Is this just the Lyme infection herxing/getting stronger before it goes back down? Anyone else experience I nasty headache/dizziness or high blood pressure from Lyme's or Lyme antibiotic treatment?

Thank you, hopefully I will know the result of the latest blood test soon.

Headache is definitely a known side effect to Doxy

As far as an allergic reaction is concerned, were you having difficulty breathing because of the anxiety? That is where you can note the difference. B/c if it was a real allergic reaction, I doubt the breathing difficulty would have subsided that fast. If it was b/c of anxiety, and you had chills and your body feeling heavy then my guess would be that it was a herx reaction - but I can't be sure. I don't want to be giving the wrong medical advice, so this is just my guess. How do you know your blood pressure was affected? Did you actually use a monitor, or did you just feel dizzy?

Do bear in mind that some people develope allergies to medicines over time. So you can become allergic to a medicine that you used to be able to tolerate. Just pay very close attention to your symptoms the next time you take the medication.

May I ask, why was there a lapse in the doxy treatment? The fact that you stopped it and started it again probably did you more harm than good. =(

I had a similar experience going on and off Biaxin. When I first started taking it I experienced a mild herx. I took it for two months, then stopped. A month later my symptoms started to come back and I got back on Biaxin. The herx was 10x worse.

When you take ABX that kills Lyme the spirochetes turn into cysts to shield themselves. Some research shows that they can multiple inside the cysts via granules, which are like spores or seeds. When they sense the coast is clear, they come out and party. So when you go back on the ABX the second time a lot more die off, which is why the herx is much worse. That's why you need something, like Flagyl, that can penetrate cysts,

But I am reading on here that so many people start and stop antibiotics - and its to my understanding that's what causes the spirochetes to turn into cysts. I am having a hard time trying to figure out why so many people start and then stop. I started the doxy a month ago and will continue to take it until 2 months after my symptoms are gone, unless it doesn't do the job, then I have to do an add on antibiotic. But I think the key here is to not create a lapse in treatment, bc that's what makes the lyme hide and then come back when its ready. Am I right on this or no? I'm still new to all of this.

Chapelle said...
But I am reading on here that so many people start and stop antibiotics - and its to my understanding that's what causes the spirochetes to turn into cysts. I am having a hard time trying to figure out why so many people start and then stop. I started the doxy a month ago and will continue to take it until 2 months after my symptoms are gone, unless it doesn't do the job, then I have to do an add on antibiotic. But I think the key here is to not create a lapse in treatment, bc that's what makes the lyme hide and then come back when its ready. Am I right on this or no? I'm still new to all of this.

Starting and stopping treatment is a bad idea, unless you doctor has you on another abx and has you are "pulsing" another abx. I've not understood the reasoning behind pulsing completely, but it does seem to work for some people. BUT this is for a well educated LLMD to decide, not the patient.