new symptoms for mom on partial herbal therapy for lyme - herx vs cold

Hey guys. I just got a call from my grandmother who is taking care of my mom W late neuro lyme. She tells me that since yesterday, mom has been having extra salivation or extra mucus production, grandma can't tell bc secretion is clear. My mom was not able to sleep because of this. Grandma did tell me that she had some throat pain Sunday and took some over the counter medicine and it went away. Then my mom began complaining of this. Of course, with my mom sick with the ALS type lyme it seems worse in her. My grandma says no fever, still drinking and eating well. I have 2 questions: one - can this be a manifestation of the cat claw/banderol combo? Can this be a herx? Can this also be a cold, in which case, can I give some decongestants to her and should I stop the cat claw/banderol. I am going over tonight after work to check on her.
Thanks all.
v.

Thank you sarah. Is there anything I can use for symptoms?? In other words, can I use benadryl or something? I only ask because my grandma is worried. I haven't seen her today yet so I don't know how worried to be.

Just a quick update. Got to see my mom - she seems ok. Sounds more congested and slurring than usual, but my grandma and I noticed her color is good. I was able to check blood pressure and temperature - all normal. She does have some mucus in the back of the throat, but nothing crazy. After reading all the topics on the forum and talking to my friend who is a naturopath, it is probably a herx versus cold. Either way, she needs to just wait it out. Since my mom is so delicate and so uncomfortable, i was wondering if some over the counter decongestant would be ok. She just wants to get some consistent rest.
On a slightly different note, is there something that someone can recommend for mood. Given the presumptive diagnosis and my mom's progression since March, she obviously has her moments when she is down and pessimistic. I don't blame her. Grandma and I are doing the best we can, focusing on the Igenex tests, showing her that this is likely Lyme and we can treat it. However, it is moments like these, when she feels weaker than usual when she is very difficult to lift up. She is on lexapro. Perhaps there is something on the herbal end that would complement the lexapro??
Thanks for all your help.

Be prepared to hear that it's not Lyme unless they are Lyme literate!!

Lyme has a way of making us believe that it's anything BUT Lyme that is doing this to us. I don't get how it does this, but I've seen it sooo many times and have experienced it myself as well. about all we can do is to stay the course, chart the changes in our symptoms as we go through treatments and use that as our proof to ourselves that it is Lyme or the treatments wouldn't be helping.

I'm glad that your Mom got some rest! As important as it is to us, it's sure elusive!

Just remember that some antihistamines act as a CNS depressant, which could affect her breathing - of course it can also help to control CNS symptoms when she herxes too.

You may want to start a new thread about something that would compliment the Lexapro - but be sure to do your own research as well!!

I usually herx for 3 weeks, but I surely wouldn't let it go on any longer than that!! Herxing is miserable!!!! If her symptoms seem to be getting too bad, or if it continues on too long, reduce the amount you are giving to her.

Good news ... mom is finally getting over her first herx! I just got back from her place and she looks more alert and awake and peppy. The cough is gone, no more mucusy/saliva stuff And she is hungry! She says that she does not know whether this is all in her head or if it is real, but she noticed last night that she is swallowing a little better (she would hesitate and choke sometimes with solids). Indeed grandma said that since herxing the only time she coughed was when she had some powdered supplement that she takes for the twitching muscles. Apparently a big chunk of powder that do not dissolve in water got caught in her throat. But breakfast was fine, dinner last night was fine. So now tomorrow we go up on the cat's claw from 5 to 6 drops twice daily.
Thank you guys!

That's great news! Your Mom is so fortunate to have you and your Grandma, keep plugging away!

Hey guys,
So my mom is back to the cough and phlegm, has brain fog, and is feeling a lot of fear/hopelessness. I keep reassuring her that it is the herx, but let me tell you that I cannot wait to see the LLMD. I think it will reassure her (and me) to hear it from the specialist as opposed to me winging it.

Good point, lyme1. She only used them once last week and did not like it so she stopped.
One other quick question, is it normal to have worsening of symptoms that looks like progression. I ask because my mom is making me nervous saying her right arm is very weak. I can say that before starting the doxy that she was on in Dec for 10 days, her arm was fine. Since then she is describing some troublesome things like she has trouble brushing her hair. I am scared, frankly that taking the cats claw and banderol is making her worse, especially since she won't detox properly. Any reassurance would be great. I feel like I am playing with her life and it is not a fun feeling.