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Posted 2/8/2015 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
My son started Doxy on Jan 13. Since then has had worsening Herx symptoms. I called the doctor last Monday and we dropped Doxy dose to once a day (from 200mg to 100mg a day). As of Friday his symptoms had continued to worsen so we went to see our Lyme dr. She confirmed that his symptoms are Herx (heightened joint pain, full body aches, sore throat, cough, pin point rash, feeling really yucky). She also went over the lab work with us that has come back. He has tested positive for Babesia, his CD57 test is low (33) and she believes he has a protozoa.

He will continue the half dose of Doxy until the 16 and then go to the 200mg a day every other day. He is doing a salt bath daily, infrared sauna 3 days a week, drinking lots of lemon water and taking supportive supplements.

Last night and today he has developed a bad sore throat and cough. Has lots of phlegm. And a fever that was 101.6 at the highest that I've caught it. He is miserable.

Is this still typical herxing? How long do you think it will continue? Should we be doing anything different?This is really terrible!
Thanks.
Thanks!
Posted 2/8/2015 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
If herxing is being caused by doxy, it should have started resolving soon after the dosage was decreased, especially with your detox protocols in place. An increase in symptoms without an increase in antimicrobials may indicate relapse or other (viral) infections.

With increased detoxing (we also use psyllium supplement to keep bowels moving, approx. 600 mg magnesium citrate divided though the day, good probiotic supplements to support gut function) we usually resolved herxes within 3-7 days. Tindamax was tougher. We had to move to a pulsed protocol (3 days on, 4 days off) to resolve herxes from those die-offs.

Babesia is usually associated with dry cough, phlegm may be something different.
Posted 2/8/2015 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
One of the problems you'll see treating a protozoal infection is that the die off overwhelms the elimination pathways. It's a combination of cellular debris, protozoal debris, different acids, and IMO, metal release. To combat this, I've eaten mostly alkaline foods and had to supplement my genetic mutations along the methylation pathway. If it were my child, I would discontinue therapy for the time being until the oxidative stress could be gotten under control. I feel you can do more harm than good by treating without functioning pathways. I'd do a 23andme.com genetic profile and get the results interpreted by geneticgenie.org. I'd download Amy Yasko's free e-book Autism: Pathways to Recovery and I'd read it twice. Your son's herxing issues are because his pathways are blocked. Her book will help you understand what is needed to open up the pathways.

If your son has babesia, it is a high probability that he also has something else. Doxy can suppress babesia growth but it won't kill them. It will kill borrelia. Whatever is causing the herxes, he needs to take something that will help eliminate free radical formation and something to help eliminate the toxins and debris in his system.

I'm sorry you are having to deal with this.
Posted 2/8/2015 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
Georgia Hunter, thank you... that's a lot of info. 23 and me is one of the tests we are waiting on still. Dozy is to begin treating the Anaplasma I believe. Doctor has told us that this is a step by step process because of the reasons you stated. I thought the symptoms would lesson after cutting Doxy in half, they haven't. Today his fever is gone, so far. Still coughing up a lot of stuff and sore all over. He hasn't been sleeping, I believe everything would look brighter if he could get some solid sleep.

The Healing Lyme book came yesterday- maybe that will help me get a better grasp on this.
Posted 2/8/2015 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds to me like your son needs Mepron for his babesia. I have Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella and I am on Doxy, Mepron, Plaquenil. My doctor is also concerned that I have Ehrlichia.
I was diagnosed in 2005 with lyme disease and recently diagnosed with Dermatomyositis. Babesia is a very serious disease and it can go in to remission with the proper antibiotic. Mepron works amazing for this disease. It is disgusting to take as its a thick yellow liquid but it works. Very expensive. It is over $2000 per prescription but most insurance companies will cover it. Since your son is not responding to the Doxy and he tested positive for Babesia I assume that's why he isn't improved.
Is your doctor a lyme literate physician?
Posted 2/8/2015 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, Dr is Lyme literate. First tests that came back were positive for anaplasma and mycoplasma pneumonia. She began with Doxycycline to start the process. Other tests are trickling in. So far its added Babesia WA1 to the list as well as a low CD57. More tests are still coming in. Dr.will add and adjust meds after all results are in. If Doxy is causing this much die off I'm not sure how he'll handle others. He has had symptoms since he was 6, he is now almost 17. I guess there is a lot to get rid of.
Posted 2/8/2015 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Eventually after continuous use of the meds it will turn around and you will see improvement. I'm sure you know if you get on the right course of antibiotics and continue regardless of how bad you feel it will turn around in the right direction. I herxed (was worse) for a whole year. It was horrible but I didn't give up.
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