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Questions about Doxy, hypnic jerks, counseling etc

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Posted 5/30/2017 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Wondering how necessary Doxy is to a chronic lyme protocol? I was on it back in December and am having the same horrid experience: intense jaw pain, TMJ pain, earache, tooth pain, and glands in throat are sore. It hurts to chew and even speak.

I'm wondering if this is a side effect from the doxy, as I have experienced it before and couldn't even take the two doses a day. My LLMD is off this week; do I ask him to switch to another abx or just suck it up and continue? Has anyone else had this kind of pain? Did it go away? Was it herx related?

I also realized that I've been having hypnic jerks when falling asleep. I've had them on and off for years without knowing what they are called. It seems to happen more if I lose sleep: they started again after I was in the ER until 2am. The problem is that it doesn't just happen once; it happens over and over and over again. Does anyone know if this is a Lyme thing or a coinfection?

Also, I'm thinking of going to a counselor or psychologist. I'm just not mentally doing well: still have periods of agitation and anger mixed with very low days of what I think is situational depression due to pain and limitations. Has anyone gone to a lyme literate psychologist/counselor? Is it necessary that they be lyme literate?

Sorry if there are too many questions for one post; have to get it out while I remember.
Posted 5/30/2017 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
No, it's not necessary to use Doxy - there are other pharma abx that you can switch to, but I would take a hard look at your detoxing routines first. If you aren't detoxing well, it won't matter which abx you use, you will herx pretty good.

The glands in your throat can be eased by doing lymph massages and using red root (it helps the lymph move things along). I got the other symptoms as part of herxing as well.

I believe the hypnic jerks are related to your nervous system infection - which could be Lyme or Bart or both. I still get them from time to time, but not all the time any more fortunately.

I would say that a Lyme literate counselor would be the best, as they would understand a lot more on how it all relates to the infections we have, but a chronic illness counselor would be better than a "standard" counselor that may not have any clue how the chronic illness affects everything.
Posted 5/30/2017 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
It is not necessary to use Doxy. There are lots of different abx to choose from. My guess is that it's Herx related. Are you detoxing enough? Also, is Doxy the only abx you are on? Single abx therapy is not effective for chronic Lyme. So if that's all you are on, you're not going to be feeling better.

In my opinion, counseling is never a bad idea, so I would encourage that.
Posted 5/30/2017 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks. I am also on Biaxin 3x a day. When I finish the Biaxin prescription (I think I have about a week left), I'll be on doxy 2x a day for a few weeks until I see my llmd again. At that point, I think he's going to increase the doxy and/or add in rifampin. But this pain is brutal; it happened the last time I was on doxy too.
Posted 1/27/2018 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
I know this thread is a few years old, but hopefully someone who has seen this Dr. B can give me advice. I have seen some of his talks, and he is in NJ which is good for me. But would you consider him a "counselor" or a talk therapist? I like my LLMD, and I have a Psychiatrist for over 10 years for a certain med...but that's all he does. He talks breifly to me, but appointments are scheduled every 10 minutes because of him being only medication management.

He's the one that recommended I see some type of therapist that understands the disease, but can also work with me as I deal with some of the issues I've been experiencing...deep deeep depression ocasionally, rage, paranoia, and fear about the future. I lost my job due to this dang disease and I am very fearful about How I would re-enter a comparable career.

Anyway, aside from the above question, can anyone recommend a LL Psychologist or talk therapist in NJ,
NY, PA, or pretty much any where in the Mid-Atlantic states? Thanks in advance.
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