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Feeling so much worse on Doxy

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Posted Today 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
I just started my Doxycycline three days ago and I feel worse than ever. I thought that starting an antibiotic is supposed make you feel better, then worse a bit later on? I have a pretty bad Candida infection already (my ND has me on Diflucan 2X a week for the Candida) and stomach problems and I’m wondering if maybe an antibiotic isn’t a great idea for me? I didn’t think I could feel any worse, but now I’m scared I just messed myself up worse than before and I worry that stopping an antibiotic too soon will cause me other problems.

I don’t mean to be annoying, posting all the time, but I really have no one else to talk to about these things and because of the holiday I won’t be able to talk to my ND until Tuesday after next.
Posted Today 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like a cut and dry herxheimer to me. Usually you feel worse initially when you herx, and then later you feel better
Posted Today 5:27 AM (GMT 0)
I thought about it being a herx, but I had only seen posts from people saying they initially felt better once starting antibiotics so I wondered if something else was going on. A herx certainly makes sense. It’s terrible to feel sick and not know what is causing what.
Posted Today 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
I’m 4 weeks into bicillin treatment. The first 3x I did the shot I herxed the next day after the shot for like 3 days each time. This week I did the shot and I felt better, feels great
Posted Today 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
Some people herx right away. That would not be an uncommon thing to experience. If a herx is very strong, then some people lower the dose for a while or even stop treatment until symptoms subside.

I'm sure you are taking probiotics and doing other things to manage candida, right? That can be dicey with antibiotics, but it can be managed. I understand how that is another layer making this complicated for you, though.

Do NOT apologize for posting! That is what this forum is for! We're happy to hear from you and offer whatever support or experience we can.
Posted Today 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Also, some people just don't tolerate pharmaceutical antibiotics well. There's no chance I'd be okay on doxy. I have allergies to two major classes of antibiotics, and the others give me constant diarrhea, headache, nausea, etc. They are not an option for me. Fortunately they are not the only option for treating Lyme. If things do not improve for you with a lowered dose, or if your gut issues worsen considerably, then you could try a different antibiotic or opt for a different approach to treatment. Good luck!
Posted Today 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
I've noticed a few times that I initially felt better right after taking the antibiotics. However, the die off reaction usually happens within a day or two. If you've been taking doxycycline for three days, it's unsurprising that you got a herx.

With some drugs, such as disulfiram or anti-folates, it may take a bit longer, but doxycyline works pretty fast.
Posted Today 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Sleepy4 I felt terrible on Doxy, both herxes and it always makes my stomach upset. If you have a yeast infection, I probably would've waited to start it. I personally, couldn't take doxy period. I started having liver symptoms on it...but that was just me.

dcd2103-Yeah, the Bicillin shots herxes last about three to four days for me.
Posted Today 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys for the support. This definitely could be a herx that I’m having, but also antibiotics don’t agree with me. about 20 minutes after I take the Doxy I feel like I’m going to throw up and it hurts my lower intestines. I’m taking probiotics and eat a really clean diet. I guess I just have to power through until I can speak to my ND again.

One of the things that is odd is that my sinus/eye/ear symptoms are waaaay worse now. I was hoping that being on an antibiotic would help knock out whatever I have going on in my face, but that isn’t the case. My sore throat is worse, my ears hurt more, I have tons of pressure and pain in both my eyes and sinuses and now I’m getting nerve pain in my face and eyes. It’s scaring me.

I wonder if it’s more viral than bacterial? I know I have EBV but I I’ve never heard of it causing sinus/eye stuff? I’ve also never heard of a viral sinus infection lasting for 3 months.
Posted Today 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
The nausea definitely isn’t a herx, the rest of it sounds like it is. Nausea is a common reaction to antibiotics, some people’s stomachs don’t tolerate them well. One of my friends was prescribed abx for something not Lyme related and it made him puke he had to stop, we were just talking about that the other day when I told him I was on Bicillin.
Posted Today 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
I always get tremendous head pressure as well as facial pain and dizziness on Doxy.
Hard for me to tolerate.
Posted Today 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
Some do have nausea with herxes, but I do agree that it's a very common side effect of antibiotics.
Posted Today 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Sleepy4 talk to your doctor, but this sounded very similar to what I experienced on doxy.

Some people can take it others cannot, I def cannot.

Nausea is not a herx. A herx is worsening of your Lyme symptoms.
Posted Today 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
I’m going to try and wait it out until I can speak to my ND on the 10th. If the nausea and GI discomfort get too bad, I’ll stop, but I worry about the consequences of stopping an antibiotic too soon.

It’s weird none of my twitching, skin buzzing, migrating pain, or burning sensations have been effected by the antibiotic one way or another, just my ear/nose/throat/eye stuff and stomach. I’m starting to feel that my head stuff is viral in nature. My EBV load has been high for years, maybe that’s what I’m dealing with there.

JovaLyme, I’m sorry about your reaction to the Doxy. It’s hard to start something only to not have it not work and make you feel worse in the meantime. My mother was a big fan of antibiotics and I was on one a few times every winter when I got seasonal bronchitis. I think all those years of antibiotics has really negatively affected my gut biome and now when I need antibiotics they tear me up.
Posted 12/1/2019 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Doxy is particularly harsh on the GI.

Did you take it with food?
Posted 12/1/2019 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Girlie,
Yeah I’ve been taking it with food, usually some chicken and fruit. I hope you are well, you’ve been in my thoughts.
Posted 12/1/2019 1:39 AM (GMT 0)

Sleepy4 said...
Hi Girlie,
Yeah I’ve been taking it with food, usually some chicken and fruit. I hope you are well, you’ve been in my thoughts.

I was only on doxy for about a month many years ago - and it was one of - if not the harshest on my GI.
I sandwiched it with food - ate part of my meal - took the doxy with plenty of water - ate the rest of my meal.

I’m doing much better - thanks for asking.
Posted 12/1/2019 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
You’re NOT annoying. Post all you want to. We’re here to help and encourage each other.
Posted 12/1/2019 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
I could never finish a course of doxy or most antibiotics due to stomach pains.
I gave up on them a long time ago, and healed from lyme, anyway...

Listen to your body, not to your doctor (this is my advice).
They have no idea how much pain we can go through.

I'd rather suffer from lyme than from those awful stomach pains, diarrhea etc.
I don't touch antibiotics anymore for the last 10 years...
I think there are so many other easier alternatives for my stomach.

These horrible pains you describe were the main reason I kept antibiotics away.
This is just my experience.
I follow my gut, not my doctor's opinion, specially when he has no idea of how much pain I had to deal with.
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