Reassurance seeking :-/

i would say this is quite normal - the herx like reactions from treatment can last for 1-2 weeks after stopping - i have had them last more like 3-4 when its been extreme - but should start fading after around 1 week

so it does sound like you have overwhelmed the system a bit by treating a little too much at once for your body to handle.

this is common - something we all do at some point as everyone is different in terms of what they can tolerate - and you typically will not know until you get there - and having to take breaks is normal

many LLMD's use pulsed regimes with up to 2 weeks off periods - so do not worry - you will not undo all your progress in a few days or even a week or so

some people find detox methods help them recover more quickly and tolerate treatmnet better
-Epsom salt baths
-sauna
-mild exercise
are things that get mentioned quite a bit

hope you feel a bit better soon

I agree with Garzie, GemmaCJ, and have experienced it myself. When I am in a bad herx from treatment, sometimes I have to back off, and it can take at least a week to calm down. It is tempting to add in ABX again too soon thinking we need it, but I have found that that's not always a good thing. Sometimes just have to patiently wait it out until things calm.

Hi GemmaCJ,
I do agree with the others that it's a herx. It's time to help your body deal with all of those built-up toxins. You can do quite a bit of detoxing from the bed, actually!!! If you need ideas, do please ask! Many of us have had times of being bed-ridden and needed to find ways to still do the things we need most.

I would also encourage you to be sure to continue to detox when you restart treatments as well. The main thing is that if you are using binders like activated charcoal, you do need to be careful about the timing of taking it compared to the timing of your treatments so that you don't accidentally work against yourself.
Again, if you need suggestions or help, please be sure to ask!! Lots of us have had to deal with brain fog or just a lack of being able to think through things at times!!

And, of course, best of luck with your treatment break - and then restarting treatment when the time comes.

Hi Gemma!
I do believe I am the only Lyme patient that uses that name! And, I did create a blog post a long time ago.....
So, if that WAS my post (https://travelerslymelinks.wordpress.com/about/- Thank you!! It's much appreciated!

Congratulations on ending up helping yourself sort of by accident! Normally, I would have recommended against trying something like that, concerned that possible die-off from yeast adding to the already hard to deal with symptoms. But, I'm glad you did try it and discovered this was a good thing for you!!! YAY!!!

Here are some things I did while bed-bound to help myself detox - besides any supplements/herbs:
Dry skin brush - now, this meant that I got out of bed just long enough to sit on the end, on a separate sheet so I didn't end up with even more "debris" (LOL) in my bed!

I would also sit on the edge of the bed and soak my feet in small tub in an Epsom salt/peroxide soak - just like the full body soak, only the feet are the only thing to be in the water. This is a slower way to help detox, but every little bit can help!

Lymph massages!!! They are wonderful to help speed things along - but this also has the potential of increasing symptoms for some, so be cautious.

Being bed-bound is also one of the few times I used a Castor oil pack for my liver. It takes some doing, as you will need someone else to set up the Castor oil pack, get a sheet, plastic wrap (to protect things from the Castor oil getting on them) and then clearing things away again.

Lemon water. I now prefer this stuff over most other drinks!!! LOL!
Lemons stimulate the production of bile and help to cleanse your liver, which has the job of detoxifying chemicals and metabolizing drugs. Lemons also possess a unique trait: When you metabolize the fruit or juice, it becomes alkaline and helps to neutralize your body’s pH. That reduces acidity and balances your acid-alkaline levels, which many patients report reduces herxing.

Bed yoga, believe it or not, has helped me even with this new Blood pressure issue I'm having(although, now I have added in a lot more) - and I learned it while dealing with Lyme and company. It's been amazing in helping with the muscle pains/cramps I still get from having to be so sedentary at times. There are many sites out there, but if you need a link to one, here are the two I started with:
https://sixtyandme.com/bed-yoga-easy-yoga-stretches-you-can-try-at-any-age/

https://www.firstforwomen.com/gallery/health/bed-yoga-for-pain-and-sleep-161219

Best of luck, please let us know how you are doing, and PLEASE - keep asking questions!!

Bed yoga, I love it 😂 great ideas, thank you so much for taking the time to write it all out. I can definitely implement the foot soak, lemon water and bed yoga.

Yes it was your blog! I couldn’t believe how many infections you’d had and yet managed to heal yourself 💪 Quite literally amazing, you must be as strong as an ox mentally. I really must take note of stories like that on bad days, I need to toughen up a bit.

Paul, you’re strangely comforting do you know that 😂 Now on a dreadful head pressure day I’ll think to myself.. ‘hmm what would Paul do’.. 💪 do you treat yourself with herbs? Sorry for being nosey just wondering how you get by

> you’re strangely comforting

Well, I knew about the strange part, but it's great to hear about the comforting part.

Actually, that's what I want to do. My faith has been the real backbone of my healing journey. Yes, I'm on herbs, after having bad experiences with the medical profession, and even with a LLMD. But there have been plenty of times when the herbs did not seem to be doing the job, and I've had to rely on faith that I was on the right track or that any needed course corrections would be shown to me. Even now, for some inexplicable reason I'm in a relapse, apparently coming off a post-Covid honeymoon of Lyme remission, but I know it will be alright, and I believe that for some strange reason it's an integral part of my healing.