Desperate and Depressed

I am soooo fed up and down at the moment and feel like im fighting a losing battle constantly. I became unwell whilst on hols in Spain (i live in England) back in May. I experieneced mulitple symptoms and eventually asked my GP to be tested for Lyme, which came back positive. I then started on 3 weeks doxy 200 daily and the GP said i was cured. I then continued to go downhill again and decided to see a llmd 2 hours away who said that i havent had enough treatment etc and suggested artesunate which i took, and try to get iv antibiotics on the NHS in my area. She therefore referred me to a local rheumatologist who quite frankly was a waste of space and refused to give me any treatment untill ive been re-tested again etc despite now 4 positive lyme tests, and to see him again in Jan 09!!! I therefore contacted the llmd again who recommened taking doxy 400 for 3 months which im now doing and had to pay for privately. Ive also got an appointment with neurology on the NHS in December which i think will be a waste of time cos no-one seems to wanna know or puts it down to post lyme syndrome. The thing is im still feeling absolutely terrible. I feel worse on the antibiotics than i did before taking them and i dont know whats going on. Before taking them i had constant pain in upper arms, lower outer legs and in my neck and back. Also dizzyness, headache etc. Now i have the constant pain but they also feel fairly numb and really really heavy like its an effort to even move them. I m also sooooo tired and feel fairly sick at times. Should i be feeling like this whilst on the antibiotics?? Am i expecting too much too quickly?? Im also taking vitamins and trying to be as healthy as poss but im beginning to wonder if ive got something else cos i can barely move. My eyes are also constantly flickery and hazey. Im so stressed cos ive been off work for a couple of months now and im being really pressured to go back and also money is tight. Everyone things you are fine cos you look ok and inside im feeling desperate.

 

hi, im currently on 400 doxy daily for 3 months-only on my 2nd week at the mo and really struggling! Ive been trying to eat healthily, take vitamins and probiotic, do epsom salt baths, have massages to be as healthy as poss. No one has ever really said anything to me about what to expect whilst on meds other than what ive read on here. Im just concerned cos i feel so much worse and the heavy limb feeling now. Thanks Lisa

I would clearly say if you feel worse on doxycycline than it is a herx. You can give doxycycline to any healthy individual and they would not even know they took it. It is rather safe drug so I fimly believe you are experiencing a herx which can come in many forms, of which includes a drastic increase in symptoms. Continue to find a more knowledgable dr and hang in there.

Was always sick on doxy -- when I came down w/ Lyme. Whoever wrote that when you give it to a healthy person, they're fine. That is true with me. But with Lyme, it's an internal battle.

Switched to non-generic form and now I'm doing better on it. Less fatigue. I use it in conjunction with Biaxin. Another antibiotic.

Right now Biaxin is putting me in a funk. I start back the doryyx today. I hate this stuff, but am desperate to try anything AND everything.