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Posted 7/18/2014 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
I've started taking doxy about a week ago. This is the first I've taken since I was dx 10/13. Last week I saw a pcp for anxiety, and mentioned I have my 1st llmd appt on July 30. He asked why I've not started any antibiotics yet, and I just looked at him. His assoc, 2 or 3 months ago, had seen me for the L/co, and all she did was set me up with four, yes four 'specialists', yet did NOT prescribe any meds. I explained as best I could what's going on, and he strongly suggested I start on doxy! I realized many days later, he had squeezed both of my knees, and said, "Yeah, your right knee is swollen." Now, my body does not show l/co in swelling joints. Never has, even when the pain in my joints (fingers/knees/wrist) have me in tears, yet never swelling. I realized he either took pity on me and said that to 'be able' to go the doxy route, and/or is covering himself so he can say he at least prescribed doxy for my l/co. Either way, I am grateful he stepped up.

I initially went to the pcp for the anxiety I have from the Lyme and co-infections. I have been getting a lot of pressure from others to get on some meds to 'help take the edge off' so that I'd be 'nicer to be around.' The pcp prescribed me Xanax, which I've taken years ago, and did fine with it. Now, maybe due to the advanced stage of L/co, I can't take it. Even a tiny bit put me in complete zombie brain with exhaustion. So, I'm not taking it at all, for any reason. People will just have to deal with it.

I'm taking 100 mg doxy 2x daily for 21 days. It's been a week, and the first three days I was taking incorrectly, not timing my food intake right. That being said, it's been about four days now that I've been on point with taking them in the right eating time frame. It's been about two to three days that I'm finding that I'm crashing emotionally and physically. I'm crying, despairing, seeing all the gloom and doom, etc. Also, I have a fatigue, which I normally have but not like this, as I am only able to lay in bed or sit in the recliner. Even trying to get this typed up is killing me, and the inability to get my fingers/brain to work in tandem is worse than ever!! And, my gut is killing me which I never have issue with. I'm not eating as much as I should, but I have lttle to no appetite. All my symptoms are heightened, like my heart and breathing issues, and more added, like my digestive system. I taking a daily probiotic, too.

That brings me to my question. Can this all be due to this low dose of doxy? I feel like I should know this, from reading the forum, but my brain in really off, more than ever.

And, if this is from the low doxy, then what will it be like when I start the real treatment? I will more than likely be a candidate for iv therapy. I'm just a mess right now. Thanks everyone.

Edited:

And today my panic attacks have started again, after not having any recently. I decided to try to get someone to get me some epsom/peroxide.

 

Post Edited (In_A_Cocoon_Now) : 7/18/2014 7:54:08 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/18/2014 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
Aww, in a cocoon!!

That is no fun. I will tell you so much happened when I first started doxy...same dose as you but I had no idea what the heck was going on (this was before I was on this site). All I knew was that with the doxy I had to take allergy pills or else I had trouble breathing. I would also have weird panic attacks. The only thing that helped that for me was to go to sleep. The allergy pills probably helped more then I knew at the time. I went off them a month later when I read they can hurt your immune system.

I'm sure you are so worth 'dealing with' even when you think you are at your worst! It will be easier in the long run the less medication you are on. Every one is different as far as treatment goes. If you are 'tolerating' doxy and reacting to it pretty strongly, well lets see how you do. You really might only need orals with the herbs you are taking too. Try to give it some more time.

~beth
Posted 7/18/2014 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks opu,

I actually stopped all the others stuff. My brain is really weird, really off, and I'm not thinking clear at all. I actually don't know what I'm doing at this point in time. Things are just really off.

I realized today that two days ago I took 20 drops of gse, thinking that would be a good thing. I think that might be adding to my issues.

I would never have added such a high starting dose of anything like that, and that tells me that yes, I am really off, out there in my thinking and perception.

I am not eating right in that i'm not eating enough. Just everything is off. Feel like I'm in a constant dream state. I am sure this will all clear up, and I'll get through it.

Thanks again
Posted 7/18/2014 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! Just reading your post made me think of me. I first went to the doctor for chest pains and the fear of something wrong and I was dying. She said it was anxiety and gave me a prescription which I never filled. I instead found that magnesium can help with anxiety and started taking this. I did get some relief, but now wonder if it was just a tick cycle thing because it would come and go, but never as bad as it first was. I am now just starting doxy too as I have just been diagnosed. I think this is day 4 for me. I too am having a heightened awareness of my issues and today have had a few episodes where I thought I was going to just pass out on the floor and my arms felt cold. It was very strange...anyway, I feel like I am more on edge and jittery like too much caffeine (which I gave up in the last 3 weeks). Also, day one, I was a total b to my family and just flipping over everything. That has calmed down, but now my chest and breathing fears are creeping up and I'm working really hard to relax. You can also try l-theanine for calmness-take it about an hour before or after eating. I just keep telling myself this is for the good of me. I also read things will get worse before they get better. I hope we find some relief soon!
Posted 7/22/2014 11:08 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, you do know what I'm going through, MS, as you are, too! I am sooo sorry. This is awful. I hope that you've gotten relief!!

I've found that things have settled down in the past few days. I'm not so over the top with anxiety, and I'm not feeling so 'foggy and wacky'. But, I've started having severe vertigo again! That stopped about 5-6 yrs ago. I had it for about 4 - 6 months, and then it just ended. I had seen specialist, testing, ect., and nothing was ever 'found.'

Now I know that the vertigo is all L/c related. Knowing makes things not so scary with the vertigo, but it's still so off-putting. I, again, am not driving because of the anxiety attacks, and now the vertigo.

Here's to finding and getting help!
Posted 7/22/2014 11:39 AM (GMT 0)
Inacocoonnow. Please be careful with xanax! I understand you are having a lot of anxiety so if you really need to take it take it only when you really need to. They are highly addictive and have horrible withdrawal symptoms that are very similar to Lyme!!! Please research xanax withdrawal and you will see. It took my friend 2 years to recover from this drug. I know I can't tell u what to do, and I know anxiety Is the worst but those drugs make anxiety so much worse when you come off them. Along with many other neurological symptoms. It happened to me in high school when I was prescribed ativan, I actually got really dizzy for s couple of months when I stopped them. They really mess with your brain chemistry.
Posted 7/22/2014 11:46 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry just read you stopped taking it. Smart!! All I saw was xanax and I panicked and felt the need to write to you right away. Horrible drug that is over prescribed in US. In other country's it is banned or limited to 2weeks use. But here doctors give it to people like its candy.
Posted 7/22/2014 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
Awww, thank you, ict!!! How thoughtful and caring, and wow, does it touch my heart!

Yes, I am NOT taking the Xanax. NOTHING. ZILCH. NADA. : ) Whew!!! Isn't that good to know!

And, you are so right! I had gotten them years ago, and the pcp would prescribe only 5 - 7, and twice she went up to 14, but this new doc prescribed me 90 of 1 mg!!!! Times, they are a changing.

Well, they are gone, so no one will deal with their horribleness.
Posted 7/22/2014 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
Good:)
Posted 7/22/2014 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
90 1 mg! That's crazy!
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