maybe herxing?

I feel worse. ugh. I think since I stopped rifampin 8 weeks ago I have been getting worse. That was the only thing in my previous treatment that made me herx and then made me better.

I guess I should try the HH tea first though before getting back on rifampin. The rifampin got me better but when I stopped I got worse again. Still, it would be good to get back to that 85% better place if I can somehow. I am so tired.

I want to try the HH now but don't want to overdo it.
ugh

omg I am feeling as ad as I ever have- just utterly sick and my head is spinning I cannot deal
Could I be herxing this bad already from the teas?
Yes I may have to add the rifampin after I talk to the dr and go through rifampin herx again ut then get back to some normal state
I am literally bedridden and unfunctional today and scared as hell

A total turn around from my optimistic post.
I had three cups of the CT tea today.

holy crap this is hellish.

And because of the weather I have to do another phone consult appointment. My dr is over an hr away and the weather will just be not good for driving plus we have school pick up conflicts- so another phone consult which is not as satisfying. Still, I am so glad I can talk to the dr tomorrow. I don't know what he will say.
I am terrified to go on these teas again after today. My head just feels- I can't explain it- in addition to the terror part, just like thick and spinning and not right. I am scared about starting and stopping etcetra, but at least my llmd and I can agree on a solid protocol and I can get on it.

I so much want to do the herbal protocol. But it is so scary to go through this herxing again, especially with a young child to care for. My husband was home with me today thank goodness and I slept all day again. All day I was just exhausted-- but I think it was after my thirsd cup of tea that the panic and crazy head feelings kicked in. the valium took the edge off and slpet a little, then I woke up again- I am sort of mellowing out a little now- eating a little more- I also barely ate today.

I don't know if the 1 cup of HH tea I had last night contributed to thi or if it was the 3 strong CT tea. I guess I thought I was going light as the protocol is 4 cups of tea plus 2 tbsp. of tonic . . . so I did three cups of tea. But I see now I shold have done one cup of tea. I also still took my 1 doxy and malarone, but I think that am't iisnt storng enough for me.

I am scared knowing that either way I have to go through herxing again- wither through the teas or rifampin. BUt hopeful to at least get back to a better baseline.

Thanks Traveler.
You Did stress to go slow! I think I just wans't clear on what that means---- in your opinion. I know you are not an herbalist or dr so I am just asking your opinion---- what does slow look like?

1 cup of weak tea a day? 2 cups? 1 cup of strong?

I am hoping that since this made me herx it indicates that it will eventually make me heal. I would love to still go on this protocol.

Thanks Utahgal! Seems like you and I had a switch- you were in lyme hell yesterday but feel better today ( yay!) and I was good yesterday and bad today.

I have to do a phone consult with the llmd tomorrow which kinda sucks due to weather and some other issues, so I hope I can still get what I need from it.
I also hope to still do this herbal protocol and get my llmd's support on it so I can feel supported by him in it. So we'll see what he says.

Glad you are having a better day Utahgal. I know I will have better days soon too. sigh.

Also I am pretty low on valium and knowing I will be herxing again, I hope my llmd will prescribe more for me.

Meanwhile my dear husband has to continue to pick up my slack with childcare and things. My husband is so patient and caring, but he and I had both thought we were out of the hardest part of this with me- so it is frustrating for us to feel me back this low again.

Post Edited (Katebirch) : 12/9/2014 6:16:15 PM (GMT-7)

utahgal--- how are your husband and kids handling your illness?

Thanks, Mike.

Thanks.
I had gotten almost better, and then it cam back. I guess I am sedated from the valium I took earlier because I am feeling decent again.

I am glad your family is doing fine with this too, Utahgal.

Post Edited (Katebirch) : 12/9/2014 8:23:51 PM (GMT-7)

thanks for checking in Utah.
I feel crappy. Kinda scared because I have this kind of deep seated exhaustion. Those herbs really messed me up! Or I mean did something to the toxins in me that messed me up. My appointment with the llmd is this afternoon.

I had been okay when I stopped the abx-- then after a week or two the scary anxiety crept back in, and some fatigue.
Then I got back on the abx a month later on 2 doxy and 2 malarone- and within 3 days Ifelt better, even decent, except for nerve tingling. Then I switched down to one doxy and one malarone (per dr's suggestion) and I started to feel worse but still functional.
then I added the buhner herbs ( knotweed) and started to feel a little worse . . . then the strong teas yesterday just floored me.
I still feel floored today, though not as extreme- but kinda achy and heavy etcetera. I got out of bed and am feeling - tolerable.

I am prepared to go back on the same abx I was on for a while (2 doxy 2 malarone and 300mg rifampin) to get back to baseline okay if I have to.

Alternatively I can just do the herbs and go through herxes and hope to come ou tth eother end. I will see.
I would like to still do the herbals but gosh that herx was out of control so I feel like I would like to have my llmd's support to guide me through it if I do that.
In addition to the fatigue the other bad thing I have going on is this head thing- where my head just feels swooshy- akin to dizzy but not dizzy, like swirly, not right, My head feel fogged up and clooged up- and if things are still and quiet it is okay I guess . . . then as soon as there is a little disturbance I just get overwhelmed and off balance almost- ugh. not off balance exactly- I cant put this nto words, just unstable and messed up

HOw are you Utah?

Post Edited (Katebirch) : 12/10/2014 6:26:28 AM (GMT-7)

I am glad to hear you are doing better~! That rifampin really works I think- maybe not to keep the darn stuff away though but to get you feeling better.

We can't drive to the appointment today for a # of reasons- rds and childcare conflicts etcetera so it will be another phone consult. ohwell.

Thanks Traveler. I am still very glad you told me about this herbal stuff- I still hope to do it, just because I had a herx doesn't mean I think it is bad stuff! IF anything it probably means it really works.
I just may need to slow it down and be prepared to herx--- I just hope my dr is on board with it so that I can feel supported by him in it rather than on my own. I know he is aware of and appreciates herbal treatments so I don't think he will be totally opposed. I just noticed he doesn't use knotweed so I am hoping he doesn't say- oh we don't use knotweed because of this and that, and then I will be forced to decide to proceed on my own or not. I hope he says- okay, sounds like a herx and why don't you try again and let me know how it goes.
Kinda bummed that we have to do a phone consult-- we had been debating trying to make it there but- it is complicated but it ends up for many reasons that it will be a phone consult. Next month I will see him in person for sure. Ultimately it would be better to see him in person today, but most likely I would come away with the same treatment plan either way.

I just have so much to go over with him. And how I feel changes from day to day and even hour to hour- so how I feel today versus yesterday versus last week is so different--- I have felt so many different ways since going off the antibiotics and getting back on and adding in the new herbs, I just have to make sure I write it all down before hand and communicate it clearly.

I feel like he is gonna tell me to get back on the full antibiotics, so I don't know how I will feel about that. If I am courageous I will just go with the herbal treatment. I just don't know what I should do. Or else just a month or so of the antibiotics and then herbals, or along with herbals--- I just hope I come away from the appointment feeling satisfied and confident with a treatment plan that I feel aligned with.

I would still encourage you to contact Misty Meadows as well and ask them some questions about the protocol that they have you on. I haven't understood why they would put anyone on both the CT and the Lyme Defense tea as they are so similar.

I used only the herbs from the CT and healed.

Yes, the forum is a wonderful place for support and suggestions! Don't forget to detox lots today too!!