Am I herxing?

Sorry I feel like I'm posting too much on here! Just wanted to describe my experience as of an hour ago. As I said in a previous post when I first started taking abx I had an increase in fatigue that then kind of went away mid week 2. I also noticed my pain (mild- moderate depending on the day) has radiated from just my calves and knees slightly into my thighs. I had been on vacation and drinking and when the vacation was over felt like hell again the next day. That increase in symptoms subsided a bit over the next couple days.

Today I woke up feeling a little bit better than previous days, took my doxy as soon as I woke up and then went back to sleep for a few hours (I find I have a little bit of stomach pain and feel a little more fatigued immediately after taking it so going back to sleep was so I didn't have to deal with that, didn't have stomach pain until I started taking it on an empty stomach which I just started doing as of Thursday when the doctor told me doxy is better absorbed that way). I woke up still feeling a little better than the past few days and went through my work day. It was a struggle, but pretty much my "baseline" struggle (crazy that I have a "baseline" struggle now when I was completely normal 9 months ago).

Anyway, I got home from work and took my night dose of doxy then went to dinner with some friends about an hour later (didn't have anything to drink which was so hard!). My stomach hurt a bit from the doxy ,but it started to feel better after eating some food. about a half hour into the night my overall symptoms started worsening I felt off-balance, felt as though I had to hold my back for support (mild spine tingles that seem to radiate from my lower back into my legs), and decided I had to go soon.

Got in a cab and went home stopped by a convenience store to grab some water and noticed I am now limping pretty bad. There's a mild increase in pain, but mostly the limp is just the most comfortable way for me to walk right now. I've read a lot about herxing before starting abx and all those experiences seem to be worse than this, but this is probably the worst I've felt since taking the abx. I don't have a fever or anything, but am wondering if this is what a herx is/or can be like. If it is I guess I'd kind of view that as a good thing because even though it sucks right now I'd take it as a sign I'm treating the right thing (given the negative ELISA and still not being 100% sure Lyme is my issue).

I feel kind of bad continuing to complain about my own situation on here when I know many of you have it way worse, but the support from this community has been so helpful! It's difficult to talk to my friends about it (they're mostly understanding, but I feel like they've heard it all on repeat since this started back in December and feel bad complaining about it to them too much). I also feel like given the negative test result I'm getting some looks as though I'm making it up(no one has said it or even implied it so that could just be my own insecurities) and then I go into my explanation about how the tests are not accurate to try and justify myself.

Anyhow, my main question is the topic, is this a possible herx reaction?

You got to check out the detox methods and incorporate as many as you can on a daily basis. No drinking! I know it sucks! And I hate to say this as well but no sugar and absolutely no gluten. Stinks yes but it will be a major help. These are bad for your body and it needs all the help it can get to fight this bs disease.

I'm in a no sugar coating kind of mood. Go read the Tired ofLyme website , start to finish.

Oh. And You can never post too much here friend.

You don't want to wait until you herx to detox.

It is something you should be doing daily- when you're treating you are killing the bacteria - that creates toxins to flood your system, resulting in inflammation and increase in symptoms.

You want to start with a few detox methods and every few days add in another - gradually until you are doing multiple methods daily.

You should be taking something to support your liver - it's an organ that is a key player when it comes to detoxing.

A binder is another good detox - activated charcoal is one that you can find at a health food store or even a drug store. Make sure you take the binder away from food, medications, supplements - by two hours. it will flush out everything that is in your stomach.

Warm (not hot) Epsom salt baths is my favorite detox method.

Probiotics daily is important for your digestive tract.

Oh sorry Girlie I just updated my previous post without looking at your posts (didn't think anyone would be awake on here yet!) I'll look into activated charcoal next time I make a trip to the pharmacy. Boy they are giving me weird looks everytime I go in now asking for new things that are probably not usually asked about (especially by foreigners). I am taking probiotics currently as well. And supplements include the curcumin, multi, and vitamin b complex. I have taken the vitamin B and multi for a few months (thought maybe my problem was b-12 deficiency at first).

I can definitely order some things online just trying to do anything to help as fast as possible. I'm actually on that site right now haha.

Question about dry brushing, will it still be beneficial without the epsom salts? I have a warm lemon water ready to down while I'm in the bath. Thanks for the tips on the lemon water!

Ok thank you I'll keep up with it!

Another random question, is it possible to sleep too much when dealing with fatigue from Lyme? I know in general oversleeping is bad but I would assume that while fighting an infection like Lyme more sleep is better. I ask this because I've been napping sooooo much.

Thanks again!

I think the lemon juice and dry skin brushing has been helping a little. I still feel far from ideal, but not nearly as bad as I did on Saturday/Sunday.

I'm still taking the doxy without food for now. I start my day first with the doxy, then wait a few hours and have breakfast. I drink lemon water (whole lemon) with breakfast and then take a 500mg curcumin with black pepper and a probiotic. After a few more hours I take my multi (wait to take it because I also read doxy is absorbed less when taken with calcium), and vitamin B complex. Before work (I work evenings) I do the dry skin brushing and then take a bath and take a second 500 mg curcumin with black pepper and another probiotic. At night I have dinner wait a few hours take my second doxy and then before bed I have another lemon water (whole lemon) and some ACV (I only do the ACV at night because I read some people have reactions to it so figure it's better not to take it before work) another curcumin and probiotic. Yesterday, I did a second dry skin brushing/ bath before bed too.

I have to admit it kind of feels like a part-time job, but I'm starting to get into a routine. Still waiting for my herbs to come!