Posted 5/20/2010 9:04 PM (GMT -5)
Everyone's experience is so different. It really depends on where the lyme and company have decided to take up residence in your body.
When I finally figured out I had lyme disease and went to an LLMD I had been experiencing symptoms for about six weeks. So, I can relate to where you are. Eveyone told me I was lucky to catch it so early (even my LLMD) My symptoms were coming and going in the 6 week period before I was on any antibiotic.
I felt like a human voodoo doll. Little stabbings and aches here and there. Fatigue that came and went. But the worst symptoms were the anxiety, brain aches and lightheadedness. My symptoms were not progressive like some people experience. I would have days (before treatment) that I felt almost better. I have a feeling my body was fighting it off before I started treatment.
When I went to my LLMD I indeed tested positive for lyme and babesia through CLongen. I also had a blood wet mount which showed numerous motile extracellular coccobacilli. This is a test that is not available at most labs. I am lucky in that Clongen Labs (A tick specialty lab) is located a few miles from my LLMD's office. Anyways, my LLMD concluded that the bacteria in my blood was bartonella.
3 months into abx treatment I still feel like I am on a roller coaster. I am better. Aches and stabbing pains are gone. The anxiety/panic is the only main symptom remaining. Everytime he has changed or up to the dose on my abx...I feel like I am going to have a heart attack, with bad heart palpitations.
I also started on Doxy and plaquenil. I felt better initially but then had a horrible head and brain ache for three days. Again, everybody reacts differently to the abx and more importantly to the die off. I would highly recommend the detox baths. Just remember that since you are on doxy you are not supposed to take magnesium 2 hours prior and after. Epsom salt is essentially magnesium so I would make sure to stick that time frame so you can fully absorb the antibiotic.
I wish you luck and hope you get some answers soon. Do you feel like you have experienced a "herx"?