Found out something interesting about herxing...

I don't think that's true. A herx is an increase in any symptom that Lyme causes in you. The bacteria die, release their toxins - and whatever that causes in reaction is herxing. I've had many various things that my doctor has called herxing - including increased brain fog, heart palpitations, mini seizures, headaches, depression, anxiety, pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, you name it.

Whatever symptom Lyme can cause in a person - a herx is feeling more of that. It's like it gets worse before it gets better. For me, it feels like my body systems are herxing one at a time. Most recently, it's been heart stuff.

I don't know if I'd be positive it was a virus. I'm around sick people all day long every day and in the past several years (since I became sick with Lyme) I have not caught any colds/flus/viruses. Prior to Lyme, I was someone who would get cold after cold all winter long.

From what I've read, that seems to be the case with a lot of people with Lyme. Somehow the immune system gets so depleted that it just doesn't focus on viruses anymore or produce antibodies (which in turn produce cold symptoms).

Post Edited (Summer3) : 12/8/2012 9:58:04 AM (GMT-7)

The main problem is it all depends on which body a person is talking about! Our bodies all have their own weaknesses and their own strengths.

One of my weakest points is my innerds (intestines for those who have yet to know me that well!! Giggle!), so every little thing affects them - aggravating to say the least! Okay, back on point - what creates an issue with, say Shabbychic's sinuses, might well make my innerds go haywire yet again and not affect my sinuses at all.

These diseases are so very individual! That's a lot of the reason it's so hard to get accurate information on these things! Although some doc's think they know more than they really do at times as well! I think we have all found that to be true!
Just look at all of the different opinions doc's hold about detoxing - some don't think it's necessary at all, and yet when one really looks into it in conjunction with these diseases, it becomes very apparent that it's very necessary in order to avoid serious complications for some and to help speed healing for all.

Oops, back on point again!! For some people, having sudden issues with their sinuses could well be part of a herx. So look carefully at your other symptoms - if any others have flared or new one have set in, most likely it's a herx and you should take steps to stop it so that you can get back to healing.

If it's just one symptom that has appeared or changes, chances are that something else has triggered it. At least that's how I've dealt with it - and it's worked out pretty well for me.

I think that LottaAnsy76's line of reasoning is right on. The sinuses can react to inflammatory, allergenic, immunological, or even neurological issues in the body. Herxes, among other things can certainly be viewed as an allergic response because the metabolic and die-off by products of the microbes are so irritating and toxic to the human body. The sinuses attempt to encapsulate the toxic substances with a protein-based material that will flow out of the body, although sometimes the sinuses also get congested, which makes things even worse! This is one level of an immune response.

Heather immediately developed both post-nasal-drip and congested sinuses when she started antibiotic treatment. She annoyingly had to constantly clear her throat. This condition abruptly ended when she was fitted with an Oral System Balancing (OSB) appliance, and she received Cranial Sacral therapy on the same day. That evening there was a loud pop and a large clump of old and grotesque sinus mucous popped out of her nostrils! Her post-nasal-drip also abruptly ended at that point. Heather started to use a "Neti Pot" at that point also, and she continued to see a lot of sinus discharge for several more days. I highly recommend that all Lyme patients use a Neti Pot. It is a very very inexpensive form of detoxing.

I don't unequivocally claim that conventional antibiotics cannot ever be useful in helping to become well again. In fact they can be very useful if their usage is limited to a short time period. However I do claim that there is almost always a harmful side-effect from long term usage. I know several people that work full time testing people with electro-dermal equipment such as Computronix or Asyra. They both ask the patients that are on antibiotics, herbals, or supplements, to bring them to the appointment, so that they can be tested for compatibility. Their experience is that almost all of their patients are to some degree allergic to most or all of their antibiotics. Some antibiotics are mildly poisonous, and some are strongly poisonous to each patients body. Minocycline was found to be only mildly allergenic to Heather. and she went on to tolerate it quite well. Heather had several psychotic episodes while on Biaxin, and we found out after the fact when the test revealed that it was both very poisonous and allergenic to Heather.

I have no doubt that the antibiotics contributed to Heather's sinus problems. It might shock your MD to learn that antibiotics may have initiated an allergic reaction in your sinuses. After all, sinus activity is often an indicator of other adverse things going on in the body.

One of my pet peeves is that most 21st century physicians don't have the common sense or ability to test for compatibility of the toxic substances that they are prescribing to their patients! It is such a simple thing. Instead, they add to the burden placed upon their patient's immune system. Traveler is right on with the statement that each of our bodies are different. The Biaxin that was intolerable for Heather may be more tolerable for a different patient. The Minocycline that was relatively tolerable for Heather may precipitate a trip to the emergency room for another patient. Your doctor may be shocked to consider that the synergistic toxicity of the antibiotics added to that of the microbe die-off may have caused the sinus issues.

Use the Neti Pot. It will help!

Don

Post Edited (Heathersdad) : 12/8/2012 10:12:34 PM (GMT-7)