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Will you herx the entire 12 months of treatment...I don't know if I can handle it.

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Posted 4/22/2013 11:38 PM (GMT -5)
I've read many different opinions about this, but from experience should I expect that I will be herxing throughout my whole treatment.  I am meeting with a highly acclaimed LLMD in the DC area and I was told that I would be on some sort of treatment (oral and possibly IV) for about 12-15 months--maybe longer because I've been infected for close to 20 years and just recently figured it out. 

Some days are better than others, but some days I feel as if I'm becoming senile.  I feel stupid and I'm afraid I'm going to forget to do something really important.  It causes a lot of anxiety.  I feel so out-of-it.  I can't remember a thing.  I went to the grocery store to buy formula and a few other things for my daughter and I came home with "a few other things"--no formula.  I open the fridge and stand there for a few minutes trying to figure out what I was looking for.  I feel like everything I do takes so much more energy and it exhausting.  I cannot concentrate.  I have double vision sometimes.  Terrible fatique. 

 I am managing my pressure headaches with Diamox, Vitamin C, and Potassium Chloride taken together--as well as about 20 other vitamins, supplements, Probiotics, and B-12 injections.  I am constantly drinking water, taking Epsom baths, using Burbur and Parsley drops, and I'm on a completely Gluten free diet.  I try to exercise a few times a week lightly. 

Any idea how long before you begin to feel better?  I know that after I finish a few cycles of the antibx that I'm on now I'm going to switch to another antibx.  Will I go back to square one?

Thanks.

Katie

Posted 4/23/2013 8:35 AM (GMT -5)
Your protocol sounds very similar to mine. This of course makes sense, because I am right around the corner from you in Bethesda.

You will not necessarily Herx the entire time. This depends on many factors, like your length of infection, your body's ability to purge toxins, the antibiotics you are on and so forth. The fact you can still exercise is a great sign.

For me I was probably infected for about 1 to 6 years, so my Herxs were not that bad Most of my severe symptoms went away after 5 to 6 weeks and only when I was totally taken off antibiotics did my symptoms return. My brain fog did take a good 4 months to diminish and still crops up from time to time.
Posted 4/23/2013 9:36 AM (GMT -5)
So sorry to hear you are herxing.  It is a horrible feeling.  When I herxed, it usually passed in a week or so, once my body seemed to figure out how to get rid of the toxins from the new treatment.  It sounds like you are doing all the right stuff.  It does however really take a little while for the body to get rid of the toxin buildup. 

Its always a good sign, as you know, to herx.  I am once again herxing after feeling great for a while.  Hopefully, this too shall pass.  FEEL BETTER!

 

Posted 4/23/2013 1:18 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you very much for your responses.

:)

Posted 4/23/2013 1:39 PM (GMT -5)
Have you tested positive for Babesia?
Posted 4/23/2013 1:44 PM (GMT -5)
Not specifically but I will be treated for all co-infections at some point throughout the next year or so. I feel like I have a lot of symptoms of Babesia though.
Posted 4/23/2013 4:59 PM (GMT -5)
Katie,
Do your research to see what herxing (or healing crisis) will do. I did and that's why I now say don't allow yourself to herx for more than a week!! My doc told me no more than 3 days of herxing or cut the dose or stop the med completely!!

If your body is dealing with a healing crisis, there's not enough energy for it to continue to heal or at least not as well as it could be doing if it wasn't dealing with a herx. A herx is an overload of toxins in the body - in other words the toxins are overwhelming the body as the body can't process and expel them fast enough.

Besides, anyone who says it's okay to herx for more than a few days, hasn't lived through a bad one!! Herxes for some people can be life threatening, for others just absolutely horrible (that's where I was) and for others it just a really bad day, but they all interfere with the body's ability to heal.
Posted 4/23/2013 8:14 PM (GMT -5)
Herxing varies a lot from person to person. Some people are constant herxers. Other people herx for a week or two and it lets up.
Do make sure that you let your dr. know if you have severe hexing. He may need to back off treatment temporarily to give your body a break, as it can be dangerous or harmful.

Your cognitive problems are very common with lyme disease. I do the exact same things as you describe. The other day, I ordered 2 meals for myself at a carryout place because I forgot that I had already ordered my meal!!!! My LLMD said that the cognitive problems will eventually go away with treatment, but that it takes a while.

I've been in treatment for 8 months. I'm seeing improvement. A lot of my symptoms do remain and I think I will eventually need to go to IV; I've been on orals so far.

Are you seeing Dr. J? If so, I'd love to hear your progress. I plan to go see him if I'm not doing better in the next 6 months or so.
Posted 4/23/2013 11:25 PM (GMT -5)
I agree with Traveler, that you can and should manage herxing. No need to herx all the time. either by decreasing meds/changing them and detoxing effectively.

In fact, my docs treat so that herxing is absolute minimum.

From experience I believe you can and should make sure the body is detoxing properly and not herxing much.

Detoxing is key! I would suggest, if your doc does not help you with detox, you might find another one who can help you with this aspect.

Some suggestions to look into for detox: ionic foot bath, FIR sauna and Neuro Antitox II (jernigan neutraceuticals). This last one is very safe and helps the brain and nervous system detoxify

hang in there!! good luck. you are asking great questions
Posted 4/23/2013 11:39 PM (GMT -5)
My daughter's physician has written a very strong condemnation against viewing a herx reaction as a desirable or good thing. I will say up front that he admits that some of his own patients also experience a herx, but he always seeks to minimize it, and he never views it as a goal or a good thing.

http://planetthrive.com/2011/07/horror-herxes/

Don
Posted 4/24/2013 8:58 AM (GMT -5)
If it makes you feel any better, I've had it for 6 years or so and my so far moderate herxes have only lasted 1-2 weeks but the pain is bearable for me.
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