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insomnia - could this be a herx??

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Posted 5/25/2016 6:29 PM (GMT -5)
Hello! i am new here. recently diagnosed via Igenex w/Lyme (41++, 31++, 83/93+)

Most of my symptoms have been neurological. I have trembling (full body shaking), twitching, tremors and inner vibration feelings. I don't know when i was infected. First symptoms started 2/1/16. Initial symptom was twitching and then insomnia. Insomnia stopped about 2 months ago (before treatment/diagnosis)

I am on abx, pulsing. I just finished my 2nd week yesterday. When I started the abx i felt great until yesterday. My symptoms had been subsiding and i was so happy. Then it's like i hit a wall. I didn't sleep the last two nights and feel terrible today. I am off abx for a week.

I have been detoxing like crazy (epsom salt baths, lemon water, skin brush, Alka-seltzer)

Can insomnia be a herx? can a herx start this long after starting abx (12 days)? I thought it was usually 2-3 days after starting?

My doctor thinks i also have bart given all neuro symptoms.

any advice is appreciated.
Posted 5/25/2016 8:10 PM (GMT -5)
Welcome to our community, New to Lyme!

I'm sorry you have Lyme disease...but glad you found us here. This is a great group of like-minded people - lots of knowledge and support here.

My symptom 'picture' includes tremors, twitching, and inner vibration feelings. (Also shivers - which are different than the vibrations).
Since treatment, my tremors and twitching are almost non-existent. But the darn vibrations and shivers are hanging on...
Yes, insomnia can be a herx. ...and can happen 12 days after starting treatment. Actually, it can happen anytime during treatment - a herx means that you've had enough die-off of bacteria that has flooded your body with toxins, along with not being able to keep up by detoxing.
So, it's an overload of toxins.
It can happen anytime when treating, and occur many times...

To help alleviate the severity of the herxes..you should try and add in more detox methods.

Here is a link to a great site - with detox ideas:



www.tiredoflyme.com/detox-methods.html


Since you are new here, it would be helpful for you to take a look at the thread at the top of the page titled: "New to Lyme?..Start Here!" It's packed full of good information.

I think your Dr. is correct in clinically diagnosing you with bartonella - I, too was diagnosed with bartonella.
Posted 5/25/2016 10:15 PM (GMT -5)
Girlie gave you some great advice. I just wanted to also welcome you.
Posted 5/26/2016 2:37 PM (GMT -5)
All good stuff - welcome "new to lyme" !

I wanted to welcome you as well...

-p
Posted 6/10/2016 11:38 PM (GMT -5)
Welcome New to Lyme!

Insomnia is one of my main herx symptoms...that and migraines, increased pain, depression, and anxiety/irritability, decreased energy....

While it is horrible to herx badly (when my LLMD put me on my first oral antibiotic, Clarithromycin 500mg twice a day, pulsing 4 days on/3days off.... I took it for the 4 days and then on the 3rd day off, I became so violently sick (worse migraine ever, severe vomiting, insomnia etc) I literally thought I might die! Or go to the ER....(hmmm....which is worse?)

I personally think that a slight amount of herxing here and there, infrequently, like when you add a new treatment or increase a dose, is beneficial psychologically. As long as you keep in mind that herxing means bacteria is dying, it can help you feel you are progressing. This is just my personal opinion and experience....I've only been on antimicrobial herbal extracts (Samento and Banderol) since I started treatment in Nov 2015. (I was diagnosed Oct 2015 but have been infected 20 years, misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia) The Clarithro was added end of April. The reason we have been going so slowly is we keep finding roadblocks....first, hemochromatosis (genetic mutation causing too much absorption and storage of iron, esp in the liver) so that took awhile to see a hematologist and get treated...1.5 liters of blood drawn off in 3 phlebotomies over 4 weeks. Plus I have been unable to get up to the target dose of 30 drops each twice/day for the Samento/Banderol...once I get over 25 drops I start to herx. So after the horrid herx at the end of April from the oral abx, my LLMD did more tests and I have 2 more genetic mutations, MTHFR (hetero for both C677T and A1298C) and APOE e3/e4 (hetero). My LLMD said these reduce my liver's ability to detoxify my body by 70%....which is so discouraging. How will I ever heal/kill spirochetes if my body is so restricted in detoxification???

Geez....sorry I'm talking so much about myself and my situation, that wasn't my intention when I started to answer about insomnia....I guess I needed to talk!

Trisha
Posted 6/11/2016 9:06 AM (GMT -5)
I had insomnia prior to treating. My nutritionist (based on tests) thought it was a chromium (glucose storage-liver) or an adrenal issue as I was was waking between 1 and 3 everyday. Actually at its worse, I was waking every hour. It was HORRIBLE. I dreaded going to bed. Anyway started treating the adrenals and taking chromium. Things got a tiny bit better after awhile, but nothing significant until I started taking cats claw and silver for EBV (found that out later through my doctor). I have been sleeping pretty well for months now. I may still wake at 3am but often I am able to go back to sleep if anxiety doesn't hit. I'm looking forward to no waking until 6 am or later (for weekends). In a way my nutrionist was right. EBV, Lyme, and co-infections definitely have an impact on liver and other organ function.
Posted 6/11/2016 11:24 AM (GMT -5)
Trisha, there are supplements you can take to help your body make those connections so you can detox easier. It's all dependent on which exact gene mutations you have, but from what I've seen, most of them have some sort of "work around" - that and extra detoxing.

Hi New to Lyme!
Welcome to our community! I'm so glad you found us.

The other mods have already given you some really good information and encouragement to increase your detoxing, and I agree with them on this.

Any symptom can be part of a herx. A herx is described as an increase in current symptoms or new symptoms appearing. I would encourage you to increase your detoxing
Posted 6/11/2016 1:06 PM (GMT -5)
I have nothing to add but just wanted to welcome you. You will have a lot of questions so this is a great place to come for conversation about your concerns!
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