Hi all,
I spent 10 weeks on doxy last fall and cycled in an out of herxes all the way up until the end. The result: for the most part I got my energy level back. The bone-tired fatigue and unsteady gait (esp. climbing stairs) went away. Alot of the joint aches and pains went away (and have stayed away). But the extremity tingling (which started only when I started doxy) stayed. The breathing (air hunger and heart palpitations and beat skipping) got way worse when I went off doxy (currently wearing a 30-day event monitor put on by cardiologist who is taking lyme very seriously-hooray!). The spine pain also got so bad that I could not focus on anything else or lift my kids. At PT, the therapist and I would marvel about
how tight every muscle, tendon, scalar, etc in my jaw, neck and back have become week after week with no easing. Nothing OTC helped or even took the edge off.
This led to a diagnosis of chronic brucellosis to go along with the lyme and babesia. I started doxy, rifampin and bactrim for that just after new years. After 6 weeks I've reached a breaking point with my gut (no probiotic I've tried will actually live long enough in my toxic gut to help me) and slew of symptoms that all can be either side effects of antibiotics OR symptoms.
My LLMD says stay on the antibiotics if you still have symptoms! Good advice, I know. The CDC doc who I was put in touch with by the local health dept when I was diagnosed with Brucellosis says, some people kick it in 6 weeks, some 8, 10 or longer. Many need to switch up the antibiotic cocktail. All of this makes sense of course.
My question is: how do you know what is a symptom of the disease and what is a side effect of the antibiotics when so many of them overlap? After 6 weeks, in some ways I feel better and in some ways I feel worse. The spine pain and buzzing has become more muscular pain and tightness than bone/cord problems. The extremity tingling, strange nerve pains and eye itching/doxy vision are all still there. Granted I only stopped the meds the day before yesterday. The breathing problems are all still there but I've been chalking this up to the yet-to-be-treated babesia (this is the next step for me after I have a few weeks off). Also I am so flipping' cold all the time. I feel like I've become a reptile.
How long after you stop do you know whether or not you feel better? How long does it take you to reach a new(?) equilibrium with symptoms or lack thereof?
Thanks,
draha
p.s. I have just started herbals to go along with the antibiotics. And yes, I am working on the detoxing as well. I could not do much while actually on the meds because I was having horrible reactions to pretty much everything I ingested aside from very bland food (was not able to take any meds or vitamens without vomiting them up or spending the day doubled over in pain).
Post Edited (draha) : 2/19/2016 9:41:25 AM (GMT-7)