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waiting for a herx to go away

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Posted 3/31/2020 10:13 PM (GMT -5)
So I started treatment two months ago. The first month I was only on doxycycline and the second I tried different antibiotics, but ended up just on cats claw along with the doxy for now. I started taking cats claw at 500mg 1xday, but two weeks in I started having horrific heart palpitations and fatigue, so I stopped the cats claw because it wasn't bearable.
That was 3 days ago and I'm assuming that it was a beginning of a herx.
So I'm wondering how long should I wait until I start taking the herb again? My LLMD told me to start taking the drops instead and start slow and work my way up. But these past few days off of the herb hasn't seemed to help that much. I am still feeling really bad, and even started experiencing new worsening symptoms today like internal vibrations and twitching all over, like my nerves or tendons are spasming all the time. My throat has been having lots of spasms too and a pressure like my throat/neck is super full, if that makes sense. I have heart palpitations and twitching normally, but its much worse at the moment.
I was hoping that within a couple days the herx would die down and I could incorporate the herb again, but it seems like its still going or getting worse? I'm not sure how long I should wait, or if these new symptoms are a flare. I have been taking epsom salt baths, drinking lemon water, taking milk thistle and curcumin to help, but its hard to tell if its even doing anything.
Any recommendations? I'd like to wait until I don't feel so bad, but I have no idea how long that will take, and I don't want to wait too long.
How did you guys know when to back off of treatment and then start again?
Posted 3/31/2020 10:37 PM (GMT -5)
Its a tough call, and some people herx for months. Herxing itself prob isnt very good for you, but most here have gone thru it.

As far as heart palps being dangerous, that depends on your heart and prob age too I would think. Sooner or later with this, we get to know out bodies pretty well, none of us are the same. I had my heart checked twice during treatment.
Posted 3/31/2020 10:59 PM (GMT -5)
Do you think you could get worse even right after stopping your protocol? It feels like this herx is just beginning, and I don't know if thats normal
Posted 4/1/2020 8:43 AM (GMT -5)
Yes, things can still get worse for a bit before it gets better. Endotoxins are working their way out of your system. Sounds like you are having a lot of neurological inflammation, too, and unfortunately that takes a while to calm down. You are doing the right things to detox, but sometimes it just takes forever. I definitely agree with using a liquid cat's claw and starting with just one drop, but do wait until you feel better. It might take a while. Don't rush it. Damaging your system with a bad herx isn't worth it!

Would you consider reducing or pausing the doxy, too, for now?

Consider adding CBD to help with the neurological issues.

I know this is a scary time, and I am so sorry you are dealing with it. Hang in there. It is temporary. Good luck!
Posted 4/1/2020 12:31 PM (GMT -5)
I've reduced the doxy to 100mg only once a day, but I'm scared to stop taking it because I don't want to get antibiotic resistant. I'm not sure how long that would take though.

I think I've read somewhere that taking CBD can actually cause a herx as well? I'm not sure how accurate that is. Have you taken it and its helped you?

Thanks for responding!
Posted 4/1/2020 1:55 PM (GMT -5)
I did take CBD oil for a few months...can't remember how long exactly. This was in 2016/2017 when there were discussions about CBD oil working on Lyme.
Retired LLMD E. Murakami (Canada) had teamed up with Eva Sapi and in-vitro testing showed it did work.

The hype has tailed off now.

I didn't get any relief with it...no symptom resolution.
Posted 4/19/2020 3:26 PM (GMT -5)
Same thing Is happening to me. Started treatment a few weeks ago, 1st week started to feel better, then last 2 weeks been having consistent heart palpitations, chest tenseness with vibrations.i even went to cardiologist. It has debilitated me. And nothing so far is working to relieve symptoms. Scullcap and NAC was working for a little bit so I don’t know if I built up a tolerance.
I’m starting to think I have mast-cell syndrome.
Trying to remain hopeful
Posted 4/19/2020 5:23 PM (GMT -5)
Mast cell issues are very common. What kind of treatment are you using? A herx from treatment could explain all of what is going on with you. Can you reduce your dose or even take a break to detox and let your system catch up? Sounds very overloaded. What does your LLMD say?
Posted 4/20/2020 7:37 PM (GMT -5)
Antihistamines help many control herxes, they can also relieve other side effects.
I take loratadine (Claritin) daily, if I miss a dose I know it pretty quickly.
Benadryl is another good one for many.
Experiment with these.
Posted 4/22/2020 11:12 AM (GMT -5)
Yes we stopped treatment a couple weeks ago. I just started on Claritin and Quercetin a couple days ago. So I’m hoping that helps more. This has been scary and not knowing how long these symptoms will last is hard. My nerves feel like they’re firing all the time and any little thing sets them off including eating, heat, showers, my position. Thank you so much for your responses and support. I feel lonely.
Posted 4/22/2020 1:49 PM (GMT -5)
Crystal5628, just turning over in my bed used to flare me if I wasn't careful to do it slowly. I responded to you in the other thread. Activity intolerance has been another big issue for me, and it could be real extreme at times. There was one point when just getting off my bed and walking in my room a little would make my chest get sore.

What were you treating with?
Posted 10/23/2024 5:07 PM (GMT -5)
I just want to update this in case it helps anyone, though this is an old post. What I think was happening for me, was that my coinfections were flaring. In particular, babesia. I was getting worse PVCs/PACs while not taking anything for babesia. I ended up getting tested for it after I kept having heart symptoms and was getting more shortness of breath and POTS despite being on doxycycline. At this time in my treatment, I added in malarone which caused a lot of herxing, but eventually some symptom relief.
So the cats claw wasnt helping my babesia symptoms, though it seemed like it was causing heart palpitations, I think it was really the lack of coinfeciton treatment.

Post Edited (hennatattoo) : 10/23/2024 6:22:52 PM (GMT-4)

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