Herx vs. Flare vs. Treatment not working?

New to forum and Lyme. Positive blot test 5 weeks ago and started 200mg minocycline. Felt worse and worse over four weeks. On various days thru month but worse with each week: chest pain/burning, heart pain and palps, freezin/burning pain, stabbing joint pain that bounced to random joints, dizzy, exhausted!!, cant think clearly, cant handle stress at all...
The doc that prescribed the mino is hours away and wouldnt talk wo seeing me again. Heart pain and arm, leg, face pain got so bad I went to ER. They said you look fine, CBC fine, CT fine.....sent home with 10 days of 200mg Doxy. Felt improvement on first day of Doxy! Is this possible? Then 4 days later most pain is back. Had a decent 4 hours mid-day though. Otherwise mostly in bed. Am Celiac, never really had a strong immune system.

Oh, all started with mini-flu, massive neck pain requiring oxycodone (only needed for a day to break pain. Stopped after puking so much).
Now also doing teasel, herbs, acupuncture...going for far-infrared sauna tomorrow.

So how can I tell if the pain is from herx, abx working/not working, etc?

I read the "New to lyme...start here" and many posts, but didnt see this covered. Sorry if I missed it somewhere. Thanks so much for this forum and all your help!!

Have my first apt with a LLMD in a few weeks. Not sure what to do when Doxy runs out on Sunday. Am afraid of what will happen if I stop Abx while waiting for apt.

Hi Radiant,

Welcome to the forum! We're so glad you found us, although we wish it was because of a different circumstance:) If you haven't already, please read the thread titled, "New To Lyme?...Start Here!" It has very valuable information that will help you through your Lyme journey, including how to prepare detox baths.

I agree with Razzle. Your doctor or his nurse, should have been willing to speak with you especially if you are having posible side effects from this medication. It could also be a herx reaction, which is a die off of bacteria. Once the bacteria die, they release what is called toxins into your body that cause your symptoms to get worse. Try doing a detox bath and see if some of your symptoms subside. If they do, I would say that it is probably a herx.

One possible reason you may have felt better on the first day of taking Doxy is because it has an anti- inflammatory effect, which means that it reduces inflammation in the body.

Here is a great site explaining what a herxheimer(herx) is:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/87765/lyme_disease_what_is_a_herxheimer_reaction.html?cat=5

Here is a great link with information on Doxycycline: (A must read!)

http://www.ehow.com/how_2165217_avoid-doxycycline-side-effects.html

Great information on Lyme Disease and dosaging of antibiotics:

http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/treatment_guidelines_clearing_ilads.html